Optimist

Waiting, but I don’t mind
I’m all bus stops and heat
I’m neon in your daylight
I’m the optimist of 30th Street
How it is is how it oughta be

~ “Optimist” by David Byrne and St. Vincent

When you see the buds on the trees, Radiohead drops a new song, sunshine arrives, you can’t help but be an optimist. I put together a casual, about-town outfit and strolled the streets of St. Pete’s City. My top and jacket are Ariadne Garrigus’ newest separate with a texture change HUD for the top and sweatshirt. She gives you a ton of cute patterns and solids for the top. I matched them up with the funky harem-style pants from AscendSL that comes with a color-change HUD and bejeweled sandals from Lilo Denimore, both featured at Shiny Shabby. Aikea Reiko has a selection of darling embossed handbags and Empyreanforge has a terrific bracelet set with texture change HUD at Shiny Shabby.

Queue Marlowe is bringing this great ponytail back from the Fantasy Faire and putting it in her store soon. My skin is Inka Mexicola’s generous group gift for the Essences fans, a system skin with all the beauty we are accustomed to from Inka. And I am totally in love with these gorgeous eyes from Audrey Lamede for Cosmopolitan Room.

Hair: AD – omega – LIGHT BROWNS by Queue Marlowe for Analog Dog *

Skin: Essences – Hope *medium01* brown by Inka Mexicola for Essences *

Eyes: .ID. Cosmic Eyes / Dark Brown by Audrey Lamede for Insufferable Dastard, available at the Cosmopolitan Room

Lashes: .LeLutka.Kyra lashes.02 by Thora Charron for LeLutka *

Body: Maitreya Mesh Body – Lara V3.5 by Onyx LeShelle for Maitreya

Top with jacket: ***ArisAris~Gara36~Imagine~jacket and shirt~ MAITREYA by Ariadna Garrigus for ArisAris *

Pants: //Ascend// Inga Harem Pants – Maitreya Lara by ascendsl for Ascend, available at Shiny Shabby *

Necklace: (Yummy) Small Crystal Necklace  – Silver by Polyester Partridge for Yummy

Bracelet: EF: Ankara Bracelet Left – Gold by EmpyreanForge for Empyrean Forge, available at Shiny Shabby *

Hip chains:  Hip Chain – Babette – FULL SET – Curvy – BLACK – V1 by Maxi Gossamer for Maxi Gossamer

Handbag: :[P]:- Amy Rose Bag [Down Hold]:// Love by Aikea Rieko for The Plastik, available at Shiny Shabby *

Sandals: :::ChicChica::: Nancy Mokko by Lilo Denimore for ChicChica, available at Shiny Shabby *

Poses by Valencia Southard for Marukin

Taken at St. Pete’s City

Alfajores

At first glance, the alfajor is entirely unassuming. One might even pass it up for something with chocolate chips or frosting. This would be a grave mistake. There’s a reason this simple cookie defines the cafe scene in Buenos Aires and has entire cafes devoted to it all across Latin America. It’s maybe the best cookie that ever was. ~ Julie R. Thomson, Huffington Post

Today’s cookies are alfajores, an Argentinian specialty, tender and flavorful, filled with dulce de leche. And today’s look comes courtesy of June Dion, who has made this darling Chanel-inspired outfit with mesh pieces. She includes dark and light pieces with textures that are absolutely gorgeous, even close up. I looked at the buttons over and over because they are so exquisitely done. And out and about, my ensemble got noticed—several asked me where I got it. (You will find it in th new releases section.) The outfit also comes with some system layers which are unnecessary and boots that you can take or leave. I left them for these great boots Senzati0n Domenitzo made for Shiny Shabby. They fit my calves perfectly and include all of Senz’s great colors. With Polyester Partridge’s darling little case for N21, it’s a chic look.

I am wearing the Logo mesh head again, testing more makeup applications. I used AtomicSparkle Skytower’s beautiful applier for the head and then applied one of Alaska Metropolitan’s great (and economical!) lipsticks. Omega applier eyes from Weaponized Sugar complete my look. I popped Glamistry’s awesome sunglasses on my head (even though it’s overcast) and the newest hair from Chiaki Xue, a wavy lush look that creates a darling wrap up for an entire look. Could my girl be Argentinian? She certainly is chic enough.

Hair: *Dura-B&G*62 HAIR – LIGHT COLOR -B- by Chiaki Xue for Dura *

Mesh head: LOGO Alex v3.0 Omega by Maximillion Grant for LOGO *

Skin applier: *VERVE* Coco Skin – Logo Alex Head Applier Omega (Sun) by Atomicsparkle Skytower for *VERVE* *

Makeup: alaskametro<3 “Creme Red” lipstick – Omega HUD by Alaska Metropolitan for Alaskametro

Eyes: :{WS}: Omega Eye Applier – Spring Green Medium by weaponizedsugar for Weaponized Sugar

Body:  Maitreya Mesh Body – Lara V3.4 by Onyx LeShelle for Maitreya

Dress: ::: B@R ::: Chidoria by June Dion for Bare Rose *

Sunglasses: Glamistry: Sunglasses PU2002 by Glamistry for Glamistry *

Necklace: Meva Skull Necklace women 1 by Mea Carnell for Meva, available at Shiny Shabby *

Handbag: (Yummy) Valena Box Purse by Polyester Partridge for Yummy, available at N21

Boots: Essenz – Missouri (Maitreya) by Senzati0n Domenitzo for Essenz, available at Shiny Shabby *

Poses by by Flutter Memel for Flowey

Taken at St. Pete’s City

Never a Wrong Time

“I don’t think there is ever a wrong time for a polka dot.” ~ Marc Jacobs

I just made the SL12B site (http://slcommunitycelebration.info) “live” yesterday and with all the moving parts in the site and in the organization, it was a bit of work, so I am ready to get outside for some fresh air and a little fun. (Please please join us for this great event!)

Spring is especially a good time for polka dots, and Moonbubble Gothly has colored my spring darling with this ruffled mesh blouse with polka dots. Available with a great texture change HUD that includes a plethora of polka dotted textures, the blouse is available at 100 Block, which means it’s discounted as well as exclusive. I paired it with jeans from Missqwerty Pevensey, also from 100 Block, in a great skinny style, and gacha items from Alia Whitfield, including a tote that has a texture change menu for the woven part of the bag. Sexy sandals from Senzati0n Domenitzo, which are fitted not just for Slink but also Maitreya feet (yay!) from 100 Block make me pink from head to toe literally.

Sopha Portal has made a series of gorgeous skins for the Black Fashion Fair, some in pale skin tones and some in deeper tones. With lined eyes and pale pink lips, they are pretty and sophisticated. The sets come with mouth appliers for various mesh mouths. I had to go to the store to get the body and hand appliers. Ikira Frimon made this darling cut for the Black Fashion Fair with her massively multicolor HUD. While it looks great in black, of course, it’s also darling in this bright pink. I love Polyester Partridge’s girly “normal” jewelry that she has been featuring at various events. This pretty pink gem is available at Kustom9.

Hair: [^.^Ayashi^.^] Tami hair-fatpack by Ikira Frimon for ^.^ Ayashi^.^, available at the Black Fashion Fair *

Skin: [ MUDSKIN ]_Back To Black2_E2_India by Sopha Portal for MUDSKIN, available at the Black Fashion Fair *

Eyes: [Buzz] Moka Eyes – Pitch {Medium} by Eleri Catlyn for Buzzeri, available at Kustom9

Body: Maitreya Mesh Body – Lara V3.3 by Onyx LeShelle for Maitreya

Blouse: [ bubble ] Frilled Shirt -All in One by Moonbubble Gothly for [ bubble ], available at 100 Block *

Jeans: [AB] Toulouse Jeans FITTED Black by Missqwerty Pevensey for American Bazaar, available at 100 Block *

Sun hat: [blissiere] sun hat – rawr – predator by Alia Whitfield for [blissiere], available at 100 Block *

Necklace: (Yummy) Full Heart Pendant – Gold  – Pink & White Diamond by Polyester Partridge for Yummy, available at N21

Tote: [blissiere] beach tote – rawr – predator by Alia Whitfield for [blissiere], available at 100 Block *

Hands: Slink Avatar Enhancement Hands – Elegant and Bag by Siddean Munro for Slink

Nail applier: #adored – I’m a loner dottie pedi {slink+omega} by Constance Daehlie for #adored *

Shoes: Essenz – Phoenix  Maitreya by Senzati0n Domenitzo for Essenz, available at 100 Block *

Poses by Dove Swanson for Long Awkward Pose

We Are All Made of Stars

People they come together
People they fall apart
No one can stop us now
‘Cause we are all made of stars

~ “We Are All Made of Stars” by Moby

Mariska Simons and Erielle Deschanel want you to feel like a star, so they have teamed up to create a few pieces for the Blacklace Lounge, a step outside in Burlesque-themed partywear and fun for the best lingerie-maker on the grid and her mesh-making associate. Featured at the Burlesque event, the dress is fun and flirty and sequined for special sparkle. I love these pumps from Glamistry. With his unique texture-change HUD, they have an elegance that will suit almost every outfit, especially when you can choose the toe cap, shoe, metal and heel textures.

The theme at Uber this month is celestial and while the creators could have taken this to outer space, they blessedly didn’t. Truth Hawks made this delightful hair, pulled to the side and optionally decorated with a star-motif hair piece. And Polyester Partridge brought her fine jewelry sensibilities to the occasion with star- and moon-themed pieces in gold and silver. I couldn’t help but get a few of her pieces, which are so wonderfully rendered.

I am wearing Umazuma Metaluna’s latest skin for regular avatars using the skin applier for the Maitreya Lara mesh body.  I did find in ultra lighting that there was a slight difference between the body and the avatar at the neck—that’s going to happen when you have different windlights and renderings. Uma’s skin is, as always, exquisitely rendered and very unique in the facial features, which I love because it creates a more complex and human avatar without slipping into the uncanny valley.

Hair: TRUTH HAIR Esther with TRUTH HAIR Esther Clip Silver by Truth Hawks for >TRUTH< *

Skin: [theSkinnery] Meysha – Bare face(honey) DB CL2 by Umazuma Metaluna for [theSkinnery] *

Eyes: #adored – dawn eyes – grey by Constance Daehlie for #adored *

Body: Maitreya Mesh Body – Lara V2.1 by Onyx LeShelle for Maitreya

Skin applier: [theSkinnery] Maitreya Skin Applier (honey) by Umazuma Metaluna for [theSkinnery] *

Dress: ~ Blacklace Lounge ~ Jewell Noir – Dress by Mariska Simons and Erielle Deschanel for Blacklace Lounge, available at Burlesque *

Jewelry: (Yummy) Twinkling Star Necklace and Earrings – Silver by Polyester Partridge for Yummy, available at Uber

Feet: Slink AvEnhance Feet High by Siddean Munro for Slink

Shoes: Glamistry : RAMONDA Heels by Glamistry for Glamistry *

Poses by Fanny Willis for Everglow *

What Barely’s Wearing Today

Barely swears to me this look gets the chicks. I can kinda see why. There’s the studied insouciance, the combination of patterns and a sort of funky warm masculinity that shows a touch of boyishness and vulnerability, which is so Barely.

 

Hair – Tableau Vivant – M4rilyn Magic – Victor Hair in Browns

Skin – Hermony – Hermanni Laville – Symon in ST2 @TMD

Eyes – IKON – Ikon Innovia – Eternal Eyes in Pewter

Jacket/Shirt – V-Spot – VerTig0 Sands – Vintage & Cool  Jacket in Green

Pants – Gabriel – Takuya Jinn – Plaid pants in Red

Glasses – Yummy – Polyester Partridge – Diane Frames

Socks – Adjunct – myVeganCookbook Bolissima – Sock Tops in Nautical Set #3

Boots – Adjunct – myVeganCookbook Bolissima – Le Grimpeur Boots in Monazite

Incognito

I will admit that I read US Weekly and People when I go to the dentist or the doctor. Frankly, it’s about the only thing that gets me there—the shiny new copies of the newest dish on the stars. One of the most interesting columns I have seen in these mags is the one about how stars are just like us. “They wash their dog, just like us! They shop at Whole Foods, just like us! They spend $50,000 on diamonds, just like us!” Sometimes the object of their attention is dressed incognito, especially walking the streets of Manhattan, simply out shopping or returning a book to the library. What makes them different still is that they are  casually wearing incredibly expensive designer boots and people are snapping photos of them.

Our celebrity has a gorgeous poncho-styled overcoat that looks like she gotit  from an artisan in Taos. Made by Khea Karas, this beautiful mix of embroidery and knitting creates the drama our star incognito adores without showing off her signature figure. Underneath she wears a cherry red turtleneck from Nyte Caligari, which she just got on discount at Nyte’N’Day’s end of the year sale because the stars like sales just like we do. Her leggings are pure designer (none of that Walmart stuff for her) made by LeeZu Baxter.

With a Nena Janus skin, our star can rest assured she looks as beautiful as she needs to, even without a lot of make-up. Her DIY hairstyle from Lamb Bellic—is that a wig? Huge sunglasses, tinted red to coordinate with her outfit, are a fashion do from Polyester Partridge.

Finally, her boots. Yes, stars rush to Elikapeka Tiramisu’s sim to snatch up her latest boots, just like us. With their leather legwarmer styling and stylish buckle, these boots reveal our star to be a woman with discriminating taste.

What about SLebrities? I am partnered to one—Callie Cline. I have a secret for you–she walks around bald and once in a while she is a cloud–just like us ;)

Hair: !lamb. DIY Haircut – Ink by Lamb Bellic for !lamb.

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

Jacket: .:MALT:.  Domonic Swancho – Midnight by Khea Karas for .:MALT:.

Turtleneck: Nyte’N’Day Clothing – Division Sweater Cherry by Nyte Caligari for Nyte’N’Day

Leggings: Maria Tights (Pants Layer) /black by LeeZu! by LeeZu Baxter for LeeZu! *

Sunglasses: (Yummy) Mom Glasses – Feeling Sassy Black by Polyester Partridge for (Yummy) (modified)

Boots: [e] Secret Boots – Black by Elikapeka Tiramisu for Elikatira

Topsy Turvy

A beautiful day today. We’re going out to buy plants today, especially a tomato plant we can put in one of those Topsy Turvy things. It’s a casual day, full of the topsy turvy joy of springtime and gardening.

A tank top, some cargo pants, sandals, and I am set to poke around in the aisles of plants and ground covers. The tank top and pants are supplied by Aree Lilibub—cute and versatile. The cargos, incidentally, are finished off with a cuff but I forewent those in favor of the tie up sandals from elka Lehane, which I bought as a fat pack for a mere 200L.

Nothing wrong with throwing on a bunch of jewelry on, especially if all you’re doing is walking among the flowers and picking only one little tomato plant out. I dug in my bauble box and came up with an assortment of pieces to make this bohemian nature lover more believable. (Who says I have to get dirt under my fingernails—isn’t that what gloves and gardeners are for?) Trinkets from Polyester Patridge, Kiki Cunningham, Sari Telling, and Maeve Mortlock make me jingle as I poke around in the impatiens. (And who said we didn’t have enough attachment points?)

Turning the World of Gardening Upside Down™

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

Skin: LAQ ~ Julie – 02 [Peach] Glow skin by Mallory Cowen for Laqroki *

Top: ::P:: Spring Retro Sweater Set, Blue by Aree Lulibub for .:Petunia

Pants: Petunia Rolled Cuff Chinos, Olive by Aree Lulibub for .:Petunia

Necklaces: (Yummy) Together Necklace by Polyester Partridge for Yummy! and *Ki2* Sassy Grandma by Kiki Cunningham for Ki-2

Bracelets: *Sari’s* Messy Poppy Bracelet by Sari Telling for Sari’s

Earrings: Ear Candy ~ Complex in  Turquoise Earrings by Maeve Mortlock for Ear Candy

Sandals: !BF! Urban Bohemian Ankle Wrap Flats – Rust (BrownSole) by elka Lehane for boing fromage