Char

Char is our girl today. Born in the 80s, she is the daughter of a brief but fruitful marriage between an aging rock star and a young groupie. Her daddy, Slim Jim Ross, was a rock star “in the 60s or 70s or something,” Char says. Her momma, considerably younger, was a Jazzercise instructor he met on tour in Tulsa. Now her momma teaches Zumba in Santa Monica and lives in a two-bedroom ranch paid for with his alimony, and Char lives in with her Daddy in Brentwood.

Slim Jim had two hits: “You Ain’t My Baby (No More)” and “In Your Velvet Spaceship.” (“Yeah, Baby, that song was for your mother, Crystal,” he coughed out, taking his first toke after a 5 mile jog. “But Daddy, my mom was Christine.” “Yeah, that’s what I said, right? Christine.” Crystal was his second wife. Her mother was his fourth. Char knew he had it wrong.) Char was named Chardonnay, after her momma’s favorite wine. Char is the apple of her father’s eye, his youngest, his “Baby Girl,” the one spending her siblings’ inheritance via increments of charges on his American Express.

This may lead you to believe that Char has no redeeming values beyond those of being Slim Jim’s progeny, but that is not true. When J-Lo doesn’t know what to wear, she rings up Char. When Paris is perplexed, she phones Char. When Beyonce is befuddled, she texts Char. The Olson twins somehow lost Char’s number. That’s because Char shops so much, so knows where to get it all.

And her outfit today is comprised of only the best: first a top and skirt from LeeZu Baxter, designer extraordinaire. LeeZu puts the micro in the mini with this skirt—a waistband barely clinging to a scrap of flowered fabric. So brief it’s like a moment in time except LeeZu still manages to cover the essentials without making it ridiculous. Then the flowered top—a collage of tassel and lace and rose with textured sheer cotton. Char shows plenty of midriff but she knows looking trashy is not what she wants.

Her boots are from another extraordinary designer—Bax Coen. One of the new set of animal prints Bax has put out, this is more fashionable slant on animal. In this case, the animal is the SoCal shopper with her stiletto heels. With its uniquely scripted fitting system and multi-texturing options, these boots are just what Char loves—versatile.

Char took a trip to the makeup counter at Curio and got a great free sample with her purchase. This pretty pink visage is Gala Phoenix’s offering to all who join the Truth District Update Group. Grab it now from past notices before it’s gone. (Look at those luscious lips.)

Finally, Char’s hair, which she (and I) love—a long breezy casually feathered ‘do from Kavar Cleanslate, available at Hair Fair 2011. When Char saw the cut and color, she said, “This is so Rodeo Drive, darling.”

In your velvet spaceship
I find it strangely comfortable
In your UFO of looooove.
Probe me, explore me, penetrate my mind
Take me to the galaxies
In your velvet spaceship, your sp-sp-spaceship.

~ From “In Your Velvet Spaceship” by Slim Jim Ross

Hair: ::Exile:: Bailey:Chardonnay by Kavar Cleanslate for ::Exile::, available at Hair Fair 2011

Skin: :GP: Airhead-Truth District Update Group Gift by Gala Phoenix for Curio, available by joining the Truth District Update Group (check past notices)

Eyes: FASHISM ‘Sunrise’ Eyes – Light Violet (ML) by Ikon Innovia for FASHISM *

Top: [LeeZu!] Keahi Top /pink by LeeZu Baxter for LeeZu! *

Skirt: [LeeZu!] Manoa Micro Skirt /pink by LeeZu Baxter for LeeZu! *

Glasses: ROLE OPTIC SG-57 Gala v1.2 by Rohal Schnyder for Role Optic *

Boots: BAX Prestige Boots Vogue Leopard by Bax Coen for Bax Coen Boots *

Sweet Surrender

I could spend my life in this sweet surrender. ~ Aerosmith

One set of images that have left the mainstream grid, for the most part, is the sight of people in alternative lifestyles doing their thing. BDSM players, ponygirls, burlesque dancers, latex lovers, furries—they have, for the most part, been consigned to what some call the ghetto—Zindra. SL has been wiped clean and sanitized, presumably for the couple hundred of kids who migrated over from the Teen Grid. (And who could find much worse on the Internet all on their own.)

Really it was sanitized for all of us. I admit I don’t miss seeing some big burly avatar dragging his slave girl around a store as she hopped up and down from nadu to standing like some inane bunny. But let’s not forget one of the engines that made SL what it is today: sex. The sex industry made the need for great fashion, for scripted furniture, for sexy skins, for crazy-high shoes and for skyboxes. The biggest earners in SL—even before Anshe Chung—was Stroker Serpentine. And he made his money off of sex beds. We built this city on .. well.. sex.

I honor that with this outfit from LeeZu Baxter, who came out with a whole series of inventive pieces under a line name of “BDSM” a few months ago. I love this piece with its combination of burlesque and bondage, from the collar to the big fishnet stockings (which DO terminate at the ankle) to the corset to the ropes around the wrists. Is she domme or sub? What is she speaking of when she finds her “sweet surrender”–the chance to free herself of restraint with her sub or the chance to surrender to her dom? Her 11” platform heels from Viktoria Brandenburg tell you she is not just dressing up—she means business.

The best skin for such an intense look—sexy, fierce, detailed—is one from Hart Larsson. For some reason, I always take Hart’s out when I am showing lingerie or something sexy. I am guessing I am drawn to using it because of the detail he pays to the skin—from the collarbone to the butt cheeks to the shoulder blades and knees. Additionally, he allows you to add makeups to make the skin look completely different. Here I wear bright red glossy lipstick. I just received these new alluring eyes from Ikon Innovia, who is dipping into more fantastic colors and combinations.

It doesn’t matter what you do in the bedroom as long as you don’t do it in the street and frighten the horses. ~ Mrs. Patrick Campbell

Hair: …:::Beautiful Dirty Rich:::… Aiden Hair Black by Cameron Vasiliov for B.D.R.

Skin: [PXL] GAIA SK CE DEB C2 with [PXL] GAIA SK Red Lips (Tattoo) by Hart Larsson for [PXL] *

Eyes: FASHISM ‘Sunrise’ Eyes – Light Lagoon (ML) by Ikon Innovia for FASHISM *

Outfit: [LeeZu!] BDSM Sablier /black by LeeZu Baxter for LeeZu! *

Nails: [PM]Sculpted Nails V3. – Jori Edition by Tya Fallingbridge for Pixel Mode

Shoes: VvB HEDONIC 11″ Platform Heels BLACK V4 by Viktoria Brandenburg for VvB *

Pink Funk

There is definitely something sexy about a girl with an attitude and a pair of leather pants. ~ Eliza Dushku

LeeZu Baxter does it again—making something so drop-dead sexy that I can only stare at myself. First the top, which was released a couple weeks ago. She combines a drapey bodice barely clinging to the body, held on by a zippered collar and wonderfully textured in her inimitable way. Then there are the leather pants, integrated with the boots and textured with a stylistic contrasting leather. Honey, does my ass look TOO wonderful in these?

Atomicsparkle Skytower has released a new set of skins. One of the more beloved skin makers on the grid, she offers this set with its full lipstick on tattoo layers. I opted to don a full wavy style from Queue Marlowe, who keeps threatening to come out with more hair soon (once she recovers from her whirlwind trip to Europe). My eyelashes, from Viola Leigh, have little specks of glitter.

Look at these boots once more. Rowr!

Not sure I am ever taking them off ;)

Hair: AD- dive black by Queue Marlowe for Analog Dog *

Skin: AtomicBambi-Tania-Pale-Dk-Blush with AtomicBambi Tattoo – Tania Lip – DUSTY PINK by Atomicsparkle Skytower for Atomic Bambi *

Eyes: FASHISM ‘Sunrise’ Eyes – Deep Blue (ML) by Ikon Innovia for FASHISM *

Eyelashes: Eyelashes -20- DiamondDust *REDGRAVE* by Viola Leigh for Redgrave

Top: [LeeZu!] Cloe Top /champagne by LeeZu Baxter for LeeZu! *

Pants with Boots: [LeeZu!] Florentine High Heel Pants /pink by LeeZu Baxter for LeeZu! *

Tattoo: AITUI TATTOO – Zodiac – ASF Taurus I by Jesseaitui Petion for AITUI

Nails: (complate/R) Hand size 20 [MANDALA]Milky Nails/White and (Nail Only/L) Hand size 20 [MANDALA]Milky Nails/White by Kikunosuke Eel for [MANDALA]

Bracelets: !COMPLATE(L)[MANDALA]Milky Way Bangle/Polly white (worn on left forearm), D(R)[MANDALA]Milky Way Bangle/white (worn on right upper arm), and G(R)[MANDALA]Milky Way Bangle/white (worn on right forearm) by Kikunosuke Eel for [MANDALA]

PS Great thanks to IG, who helped me tune up my blog a bit. I’ll be back for more ;)

Distractions

I love the song “Distractions” by Zero 7. The sound of it makes me think of a big white modern house on a beach, waves crashing outside, light bouncing off the tiles of the uncluttered floor.

This is the woman who would live there—elegant, expensively clothed. Her top, from Nena Janus, is a silk piece that softly drapes over her soft spa-maintained skin, and tied casually at the waist. Her capris from LeeZu Baxter look like an evolution of Lilly Pulitzer with their baroque pattern and ruffled hem. Stylish and practical little pumps from Elie Spot reveal her rich tastes.

She has a subtle tan (but not over the top—this is not Jersey Shore) and well shaped brows courtesy of Inka Mexicola. Her sheer lipstick came from a glossy black tube she purchased from Mocksoup Graves. Her necklace, seemingly simple, is a nice piece she bought from Rob1977 Moonites. It reminds her of a Lalique heart she has  on a silk cord that she got in Paris.

I love you, I love you, I love you, I do
I only make jokes to distract myself
From the truth, from the truth.

Hair: booN HTU132 hair chestnut by boo Nakamura for booN

Skin: :: ESSENCES :: Katy *no make-up by Inka Mexicola for :: ESSENCES ::

Makeup: M.O.C.K Cosmetics Cherry Wine Lipstain  (Lipcolor only) by Mocksoup Graves for M.O.C.K Cosmetics

Eyes: FASHISM ‘Sunrise’ Eyes – Deep Gold (ML) by Ikon Innovia for FASHISM *

Top: *League* Siara Blouse –Cream by Nena Janus for *League*

Pants: [LeeZu!] Yve Pants/vintage ornament by LeeZu Baxter for LeeZu!

Necklace: *FIR & MNA* The Heart Necklace [F] by Rob1977 Moonites for *FIR & MNA* *

Shoes: {mon tissu} Montsegur Pumps ~ Camel by Elie Spot for {mon tissu}

Poetry

April is National Poetry Month in the US. Apropos of nothing, I wanted to share a poem from one of my favorite American poets, Billy Collins:

Sonnet

All we need is fourteen lines, well, thirteen now,
and after this one just a dozen
to launch a little ship on love’s storm-tossed seas,
then only ten more left like rows of beans.
How easily it goes unless you get Elizabethan
and insist the iambic bongos must be played
and rhymes positioned at the ends of lines,
one for every station of the cross.
But hang on here wile we make the turn
into the final six where all will be resolved,
where longing and heartache will find an end,
where Laura will tell Petrarch to put down his pen,
take off those crazy medieval tights,
blow out the lights, and come at last to bed.

~ from Sailing Around the Room: New and Selected Poems by Billy Collins

I considered putting on crazy medieval tights but forewent that option to show this look that has nothing to do with the poem, a cute little pinky purple ensemble. My top is an inexpensive find from Miffyhoi Rosca, who offered this as part of an outfit at the TFG Discount Shop. I really dig the asymmetrical shape.

The theme of this visual poem, however, is the shape and skin. I am wearing a shape from Freedom Parx, part of a new series she is selling that looks to break the old clichés of SL. She doesn’t aim for “beautiful” as much as interesting, though I find this shape pretty cute. I will remark that I did tweak the mouth corners a bit—Freedom shows the shape with a frowny face, which is something I really dislike. It’s great because the shapes are offered mod—that’s the only mod I wanted to make to this shape.

Lion Jonesford has recently come out with a new line of skins and they overlay this shape perfectly, especially in light of their Asian flavor. She offers them in a series of more pastel make-up tones for the most part, which I find lovely. The pinks and purples offset the pale complexion (which is a great color) perfectly. She also has a series of more radical make-ups (would you expect any less from Lion?).

“The mind can be trained to relieve itself on paper.” ~  Billy Collins

Hair: >TRUTH< Emily – crow by Truth Hawks for >TRUTH< *

Skin: AYUMI 18-LionSkins by Lion Jonesford for LionSkins

Shape: Freestyle Shapes – Jia Li by Freedom Parx for Freestyle Shapes *

Eyes: FASHISM ‘Sunrise’ Eyes – Eggplant Light (ML) by Ikon Innovia for FASHISM *

Lashes: pearled eyelashes by Mirja Mills for Emo-tions

Top: =Zenith=Pink  Akali by Miffyhoi Rosca for =Zenith=, available at the TFG Discount Shop

Shorts: (Milk Motion) My leather shorts by Marie Lauridsen for Milk Motion

Socks: *KUROTSUBAKI* socks_romantic_purple by sato Yifu for KUROTSUBAKI

Boots: [LeeZu] BeachBum Boots /violet by LeeZu Baxter for [LeeZu] *

Going Green

A little green is finally showing up outside. I am thrilled—it’s my favorite color.

That is why I was thrilled to get this darling green dress from LeeZu Baxter. It’s expertly drawn and sculpted with a flirty little sculpty skirt. I discovered I only wear the A/B cup accoutrements—the ribbon and bust. I love how she made the sculpted pieces and made them work for this little dress. LeeZu attends to all the details too, including the zipper up the back and the translucency of the ribbon.

I realize now I blew it and didn’t photo these terrific sandals from Siddean Munro. I have SUCH a hard time matching feet—I find it impossible. Siddean makes it incredibly easy with her HUD system. The colors match so easily and coloring nails is simple too. These new sandals are PERFECT for springtime warm weather and I bet they would do well for RP looks too like togas. (They come in several colors.)

My hair is a new one from Truth Hawks—another home run. I recently visited Mocksoup Graves’ store because I love her make-ups. They are a great overlay on many skins because they are pretty sheer and seem to fit many lip sizes. I overlaid it on Tuli Asturias’ beautiful Sara skin that also comes with great lipsticks, but I really liked this copper color from Mocksoup.

Emerald, green, chartreuse, grass, vert, jade, forest, sage, malachite, moss, pea, olive, lime, kelly—I like ‘em all. (Well not kelly so much.)

Hair: >TRUTH< Phoebie – copper by Truth Hawks for >TRUTH< *

Skin: [:T:] Sara / sunkissed :: 03 by Tuli Asturias for Tuli *

Makeup: M.O.C.K Cosmetics Coppery Kiss Lipstain (Lipcolor only) by Mocksoup Graves for M.O.C.K Cosmetics

Eyes: FASHISM ‘Sunrise’ Eyes – Light Absinthe (ML) by Ikon Innovia for FASHISM *

Dress: [LeeZu!] Paradii Dress/olive by LeeZu Baxter for [LeeZu!] *

Shoes: Slink Cassia Sandals Beige by Siddean Munro for Slink *

Spring Fresh

Designers are introducing a bunch of new content for this spring, bringing a new fresh look to the season. (Now if the sun would come out….)

For example, LeeZu Baxter has been on a tear, producing new content like a woman on a mission. Are the hyacinths and tulips popping out of the ground inspiring her? This pair of shorts with their color-changing texture belt is a fresh look for spring. I show here with a burgundy silk texture but it comes with a whole handful of looks that can accent an outfit. I wear it with a gacha sweater from Memai Avon. Blessedly, LeeZu did not put loops on the belt so I could wear this sweater out.

Tricky Boucher came out with a new line of skins a month or so ago and I was remiss in not showing his group gift, which is truly lovely. Queue Marlowe just released a new set of sexy up-dos with her characteristic messy and sexy curls. Ikon Innovia has released new hazel eyes in five shades with his typical five sizes (there you go, Ms. Alchemi!) which are absolutely hypnotizing. And goodness, Bax Coen is hard at work applying her new metallic look to everything in sight—this time her Prestige boots. These are color changing and this particular set has three colors, all distinctively different. And as always, you can fit the boots via Bax’s brilliant fitting system.

Every spring is the only spring – a perpetual astonishment.  ~Ellis Peters

Hair: AD – ginger maple by Queue Marlowe for Analog Dog *

Skin: -Belleza- Erika Med group gift by Tricky Boucher for -Belleza-

Eyes: FASHISM ‘Sunrise’ Eyes – Light Hazel (ML) by Ikon Innovia for FASHISM *

Top: [ Last Period ] tops 0021 gacha Pink by Memai Avon for Last Period (no longer available)

Shorts: [LeeZu!] Cortez Pants /blue jeans by LeeZu Baxter for LeeZu! *

Boots: BAX Prestige Boots Violet Metallic by Bax Coen for BAX Boots *

Too Beautiful to Work

I have a lot of stuff to do—blogs to write, hair to demo, KittyCatS to feed, chickens to knit. But I have to pause and just enjoy Harper for a second.

It’s because of LeeZu Baxter’s newest dress offered in the Noir line. It seems LeeZu has been enjoying a burst of creative energy lately. She has been sending out beautiful content for a few weeks now and she has also posted free wallpapers she has made. (As if she doesn’t have enough to do!) This dress is an assemblage of beauty with its combination of netting, feathers, ribbons, and sculpted stamen with an A-line silhouette, sleek gloves and a sweet little hair piece.

My skin is from Gianni Broda (renamed Harlen Christy in-world but for search purposes, Gianna Broda). This skin, while a little flat, is a great alternative if you like a more anime look. My hair is from the lovely Chiaki Xue, who is cranking out new content at an amazing rate. Her textures are sublime, especially when it comes to wavy hair, and she has a real knack for shorter styles. I love wearing her boy hair but this time I have one of her girl hairs on with its lovely light blonde coloring. I wore Ikon’s eyes in a larger size here to further push that anime look, dark eyes which are especially beguiling with this light skin and hair.

Written while listening to The Luyas “Too Beautiful to Work.”

Hair: **Dura-Girl**18(Blonde)resize by Chiaki Xue for Dura *

Skin: *CASHMERE*Godiva(Latte)GLARE by Gianni Broda for *CASHMERE*

Eyes: FASHISM ‘Sunrise’ Eyes – Dark Brown (L) by Ikon Innovia for FASHISM *

Dress: [LeeZu!] NOiR Papillon De Nuit Dress by LeeZu Baxter for LeeZu! *

Shoes: NX-Nardcotix Eva Black by Nardya Rousselot for Nardcotix

Rusty

I am a little rusty with the old blog format, but you’ll all forgive me, wontcha? Because I will be bringing you some quality shopping and content each day again :)

Like this ensemble I put together for a little Mad Max. With a couture jacket from LeeZu Baxter over a top from Calyn Canning and a little skirt I had from Saeya Nyanda, and I have something cooking here. This girl is tough and sexy. Actually, right now I am reading Anathem by Neal Stephenson and this girl reminds me a lot of Core.

I really worked on this look, decking myself out in jewelry from ROZOREGALIA Braveheart—especially a great multiple piercing that is modifiable. My edgy hair is from Emelie Carter (I love these with the tattoos) and my sleek and sexy skin is from esra Noyes, who offers skins that are more glamorous and strongly made up for women who want a bolder look.

My pal Rand pointed out these boots to me and they were the basis of the whole look. From the safety pinned socks over the laced up cuffs, to the nod to Victorianism, these boots from Tera Gearz are win-win all over. They could go from steampunk to retro apocalypse in a snap and might even look good with jeans.

“Nothing is more important than that you see and love the beauty that is right in front of you, or else you will have no defense against the ugliness that will hem you in and come at you in so many ways.”  ~ Neal Stephenson, Anathem

Hair: 99Hair -IEKELENE -b1 with 99Hair -Shaved Tattoo LAYER -black T0 by Emilie Carter for 99 Elephants

Skin: DREAM INK-SF-MORGANA-T-16 by esra Noyes for Dream Ink *

Eyes: Prerelease eyes from Ikon Innovia for Fashism *

Jacket: [LeeZu!] Maria Jacket /olive by LeeZu Baxter for LeeZu! *

Top: .dystopia. punisher torn shirt *shirt* by Calyn Canning for dystopia

Skirt: Kyoot Army – Dead Naga Mini (Black) by Saeya Nyanda for Kyoot

Tights: Doppelganger Inc. – Knocked Up Knee Socks Brown by Syler Morgwain for Doppelganger

Boots: *DL* Kimiko – Urban High heels – boxed by Tera Gearz for Dirty Lynx

Earrings:+ROZOREGALIA+ *Gemma* EARRING4/A L and +ROZOREGALIA+ *Gemma* EARRING4/C R by ROZOREGALIA Braveheart for ROZOREGALIA

Belly Piercing: +ROZOREGALIA+*NORNIR*BELLY PIERCE1[Type3]Sl by ROZOREGALIA Braveheart for ROZOREGALIA

Tattoo: AITUI TATTOO – Zodiac – ASF Taurus I by Jesseaitui Petion for Aitui

Erotica

“Is not the most erotic portion of a body where the garment gapes? In perversion (which is the realm of textual pleasure) there are no ‘erogenous zones’ (a foolish expression, besides); it is intermittence, as psychoanalysis has so rightly stated, which is erotic: the intermittence of skin flashing between two articles of clothing (trousers and sweater), between two edges (the open-necked shirt, the glove and the sleeve); it is this flash itself which seduces, or rather: the staging of an appearance-as-disappearance. ” — Roland Barthes

LeeZu Baxter announced the release of her new line of BDSM wear this weekend. Having seen all of it, I would count it more as BDSM influenced than straight kinkwear. And I would also rate it as 100 times better than the average sex wear on the grid. Take, for example, this very couture outfit which replicates the image of latex or perhaps wax dripping down the body. What LeeZu gives us is something erotic but not so prurient that it bores us or puts us off. It is visually exciting in and of itself. She doesn’t reveal all the typical sexual areas (tits and ass)–she embraces the whole body as a sexual organism and symbol.

LeeZu goes beyond the standard latex (which anyone can do by just doing a lot of dodging) by adding dangerously whiskery prims off the gloves and legs and arranging beads like drops of latex around the arm and neck. And she punctuates it with a flared flexi latex cuff. This is not so much an outfit as latex poured and hardened on the skin and on the curves of the female body—an artistic representation of a sexual, sensual fantasy.

I am wearing a dramatic updo from Mirja Mills who has, lately, been putting out some stunning curly styles. I am totally into this hair from its almost frizzy curls to its beautiful tendrils dripping out one side. I opted to wear a skin from Nena Janus to make the sexuality of this look more evident—I find Nena’s skins almost sensual in their details. Huge ass earrings from Linka Demina and unbelievably high stilettos from Tesla Miles complete the look.

The artist’s experience lies so unbelievably close to the sexual, to its pain and its pleasure, that the two phenomena are really just different forms of one and the same longing and bliss. ~ Rainer Maria Rilke

Hair: .:EMO-tions:. * FAME I * / black by Mirja Mills for .:EMO-tions:. *

Skin: *League* Amber Br Sunkiss -Plum- by Nena Janus for *League* *

Outfit: [LeeZu!] BDSM Liquid Latex /black by LeeZu Baxter for [LeeZu!]

Earrings: [ glow ] studio Bitterness Earrings TDRblue by Linka Demina for [ glow ]

Shoes: – TESLA – *Vixen_Desire* black’ by Tesla Miles for Tesla