Tiaras for Tinseltown

If they gave out Oscars for effort, Tarina Tarantino would be on the short list. “The week before the Academy Awards is always stressful,” sighs the 29-year-old, pausing over takeout at her West Hollywood studio. Between bites, we’re here to talk tiaras. Not those emerald-and-diamond jobs that only look good with a massive bosom and a lorgnette. These headdresses are pretty.

Instead of precious stones, Tarantino (no relation to Quentin) uses Swarovski crystal beads whose colors seem to glow in a woman’s hair. “You could wear $2 million of jewels on your head,” shrugs her business partner and fiance, Alfonso Campos. “But that’s not fun.” (OK, if you say so.)

The effect is whimsical and surprisingly graceful. And come Oscar night (this is her third), Tarantino hopes coiffed heads everywhere will be sporting her hair art. She already enjoys a celeb following: Madonna, Drew Barrymore, Ashley Judd and Minnie Driver all enjoy throwing on a Tarina tiara every now and again.

But even the most devoted of her customers can buckle under the pressure of Oscar night. “At some point you’ve got everyone--the gown designer, hairstylist, publicist and jeweler--all in one room telling the celebrity what to wear,” says Campos. And that means a tiara might just be tossed aside at the last minute.

After hours spent creating tiaras to match the gown du jour (“One day it’s Valentino, the next Richard Tyler”), she may receive a call late that afternoon--the presenter/nominee/arm ornament is going with the Armani.

“They call the next day to say they’re sorry,” says Tarantino serenely. Mere mortals who wish to be queen for a day may purchase Tarina’s tiaras at Fred Segal Santa Monica, Barneys and Jennifer Kaufman.