Katherine Chloé Cahoon

The moment I learned of Pemba Island’s Manta Resort, I was enthralled by this aquatic East African retreat. It is a sea lover’s vacation dream…a three-story hotel suite with a glass bedroom plunging beneath the Indian Ocean. Spotlights are even included to attract fish.

So by day you can snorkel or dive, chill on a white-sand beach, or explore Zanzibar’s Pemba Island. You can even take an excursion to the ancient Ngezi Forest…and might get lucky enough to encounter a flying fox!

By night, you can watch the stars from your rooftop deck or get a private show of sea life right from your bed! Sounds incredible. Only one little problem… I’m far from a daredevil and I’ve never gone diving. Guess it’s time to sign up for those lessons:)

Since it’s Animal World on my site this week, today we’re chatting about another critter-based fashion trend. Peacocks have caught the fancy of designers from the four corners of the world. I first discovered the craze in Cabo with this top from Allegra.

As you can see, the peacock pattern I’m wearing is beautiful and versatile. It can be dressed up or down…but it’s not on the wild side.

If that’s what you’re looking for, read on! Peacock fashion has no boundaries. This ModCloth cocktail dress is fanciful.

Not spicy enough for you? How about this Unique Vintage gown? You can up your theatric quotient by pairing it with these peacock-adorned heels!

At Harrods of London, peacocks go to the beach with Elizabeth Hurley’s bikini. She’s even made a mini-dress saluting our feathered friends that can be used either as a cover-up or a night on the town.

Say you want to get your peacock fix from South Korea? The fashion house Nabi offers halter dresses that are the epitome of flirtatious femininity. Naturally! Its name means “me” and “free,” and its purpose is to create women’s fashions “inspired by tradition, international heritage and Asian beauty.”

I love that a trend I spotted in a Mexican beach town can now be found all around the world.

It’s easy with help from the Fabulous Fatima and MAC. You’ve all heard of fashion weeks at style capitals around the globe, well this makeup magician is so in demand that she regularly embarks on fashion months. She hops from one show to the next, making models look like beauty goddesses in minutes.

I snapped the above pic of Fatima at a beauty trend show. And I was so excited when she taught me the steps to a flawless cat eye…the hot look infiltrating Hollywood hotties. Today, I’m passing her tips on to you.

Fluidline. The name of this product says it all. Fatima says the key to a smooth cat eye is a smooth eyeliner.

Skinny Brush. The adjective “anorexic” is never good except when it comes to certain makeup brushes. This MAC 210 is so skinny that the bristles barely show. Fatima uses it to give her cat eyes that perfect point. First, she draws eyeliner on the lower lid and extends it at the end above and beyond the top lid. Then, moving toward the eye, she brings the line back down to the upper lid to create a narrow triangle.

Polish It Off. Next, she fills in the triangle and adds eyeliner on the top lid. For a finished look, she uses a pencil to line the inner rim. If you mess-up any of these steps, no worries. Fatima has a brilliant little secret. Just put oil-free liquid makeup remover on a slanted brush and whisk away any mistakes.

Luxurious Lashes. Frame your cat eye with a false eyelash look – minus the fuss – by brushing Extreme Dimension Mascara on your top lashes and Extended Play Mascara on the lowers. End by spritzing some Fix + on your skin for a natural hydrating glow created by vitamins and minerals.

Now I’m ready to PROWL for a fun evening with my cat eyes. Thank you so much Fatima!

And the best part about this artist’s tips is that they’re so easy to follow. When I tried to recreate the look at home, I had no troubles.

So you may have guessed this week’s theme. Hint: Yesterday, I showcased Charlotte Olympia and her feline shoe designs. And today is all about Fatima, MAC, and cat eyes. I wonder what animal will dominate tomorrow?!

Okay, I realize that today is Meeting Men Monday, so you might be wondering why I’m featuring shoes. But I promise there’s a dating tip in this post…and from a famed designer!

I’m talking about the beloved Charlotte Olympia and her fabulously fun designs,  stamped with her insignia, Charlotte’s web.

But unlike the heroine of the beloved book, this Charlotte’s web became best known for its connection with cats, not pigs. She told me that she never planned to be everyone’s favorite cat woman, but once she featured them in her shoe line, no one wanted her to quit.

So the ever creative Charlotte expanded her feline collection to include such favorites as the cheerleader cat and the punk cat, and added accessories, such as this sleek bag dangling off my wrist.

As you can see, Charlotte has a theatrical flair and knows how to pull it off.

Yet she is so charmingly down-to-earth and personal. Upon hearing that I have a relationship day on my site, she shared one of her favorite dating tips: “A woman is happy with a man who lets her take all the time she needs to shop.” Charlotte’s mother-in-law taught all her sons this principle and she has been forever grateful. I think the salient point here is that it’s critical to be considerate of your companion and what is important to her or him.

Spring gardens aren’t the only places where daisies are grabbing attention. The latest fashions have become daisy-crazed. And I can’t blame them. I jumped on the flower fashion bandwagon when I saw this top at the Allegra shop the last time I was in Cabo.

Online fashion fount ASOS is bursting with daisy skirts, bikinis and dresses.

I hope you all have a relaxing weekend with time to smell the roses…or should I say daisies?!

BHLDN has stunning vintage-feel gowns that can be worn either as wedding dresses or formal frocks. For awhile now, Hollywood has been hooked on white and off-white gowns at red carpet soirées, so why can’t the rest of us?

Last week, I posted pics of myself wearing BHLDN’s Laverne adorned by two of my But I Do awards. This keeper is a prime twirler. As you dance the night away, the gown will never stop swooshing. To see the full-length effect…

I just couldn’t stop thinking about all of BHLDN’s beautiful designs, so I decided to do a fashion post on them with Washington DC as a backdrop. After all, this is Travel Thursday and the United States was one of the sponsors of the international film festival that gave me the awards.

I felt like a mermaid in this scalloped, golden Maxine.

And here’s another favorite…the Mira. Or, as I think of it, Bathed in Beads.

The best part about BHLDN is that you’re not likely to run into your clone while wearing one of their gowns to an important function. They only make a small, limited number of each style. When the dress sells out, the design is retired.

From the time I was little, I’ve been fascinated by flowers. So naturally, when the Seattle Chinese Garden held its Luoyang Peony Festival, I had to go! Who could pass up seeing more than 400 newly planted tree peonies – many of them rare – and learning of their role in Chinese culture?

Peonies have been valued in China for over 2,000 years. They are called the “queen of flowers,” and were originally used for medicine. Tree peonies are the only varieties that do not die back to the ground in winter. The one I’m holding in the above pic is among the rare varieties.

While I was enjoying the fest, I explored the garden and saw a variety of beautiful plants, like the wisteria above.

As you may have noticed by now, I’m a little flower-obsessed…so I just couldn’t help myself when I saw this RED Valentino floral dress! Snapping a pic of it in front of huge rhododendrons seemed perfect.

My friend Sean is a beauty stylist for every cosmetic carried by Nordstrom! This means that he is fabulous at creating ALL makeup looks and knows the best products to pull for you from each line.

Today, I asked Sean to help me choose a foundation. I had just touched down from my travels and was completely out. Plus, I had a small bruise on my temple from when a lady unwittingly hit me as she flailed her arms around while flirting with a man:) Sean’s answer was a cornucopia of expert advice.

Mega Coverage. Sean tackled the bruise first. His 911 was Laura Mercier High Coverage Concealer. Although typically used to erase dark circles under eyes, it’s also perfect for camouflaging scars, bruises, and tattoos…anywhere. Sean uses two shades geared to your skin color—one darker and the other lighter. He puts the darker one on first and layers the lighter one over it. If the bruise is on your face, he then blends your foundation over that combo. If not, he ends with Laura’s Loose Setting Powder. This keeps the color from rubbing off or transferring to your clothes.

Satisfied Skin. For foundation, Sean gave me a light, breathable tint with SPF for my active life…Clarins Multi-Protection Tint. It’s chemical-free and good for your skin. Camera-Ready Face. Much of my work involves being photographed, and we’re all living in a camera-happy society. Sean’s tip for having great-looking skin on film is applying a little Chanel Perfection Velvet Makeup. Hydrating Blush. After treating your face so well, don’t crash the party by putting powder on your cheeks. Sean suggests a hydrating blush like La Prairie Cellular Radiance Cream.

Well, I told you he was a cornucopia of cosmetic knowledge. Sean’s also someone who cares, so he gave me these additional tips: Contouring. Sometimes a girl wants more defined cheekbones and other benefits that come from contouring. For this, Sean recommended NARS Matte Multiple. Moisture Galore. And he knows that someone like me who spends a fair amount of time flying can sometimes use an extra-moist foundation. For this, the gold standard is La Prairie Foundation.

Flower Power. Before saying goodbye, Sean gave me this La Prairie gift with samples including Swiss Ice Crystal Dry Oil. This is made from flowers growing under the ice in the Swiss Alps that can only be harvested ten days a year! Just as the ice keeps the flowers safe and moist, the oil “seals moisture within your skin longer than ever thought possible.”

On Meeting Men Monday, I usually focus on dating tips and stories, but today I’m honoring the men who gave their lives for us. And although Memorial Day is a US holiday, I realize that every country has men like them.

While getting ready for dinner and the theater, we heard about a pop-up art extravaganza in the Great Hall of Union Station in Seattle. So, naturally, we took a detour. Never mind that I was dressed up and the artists’ salon wasn’t a dressy event… I wasn’t going to miss out on seeing over 70 decorative painters from around the world working on their masterpieces while showcasing them.

Andy, from The Mural Works, stopped to talk with me as he painted a piece featuring Mount Rainier.  Admirers were constantly surrounding him. Well, can you blame them? Look at his work!

Besides painting on canvas, artists were using mediums like metal and wood. This column had been painted to look like marble. I thought it was very fitting that I wore a hand-painted dress and shawl. These pieces are by Simply Silk. Since their prints are individually created, each design is unique. The material is then cut on the bias, so they’re figure-flattering too. Simply Silk creations are sold at a variety of venders, like Saratoga Clothes Horse and Jungle Fever Naples.

The excursion was extra special because the Great Hall was where we filmed scenes from But I Do!

Yesterday, I blogged about two more awards that I won for But I Do. Today, I’m honoring two of the dancers who made this project amazing. They have star power PLUS!

Eric and Andrew dance with the world-famous Pacific Northwest Ballet. I grew up training with them at the Ballet’s official school. When we were making But I Do and needed partners for my beautiful principal dancers, Katie and Denise, Eric and Andrew graciously volunteered.

These men aren’t just extraordinary dancers, they’re extraordinary people. Eric began studying ballet as a PNB DanceChance student. In this program, the Ballet goes into elementary schools and extends an invitation for a full scholarship to children who have the ability to become professional dancers, but would not otherwise have the opportunity. The scholarship includes all the dance gear they need, transportation to school, and tickets to the ballet.

Some people think that this gives those dancers an unfair advantage. They couldn’t be more wrong. With the challenges most of them face, it doesn’t even level the playing field. The neighborhoods many of them come from are rough. I had a DanceChance friend who quit in his junior year of high school. He could have been one of ballet’s greats, and he knew it. He also could have been the quarterback on his football team and made All-State. As I encouraged him to stay at PNB, he told me that he wanted to, but he could no longer endure the opposition he faced at home as a ballet dancer.

Eric graduated from PNB’s school, was the first DanceChance student to join the Company, and has won several prestigious dance awards. I admire those accomplishments, but I admire even more his courage and commitment…and how he is one of the most caring, genuine, humble people I know.

Andrew is equally impressive. The only night that I could pull everyone together to film the final ballroom scene in But I Do happened to be the same evening that he had a dress rehearsal for Whim W’Him. This is an elite contemporary dance company that Andrew somehow manages to work with in addition to PNB.

Well, like Captain America, Andrew came through for us and saved the day… Or, should I say the night? He wasn’t able to arrive until about midnight, the filming lasted for hours, and he had to be up early the next morning because Whim was opening and he had a starring role. Yet Andrew cheerfully stayed on our set until everyone was satisfied. In fact, he was one of the last to leave. A few days later, the Seattle Times gave his Whim performance a rave review. You can judge for yourself how he did in But I Do. Hint: He was superb.

Whim is currently performing in Seattle and, best of all, Andrew has choreographed a piece! The finale is tomorrow night, Friday May 23rd. For details Visit Whimwhim.

Look what I found in my mailbox…two awards for my short film, But I Do. They came all the way from across the sea in little red velvet boxes!

These medals were given to me for Best Producer and Best Actress. The voting occurred after But I Do was featured in an international film festival sponsored by France, the United States, and Indonesia.

I absolutely love that a little film created just for fun by close friends and 92 volunteers turned into something screened around the world.

Thank you to everyone involved in this project. You all mean so much to me, including the last volunteer to sign on…my friend’s dad. He poured cups of water for the dancers when we filmed the final ballroom scene:)

I’ve road-tested all these Stila lip stains and I can attest that once you put them on, they aren’t going anywhere! This is what I wore for the romantic scene on the piano in But I Do.

Stila lip stains come in a variety of colors and are also great to wear for dance performances. From cheering for Vanderbilt, I can attest that having your hair stuck to your gloss is far from appealing. Stila stains are a stick-free solution.

Word to the wise… I’ve found that these lip stain colors look different on different people. It all comes down to your natural lip color. I’d advise visiting a store that carries Stila and asking a makeup artist to try various shades on your lips before choosing one.

Here’s another Pillow Talk video! This nightingale wants to know if she should try to tame a player. Any thoughts?

In keeping with this week’s bargain theme, an ultimate wardrobe money-saver and travel tip is to collect pieces that can be worn different ways to create many looks. I took a pair of 7 for All Mankind jeans on a trip together with a basic top and tailored jacket (similar). Then I used this as my base to create three looks for three different events.

One night, I added a green beaded sarong that I had picked up in Cabo and headed out to a dinner party at a sleek Asian restaurant.

Another night, I threw on a purple wrap that I found ages ago at a store with authentic Egyptian items.

And when it was time to go dancing, I left my jacket at the hotel and put on a shimmery shawl that I had found on a trip to London.

I’ve had those black 7’s jeans for about five years and they’re still holding up. When I bought them, the price tag didn’t say Bargain Basement, but it also didn’t say Luxury Lane. I’ve definitely got my money’s worth out of them. That being said, if 7’s are out of your budget, I found similar ones by DKNY on sale at Macy’s for under $50.