Make New Friends…

 

So this is what happens when some upstart blogger IMs you and gets all sweet and nice and funny. She lets you steal witty things from her profile. She dishes with you about her partner. Then, she sneaks up and asks to take your photo because of a blogger challenge. She asks you to look like yourself (whatever that is anymore, I am not sure). And then she takes your photo and you look like a billion bucks (see below).

Rainey Manx, authoress of No Rainey Days, IM’d me and flattered me with her request to take my photo to answer Harlow Heslop’s question about what blogger inspires her. I was thrilled because Rainey’s work is incredible—she puts beauty into every piece she does (and I am incredibly envious because my PS and art skills stink). I was putty in her hands.

Did we intend to dress to match? Nope. But that’s how similar we are in aesthetic–it all seemed to work. I can only talk about what I threw on; Rainey’s babeitude speaks for itself (and she has more at her blog). I started with a minidress and scarf from Trill Zapatero, who tempted me with several things at her store. I love the funky look of her things, their casual sexy hippy dippy coolness. All proceeds from sales at her store go to help Afghan women, so it appeals to my charitable side as well.

My hair is my namesake from my someday partner Queue Marlowe (whenever Callie dumps me). Queue made the hair and then I sent a photo of RL Harper and we agreed—it matches. My skin, like Rainey’s, comes from Nena Janus’ beautiful mind.

Most importantly, our eyes come from a man we both hold dear to our heart—Ikon Innovia. I would like to think I am the reason they are together but I am guessing it’s more because of his devastating charm and her incredible wit and spirit. It seems Ikon lucked out. So did I in making a new friend :)

… but keep the old. One is silver and the other’s gold.

On Rainey:

Hair: Magika – Luna Roots Edition by Sabina Gully for Magika

Skin: League – Sia by Nena Janus for *League* *

Eyes: Fashism – Custom by Ikon Innovia for FASHISM *

Sweater & Tank Top: Sn@tch – Church Sweater & Butch Tank Sheer by Ivey Deschanel for Sn@tch

Jeans: L.inc – Tyra Jeans by CK Winx for Luck Inc *

Belt: Coco – Calf Leather by cocoro Lemon for *COCO*

Necklace: Dark Mouse -  I’ve Lost My Way by Mouse Mimistrobell for Dark Mouse*

Bracelet: Sigma – Siren by Sofi Trenkins for ~SIGMA~Jewels

Pose: !Bang – Promises by Triest Minuet for Bang Poses

 

On Harper:

Hair: AD – harper brown sugar by Queue Marlowe for Analog Dog *

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

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

Top: BoHo HoBo minidress (tealquarks) by Trill Zapatero for BoHo Hobo

Jeans: Maitreya Skinny Jeans by Onyx LeShelle for Maitreya

Scarf: BoHo HoBo skinny scarf (blue) by Trill Zapatero for BoHo Hobo

Ring: ::je suis::Gacha::tente::sky::ring by Julia Merosi for je suis

Boots: BAX Prestige Boots Blue Suede by Bax Coen for Bax Coen Designs *

Peachy Keen

“The ripest peach is highest on the tree.” ~ James Whitcomb Riley

Nothing like a sweet peach in the summer. In a short little ruffle-tiered skirt from Su Scarmon in the prettiest shade of rose, our peach is ready for a summer soiree. I like how Su has used highlights and lowlights to make the fabric really satiny and the ruffles flouncy. The summer’s sexiest shoes, from Siddean Munro, turn the look from sweet to sumptuous.

The peachy part of the blog is really this new skin from Heather Beebe. With its peachy skin tone, languid eyes, and full and juicy lips, it’s a sexy and fresh look from Heather. (A friend who had not been in SL for a couple months saw me in this and said he couldn’t stop looking at me. That should tell you how good the skin is ;)) I show with a sexy loose updo from Truth Hawks.

“Life is better than death, I believe, if only because it is less boring and because it has fresh peaches in it.” ~ Thomas Walker.

Hair: >TRUTH< Alison – sandlewood by Truth Hawks for >TRUTH< *

Skin: [ROCKBERRY] Apple A/Natural/BLK by Heather Beebe for [ROCKBERRY] *

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

Dress: *Lalei*Nadine dress-dark rose by Su Scarmon for *Lalei* *

Necklace and bracelets: *League* Wanderer Jewellery Set -Golden Oak by Nena Janus for League

Shoes: Slink Lulu Stilettos Beige by Siddean Munro for SLink *

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}

Ennui

I have been feeling a lot of ennui about SL lately.

This look reflects that. It’s actually a lovely look in sepia with a great dress from Anyusha Lilienthal. I love the print and the sleeves. Check out the thin little belt holding up the sculpty ruffled skirt. I removed the chest prim because the square neckline is so well done and charming as it is. It also shows off the pile of beads from Nena Janus I am wearing. This outfit is a triumph of using sculpties and textures judiciously in both the dress and jewelry.

I was turned on to Jaden Foxclaw’s skins by Voshie Paine, and I wanted to exploit the melancholy and wistfulness of this skin by opting to make it more modern and contemporary in look rather than going towards the ephemeral lolita or vampire look. I did this by topping my head with a sassy hair from chiaki Xue, who makes these wavy short hair cuts with incredible ease.

The photo was not touched up. Taken directly in SL with shadows. The beauty of creators’ work in SL keeps curing the ills of ennui.

Hair: **Dura-Boys&Girls**16(Dark Brown)resize by chiaki Xue for Dura *

Skin: [.:Mascarade:.] Chou – Jolie – by Jahen Foxclaw for [.:Mascarade:.]

Eyes: FASHISM ‘Sunrise’ Eyes – Warm Silver (M) by Ikon Innovia for FASHISM *

Dress: Ibizarre Marissa Dress – Vanilla – Bag by Anyusha Lilienthal for Ibizarre *

Jewelry: *League* Wanderer Jewellery Set by Nena Janus for *League*

Shoes: Absolution – Maizi Flats by Teresa Republic for Absolution

Happy Easter

‘Twas Easter-Sunday. The full-blossomed trees
Filled all the air with fragrance and with joy.
~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Easter is when you put on your prettiest frock and enjoy the spring. Tammany Goodliffe has just come out with a series of pastel perfect pretties for spring, all ideal for an Easter gathering or tea party. Notice the beautiful rendering of the top over the lovely skirt (which floats like a dream). Not a seam shows, all the edges are perfectly clean and the color is gorgeous. The truly winning part of this ensemble are the roses, available for either shoulder or your hair. Look closely and you will see how exquisitely Tammany rendered these roses, from the leaves to the petals.

I am showing it with a simply lovely new hair from Truth Hawks. When my hair was a bit longer (and I was a bit younger), I often wore my hair this way. My shoes are a classic from Fallingwater Cellardoor—ladylike and pretty and beautifully textured. And I defaulted to Nena Janus’ skin, which has the springtime glow I wanted.

Easter spells out beauty, the rare beauty of new life.  ~S.D. Gordon

Hair: >TRUTH< Karen – toffee by Truth Hawks for >TRUTH< *

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

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

Dress: salt. say grace sand sunday dress by Tammany Goodliffe for salt. *

Shoes: (Shiny Things) Delphine pumps – sand by Fallingwater Cellardoor for Shiny Things *

Mouse in the House

“When the mouse laughs at the cat there is a hole nearby.” ~ Nigerian Proverb

I know I dissed elf ears the other day and now I am wearing mouse ears, but honestly? They are cute. This was all about building a look around these ears from Jenova Saeed and hair from Chiaki Xue. It seems Chiaki is taking a fun approach to creation and teaming up with several different Japanese designers to make different looks. I love the results. The ears twitch and have orbiting spirals around them (which are not easily seen in this photo—it’s subtle) and they come in several colors.

I just recently got this skirt, part of a dress set from dirty Adored’s new Themeory offering, and the skirt was so ideal for this look, especially over these stockings from Nena Janus that were a rez day present. I found this top from Vasha Martinek and colored it a bright red to match and donned a great rockabilly tattoo from Antonia Marat. My shoes were a Marketplace find from Ann Otoole because they had that exaggerated style I wanted. I had to hack them to get the invisiprims hidden—Firestorm makes a mess of those. Give us V2 options, designers!

My skin was a recently rez day purchase from Belleza. I love the red lips Tricky Boucher made. Finally, new black eyes from Ikon Innovia. You all wanted different colors but *I* wanted my black eyes. It makes my mouse girl perfect.

Woman or mouse? Squeak up! ;)

Hair with ears: *+JENOVA’s+* & **Dura**(Hair)(Black) with *+JENOVA’s+*&**DURA** :White Ear by Chiaki Xue and JENOVA Saeed for Dura and Jenova *

Skin: -Belleza- Melissa Med 13 (cleavage) with -Belleza- Melissa Med Lip 3 by Tricky Boucher for -Belleza-

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

Top: +DV8+ Danse Crop (S-layer) – Silver by Vasha Martinek for +DV8+ (modified to make bright red)

Skirt: Bottle Bird Themeory Jive Skirt red by dirty Adored for Bottle Bird *

Stockings: *League* Side-Gartered Stockings -White -Black Garter by Nena Janus for League

Tattoo: /artilleri/ maggie tattoo (no chest) by Antonia Marat for /artilleri/

Shoes: Juicylicious Platform High Heels 8 Colors by Ann Otoole for Unique Needs

Bloom

Let me gush about the new Radiohead album, which has nothing whatsoever to do with fashion but has everything entirely to do with my happy mien. (Came out while I was busy with other things….)

I am listening to it while I show this entirely elegant gown from Su Scarmon. Su uses some photosourced textures but she uses them skillfully to created gowns that are lean and elegant. She has excelled with this one showing an asymmetrical neckline and back tied with a bow and a thin little belt. The contrast of the top to the bottom adds to its elegance and sets it apart from more standard monochromatic gowns.

I show it with a glowing skin from Nena Janus. The skin suits my shape and has beautiful makeup and details. My eyes, it is now finally revealed, are another masterpiece by Ikon Innovia. And my earrings are a lovely color texture changing set from Squinternet Larnia, who provides gorgeously crafted costume jewelry to women around the grid.

“I dive into those eyes.” ~ Radiohead, Bloom

Hair: “LoQ Hairs” Pure Beauty – Black by Gia Pawpad for LoQ

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

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

Dress: *Lalei*Katrine dress-light sky by Su Scarmon for *Lalei*

Earrings: Donna Flora MARTINA earrings + HUD by Squinternet Larnia for Donna Flora

The Eyes Have It

The eyes are the window to the soul. ~ English Proverb

For a while now I have been wearing eyes that I mysteriously tell people were a gift given to me. My eyes, up until now, have not been for sale on the grid, though a select few people have them. I am very lucky to be one of them. What was once my unique privilege will now be available to everyone.  Ikon Innovia, a professional graphic artist, has been developing these eyes for quite a while and is finally releasing his first sets at Fashion for Life.

To say that Ikon has done exhaustive research on this would be an understatement. He reviewed the placement of eyes in SL, reviewed hundreds of photos of RL eyes, reviewed the movement, the shadowing, the shape. He reviewed the eyes on over 30 different shapes, male and female, and set them against dozens of skins. From the development of the irises to the work on the sclera, Ikon has tweaked each part of the eye with his critical exactitude–for months. Each iteration he has presented to me has been more beautiful than the last. He has finally, blessedly, stopped tweaking and put them out for sale.

And what does it mean to have eyes like this? Early in my time in SL, someone gave me the sage advice that well-done eyes make the look—they are the most important accessory–and I have always followed this rule. People rarely *notice* them but they add the humanness and beauty that makes the avatar perfect. I can’t emphasize enough how important eyes really are to giving an avatar soul. Overbright eyes, oversized eyes, washed-out, pale eyes, and flat eyes all ruin an avatar’s look subtly. Once I received Ikon’s eyes, I never wanted to wear another pair. I have always felt my avatar and photos were enhanced by Ikon’s eyes.

Ikon has carefully developed his eyes so they look realistic from all angles—looking up, looking down, looking to the side as well as looking ahead. He has developed saturation levels in the eyes so that you can go from bright color-washed eyes to an intense tone. (He knows my preference is for a darker tone rather than the washed-out or oversaturated eyes I see so many wearing.) He has made them in several iris sizes so they fit your avatar just right.

After months, nay YEARS, of Harper in his IM box nagging him, Ikon is finally off the hook and I can share his wonderful talent with all of you. Please come to his opening at the Fashion for Life and then keep coming back again and again when he opens his store.

Photo 1:

• Hair: ::DBS::Mona-black by DBS Heart for Bishwear, FFL Store Sponsor on the Irving Penn sim
• Skin: *League* Amber Br Sunkiss -Angel- by Nena Janus for League
• Eyes: FASHISM ‘Sunrise’ Eyes – Egyptian Blue (M) by Ikon Innovia for FASHISM, FFL Store Sponsor on the Bourke White sim

Photo 2:

• Hair:  [e] Melody – Brown 04 by Elikapeka Tiramisu for Elikatira, Sim Sponsor for the Bourke White sim at Fashion for Life
• Skin: LaVie Hope  Autumn Glory Normal #5 [H] by Pompeja Rossini for LaVie, FFL Store Sponsor on the Ansel Adams sim
• Eyes:FASHISM ‘Sunrise’ Eyes – Silver&Blue 3 (ML) by Ikon Innovia for FASHISM, FFL Store Sponsor on the Bourke White sim

Photo 3:

• Hair: harper copper by Queue Marlowe for Analog Dog
• Skin: [:T:] Eva / sunkissed / br :: 04 Meadow with [:T:] Eva / sunkissed / lips :: Coral by Tuli Asturias for Tuli
• Eyes: FASHISM ‘Sunrise’ Eyes – Deep Green (ML) by Ikon Innovia for FASHISM, FFL Store Sponsor on the Bourke White sim

Photo 4:

• Hair: !VA! Crazy Horse-noir by Tabata Jewell for Vanity Hair, FFL Store Sponsor on the Mapplethorpe sim
• Skin: LOGO Infinity Divine Skin – Fashion For Life Special Edition by Maximillion Grant for LOGO, VIP Sponsor and FFL Store Sponsor on the Helmut Newton sim
• Eyes: FASHISM ‘Sunrise’ Eyes – Silver&Rust 3 (M) by Ikon Innovia for FASHISM, FFL Store Sponsor on the Bourke White sim

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

The Words Left Unsaid

One of the oddest issues of SL that a new person has to wrap their head around is the timing and meaning of IMs. When you call someone on the phone or speak to someone and they don’t respond, you have a set of reasonable interpretations of what this silence means. But when you IM and get no response, what does it mean?

In this new technological age, we have had to rewire our brains to understand a non-response is sometimes something different than we think. If you IM me and I don’t respond, it could be anything. I try really hard to put my busy response on (“Yes, I heard you.. yeah I totally agree.. uh huh.. How dare he?”) but sometimes I have to go afk or I am in another window for what I was thought a brief time. Or sometimes SL puts your IM in my email (grrrr).

Sometimes I am positioning a photo.. or two… or three. For example, for this blog, I spent the entire time chatting with Syngen Sohmers about how people drive in Egypt. While I was admiring the cleverly done vest prim and the excellent textures from this outfit by Sandie Saenz, Sygnen was denying any chaos on Egyptian roads. As I adjusted my belt (only slightly), she was explaining how Egyptians are simply efficient by fitting more cars on the road. My laugh was delayed but she understood.

I am especially unreachable when I am zooming in for a close up. It’s really not hard to take a beautiful photo of Nena Janus’ skin, but it still needs concentration. While my beautiful hair from Queue Marlowe (a beauty herself) falls around my shoulders, I want to make sure everything is in place, and at that moment I might not be able to “lol.”

Sometimes I just can’t respond to an IM because I am in awe. Gospel Voom’s new boots put me in that state of speechlessness. Between their sleek look and their versatility, these boots are a godsend for fashionistas across the grid. Two days ago I showed the chunky heel on the white boot. Today I show the stiletto. Available in a wide variety of colors, Gospel gives you all sorts of great options, like being able to switch the scripts to lagfree, being able to make full bright (for whatever reason), changing the hardware on the boots, etc. And frankly, they are sexy as heck. So now you know why your IM was met with silence. I was staring at these boots in wonder.

“I can’t come to the IM window right now so please leave a message and I will get back to you as soon as possible.”

Hair: lyra black with AD hair base – black by Queue Marlowe  for Analog Dog *

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

Outfit: Mix & Match Winter Vest Outfit by Sandie Saenz for FA Creations

Boots: [Gos] Curvaceous Boot Black by Gospel Voom for Gos *