Krista: Greetings Fashionable People! While L-A was helping the State of California get on the right side of its deficit and Ally was contemplating the quiet absurdity of the suburbs/enjoying a mimosa-fuelled prior engagement, your Official Intern took the express train to the Hydrostone to check out Halifax native Nicole McInnis’ spring/summer 2010 collection of Oh Dina! hair fascinators and accessories.

Lady Luck was hopping when I arrived, but Nicole was kind enough to make a few minutes for me while greeting a steady stream of customers and well-wishers. The Lady Luck ladies were incredibly helpful, picking out some great pieces for me to shoot.

Nicole McInnis is not only a busy woman, but an incredibly talented one – she’s conquering the fashion world while completing her degree in Fashion Design from Ryerson. In one year, Oh Dina! has grown from one store to 21 stores across Canada, and Nicole’s expanded her product line to include brooches and sashes. She explained her method for making some of her materials (it involves a torch), but I won’t offend science by trying to explain it.

Nicole clearly loves what she does, and that passion and enthusiasm for her work translates into the finished product. Since I’m particular about quality, I carefully inspected the construction of her pieces and they’re flawless; well-made with high quality materials. Price points are between $25 and $120+ for more complicated bridal pieces, but you should be able to find a unique accessory to complement your look and budget for all of life’s special occasions.

On to the pretty things!

The bridal pieces are extraordinary. Please, Fashionable People, be interesting and choose a unique contemporary hair accessory like Oh Dina! instead of some perfectly ordinary wad of tulle and plastic netting. I could elaborate on the many terrible wedding veils that I’ve been subjected to, but you already know exactly what I’m talking about.

By the by, a dear friend of mine eloped last year and when she sent out the “we’re married!” pictures with her wearing a beautiful veiled hair accessory like this one, I just about died of acute chic toxicity (Ed note: that’s not a real affliction, but should be). It was magnificent and memorable. I’m told her husband was in the pictures, too, but, for the life of me, I have no recollection of that. (Ally: This paragraph was one of the funniest I have had the pleasure of reading in my entire lifetime)

Oh Dina! has pieces that will appeal across demographics. I’m in the “25 and up” age group these days, but if I was in high school, I guarantee I would have worked extra shifts at the one-hour photo lab to buy one of these headbands. (Fine. It’s “35 and up”). This year, I desperately hope some really cool girl wears this blue bow headband to prom. She’ll automatically rule the world, while the girls who wear tiaras will be busy realizing that life after a tiara is bound to be a crushing disappointment.

(Ally: Please say we can join you. Please? We can sit on the Lord Nelson patio!)

Maybe you’re going to some fabulous event this summer. If you do, please wear this and be easy-to-identify as the most interesting person in the room:

Or this:

Or any of these:

The cherry on the sundae of the terrifically fun Oh Dina! trunk show was local singer-songwriter Kristina Trites, who was on-hand to entertain while modelling one of the Oh Dina! pieces. It took a simple afternoon gig and made it an occasion.

See more incredible pieces from OhDina! at http://www.ohdina.com/ or stop by Lady Luck (Hydrostone Market, 5519 Young St and Historic Properties, 1869 Upper Water St, Halifax). Listen to Kristina Trites at http://www.myspace.com/kristinatrites