The latest Gatsby collection was inspired by iconic starlets of yesteryear: Louise Brooks, Clara Bow, Vivien Leigh, Veronica Lake and Josephine Baker. In keeping with the Gatsby theme, the styles are reminiscent of the 1920s and comprised of silk, vintage lace and antique buttons. I used art nouveau motifs in the machine embroidery on some of the styles. The color palate was inspired by the beautiful magnolia trees that were in bloom at the time I made the collection.

Sarah doesn’t sell the Gatsby line at her boutique. Instead, she uses Etsy for these very special pieces. The Veronica is $250 US and the full set for Clara Bow is also $250 (knicker, bra, suspender belt).

All photos from the Gatsby collection were taken by photographer Lisa Warninger. Visit her at www.lisawarninger.com. Photos of Louise Brooks, Clara Bow, Veronica Lake, and Josephine Baker are believed to be in the public domain.

Lille Boutique was created to provide women with elegant lingerie in a comfortable setting. Located in the Lower Burnside district of Portland, Oregon, the shop carries a unique combination of luxurious undergarments, hosiery and sleepwear from local, national and international lines, as well as bath and body products, hand made jewelry, antiques and home decor. Lille features undergarments and lounge-wear made with handmade lace and high-quality natural fibers, such as silk and organic cotton, but you will also find bras made of modern materials that offer exceptional comfort and support. The goal is to provide women with smart alternatives to the many uncomfortable synthetic options currently available in the lingerie market.

Sarah stocks Lille with great brands like Eberjey, Stella McCartney, Sabrina Nadal, and Lyell; however, you won’t find an entire line from a designer at Lille. Sarah doesn’t work that way. She hand selects pieces that are distinctive and fit with the goals of her own shop.

In addition to running Lille, Sarah also has her hand in fashion shows including the Doug Fir Fest in 2008, the store’s one year anniversary, and the 2007 fashion show. Sarah’s day doesn’t end there. She’s a regular blogger about many topics, but mostly about lingerie. You can find her soapbox here (Life in Lingerie).

Sarah’s latest venture is to transform from shop owner to lingerie designer. She has recently introduced her own line of limited-edition handmade lingerie she is calling Gatsby. Gatsby is inspired by vintage styles, most notably Sarah’s great eye for the 1920s. She uses only vintage silk, lace, and other recycled materials. Currently, sizing is limited and the pieces aren’t available on the Lille website. Sarah encourages women to try them on. She will increase the number of pieces and sizes as the line matures. Sarah shared a few pictures from her Gatsby line.