The entitled and elite tastemakers who ran secret gin joints during Prohibition-era times were the gatekeepers to a world of jazz, liquor and fabulous fashion that still inspires some designers. While we're allowed to booze away freely today, there are still some things that remain hush-hush. The fashion world is made up of mavens on the hip-tip, wearing razzle dazzle 'em frocks by emerging designers long before they're a blip on most people's radar.

It's appropriate that Heidi Handler is inspired by the Roaring '20s because her delicate designs are causing quite a rumble. Taken from her middle name, Lovenia, Handler's new collection of flirty frocks, is a combination of American tailoring and European elegance. Drop-waist dresses and airy smocks made of natural silks, cottons and sheer metallics ooze with the innocence of the era—and some of its seductiveness, too.

A little black number makes a big impact when detailed with woven pieces of silk that give the illusion of origami-folding paper and a drop-waist, raw-edge skirt. An indigo silk-charmeuse dress, curves hugged by a large black sash, is offset with hand-embroidered peek-a-boo beaded lace. A soft nude-colored piece with floating arm straps and tea-dyed ostrich feather hem channels stars of smoky stages past and hints at parties future.

Handler might have imagined a veritable who's-who of the art world as her inspiration: "Jean Harlow and Edie Sedgwick are having tea at Tamara de Lempicka's before catching a Josephine Baker show in Paris," but anyway you dish it, these clothes are feminine looks made to speak easy, dance easy, dress easy—and all that jazz.

For more information please visit www.lovenia.com.

- Stephanie Castro

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Similar Topics:debut collection, Emerging Designer, fashion, shopping, spring 2008

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