San Francisco - September 30, 2009

Victor Victoria

Christopher Collins Boutique Opens

Circa 1889, a mere ankle poking out from below the hem was considered salacious.

Victorian prudishness may be long gone (see: Megan Fox), but that doesn’t mean a lady can’t show a little restraint now and then.

Local designer Christopher Collins, who opens his first boutique tomorrow in Nob Hill, plays with inspirations from earlier eras for his ultra-feminine line of contemporary couture and ready-to-wear women’s clothing.

The boutique itself is a throwback to a more luxurious time. Vintage fashion articles from the early 1900s line one wall, while a Manzanita branch chandelier evokes the feeling of old meets new.

Fresh from Fashion Week, Collins’s pieces — like bell-sleeved black coats and effortlessly chic evening dresses — make the case that, when it comes to sexiness, sometimes it’s best to hold back.

And trust that it’s more than meets the eye.

Christopher Collins Boutique, 1116 Sutter Street, at Larkin Street (415-440-2464 or christophercollinscollection.com).

Photo: Courtesy of Christopher Collins Boutique

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