A Very Merry Christmas December 23, 2009

Greetings and felicitations to all this season!  I hope the year was eventful for you all and that you are glad to be done with it!  XD

This year I started blogging and I have to thank everyone who has made it a success.  My fellow fashion bloggers, readers, and developers have responded with such positive comments that I count myself very lucky to be a part of such a dynamic industry!

I also have to be thankful for meeting the man who will soon intertwine his second life with mine.  I have always been a woman who was always whole and happy on her own, discovering the world by her own voice, but after three years I have found out that having someone along for the ride and listening to them can bring even more understanding and appreciation to an already plentiful experience.

So here’s a toast to this year and the next: go out into the world and do well, but more importantly go out and do good!

Happy Thanksgiving! November 26, 2009

Let the seasonal tradition of overeating begin!  It’s actually pretty warm here, with this turkey day being the coldest this week, and I am waiting for the chance to bundle up and feel the cold chap my cheeks.  But like most things, Second Life can provide us with the platform to live our fantasies.  This time I took a look at the Winterfest showcase and I found Angel Woods.

 

This little gem is nestled amongst the bustle of the mainland and provides a very intimate scenery.  Plenty of nooks and crannies for peaceful reflection or for couples.  With the snow gently falling, I thought it was the perfect time to experience some new, wonderful designs by SL’s hottest designers.

 

Angel Wood

What I use to keep warm:

:GP: Petal Frex [Light] Winter-Sniffles 1 (the new skins from Curio are so cute and are perfect for exploring the outdoors.  Just the right amount of red nose and cheeks means fun in the snow.  If you want to theme it up this season, winter skins should be on your Christmas list)

fri. – Cassie – Passionate Red

Zaara : Anaya cluster earrings *onyx*

*COCO*_CheckSwingCoat_Blue (I love plaid, and this new coat from Coco is just so natural looking.  It drapes beautifully and flatters the figure.  I can’t imagine leaving the house this winter without it)

*PERSONA* Dita knit blouse – white  (for the plaid coat, I thought a knit would be best for underneath.  Just so happens that I stumbled upon this sweater that I have had for just about forever.  Always important to coordinate your textures and prints.  Knits and plaids have had a centuries old love affair with each other that can’t go wrong)

*COCO*_SlimJeansBelt_Brown (it’s the little details that really tell the world that you are smart about your appearance.  In other words?  Wear belts!)

[LeLutka]-WOOL PANTS-gray

Black Lace Gloves from *{JB}* Ariadne IV

Ring black saphire / oversize  / R *REDGRAVE*

Headline: New York Divorcee Spends Thousands at Husband’s Expense November 17, 2009

This sweater reminds me of all the extremely stylish matrons of world renown who are the woman behind the man.  Jackie Onassis, Brooke Astor, etc.  They were larger than life women with class and pride.  I found this sweater by Chantkare and for the first time in my second life, I want to put on white hair, talk about botox, and dress like my life depended upon it.

Manhattan Power Wife

My story for this character is a first wife; there for her man when he was just a lowly stock trader.  He is now a titan of industry, but resentful of all that she has done for him.  To assert his fledgling identity, he has been sleeping with a young model and like that it is out with the older, and in with the teenybopper.

But hell have no fury like a woman scorned.  She has hired the best divorce attorneys and hawked all her priceless jewelry to pay for them.  She still dresses like a queen, but her throne is in danger.  To show her husband, and the world, that a wife isn’t so easily dismissed, she has gallivanted and strutted her way into half his fortune and his company.  They might not be man and wife, but he’ll be pleasing her until his dying day.  Women like this always have the last laugh.  It’s catty and empowering.  I love it.

What the bitch is wearing all the way to the bank:

*League* Skin Pale -Misty- Golden Glow Dark Bald BT

fri. – Jules – Melancholy White

ROLE OPTIC SG-53 Eternity

p.c; Vintage Black Earrings

CHANTKARE- Paula SWEATER DRESS  IVORY

Zaara : Vanisri wrapped necklace *amythest-silver*

fri. – Wide Waist.Belt (Bright.Lime)

::: B@R ::: Emanuela Purple

M * A * ii * K * I Long Legging Pearl

Maitreya Neyya * Violet Leather

Vixen Files October 27, 2009

Talk about going from cute to sexy in four hours!  Last night, I was checking out what was new at Lamb (post about that later), when I got caught up in the Designers United event.  Really laggy, even with my mere 576 ARC (please people, you can still look great AND be considerate to others) but most everything was a steal if not free and were of impeccable quality.  The crow theme?  Unbelievably genius!  After that I swung by LeLutka to grab a demo for their new Eclat skin.  Wasn’t even looking to buy, but O.M.G… had to break my piggy bank and snag some of that right there and then!

All Business

I have to admit that the skins I typically buy have more natural makeups.  Sure, when I try demos on I often love the deeper lipsticks and the colored lids, but when it comes time to click and pay, I opt for neutral shades.  This time I was at that same place: do I get the bolder color or do I stick to the middle of the road?  Well I went for it peoples.  I figured: it’s LELUTKA, if you can’t be daring with a design so couture, when can you be?  I went bright red and I never went back.

So for today’s outfits took a formal approach with more texture, unique accouterments, and less saturation to let the skin and makeup standout.

Both have on…

[LeLutka]-EclatPale-makeup6

[LeLutka] – Cleavage Volumizer A(PALE)

Eyes Leona -SageGreen- *REDGRAVE*

*Beauty Avatar* REGINA – Eyelashes 03

 

Left Ensemble…

fri. – Kate – Melancholy White

!Ohmai : FeatherCardigan WHITECROW

*Miss 80s* CROW QUEEN necklace

[LeLutka]-OLIMPIA pants/black

Right Ensemble…

MMShair-O’HARA – Charcoal

Zaara : Isis Shirt {pitch}

p.c. Black Pearl Drops Earrings

(Milk Motion) My feather necklace

* Baiastice_Regalwool pant-black

BAX Ankle Boots Black Patent (ji)

Autumn Leaves Start to Fall October 25, 2009

This week has been less about fashion and more about socializing for me in Second Life.  I have casually been shopping some new stores, but for the most part I’ve been hanging with friends and exploring.

Looking this casual is hard work.

These two looks are very different but share commonalities.  One is rural while the other is urban.  One is modern while the other is traditional.  But both are cute and comfortable with flats that keep my feetsies warm in the cooling weather and thick pants for lovely days in the fall weather.  They are multipurpose outfits, perfect for this week when I was all over the grid.

Both have on…

[PF] Skye <Milk> – Beestung  (dkbrow)  <— Has a rosy cheek perfect for outdoor apparel

Eyes Leona -SageGreen- *REDGRAVE*

*Beauty Avatar* REGINA – Eyelashes 03

Lefty is wearing…

fri. – Kate – Timid Brown  <— Gotta love Fri.Day releases

Intrigue Co. – Love Love Love (black) shirt <—- offers a hint of color that sets off this other wise monotone ensemble

MichaMi: Carmela Cardie in Black

Schadenfreude Pearl necklace with cameo <—- I love mixing old and new, so a cameo on a multicolor pearl strand is perfect for making this contemporary outfit more eclectic.

MichaMi: Carmela Belt in Black <— Shiny patent belt adds interest without standing out and becoming the focal point.

{SMS} Shiny Denim Black  <—- They’re supposed to be denim, but I swear that they look so much like leather.  This adds contrast to my other cotton textures that again adds “zazz.”

*AuMa* *KNITTED Boot’s GRAY*

Righty has on…

fri. – Rashelle – Passionate Red

*ARGRACE* COAT ” Traveler”  (Rose) Lady <— an amazing job.  I love how versatile and realistic this jacket looks.  And it comes with optional sweater underneath (wearing)

:::Sn@tch Cashmere Scarf:::

(Ducknipple) Barks – Brown  <— I have always loved plaid pants.  They are a perfect alternative to jeans.

MIEL ANT FLATS – BROWN DERBY

(poses by Fri.Day)

I Miss My Sky October 15, 2009

I have had dreams in which I can fly all my life.  I just lift off the ground and soar like a bird.  However, the closest any of us mortals can get to that ultimate feeling of freedom and wonder is to use an airplane.  In one, someone can look out their window and behold the endless horizons around them.  The fluffy, white clouds floating below them.  Not even the birds reach you… awww, I love to fly.

Another place on my travels around Second Life is Abbott’s Aerodrome.  This airfield provides hours of fun with sky diving and demo planes, balloons, helicopters, etc.  Very realistic sights and sounds, not too mention six sims of open space, provide for a very unique experience.  I am a girl who lords quality, and I am very impressed by everything Cubey Terra has created.  To prepare for such aeronautical gallivanting, I planned an outfit that is both trendy yet vintage; couture yet relevant.  I want to look good flying off of the runway by taking ideas from the other runway, .

Amelia Eat-Your-Heart-Out

This is a couture costume itching to have wind rush through it.  I feel like one of the early female combat pilots who trained during World War II.  They are some of the unsung heroes of American history that are just starting to get the recognition they deserve.  My influence was Amelia Earhart, if you can’t already tell.  From my hair to my boots, I found inspiration for this ensemble from the highest sources in fashion.  Now I’m ready for takeoff.

Aeronautical sophistication achieved with…

… LeLutka’s pale Moscow skin…

… Curio’s Betty Boop in red.  Amelia Earhart’s hair was often cropped, but it had a natural curl to it that if it were longer, I have no doubt that Betty Boop would have been out of luck claiming this symbolic style, heehee…

… Armidi Gisaci’s Lifestyle Aviators in light silver doesn’t need an explanation.  The name of the style and of where you can get them tells you what to use them for and how fabulous you’re going to look doing it..

… Muism’s leather Bomber jacket in brown.  Same deal, different purveyor…

… an ivory scarf from Aoharu.  It was important in the early days of aviation to keep warm.  That required bulky scarves, thick gloves, and padded hats.  Today’s aircraft come equipped with heating, but a thin scarf is a small detail that makes major impact when finishing an outfit…

… Zaara’s Isis blouse in white.   A button down with a simple collar would have been just what Amelia Earhart would have wanted.  The comfortable cotton is what keeps any pilot comfortable on transatlantic trips…

… Last Call’s breeches.  The store might have closed over a year and a half ago, but nobody did work clothes like LC.  Their breeches and other riding outfits are primary pieces in my wardrobe to this day…

… and finally J’s new long boots in sand.  The new thing for designers is to just make the boot all one prim and hide all the rest with invisiprims.  It creates quite a stunning and unified appearance.

Flight of Fancy but an Eurail Pass September 29, 2009

To be young and travelling is an important dream for my friends and me.  For a lot of us that dream is an actuality and many of my friends have moved on to big cities or Europe, but for now I have to rely on Second Life to be my window to the world.  I love exploring sims and the things people have created.

I think Showcase is a great tool for this, and if you don’t use it on a regular basis, then you are missing out on something profoundly mind blowing.  More often than not I find essential places for relaxation or hanging out.  Whether it be real life representations or something truly fantastical, Second Life is infinite in its variety.

And it inspires me to create functional outfits.  I want to be a trendsetter, but I don’t want to wear four inch heels in a nature sim.  I attach myself to the imagery, so for me it becomes a whole lot believable to be in a setting if I’m dressed for that setting.  So for this post, I was inspired by Club Visiwa Estates, a beautifully done community encompassing eight sims.  It is mediterranean inspired and includes a business district and both urban and rural residences.  Almost venetian in its decor, it includes canals and entertainment.  The second I saw it I knew I would be coming back again and again.

American Tourist

My outfit fits the type of tourist that wants total immersion in a culture.  She’s tired of being sheltered by friends and family and wants to get away from school or work and just finally experience the world.  She’s cute and fashionable, but she also wants to be comfortable.  She’ll often wear what she finds in her travels and she packs very little; instead she wants to be spontaneous and free to go where and when she wants.  This requires her clothes to be translatable to many different situations.  Cottons are a must and skirts can be a versatile way of going from casual to dressy.

The only thing she doesn’t skimp on is the shoes, heehee.  Three or four pairs of day wear and one evening are a must to keep the blisters at bay.

The clothes on her back…

Skin is the new Skye line from Pink Fuel, available at the Skin and Shape Expo on KMADD Events Sim.  It’s the lightest tone, Milk, and the makeup is Beestung.  I love it because it gives me the natural look I’m always going for and the lips are unique in their coloring.  It’s the time of year when the tan fades and the skin starts to get that cold, rosy look.

My blouse is a standard in my wardrobe; and Armidi Gisaci Milla Milla in Ajan Creme.  The Oxford is perfect for the student-on-holiday perspective I’m going for.  I guess that’s why they call it that, LOL.

The skirt is new from Nikukyu at the new Switch Mall.  It’s cute and comes in two different versions with optional belt.  Also has lace underneath for a total package that’s amazingly under 100L.  Whohoo!  I like it because it completes my reminiscent look.

The shoes and bag are from Miel, a wonderful store that I’ve just discovered.  Really nothing better than a comfortable pair of slip-ons and the bag was a subscription gift!

The hair is Fri.day’s Eloise in Moody Brown.  When you live in Hostels, the simplest hairstyles are the best.  Fri.day is my favorite place to get hair now, because the textures, to me, are the best.  I love every color, and that’s saying a lot.  I also love that I can get every color for a reasonable price.

I’m adorned by Fab.pony’s Leaf earrings in gold and Argyle’s winter gold bangles.  Enough bohemian to pull it off, I think, :p

Thanks to Bingo Poses and  Katiya Rhode-Singh for her amazing textures

Sascha’s Designs September 14, 2009

I got the chance to experience Sascha Frangilli of Sascha’s Designs’ newest creation, Malicious, and I must say, that such a name for this dress is apropos.  Wearing this is malicious… to other people who cannot come close to competing,

Midnight Affair

Not only is it gorgeous, and classy, and opulent, it is extremely versatile.  With no less than ten color variations, two tops, three chest attachments and six different skirts (with available train), there is little chance of two people going to a party in the same outfit.  The beading is exquisite and the colored silk is iridescent and dynamic.  This is definitely one of the times were I felt like I was over the top and it felt great.

And the response has been phenomenal.  I turn quite a lot of heads and elicit praise every time I have donned one of the versions and strutted it.

Palette Opulente

With just one purchase, someone can satisfy their formal needs for several occasions.  In fact, I love all the oppurtunities I have with this gown so much, that I have gone beyond one dress and mix-n-matched different hues.  For my Christmas greeting cards this year, I’ll definitely be putting some of the excelent complementary draping Sascha has provided to theme the green or red dress.  Truly, the quality and detail put into this gown will flatter any polished fashionista and needs to be seriously considered the next time they need to be seen.

Accessorized with…

… ETD hair;  all in the “Elika’s brown” shade

… 10 Pale Skin -Jennifer- / smoky1 *REDGRAVE*

… Cake – Bedroom Lashes – Tintable

… Jewelry by Muse and Redgrave

… Shoes by J’s

… and Quinn Donogal, my male model.  He is wearing:

Uw.St  Hibiki-Hair  brown wolf (Uncleweb Studio)
-Belleza- Johan Pale 0
LOOKR ~ Form (Men) ~ Shirt ~ Black
LOOKR ~ Form ~ Blazer ~ Black ~ Rainstripe
LOOKR ~ Form (Men) ~ Tie ~ Black
Armidi - Classic Slax – Charcoal
*REDGRAVE* STRAP-Loafers -Black-

Fall Favs September 10, 2009

This fall, the boots to have are calf and above the knee.  For all those with knee highs (I know, I have a dozen), don’t fret; you still look cute , but a lot of designers are ushering a new age of the thigh highs.  The funniest thing happened to me (IRL).  I was wearing new, suede calf boots and this random woman told me that she used to have a pair of white ones in the 80s… squee!  That’s when  I know I’m doing something right, >D

Thigh High Sheik

I love the mini/tunic look right now.  I love how this Total Betty dress is off white and slightly bohemian.  It comes with it’s own system belt, but to wear the fri.day jacket, I had to nix that.  To make it up, I replaced the belt with the one I got at the fri.day sale (BTW, how fantastic was that sale?!?  I nabbed things in every color… you can’t not).

These new BAX Coen boots are TO DIE FOR; they have the quality you expect from Bax Coen, and then they blow you away with their detail.  They are also REALLY practical with a full menu of options including auto fit and different accent colors to create the perfect shape and look for the unique avatar.

I am a natural girl, if you didn’t already know, :p so to make this outfit perfect for me, I needed to bring down to earth the glamour of the boots and the hauteness of the belt.  To do this, I have the dress, but I also have Truth’s wavy hair.  It hides all the effort it took to make my look so effortless.  I complete my ensemble with Lucas Lameth’s amulet set, which is just the low key way I wanted to adorn my sternum without covering the top detail in the dress.

Complete Details…

Skin: :Curio: Sundust-Vixen-Mink

Hair: >TRUTH< Elle – copper

Dress: ::TB:: Bianca White

Jewelry: -EARTHTONES- Dreamweaever N&E Scarlet/AntqSlvr

Belt: fri. – Wide Waist.Belt (Pumpkin)

Jacket: fri. – Military Jacket (Black Denim)

Shoes: BAX Prestige Boots Black Leather

Steampunk or Bust August 31, 2009

I think it is time to further describe some of my life.  Before I got involved in fashion photography, way back in my infancy, I was a role player.  I have participated in role playing games (RPG) since my teens and when I first got onto Second Life, I naturally applied myself to a medieval realm.  Sufficed to say, it didn’t work out because I just could not stop going OOC (“out of character” for the RPG illiterate) which made me very anachronistic.

But what did come out of the experience was a long lasting friendship with one of my fellow gamers.  At the time he had just become manager of a themed sim called Steelhead.  Him and his wife took hold of the construction and maintenance of the town and made it one of THE most elaborate and highly successful themed sims.  Now Steelhead can proudly claim five sims (with at least one on the way) and I can claim it as my home.

Steelhead’s theme is Steampunk.  If you haven’t dealt with alternate realities, the fantasy is simply this:  it is a culture that surrounds itself around Victorian era science fiction and fantasy.  Neil Gaiman’s Stardust, The League of Extraordinary Gentleman, and His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman are to name a few of the influences that Steampunk uses to create a dynamic and expanding environment.  It might be staged in the past, but it is not confined to it and that makes steampunk fashion so much like modern fashion.  Designers are always finding something new to craft, and some new gadget to attach.

Dark Angel

Steelhead doesn’t tell its citizens what decade to dress in, so in a way I feel less leary about my fashion choices.  I don’t have to worry if something is last season or last decade, because with Steampunk, anything Victorian works.  I can go from Antebellum to turn of the century at a whim and always be in the mode.

But I am into modern fashion, so why not merge the two ideas and come up with something avante garde?

Modern Steampunk

Victorian Steampunk Look:

Skin: (vive9) Nel [butternut] Dead Skin (group gift)  <So apropo to use this with my dark angel look>

Hair: Maitreya Dylan – Autumn <I love this hair because it looks effortless, natural, and beautiful which is my style in a nutshell>

Lashes: Cake - Vamp Lashes <why not go all the way with the demonic look?>

Choker: Mademoiselle Cameo Choker (Solange)

Dress: Grim Bros. robe changeant <the dress is dark and almost gory.  The red that runs throughout the piece could be considered blood or bad thread selection, heehee.  Either way you look at it, it is tragically beautiful>

Wings: BlakOpal Animated Steampunk Gears Wings <my rule of thumb for appropriate Steampunk outfits: where there is a gear, there is a way>

Shoes: *la* Sophie Court Shoes- Licorice Whip (Laughing Academy)  <I fell in love the instant I saw these.  I will be creating modern and Victorian looks with these shoes for weeks to come>

Modern look:

Hair: fri.day – Deena – Jealous Red

Blouse: {Gisaci} Pleated Neck Babydoll – Ash

Jacket: fri.day – Military Jacket (Black Denim)

Shorts: *SHOP SEU* –short pants BLACK–

Stockings: (from) Grim Bros. robe changeant (dress)