Online - December 19, 2006

Take It to the Limit

Christina Hattler Dresses

You know your limits. Two drinks (a third, and you risk waking up next to a smelly stranger). Three-day visits with mom (at four, she wants to sell you into slavery).

Designer Christina Hattler has her own boundaries: She did only three dresses for spring and is producing just 50 of each style.

Which means you should preorder immediately if you want to land one of the coveted creations.

Every one does double duty from office to after-hours. Rosio is black and white, empire-waisted, and made of silk and viscose with gold buttons and a double-wrap sash. Violet is a black linen goddess dress with pleats and drapey sleeves. The July Tuxedo has all the accoutrements of, well, a monkey suit: bow tie, cummerbund, and pockets.

The hard-to-score cocktailers will run you about 600 big ones.

Thank heaven for credit card limits.

Available online at christinahattler.com.