Narcissus

by Tutsy Navarathna

“Narcissus so himself himself forsook,
And died to kiss his shadow in the brook.” ~ William Shakespeare

The story of Narcissus from Greek mythology is the core word of the illness of narcissism, one where a person can only think of themselves and regard themselves as perfect. In the Ovid’s version of the story, Narcissus rejects the love of the mountain nymph, Echo, and Nemesis, the goddess of revenge decides to punish him. So she lures him to a pool where he saw his own reflection. He falls in love with the one he sees, not realizing at first it is himself.

Tutsy Navarathna took a clever turn with this tale for his latest machinima. An entry in the latest University of Western Australia Machinima Challenge, his film addresses the theme of “Reflections.” Tutsy literally brought a reflection to bear in this film.

I loved the machinima, especially the one that was narrated in French by Tutsy himself and has English subtitles. (See above.) Tutsy Navarathna hails from Paris but currently makes his home in India. Some of his voiceovers come from friends in India. He also involved many friends in the production of the film, including Iono Allen and Alpha Auer. That is what makes this machinima and the competition itself so exciting—the collaboration of artists from all over the planet.

In watching the film, I thought about our own gaze at our avatar, the pride and “love” we have for this figure we have made. How many of us cling to our “selves,” carefully adorning it, protecting our “image” and self. It’s a film that echoes with many layers as we watch, being more than just a literal “reflection” but also a reflection on our selves.

Being the person who does a fashion blog, I asked Tutsy about the fashions he used to make Narcissus, of course. And Tutsy agreed to be the model for this blog. So you get the machinima AND a backstage look at the star.

Tutsy made his own shape and on this long lean shape he piled layers and layers of tattoos and piercings to make his Narcissus contemporary and attractive. In the machinima, his Narcissus is brooding and solitary and almost singularly beautiful. And narcissistic.

You can read more about the competition and the latest entries at the UWA in SL blog here and see more of Tutsy’s work here, including his last three winning entries for their competitions.

“Narcissus does not fall in love with his reflection because it is beautiful, but because it is his. If it were his beauty that enthralled him, he would be set free in a few years by its fading.” ~ W.H. Auden

Hair: Burley Sofian Platinum by Bella Earst for Burley

Skin: Angelicus Raphael+ fallen gods+ blessed by Alia Baroque for Fallen Gods

Makeup: VYC Eyeliner by iantonio Viper for VyC and Fruk manly lip gloss by Chucky Hollak for Fruk

Eyes: Blue grey eyes gaslight Emporium by Vincente Shepherd for Gaslights Emporium

Collar: Tableau vivant minos collar by M4ri1yn Magic for Tableau Vivant

Tattoo: Vestigium- cyber tattoo by Lu Scorpio for Vestigium

Ear: Ear steking ears Mandala by Kikunosuke Eel for Mandala

Gloves: Tableau vivant , Minos gloves by M4ri1yn Magic for Tableau Vivant

Belt: Mandala kookai belt silver by Kikunosuke Eel for Mandala

Pants: avid Byron: pants by Darwin Miszer for Avid

Feet: Hoorenbeek Allen by Ansor Hoorenbeek for Hoorenbeek

I Love the Way You Move

I like the waaaay you move
I like the waaaay you move (Whoo-o-o!)
I love the waaaay you move
I love the way, I love the way.

~ “I Like the Way You Move” by Outkast

This sexy song with punctuations of brass is a perfect piece for this outfit. Start with the sexy mesh shoes from Babette Ultsch. The pack comes with eight color choices, chosen via hud and a standard skin selector with a variety of nails. This is what I like about Babette’s work: she does sexy well. The shoes have a funky curvy platform and great shape and they seduce as most of her work does.

Then I have this sexy wrap dress from Poulet Koenkamp. This IS a template dress—I have seen it and shown it in various different ways—however Poulet makes it her own with her spectacular textures and HUD, allowing you to switch between them. I chose the warm reds and oranges of the button on the top row, third from the left. No one does textures like Poulet.

My skin is one of the great ones Aida Ewing is offering at Collabor88. I realized I had blogged this very skin before but with a red brow and in blonde, with Ikon Innovia’s hazel eyes, it looks completely different. My hair is one of Truth’s new ‘dos, blonde with waves and curls. I like how the curls vary as they would in real life and love the bangs.

I love the way, I love the way.

Hair: TRUTH HAIR Abra – LightBlondes03 by Truth Hawks for >TRUTH< *

Skin: Glam Affair – Margot – Europa 01 – Blonde by Aida Ewing for Glam Affair, available atCollabor88 *

Eyes: IKON Lucid Eyes – Hazel (M) by Ikon Innovia for IKON *

Dress:  :: PM :: Luisana Dress in Black Retro by Poulet Koenkamp for PurpleMoon Creations *

Hands: Slink Mesh Hands (av) Casual S Left by Siddean Munro for Slink

Skin Appliers: Glam Affair – Slink Hands Skin Appliers ( Europa) by Aida Ewing for Glam Affair

Nail Appliers: Izzie’s – Slink Metallic Nails Applier Huds (hands & feet) by Izzie Button for Izzie’s

Sandals:  *KL* Sandal Yvy Color Set01by Babette Ultsch for Kittie’s Lair *

Poses by Rogan Diesel for DieselWorks Animations *

The Default Setting

The capital-T Truth is about life BEFORE death. ~ David Foster Wallace, Commencement Address to Kenyon College, Class of 2005

Watch. It’s important.

I have spoken David Foster Wallace in this blog before. I absolutely love his work. His felicity with language, his ability to slide between formality and colloquialism, his earnest desire to examine himself and in so doing, life. He builds a compelling argument in his speech to the graduates that their education gives them the ability to change how they think about things, to move beyond the “default setting” of being self-centered. I find it a beautiful speech and I really want to share it.

My outfit has nothing whatsoever to do with the speech except the joy of this green matches my mood lately—spring is finally here. This joy comes courtesy of ValentinaEvangelista and her wonderfully homemade mesh dress with a bold polka dot print and contrasting belt. Valentina makes her own mesh and textures and has a unique look, which is funky, fun and sexy.

Peachymuah of has released a new face. There is a combo of the sort of Japanese/anime glossy pouty lip and a smooth but complex skin with lovely made up eyes. The skins are made to be “younger” and so offer a smaller breast option, which I like knowing. I do hear lots of people ask for smaller breast options in skins (believe it or not). My ponytails are Queue Marlowe’s whimsical new fluffy curls, which I have been hopping all over SL wearing, loving how cute they are.

If you’re automatically sure that you know what reality is, and you are operating on your default setting, then you, like me, probably won’t consider possibilities that aren’t annoying and miserable. But if you really learn how to pay attention, then you will know there are other options. It will actually be within your power to experience a crowded, hot, slow, consumer-hell type situation as not only meaningful, but sacred, on fire with the same force that made the stars: love, fellowship, the mystical oneness of all things deep down.

Not that that mystical stuff is necessarily true. The only thing that’s capital-T True is that you get to decide how you’re gonna try to see it. ~ David Foster Wallace, Commencement Address to Kenyon College, Class of 2005

Hair: bea cayenne by Queue Marlowe for Analog Dog *

Skin: Lily Olive bigger breasts by PeachieMuah for [Fresh Face] *

Eyes: IKON Ardent Eyes – Blossom (ML) by Ikon Innovia for IKON *

Dress: :V.e. Berries Dress Lime by ValentinaEvangelista for Valentina E. Couture, available at The Boutique*

Necklace: (Yummy) Fluorescent Lettuce Stone Necklace by Polyester Partridge for Yummy

Tote: !KKBB!! Deidre Shoulder Tote  – Green Flowers by Delia Linette for kisskissbangbang

Flats: MEOW – Hope Laced Flats by paperfairy for MEOW, available at The Chapter Four Event

Poses by Willa Whybrow for don’t freak out!

Changes

Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes
(Turn and face the strain)
Ch-ch-Changes
Don’t tell them to grow up and out of it

~ “Changes” by David Bowie

In every part of life, there is bound to be change. SL has gone through some changes lately and will have more soon, and as always, some folks gripe, some ignore them and go on, and some embrace them as they can. For example, most people are glomming on to mesh when there is still a lot of life in system pieces and flexi. Mami Jewell has made this gorgeous dress, using flexi to her advantage by having a swirl of color around the skirt in beautiful, semi-translucent prims. Her system pieces still gleam with satiny perfection.

But then you have someone like Mirja Mills, who has totally embraced mesh, coming out now with just as much jewelry as hair, it seems. (I think Mirja just likes stringing all those beads together.) And BabyChampagne Sass is creating her own mesh as well for shoes and accessories. This pair of eclectic, couture shoes is her latest offering for L’Accessoire.

The big change everyone is talking about now is Truth Hawks decision to switch things around a bit. First he has gotten rid of all his “named’ colors and gone to a numbering system for his colors. So the hair I am wearing is now Red03 instead of something like “Cherry.” Additionally, he has new packaging that self launches when you wear it. I have heard a few complaints about the changes but I am guessing this makes things more streamlined for Truth, who has a huge inventory of hairs to deal with and produces them like a mad man. As long he doesn’t change the quality of the textures or mesh and never loses his sunny disposition, I am completely happy.

I said that time may change me
But I can’t trace time

Hair: TRUTH HAIR Gattina – Reds03 by Truth Hawks for >TRUTH< *

Skin: -Belleza- Ava Med TLC 1 r by Tricky Boucher for -Belleza-, at The Boutique *

Eyes: IKON Lucid Eyes – Gray-Green (ML) by Ikon Innovia for IKON *

Dress: -AZUL- Alicia /Amethyst by Mami Jewell for –AZUL- *

Necklace: .:EMO-tions:. * DAWN * necklace by Mirja Mills for .:EMO-tions:. *

Shoes: {{BSD Design studio}}Toiles de Jouy Disco green simple by BabyChampagne Sass for {{BSD Design studio}}, available at L’Accessoire *

Poses by Mavi Beck of Ma Vie *

My Soulful Dress

I’m gonna put on my dress
with that slit way up one side
with that tight thin waist
and that low neck line.
Lord, I’m going to the party,
gonna have some fun,
gonna shake and shout until the
morning come.

~ Sugar Pie DeSanto, Soulful Dress

I often find SL is the place I can party like I would in RL if I were younger, fitter, and more able to handle crazy dancing and loud music. And if I had legs this long I would probably wear a dress like this one from Ariadna Garrigus. With “a slit way up one side” and “that thin tight waist,” this is my soulful dress. Paired with sandals from Nuria Augapfel and Claire Messenger and an Asian-themed jewelry set from Dita Tran, I put a little Eastern spice into my look.

Of course, no dress would do without the right skin from top to bottom. Tricky Boucher offers the complete look in this skin being offered at the 100 Block. Not only do you get the tropical warm makeup but you get the detailed body including those luscious legs (and there is something to be said about the roundness of a woman’s thigh). A short cut from Chiaki Xue, who still rules the grid for short cuts like this, finishes my look, the one “I’m gonna shake everybody” with.

Lord, I’m going to the party.
Mmm, looking’ good.
I’m gonna shake everybody
Like I knew I would.
Don’t you girls go getting’ jealous
if I round up all your fellas.
I’ll be at my best when I put on my
Soulful dress

Hair: *Dura-Boys&Girls*42(Black) by Chiaki Xue for Dura *

Skin: -Belleza- Ava Med 100Block by Tricky Boucher for -Belleza-, available at 100 Block *

Eyes: IKON Lucid Eyes – Silver (ML) by Ikon Innovia for IKON *

Dress: ***ArisAris Igs65 Fans Dress by Ariadna Garrigus for ArisAris, available at The Garage Fair *

Jewelry: FuLo – “Wen Ling” Necklace and Earrings (carnelian) by Dita Tran for FuLo *

Nails: [PM]Pixel Mode – Diamond Edt. Mesh Nails : Regular by Tya Fallingbridge for Pixel Mode *

Shoes: N-core OMEGA “Black” by Nuria Augapfel and Claire Messenger for N-Core

Poses by Tutys for Tutys

Amplification

If you ask me what I came into this life to do, I will tell you: I came to live out loud. ~ Emile Zola

What does it mean to “live life out loud”? Sometimes it means enjoying the beauty of being bold and today I am relishing my bold look. Start with the chainmail dress from Ivy Burner, being offered at the Whore Couture monthly event. (I’m still wondering about the name of the event but getting used to it, I guess.) The mesh build of this dress is fine but even better is the work that Ivy has done with texturing and sexy straps wrapping around the torso and hips.

My shoes are Redgrave’s newest sexy leather-strapped sandals, wrapped around a dainty thin foot with nails. The brilliance of these shoes is the colors included with your purchase—you get over 10 colors you can put across the straps, the inner sole and the heel, which is a huge bargain. It’s ostensibly a fatpack for the cost of one pair of shoes.

I am wearing one of Aida Ewing’s new skins from Collabor88 with loud and lovely makeup. Orange and purple may have never worked anywhere else quite as well as they have on this skins. Aida makes it happen—a discord that makes a lovely noise. Mirja Mills’ new wild ‘do seals the deal here with crazy sexy locks and shape with lots of volume. I am amplified.

My optimism wears heavy boots and is loud. ~ Henry Rollins

Hair: .:EMO-tions:. * CARLA*/darkbrown by Mirja Mills for .:EMO-tions:. *

Skin: Glam Affair – Margot – India 01 – Dark brown by Aida Ewing for Glam Affair, available at Collabor88 *

Eyes: IKON Ardent Eyes – Chocolate (ML) by Ikon Innovia for IKON *

Dress: ~Sassy!~ Love is a Battlefield – black by Ivy Burner for ~Sassy!~, available at Whore Couture *

Collar: Leather Buckled Collar by Kya Eliot for Hexed (no longer available)

Nails: [PM]Pixel Mode – Diamond Edt. Mesh Nails : Long by Tya Fallingbridge for Pixel Mode *

Shoes: – Shoes Helena – 12colors / REDGRAVE by TeamRedgrave for Redgrave

Poses by Rogan Diesel for DieselWorks Animations *

Happy Mothers’ Day to Service Moms

No “fashion” today. I am taking the day off as a mother. I just want to give my two cents worth as a mom.

This week I spoke to my doctor, who was once a physician in the U.S. Army. We were discussing a service project I am doing for an organization that is sending the children of fallen service people to summer camp for fun and counseling. He remarked that many “servicemen” came out of their time overseas with psychological issues. I interrupted him and said “servicepeople.” I reminded him many women have served, and he agreed. (Indeed, my son’s classmate’s mother still serves in the Reserves as a pilot for a refueling plane. She’s a nice petite lady who bakes cupcakes and has a pretty flower garden but when she has to get in that big plane and do her job, she’s there.)

Over the past decade, women as well as men have had to abruptly leave their lives because they were called up from Reserve or called into action as servicepeople—and rightfully so. They signed a contract and willingly took employ with the military. However, little honor is given to the fighting mothers—those who sacrifice the daily struggle to bring up their children to struggle on behalf of their country.

Combat is hard. Add to it the additional concerns many women have to face. Consider this: over 30,000 single mothers were deployed to Iraq alone. Imagine worrying about the care of your children with a spouse you may not trust or with relatives you are not certain have your values in place while you are in combat. Forget the enemy on the ground; the enemy may be in your head as you think about whether your kid is getting the upbringing you want for him.

Additionally, according to Newsweek, women in the military are more likely to be assaulted by a fellow officer than be killed in combat. The documentation of women being sexually assaulted in the military is horrifying. Sen. Susan Collins of the Armed Services Committee said “What does it say about us as a people, as a nation, as the foremost military in the world when but surely our women soldiers sometimes have more to fear from their fellow soldiers than from the enemy?”

I get tired of the flag waving and empty rhetoric of “supporting the troops.” It seems to pander to some P.C. notion of patriotism that rubs me the wrong way. I never wanted our troops to go to Iraq in the first place and have wished for a long time that they were out of Afghanistan. My support of the “troops” is to never have asked them to go.

Nevertheless, they went. They served. They sacrificed. Thank you, Servicemoms. You were the real tiger mothers.

Au Soleil

When the sun is shining I can do anything; no mountain is too high, no trouble too difficult to overcome. ~ Wilma Rudolph

The sun has been shining the past few days and it has lifted everyone’s spirits. It’s been one hell of a long winter and spring. Donning a dress from SamanthaSJones is the antidote. With the sexy brown and orange print on this haltered mini, I am wearing warm colors to beckon the sun. Gospel Voom’s latest Ursula heels in gold reflect the warmth of the ensemble and look beautiful against my tan, sun-loving skin.

Aida Ewing has not only mastered pale skins but she does darker tones pretty well too. This is one of her Collabor88 skins with a blonde brow. The makeup is golden and rich, sunny and tropical and works well with Queue Marlowe’s dark blonde braided ponytail. I offset the warm colors of the dress and skin with turquoise on Maxi Gossamer’s gorgeous jewelry for Collabor88. The sun motif in the jewelry is how this blog entry got named.

Turn your face to the sun and the shadows fall behind you. ~ Charlotte Whitton

Hair: pip dark blonde by Queue Marlowe for Analog Dog *

Skin: Glam Affair – Margot – India 04 – Blonde by Aida Ewing for Glam Affair, available at Collabor88 *

Eyes: IKON Ardent Eyes – Parchment (ML) by Ikon Innovia for IKON *

Dress: {Liv-Glam} K Collection Louise2 Mini Dress by SamanthaSJones for LIV-Glam*

Jewelry: MG – Earrings – Isis Solar Magic – GOLD and MG – Necklace – Isis Solar Magic – Long 2 – GOLD by Maxi Gossamer for Maxi Gossamer, available at Collabor88 *

Shoes: [Gos] Ursula Wedge – Classic Collection by Gospel Voom for Gos Boutique*

Poses by Torrid Midnight for *TorridWear* (no longer available) (Yes, really I still have such old stuff in my inventory and it still looks good!)

Hey Good Lookin’

Hey good lookin’ what cha got cookin’
How’s about cookin’ something up with me

~ “Hey Good Lookin’” by Hank Williams

I am on a health kick, which means I am cooking more and eating out less. Now my kitchen is a busy place. So far I have figured out that butter is not a fifth food group as Cooks Illustrated once had me believe and double fiber bread means I need a big glass of water to wash it down. I feel lots better with much more energy.

Cory Edo has 14 kitchens at the FaMESHed anniversary, this being one of them. (I said, I can hardly keep one kitchen clean.. now 14?!) In the set you get this complete kitchen with either PG (all poses you see here) or Adult animations (with such hits as “Mix It Up,” “Turnovers,” and “Stuffing” as entrees). The sink pours water, the stove rezzes a pot of oily stew (don’t ask, said Cory) and the whole set gives you a retro bright look for your living space. Please note does not include decorative wallpaper and kitchen carpet, which I made myself.

The Kungler sisters recently put some old separates on the top floor for 40L (a great bargain for well-done system pieces). They were making room for new separates, including this mesh top and pants, which they are offering now in several colors and patterns. With easy shapes and stylish designs, these separates are perfect for mix-n-match with other creators pieces. Maxi Gossamer is at Collabor88 again with beaded earrings and bracelets, so I slipped some on to dress up this look.

Aida Ewing has several skins out at Collabor88, this being one. She offers all brow shades so don’t fear you will be stick with red brows. I love the makeups on these, which come in Europe or India, in different makeups. How else could you afford the quality of Glam Affair without Collabor88? And MissAllSunday Lemon is offering these darling pigtails with bangs at FaMESHed.

Hey, sweet baby, don’t you think maybe
We could find us a brand new reci- pe. …

Hair: /Wasabi Pills/ Sunny Mesh Hair – Gingerbread by MissAllSunday Lemon for Wasabi Pills, available at FaMESHed *

Skin: Glam Affair – Margot – Europa 01 – Red by Aida Ewing for Glam Affair, available at Collabor88 *

Eyes: IKON Lucid Eyes – Machine (ML) by Ikon Innovia for IKON *

Top: (Kunglers) Mirella Blouse – Roses by AvaGardner Kungler for Kunglers *

Pants: (Kunglers) Inga pants – Rose by AvaGardner Kungler for Kunglers *

Jewelry: MG – Bracelet and Earrings – Summertime Easy living by Maxi Gossamer for Maxi Gossamer, available at Collabor88 *

Nails: [PM]Pixel Mode – Diamond Edt. Mesh Nails : Regular by Tya Fallingbridge for Pixel Mode *

Shoes: DECO – Mesh DaisyWalker  (grape) by GutterBlood Spoonhammer for DECO

Kitchen: Trompe Loeil – Retro Kitchen Sunshine Orange {A} by Cory Edo for Trompe Loeil, available at FaMESHed *

Wallpaper and flooring by ME

Bedazzled

“If you can’t dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with bull.” ~ W. C. Fields

Little bits of dazzle are in today’s look starting with this fab little minidress from SamanthaBJones. Made from a basic cowl neck, sleeveless mini, Samantha has bedazzled the dress with a sexy gold pattern, making the little black dress into a little black dazzler. Then LeeZu Baxter has applied sequins to tights to catch the light with a line of them going up the seam in back. Add sexy mistress boots from Circe Ishtari, and you have a look that dazzles.

My skin is also from Circe Ishtari, who is bringing her corner of Tokyo to SL with her brilliant collection of content. She does skins, of course, these beautiful Japanese girl looks with shapes to match, giving us an alternative look with delicate, well-drawn features. But she also does hair, clothing and shoes (as seen above). She’s working hard to make your SL more Tokyo.

I am so loving Kavar Cleanslate’s newest hair and his new handy, dandy HUD. I think the back of this hair is just fabulous, and that’s important because *I* have to look at it. I want to dazzle coming AND going.

“Still, what I want in my life is to be willing to be dazzled—to cast aside the weight of facts and maybe even to float a little above this difficult world.” ~ Mary Oliver

Hair: Exile::Desperately Wanting Natural Fusion 2 by Kavar Cleanslate for ::Exile::

Skin: Tokyo.Girl – Skin Jun – Fair by Circe Ishtari for Tokyo Girl *

Eyes: IKON Lucid Eyes – Machine (ML) by Ikon Innovia for IKON *

Dress: [LIV Glam] Boutique-Spring 2013-Mikaela Dress by SamanthaSJones forLIV-Glam *

Tights: Glitter Tights (Tattoo Layer) /silver by LeeZu! by LeeZu! by LeeZu Baxter for LeeZu! *

Nails: [PM]Pixel Mode – Diamond Edt. Mesh Nails : Regular by Tya Fallingbridge for Pixel Mode *

Ring: MG – Rings – Khaleesi’s Ring Of Power – Small – R by Maxi Gossamer for Maxi Gossamer *

Boots: Tokyo.Girl Stiletto Madame  . black by Circe Ishtari for Tokyo Girl *

Poses by Mavi Beck of Ma Vie *