Summer Fashion Goes Nostalgic in Muted Hues from Ivey Abitz

PR Log (Press Release) – Jun 11, 2009 – The Ivey Abitz summer palette is based on hand painted black and white photographs. Black, grey, cream, and white are the base tones for the collection. Then muted hues are introduced to suggest the hand painted photograph look from the early 1900's. The hues include various beige-pinks called Rouge, a touch here and there of Cottage Green, and just a hint of a blue called Twilight.

The nostalgic palette is inspired by designer Cynthia Ivey Abitz's late grandmother, Celia, who was the matriarch of the family.

Cynthia remembers her childhood summers vividly, "Grandma was the center of vacation at the family summer cottage, and when she told me stories, I was transported to another era."

Some of her favorite stories were about working in a portrait studio in the 1940's, hand painting black and white photographs before color photographs were the standard.

Cynthia recalls, "Grandma would describe her process: just enough rouge on a woman's cheeks or she'd look like a tart and not a lady. Just enough green in the tree or it'd look like broccoli and not a willow. Just enough blue in the sky or it'd look like a carpet and not a cloud."

Celia's "just enough" philosophy suggested an authentic approach to life. She wanted to merely suggest color to the viewer and let imagination fill in the rest. The viewer's interaction with the photograph made stronger memories, and nostalgia increased exponentially.

Inspired by her Grandma's painted photographs, Ivey Abitz came up with a palette that embodies the soft, muted feel of a hand painted photo but still looks vividly colorful. The effect is evident in the 37 looks featured online at the designer’s website, http://IveyAbitz.com/2009summer/.

The collection also captures the feel of vacation. Raw edges and gathers suggest carefree summer days and waves on the summer lake. Design elements include appliqued and embroidered dresses, puckered stripe jackets, crumpled frocks, and raw edged trousers.

Designer Cynthia Ivey Abitz says, "The collection's aesthetic is defining and memorable, just like I hope the summer is for us all."

The summer designs are made to order in 52 different fabrics. But customers need not feel overwhelmed by the fabric options. Ivey Abitz provides fabric suggestions for each design on its website, including a helpful chart with far and close-up images of each fabric. Sizes range from x-small through x-large, with garment measurement charts for every design.

Ivey Abitz designs men’s and women’s historic-inspired and vintage-inspired apparel for modern everyday wear, made in the U.S. It offers approximately six limited engagement seasonal collections each year.  Customers buy online at IveyAbitz.com and through a by-appointment-only studio in New York City. Made-to-order clients receive their custom garments about a month after ordering. For those with less patience, rush orders can be requested with a turnaround time of about two weeks. The price point ranges from $60 - $600. There are no order minimums.

Media images at http://iveyabitz.com/media/