A Chill in the Air

A cold wind blew in yesterday. As someone said on TV, “Summer ended five minutes ago.” For me that means the opportunity to get out clothes I haven’t seen in a while—kind of like having a whole new wardrobe. I pulled out designs from some of the best on the grid to keep me chic and warm.

A rummage through the coat closet found this amazing leather and fur coat from mirai Jun. With the mix of sculpties and system pieces, it’s an ingenious design. I just FEEL warm when I see it.

I paired it with a sweater from LeeZu Baxter. Her dramatic dress designs are often featured in fashion shots, but not a lot is said about her more casual separate pieces. This sweater, a piece I purchased a while ago, would be a favorite in my RL wardrobe-the design is beautiful and complimentary, the materials are luxurious and warm.

The pants are from Zaara—velour with a clever angled zippered pocket, clearly styled on jeans Zaara has seen around town. Boots are a new offering from Rebel Hope—suede scrunch boots made from sculpties. Rebel seems to be holding on in SL, thankfully, despite some incredible problems on the grid. Thankfully, LL was there to provide some help ;) Hair is a cap and ponytail set Elika Tiramisu offers with the natty cap being scripted for color change.

A warm walk on a chilly autumn day:

Hair: ETD Janine – Auburn by Elikapeka Tiramisu for Elika Tiramisu Designs (ETD)

Skin: Pulse Skin-Valeries T Cream/Champagne AUB by Lorac Farella for Pulse Skins

Coat: !_Ce Cubic effect Leather & Fur Long coat(Gray) by mirai Jun for Ce Cubic effect

Sweater: *LeeZu Baxter* Loui Pullover /charcoal by LeeZu Baxter for LeeZu Baxter

Jeans: Zaara : Ishaya Velour slacks *black by Zaara Kohime for Zaara

Earrings: pc; Basic Hoop Earrings by Prue Lu for Paper Couture

Boots: !Rebel Hope Designs – Milan Suede Scrunch Boots Black by Rebel Hope for Rebel Hope Designs

What to Wear to Burning Life, Part 1

This year again, I have volunteered to help move along the fashion portion of Burning Life, which is a very small part of BL overall, and seems kind of superfluous because no one is looking at avatars—they are looking at the amazing builds and listening to the music. However, there is a place for fashion—what people wear to Burning Man is very important. That being said, this is the first in a series (I hope) of blogs about what to wear to Burning Life this year.

Today’s ensemble is based on anecdotes from RL Burners who have attended Burning Man. The playa is hot and the playa is dusty and you spend a lot of time walking around under the sun. Recommended are hats to protect from the sun, goggles in case of sudden dust storms, and socks and shoes to protect the feet from the alkaline dust of the playa. The rest is left to one’s discretion. One blog says, “Many Burners, both men and women, take the city’s self-proclaimed agenda of ‘radical self-expression’ to mean ‘wear as little as possible.’”

I have chosen the brilliant Shai Delacroix’ Zambia Safari Swimsuit for the playa. With it’s utilitarian camo bottoms and delectable top, it would suit the playa just fine—light enough on top to keep me cool, tough enough on the bottom to withstand dancing, camping, and general radical self-expression.

Braids are always useful—not so much flyaway hair in the winds on the playa. And the bandanna on top of Truth Hawk’s style can serve as protection or face covering when need be. It also keeps the sweat out of my eyes. I have adorned myself with kikunosuke Eel’s (of Japan Tempura fame) beautiful new jewelry to complete the bohemian look I have going here.

The boots are the most important. Fallingwater Cellardoor’s Old Boots are my favorite pair. Broken in, reliable, tough, they protect me from the playa dust better than any, and I don’t have to worry about wrecking them. They get better looking with age.

Walk the playa, take in the sights, be “radically included”:

Hair:>TRUTH< Tahlia-Chestnut by Truth Hawks for >TRUTH<

Skin: Pulse Skin-Valeries T: Sienna/Champagne by Lorac Farella for Pulse Skins

Swimsuit: *Shai* Zambia Safari Swimsuit by Shai Delacroix for Casa del Shai

Earrings: [MANDALA] Soul Cream Earrings by kikunosuke Eel for [MANDALA]

Bangles: [MANDALA] Takara Bangle Dark Wood A and B by kikunosuke Eel for [MANDALA]

Socks: ALB JOY socks filz by AnaLee Balut for ALB Dream Fashion

Boots: (Shiny Things) Old Boots – black by Fallingwater Cellardoor for Shiny Things

Please note Shai Delacroix, Kriss Lehmann, and Miabella Foxley are mounting a collection for the Philippine Red Cross for the victims of Typhoon Ondoy/Ketsana and Botanical and Casa del Shai are donating 50% of their proceeds. For direct donation, go to the Philippine Red Cross website.

Poid crossed over!

Chocolate Decadence

It’s Sunday. It isn’t time for dieting—in one’s inventory or in one’s tummy. So I went out shopping and did some delicious damage to my inventory, all in the name of chocolate. And when I do chocolate, I want to do it my own way. Today’s episode is brought to you by the words “convenience” and “customization.”

This beautiful creation from the lovely Sascha Frangilli, Pudding in Choco (which I presume means “chocolate” because today, EVERYTHING means “chocolate,” and chocolate the way *I* want it). Again, Sascha graces us with her sumptuous textures, embroidered, beaded, gathered and poofed. I show several versions of the dress here, all changed by simply swapping out a skirt or the collar with the shawl. See here the “Big Sucker” skirt and below, the “Swooshy” skirt (chosen for look as well as brilliant naming).

She also offers a trim silhouette in the “Thin Flexi Skirt” and a more casual look with the Mini set included with the dress. This versatility makes an already inexpensive ensemble have even more value AND allows you to customize your look. Don’t you hate it when you show up at a party in the same dress as someone else? Well the chances are statistically much MUCH less likely that will happen when you can customize your dress this way. And you DO see someone in the exact same dress as yours, quickly pull out another skirt and attach it right there on the dance floor.

I used Siddean Munro’s clever Amazing Hair Colouring Contraption to make this updo a deep and luscious auburn. Buy the hair, click the contraption, get the color you want. You do NOT have to choose at time of purchase—buy three, save them for special events and throw on your color as needed. Customization and flexibility!

I am showing this with my own custom skin made by Body Politik. It’s custom because their brilliant online skin customizer allowed me to design a skin that suited my tastes and needs. I could see this quickly becoming an addiction for some fashionistas—you need pink lips and silver shadow for that ensemble? Quick, go online to their easy peasy website, design a skin while you’re at work.. log on later to pick it up (they ask for 48 hours—I got mine in less than 1 hour—someone was clearly on the other end to answer the request). The skin is well done—no over-burnished areas, clean seams and beautiful rendering. And I don’t look like EVERYONE ELSE.

Maximillion Grant has done the right thing in SL…he has been promoting his products in world a long time, but he has rolled with the punches rather than shutting down shop in frustration because the world won’t do things his way. He has come up with an innovative marketing tool that is bound to reap him considerable profits, incorporating the web and providing luxurious one-off customization for his customers. Hint hint—LL bought XStreetSL for a reason, kids. A well integrated website/SL mix is a great idea. It’s all about providing convenient choices for your customers!

Luxury unbound:

Hair: SLink Christina Style Dark Auburn by Siddean Munro for SLink

Skin: TBP Infinity Custom Skin- Harper Beresford CYT-103353 custom made for me by Maximillion Grant of The Body Politik

Dress: SAS –  Choco Pudding by Sascha Frangilli for Sascha’s Designs

Earrings: *la* Tisiphone pendant earrings by Tabitha Ninetails for The Laughing Academy

Carol Brady’s Got It Goin’ On

Remember Carol Brady? OK, not the Carol of the early Brady shows with her sweet smiles and gently back-combed bob. I am talking about the Carol of the later years—the one with the sexy shag haircut tipped with blonde, the tight jeans, the one who was clearly a predecessor to Stacy’s Mom (who “has got it goin’ on”), the one who you knew sharpened her act because she sensed Mike’s midlife crisis coming on and she had better step up. (And step up, she did. She was a minx, Carol Brady.)

I got Bax Coen’s new brown Prestige Boots today, and I knew they were just what Carol would wear if Carol were in SL. No Marcia, Marcia, Marcia could pull these babies off. These are boots for a Woman (hear her roar).

I conveniently copied the jibber jabber my professional fitted Red Prestige Boots spewed out and fed it to my brown boots and *poof* they fit! That is what I am talking about! Custom fitting in the click of a button. Then click, delicious chocolate decadence (because these babies come in 4 colors of brown leather—camel, cognac, mocha, and chocolate).

I wear a seemingly conservative dress from Ms. chocolate Arashi of couverture. With it’s Lilly Pulitzer-inspired paisley texture and historically accurate silhouette, Mrs. Brady would have found this ensemble “groovy.”

The hair.. gosh.. it curled in sensuous fringes down her long neck and curled up around her face in sweet spikes. I am wearing a brilliant almost-reproduction from Rei Gully with beautiful little earrings from Tiffy Vella (jeweler extraordinaire) and a beautifully textured scarf from Milla Michinaga (who wisely flipped from the rather thankless work of blogging to the more exciting world of virtual fashion design and has done so incredibly well).

The original MILF:

Hair: * 0 Style * Euphoria *(Smoked Walnut)_M by Rei Gully for *0 Style*

Skin: Pulse Skin – Climax/Valeries T2 Champagne by Lorac Farella for Pulse Skins

Dress: couverture*cream Orange V.2 *Tr by chocolate Arashi for couverture

Scarf: * MichaMi: Ebba Scarf in Copper by Milla Michinaga for MichaMi

Boots: BAX Prestige Boots Brown Leather by Bax Coen for Bax Boots

Are you ABSOLUTELY SURE you want your readers reading this, Hamlet? ;) (Thank you for the mention. The hug in SF made ALL the difference.) (And thanks, Chestnut, for the recommendation.)

Rainy Days

It’s raining out today—a sweet rainy fall day with periods of clarity. The flowers outside are releasing their last burst of bloom. I saw a hummingbird hovering not 3 feet from me, dipping his beak into my impatiens (yeah, explain that—guess he was desperate).

So today I am cheerfully celebrating beauty with the work of Iki Ikarus. She sent out two skins for her group, and I was hooked. I ran over a few days later and got this gem and one of her cute dresses. With its well-groomed eyebrows, expressive lips, and finely contoured face, this skin is well-drawn and lacks that over-dodged highlighting I see on too many skins nowadays.

Then I got into the whole purple/pink theme and topped this ensemble with this messy hair from Foam! It’s raining, ya know? Add in a whimsical blossom necklace from Ginza Kohime and a sweet umbrella from Michelle Rail, and we’re done up top.

I have to admit, the whole rain thing came to me because I have been dying to show these boots for a while. The RetroStars from Coke Dreadlow (who also makes some killer high-tops) are the boots I have wanted since I was a little girl. Tuck these cute socks from sato yifu in and we’re set!

Rain, rain, don’t go away (til tomorrow):

Hair: The Valerie-Black C- by Winter LittleBoots for Foam!

Skin: :: DUTCH TOUCH :: ::CleO:: Caramel – Lavender by Iki Ikarus for :: DUTCH TOUCH ::

Dress: :: DUTCH TOUCH :: SuNny Dress Violetred by Iki Ikarus for :: DUTCH TOUCH ::

Socks: *KUROTSUBAKI* socks_romantic_pink by sato Yifu for KUROTSUBAKI

Necklace: PINK flower beads necklace by Ginza Kohime for the now defunct Ginza Jewelry (tp will take you to a sim called Texas State USA :( )

Boots: UBU RetroStars Rain Boots by Coke Dreadlow for Urban Bomb Unit

Umbrella: Rall/!Umbrella/red by Michelle Rail for Spadio Studios

Listening to one of my favorite songs of all time: Weird Fishes/Arpeggi by Radiohead.

After the Presentation

I just have to say, I am glad it’s over (“it” being a session of Metanomics in which I sat next to Philip Linden and talked about virtual goods). Sitting next to Philip Linden was a huge honor, but speaking in front of over 600 people in-world, on the web, and in a conference room in San Jose is nerve-wracking.

After the presentation, I wanted to give myself a little of the consumer feel-good I had spoken about during the talk, so I wandered around the grid and hit some old favorites for a little capitalist endorphin rush.

Kotobuki Jewell’s treats at Bijou were a welcome balm for my frayed nerves. I bought this cute dress for a song. With its micro mini skirt (which has been cleverly designed so that stretching still does not occur on the legs and is covered by a well made-prim), its belted sweater with its huge bell sleeves, and its funky and fun silhouette, this sexy mini rang all my bells.

I ran over to Pulse and Lorac passed me the new Autumn skin, her rez day gift for group members. With its fresh lips and youthful sophistication, it was a perfect match to this ensemble. I topped the set with a tousled, over-the-eye ‘do from fri.day. I needed to hide a little–I was exhausted and excited all at once.

I finished the look with something akin to comfort food—Bax’s Prestige boots in black. Something about these boots—I always know I will look chic, sleek, and put together when I am wearing them. I turned the cuffs up to make them party ready, pulled up the zipper on the gold detail, and strolled out of the studio, confident and put together, ready for the next day in SL.

Feelin’ the rush:

Hair: fri. – Rashelle – Dramatic Red by Parvarti Monday for fri.day

Skin: Pulse Skin -Autumn/Songs by Lorac Farella for Pulse Skins

Dress: :bijou: Lux[Black] by Kotobuki Jewell for :Bijou:

Boots: BAX Prestige Boots Black by Bax Coen for Bax Coen Boots

P.S. Thank you, again, Philip and all the Lindens, for this world you bring us!

The Finest Jewelry

Tiny prims are a challenge. If you have never worked with them—tortured a prim down to its eensiest size, you don’t know what it means to work with them. The original master of tiny prim engineering was Random Calliope. Consider this sculpture he did, all 81 prims of it, next to the smallest cube I can make at .010 X .010 X .010.

No, that’s not a trick of your eyes. Actually, it’s a trick in my inventory—if I am not totally careful when I rez it, the darn thing ends up taking 81 prims somewhere on my sim, and I can’t find it without thorough searching. (And on this Primcess’ land, that’s like looking for a needle in a haystack!)

This blog is all about the tiny prims. Specifically, Di Yifu’s tiny prims. Di is in the next generation of exquisite jewelry makers after Random, as far as I am concerned. Following in the footsteps of such artisans as Caliah Lyon, Skinkie Winkler, and , Di Yifu brings new art to tiny prims. I am showing here her exquisite Laoris choker and earrings, which she is selling at this year’s Jewelry Fair.

Unlike Random, who worked exclusively with SL-made prims, no scripts, and SL-made textures, Di has opted to use sculpties and she has made a beautiful texture that rotates in the middle of each one of those little diamonds.

I chose a lovely and simple dress from Nicky Ree—the Kathy gown. It’s the elegance this necklace deserves without overpowering its beauty.

The hair is from fri.day, a terrific new store on the grid. If I wasn’t open-minded, I would think these were old designers rebranding, since the products, store, and business are so good, especially the hair.

Bedecked in jewels:

Hair: fri. – Allison – Dramatic Red by Parvarti Monday for fri.day

Skin: Pulse Skin-Valeries-T:Chamois/Summer by Lorac Farella for Pulse Skins

Dress: *NR* Kathy Gown – Green by Nicky Ree for Designing Nicky Ree

Earrings: “Laoris” elven/fairy earrings by Di Yifu for Inca Temple

Necklace: “Laoris” fairy/elven choker by Di Yifu for Inca Temple

Shoes: Storm Schmooz Opinelle by Storm Schmooz for L’Atelier Storm Schmooz

Thinking Green

I am, again this year, Costumer for Burning Life. That, in and of itself, is not that stupendous. I beg content creators to provide freebies for the masses of Burners coming to Burning Life. The best part of it is I get to meet some cool people as I am poking around looking for contributors. (And yes, if you are cool and want to contribute, contact me! I need everything!)

One of the cool people I met was tanyaa Beaumont. I had never heard of her or her store (but that means nothing since I live under a turnip patch on my sim). I wandered over to her store and was delighted to see some bright new designs, great colors and fun clothes.

Take, for example, this mini. With its bright colors and perfectly matched seams (yes!), tanyaa has made a cute clubby dress with a funky texture. I can’t wait to see what she sends over for BL!

I wore BG Planer’s smokin hot boots with the dress. Though BG clearly uses photo-sourced textures, they are employed cleverly and augmented with some great prim work. B&G also offers great toe shoes.. I will be sure to feature some in a future blog.

Wicked green eye makeup and a pale lip are ideal for this ensemble. Pulse’s new Valeries line continues to offer more and more make up choices for the lady who has to have everything matched to a T.

Why green’s the thing:

Hair: ETD Gwen – Blonde by Elikapeda Tiramisu for Elika Tiramisu Designs (ETD)

Skin: Pulse Skin-Valeries T: Sienna/Aqua by Lorac Farella for Pulse Skins

Dress: Lushh Boutique Random Dress Lime by tanyaa Beaumont for LUSHH Boutique

Boots: B&G BOTA ETERNITY – NEGRO – T000 by BG Planer for B&G

Bangles: ::eLDee:: Line bangles (green) by Lilyana Dryke for ::eLDee::

After Hours, Before Dark

“Brevity is the soul of lingerie.”

~ Dorothy Parker

I opted to do this loose recreation of a Helmut Newton photograph wearing a corset from the doyenne of SL lingerie, camilla Yosuke.

Ask any man who buys gifts for women in SL where to get the best lingerie, he will point you to camilla’s store, Insolence. This is for several reasons: First, men love to go to her store and ogle the beautiful product posters. Second, they know that the beauty they see in the product is the beauty they’ll get. Third, they know the recipients will be happy because the woman who wears this lingerie feels beautiful and desirable.

Camilla’s lingerie is sexy but not slutty, suggestive but not revealing. Camilla has mastered the fine art of seduction in her work, making SL women feel sexy for their partners. Camilla never trades vulgarity for sexiness; even her more prurient pieces (found in the basement) are classy, empowering a woman’s sexuality rather than making her a silly blow up doll of an avatar.

The corset I chose, Lilly, includes shiny long-legged sexy stockings attached by a beribboned garter with sweet ruffles icing the top and hems. The corset, as should be, is laced up tight on the sides and back.

I wore Guu Nishi’s simple (and incredibly inexpensive) Chunky Stiletto Pumps with the outfit. With their handy color change menu, their classic line, and great design, these pumps complete an outfit that makes the wearer the featured delectable, not her clothes.

Deliciousness:

Hair: ETD Vivian – Crimson by Elikapeka Tiramisu for Elika Tiramisu Designs (ETD)

Skin: Pulse Skin – Timeless ll/Makeup 4 by Lorac Farella for Pulse Skins

Lingerie: Lilly Black Satin Outfit by INSOLENCE Lingerie by camilla Yosuke for Insolence Lingerie

Shoes: HOC – Chunky Stiletto Pumps by Guu Nishi for HOC Industries

Elegant Houndstooth

A visit to the Modavia Fashion Week last week filled my inventory with several wonderful pieces. Designers are out in full force, making beautiful, inspired clothes.

Sassy Pessoa showed this innovative and stylish gown as part of her new collection. The silhouette is not unique—we have seen the bustled dress before. But with its unique houndstooth texture over a random splattered texture, it makes a very fashion-conscious and artistic dress.

I am wearing a great skin from Nicole Button, one that is meant for a woman of color. The skin, clearly photo-sourced, is a very beautiful representation for a woman who wants to look more Latina or African-American. Most of her skins are for that market and they share the same lusciousness.

I wore a great necklace from Emiko Harvey at Twinkleberry. Her building is well done and modern in this necklace. She has sweeter pieces available as well. LGM Jun has very reasonably-priced, very fun hair at Junwave. This one is a great updo, and I got it on sale recently for half price.

The shoes are from another of my favorites—Maitreya. The Verve pumps have a sleek and fashionable line that will carry one from this season to the next.

Elegance abounds:

Hair: ((JUNWAVE))SWEET Lady*Black* by LGM Jun for JUNWAVE

Skin: .:ICONIC:. Tamya ::Delicious:: by Nicole Button for .:ICONIC:.

Eyes: [IC-skins-store] Soulful Eyes :: Hazel by Ina Centaur for IC Skins

Dress: * Baiastice_Satin in Pied des Graffiti by Sissy Pessoa for Baiastice

Necklace: necklace_placido(black)) >> **~Twinkleberry~** by Emiko Harvey for **~Twinkleberry~**

Shoes: Maitreya Verve Pumps – Black by Onyx LeShelle for Maitreya