Abaeté

It has been clear for months that grey is the color of the moment. The spring shows are leaning toward beiges and khakis, but grey still dominates. Alexander Wang, BCBG Max Azria, and Doo.Ri are neck-deep in the stuff. Other recurring tones: electric blue, mustard yellow, and Calder-red. Now, I love these colors, no question about it. I'm just a little overwhelmed right now. I'm having trouble keeping designers straight.

Maybe this is why Abaeté has been so memorable. Pastels are paired carefully, robin's egg blue makes a statement but isn't used to punctuate, and strips of black eliminate any girliness suggested by the pinks. I admire that thoughtfulness to no end.

Things to know about Abaeté:

• It's pronounced “a-BYE-ah-tay.”
• The line is designed by Laura Poretzky, a French-Danish-Brazilian-New Yorker.
  
• Poretzky graduated from RISD, worked with Ralph Lauren and produced her own line James before going on to create Abaete in 2004.
• "Abaete doesn’t mean anything; it was the title bestowed on my great grandfather by a Portuguese king after he abolished slavery in Brazil…"
  
• Poretzky looks about fourteen years old.
• Rather ironically, she hates babies.
• The Spring 2008 line was inspired by her grandmother, a Brazilian actress and dancer.
  
• The first Abaete for Payless Collection hit the runway during Fall 2006 Fashion Week.
• Along with Philip Lim, Rachel Roy and Tory Burch, Poretzky was inducted into the CFDA this past July.