Eye Candy: Derby Hats

Horses and hats. Those two h's are the only things that matter at the Kentucky Derby. In order to celebrate this shining moment in my hometown that happens the first Saturday of May, I have searched the spring couture runways to find the most interesting headpieces to inspire those of you who just love a fancy, frivolous hat.

A fabulous hat is the piece de resistance of the Derby. Well, the celebs that show up are cool too.

Christian Dior Couture Spring 2008

Valentino Couture Spring 2008

Christian Lacroix Spring 2008

all pictures courtesy of style.com

The Mascara Diaries: Mermaid Edition

The life of a mermaid has always been a fantasy of mine. Ever since seeing Disney's "The Little Mermaid" at a very young age, I had wanted to be like one of those sirens of the sea, those magical, mythical creatures that fill page after page of storybooks and have intrigued land-lovers for centuries. Even though half of their body was quite, ahem, gross and slimy, they had a bewitching beauty that captured the hearts of sailors. Maybe it was their glowing skin, their twisted ropes of hair that was strategically placed, such as Daryl Hannah in "Splash," or their big, bright eyes that seemed to hold the intensity of the sea itself within their gaze.

If the beach beauties of the real world are supposed to emulate the supernatural allure of the mermaid, than we need to have that flawless, waterproof mascara to accent that smoldering gaze. My current fixation is the Diorshow Waterproof Mascara, the pool-approved version of a cult obsession. Not only is this anti-H2O, but also it gives the same lush, full look as its original counterpart. There is no compromise here, only long, curly, thick lashes that demand attention, whether you are watching a tragically sad movie or flexing your imaginary fins on a sandy beach. Ariel would be so proud.

Diorshow Waterproof Mascara

pictures courtesy of http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/3/3c/Mermaidtwo.jpg/280px-Mermaidtwo.jpg, http://www.scantours.net/images/data/little_mermaid_1.jpg, http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/dayart/movies/41452/41452_ab.jpg, http://cache.eb.com/eb/image?id=93281&rendTypeId=4

The Mascara Diaries: Vol. 3

Sometimes the best shows are not performed on the stage, but instead in your makeup bag, as is the case with Dior DiorShow Mascara.

Pros: There are an infinite number of positive points to this multi-tasking wonder product! It lengthens, volumizes, and holds curl better than any mascara I've yet wrapped around my zealous fingers. For anyone who loves a beautiful set of rich lashes but breaks out in hives at the idea of falsies, this is your answer. The effect is supernaturally fake (and I mean that in the best way possible,) and the result is wonderfully Old-Hollywood, with enough drama to run its own Broadway show.

Cons: Remarkably this mascara has very little disagreeable aspects to it. The only slightly annoying characteristic is that it can take a bit of scrubbing and a good makeup remover to remove, which is somewhat of a positive because it is incredibly long-lasting.

Conclusion: One of the best mascaras in the biz, and a definite must-have for all lash freaks. Beauty editors and makeup addicts agree, this is like the little black dress of mascaras, an immediate go-to when you want to look fabulous and flirty, yet edgy and dramatic.

Couture Concentrate: Christian Dior Spring 2007

Couture. Its what fashion editors wait every season for. Magazines try to analyze it. But for most of us, its what we cock our head at, desperately trying to understand. Couture is the purest form of design creativity. It is the time for designers to exercise their imagination and explore new realms of fashion. Couture defies our perception of clothing from a necessity into an art form. Christian Dior Couture Spring 2007 was quite a spectacle. The resonating theme was the idea of a geisha, and taking that image to newer and greater heights. Among some of the styles, the masterful John Galliano added new volume to the kimono. Layers of flirty ruffles deconstructed beautiful dresses, their trains taking on the appearance of a luxurious river of ruby lava flowing behind them, as seen in the first picture. He also experimented with origami-style pleating, which is one of the most unique techniques I have ever seen. The last gown featured seems to defy gravity and morph from a dress into a delicate paper crane. If couture is like a passport to new worlds, then I'm hitching a ride on the Orient Express.

All runway images courtesy of

http://www.style.com/fashionshows/collections/S2007CTR/review/CDIOR