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Designer Notes

Preferred Patrons Get Fabrics in Advance

Ivey Abitz Summer fabric swatch portfolio
Ivey Abitz Summer fabric swatch portfolio
Ivey Abitz Summer fabric swatch portfolio
Ivey Abitz Summer fabric swatch portfolio.

 

Today we mailed Summer 2012 fabric swatch portfolios to our Preferred Patrons before the summer collection debut.

This means three things:

  • The summer collection is almost ready!
  • Preferred Patrons will have the swatches in hand before the collection hits the website.
  • Preferred Patrons will have first choice of limited quantity fabrics.

How do you become an Ivey Abitz Preferred Patron? It’s simple: buy from every Ivey Abitz collection.

It is true that many Preferred Patrons are major Ivey Abitz collectors. However, you don’t have to dedicate an entire closet to IA in order to get patron perks. Even if you just buy a scarf from every collection – you’re in.

It’s not about quantity. It’s about a relationship. We love creating garments just for you, and we especially love doing that for you on a regular basis.

Some other perks include special offers not provided to the public. Some examples include

  1. First choice of special fabrics not available on the website.
  2. Complimentary garments for orders that meet a set purchase amount.
  3. Seasonal offers and special discounts.
  4. Rare samples offered for sale.

We would really love to add YOU to our growing list of Preferred Patrons. Won’t you join us? The current collection would be a great place to start.

Connect with us. We’ll announce coming collections in IA News and the Ivey Abitz Facebook page.

 

P.S. You can order your own fabric swatch portfolio from the current collection at our fabric swatch page.

Categories
photos Shopping

Envisioning Ivey Abitz to Your Door

When you have a goal, such as collecting Ivey Abitz, it always helps to envision it in completion. Here is a vision of the Blanchefleur Vest in Regal Rosa Cotton Brocade transformed from a sample at IveyAbitz.com to a box for shipping to your door. Although in this case it could only be shipped to one lucky shopper’s door because it was a one-of-a-kind piece, you now have a vision of what is in store…

Ivey Abitz vest in a box ready to ship
The Blanchefleur Vest in Regal Rosa Cotton Brocade ready to ship.

 

Categories
photos Shopping

Rare Archive Sample Sale

Ivey Abitz sample

We’ve opened up the Ivey Abitz archives and found over 90 rare samples that were used in look book photo shoots from 2009-2010. All are unique. Many are made in fabrics that sold out and cannot be obtained. Here are a few.

We’ve also posted samples on Pinterest and Facebook. Those are fun ways to view and share. But you can only buy the samples at IveyAbitz.com.

As a side note, we’ve just begun pinning on Pinterest. We’d love for you to join us by following us there. It would look very elegant to have your own board dedicated to Ivey Abitz!

And now…some samples.

 

Categories
Shopping

Jackets over Frocks

Grey ensemble from Ivey Abitz
Fitzgerald Coat Dress in Ribbed Weave over the Fennefleur Frock in the Washed Silk.

Sneak a Peek at This Spring’s Favourite Combination: Jackets over Frocks

Everyone is wearing Ivey Abitz jackets over frocks this spring! It’s a classic look that is even one of Cynthia’s favourites to wear around the city.

The most popular pairing this collection has been the new Fitzgerald Coat Dress over the new Fennefleur Frock.

Here are some Jacket-Over-Frock ensembles that were part of some recent orders. With different collectible antique or handmade buttons and handwork on the pleating, each ensemble is one-of-a-kind, made just for the person who ordered it.

 

Grey ensemble from Ivey Abitz
Fitzgerald Coat Dress in Ribbed Weave over the Fennefleur Frock in the Washed Silk.

 

Layered ensemble from Ivey Abitz
Fitzgerald Coat Dress in Ribbed Weave over the Fennefleur Frock in the Washed Silk.

 

Layered Ensemble from Ivey Abitz
Fitzgerald Coat Dress in Ribbed Weave over the Fennefleur Frock in the Washed Silk.

 

Layered ensemble from Ivey Abitz
Fitzgerald Coat Dress in Ribbed Weave over the Fennefleur Frock in the Washed Silk.

 

Grey ensemble from Ivey Abitz
Fitzgerald Coat Dress in Ribbed Weave over the Fennefleur Frock in the Washed Silk.

 

Fitzgerald Coat Dress in Ribbed Weave over the Fennefleur Frock in Herringbone Silk Linen.
Fitzgerald Coat Dress in Ribbed Weave over the Fennefleur Frock in Herringbone Silk Linen.

 

Fitzgerald Coat Dress in Ribbed Weave over the Fennefleur Frock in Herringbone Silk Linen.
Fitzgerald Coat Dress in Ribbed Weave over the Fennefleur Frock in Herringbone Silk Linen.

 

Fitzgerald Coat Dress in Ribbed Weave over the Fennefleur Frock in Herringbone Silk Linen.
Fitzgerald Coat Dress in Ribbed Weave over the Fennefleur Frock in Herringbone Silk Linen.

 

Fitzgerald Coat Dress in Ribbed Weave over the Fennefleur Frock in Herringbone Silk Linen.
Fitzgerald Coat Dress in Ribbed Weave over the Fennefleur Frock in Herringbone Silk Linen.

 

Fitzgerald Coat Dress in Ribbed Weave over the Fennefleur Frock in Herringbone Silk Linen.
Fitzgerald Coat Dress in Ribbed Weave over the Fennefleur Frock in Herringbone Silk Linen.

 

It’s easy to get your own jacket over frock combination at IveyAbitz.com!

Categories
photos

Ivey Abitz Outtakes

Wolfie the shih tzu closeup

Ivey Abitz clothing is usually presented on a dress form, but this photo shoot provided special images for the home page of the website as well as newsletters. So this is a rare glimpse of behind-the-scenes real people – and dogs – interacting with the collection.

What are these beautiful dogs doing in this photo shoot?
The color pallette of this collection is based on the coloring of these two beautiful dogs, Wolfie and Artie. They are the objects of Cynthia’s love and affection. Their beauty and unconditional love is a source of inspiration. They are rescues from a puppy mill. (Shameless plug for animal rights – spay and neuter your animals and never buy an animal from a pet store!)

The main colors of Collection One 2012:

  • Wolfgang Grey
  • Arthur Brown

Following are outtakes from the Ivey Abitz Collection One 2012 photo shoot.

Categories
Shopping

Personal Service Makes Personal Clothing

Fabric SamplesPersonal service is part of what makes clothing special at Ivey Abitz. Here’s an example:

Recently a groom’s mother emailed us at Ivey Abitz to help put together a new ensemble for her son’s wedding.

A brief email exchange helped her narrow down which designs would work best together based on her favourites.

This left only the fabric selections.

Knowing this was an important event that required extra special planning, we put together a custom fabric swatch book to help her visualize the possibilities.

The personalized fabric swatch book confirmed her decision and helped her feel that much more confident.

Wearing an Ivey Abitz ensemble made just for her, we are sure she’ll be showered with compliments about her ensemble at the wedding – and not just because she’s the mother of the groom.

What’s the best personal service your wardrobe ever had?

We invite you to experience great personal service at Ivey Abitz.

Categories
Designer Notes

Spring Picks and Special Offerings

Spring Picks from Designer Cynthia Ivey Abitz

Be sure to sign up for IA NEWS – the Ivey Abitz newsletter – to get special offers on these and other design/fabric combinations. You can also Like us on Facebook.

Spring pick #1:

Garments in Wolfgang Grey Ribbed Weave and Arthur Brown Ribbed Weave

The ribbed weave is a beautiful opaque fabric that breathes well for warmer days. It can be used in a single layering piece, like in a sleeveless Blanchefleur Frock, and it is perfect for a layering frock or jacket. Best of all, it travels well and hand washes beautifully. We have carried variations of this special fabric for five years now, and it gets better the more you wear it!

Arthur Brown Ribbed Weave

Wolfgang Grey Ribbed Weave

Wolfgang Grey Ribbed Weave

 

Spring pick #2:

Garments in Billowed Twisted Yarn Weave

Billowed Twisted Yarn Weave has a very airy quality to it. A perfect choice for a spring shirt — or even a frock that you’d like to wear well into the summer months. Its uniqueness is delightful. Hand washable and a great traveler.

Billowed Twisted Yarn Weave
Billowed Twisted Yarn Weave

Spring pick #3:

Garments in Wolfgang Grey Washed Silk

Wolfgang Grey Washed Silk is an absolute favourite because it can be worn year round. It’s a lightweight and opaque fabric that is completely breathable. I’ve worn this in 80 + degree weather, and it feels like I’m wearing a lightweight cotton. Hand washable and a perfect travel companion.

Wolfgang Grey Washed Silk
Wolfgang Grey Washed Silk

Spring pick #4:

Garments in Arthur Brown/Cream Checked Cotton Broadcloth

This is the go-to everyday cotton fabric for spring and into summer. A very low-key, yet put-together, kind of fabric choice. Easy care — just throw in a cold water wash on gentle cycle, and it should last for a lifetime with proper care.

Arthur Brown/Cream Checked Cotton Broadcloth
Arthur Brown/Cream Checked Cotton Broadcloth

I hope this is a big help as you order your spring wardrobe. I encourage you to find your own favourites at IveyAbitz.com.

-Cynthia

Categories
Designer Notes

Designer Notes for Look No. 3 ~ Holiday 2011

Look No. 3 ~ Painting from Holiday Look Book

 

The Designs:

This is a great example of wearing an Ivey Abitz jacket as a shirt. The Blanchefleur Jacket in the Pewter Hand Woven Silk becomes a lighter weight piece that can easily be worn indoors. The curves in its bottom hem tie in beautifully to the curving movement along the bottom hem of the Addy Skirt.

The bias cut insets made of striped silk on the Addy Skirt make it the featured piece within the ensemble. The Leo Frock, gently peeking out at the bottom hem, makes an airy base for the look. It gives the ensemble depth without unnecessary bulk. The look is finished with a substantial Lucia Scarf around the neck to counter the wispy netting of the base frock.

 

 

 

 

Look No. 3 Fabrics

 

The Palette: 

The Pewter hues here are wonderfully ambiguous. The Pewter Puckered Striped Silk and Pewter Hand Woven Silk have black threads going through the yarn dyed weave, even though it’s not easy to tell upon first glance of the fabrics. This makes it very easy to mix in black hues into the ensemble. Black shoes and accessories are very easy to wear with these Pewter hues, which is one of the most common colours in a wardrobe. This makes it so easy to blend these versatile pieces into your IA wardrobe.

The Pewter Washed Cotton Velvet is a dip-dyed fabric, so it has a wonderful variation of hues in it. The fabric gives you light and dark Pewter hues, as well as warm and cooler hues.

See Holiday Look No. 3 at IveyAbitz.com.

 

 

Design Line-up: 

Blanchefleur Jacket
Leo Frock
Blanchefleur Jacket

 

Lucia Scarf
Categories
Designer Notes

Designer Notes for Look No.2 ~ Holiday 2011

 

The Designs:

I love to mix the flounce of a feminine skirt with a more tailored and hint-of-masculine look. That’s the purpose of the Holkham Hall designs in a nutshell.

By making the designs in velvets and silks, suddenly, you have options of wearing them to work through the winter months and wearing them to special holiday occasions. They can all be dressed up or down by simply changing your shoes and accessories.

What works so well about this ensemble is that you can have many looks with just a few garments. Wear the vest fully buttoned or partially buttoned. Wear the shirt with or without the necktie. Wear just the shirt and skirt together. Wear the Elliot Jacket buttoned over the shirt. Mix in a pair of more casual trousers and flip up the Holkham Hall Shirt cuffs, and you’ve added an entirely new slant to your new holiday grouping.

 

The Palette:

Look No.2 Fabrics

The Sapphire hues vary greatly from deep jewel navy to lighter greyish blue tones. They all play well off of one another, which is partly what gives the ensemble such variety within the same hue.

I like placing more casual cottons alongside silks that are associated with special occasions. It tones down the idea of silk in an unexpected way and lets you have a smart looking everyday ensemble. Just one necktie in a striped cotton does the trick. Silk is an everyday fabric, in my opinion–especially when it goes through our special washings that soften and decrease the sheen of the silk threads. Since it’s a holiday collection, you have an even better excuse to add a silk garment to your Ivey Abitz wardrobe.

See this look – Holiday Look No. 2 – in the Holiday Look Book.

 

 

Design Line-up:
Holkham Hall Shirt
Holkham Hall Vest
Holkham Hall Necktie
Holkham Hall Skirt
Elliot Jacket
Categories
Designer Notes

Designer Notes for Look No.1 ~ Holiday 2011

 

The Designs:  

This Holiday 2011 Collection ensemble features the new Holkham Hall Jacket, Trelawny Frock, and Lucia Scarf. An Elliot Shirt and Jacket in Onyx French Netting is worn with the Trelawny Frock for coverage on the arms. It gives the ensemble a lovely combination of a lighter, airier, feel alongside the more substantive cotton velvet.

Featured Fabrics in Look No.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Palette: 

Look No. 1 is subtle with a striking addition of the Lucia Scarf in the Emerald Textured Striped Silk. The scarf can be worn outdoors or indoors, allowing this pop of colour to be worn throughout the day with the ensemble.

 

Pewter Washed Cotton Velvet ~ Holiday 2011

Fabric Feature: 

Our Pewter Washed Cotton Velvet is perhaps the most subtle show-stopping choice of the collection. The variation of grey hues in this dip-dyed fabric lends itself well to mixing and matching within many ensembles. This fabric is featured in the Holkham Hall Jacket.

Another subtle stunner worth mentioning is the Onyx Hand Woven Silk in the Trelawny Frock. It can be dressed up or down with simply changing your shirt/jacket and accessories. It’s an all-season weight that can be enjoyed year round.

 

 

 Design Line-up: 

 

Holkham Hall Jacket
Elliot Shirt
Elliot Jacket
Trelawny Frock
Lucia Scarf