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Art has come to the corner of Fifth Avenue and 50th Street in the form of Hickey Freeman’s fall line and the HMX Group’s original archival paintings from its noteworthy art collection. The venue is the bank of windows on the north side of Saks Fifth Avenue. Dating back as far as 1910, the vintage oil paintings, some hanging in a gallery style while others lean against the wall, were the original Hickey Freeman advertisements of the day. The installation marks the first time Saks devoted an entire grouping of windows to Hickey Freeman.

The artwork and the fashions work together to tell a simple, clean and handsome story as they suggest a contemporary version of a by-gone era. Under the direction of Joseph Abboud, president and chief creative officer, the line is all about fit, texture and a comfortable elegance. “We have made the transformation from an old yet venerable manufacturing company into a truly modern lifestyle brand that is Hickey Freeman,” Abboud says.

The paintings, thought to be by Maxfield Parish, are meant to support the fashions and help project a strong merchandise statement. Abboud took great pride in framing the artwork in a sophisticated and modern way. Each painting is matted with the company’s signature cashmere fabric, quintessential to the tactile nature of the Hickey Freeman outfits adorning the window. Tom Beebe, vp, creative services at the HMX Group, styled 10 mannequins in a realistic, spontaneous and informal manner. Beebe’s sophisticated and elegant approach is complementary to the Hickey Freeman brand. All of the mannequins feature a layered look with each having its own distinct personality. Some have turned up collars and some turned down, while others feature rolled sleeves, pocketed gloves, patterned vests, turtlenecks, plaids, herring bones and knotted scarves.

Abboud blurs the line between art and fashion – to him they are one in the same. Both are bookmarks of our society and mirrors of our time.
 

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