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

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