A Little Bit Independent

A little bit independent in your walk
A little bit independent in your talk
There’s nothing like you in Paris or New York
You’re awfully easy on the eyes
A little bit independent when we dance
A little bit independent toward romance
A bit of sophistication in your glance
And yet you’re easy on the eyes

I spend a lot of time in SL, a “social space,” alone. I am kind of an independent girl. I like to shop alone (because I like to get in and out); I blog alone (no one shining their facelamp on me); I live alone (no one else’s prims to clean up after). And I can have a BIG closet all to myself.

I got this cute outfit out of my closet today to show you the skill that Nyte Caligari has. She has combined great system pieces with a brilliant sculpty on top AND an alpha layer around the torso that takes the mesh breasts out of the equation so the top fits everyone. Nyte has been in SL a long time and she has stayed up with the new design technologies that SL offered so she can make a kickin’ outfit like this and make it look easy.

My skin is one of Apple May’s newest and I am very charmed. Her rosy cheeks are presumably the “doll like” part of this skin but they are not overwhelming. I love the gentle glow of the skin, the soft highlights on the lips and brow. Apple does not overdodge, which I see on a LOT of skins. Apple has improved her skins leaps and bounds and she is going to be placing herself in the top skins soon, based on this offering.

Whenever I’m with you alone
You weave a magic spell
And though it be a danger zone
I only know that you’re swell
A little bit independent with your smile
A little bit independent in your style
But how can I help but love you all the while
When you’re so easy on the eyes
~ “A Little Bit Independent” by Fats Waller

Hair: **Dura-Boys&Girls**13(Black) by chiaki Xue for Dura *

Skin: (AMD) Ava – Tan – Doll Like *Kelley* by Apple May for Apple May Designs *

Outfit: Nyte’N’Day – Elle – Fuchsia by Nyte Caligari for Nyte’N’Day *

Earrings: *CentoPallini*Le Catene Key Bracelet & Earrings/Silver by caran Juran for *CentoPallini*

Nails: [ Love Soul ] Posing nail*Oval-Metallic* by BlueStarRUI Villota for Love Soul

Shoes: SLink Aveela Stilettos Black by Siddean Munro for SLink *

Tea Party

No this is not about the political party–we won’t even go there. I have never been to an actual tea party but I was recently invited to one so I went. I was told to wear my best party frock.

I put on this cute dress from Miko Omegamu. Miko is one of the original perfectionists of SL. Every system piece is just so, every prim is in its place—always. And her textures are amazing. In this beautiful dress, we see a gorgeous floral print on a body-conscious dress. Miko has managed to run the crossover line from the top into the skirt. Lining things up this precisely on system pieces is very difficult work but Miko makes it look easy. Then she runs the ribbon from the other side under as if it’s seen through the fabric. The top worn underneath can be seen under the print in back as well and a darker red ribbon runs along the hem on the skirt. It’s in all these little details that the marks of a great designer can be seen.

The tea party was hosted by sachi Vixen, in honor of the release of her new skin Lauren. I showed the skin a couple days ago and I show here a version of the skin she gave out to tea party attendees and is now selling for a mere 150L for the next day or so at her sim. Go get it and then check out the other Lauren skins. I am wearing a new hair from Truth Hawks. He was smart enough to include optional bangs with this style, which makes it sweet.

If we are talking about skill, let’s talk about my great shoes as well. Fallingwater Cellardoor is the mother of all pumps in SL (imho). Before there were prim toes and stiletto heels, there was Shiny Things with Fallingwater’s shoes, patiently assembled from prim pieces. Now she has adopted sculpties in her work and she textures her shoes with the most evocative and perfectly rendered textures. Get close to these shoes and you see the stitching, the tiny scuffs from walking, the pretty little buckles. There is no reason to spend your money on anything less than these works of art.

There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea.  ~Henry James, ‘The Portrait of a Lady”

Hair: >TRUTH< Odette – seaspray with >TRUTH< Odette Bangs – seaspray by Truth Hawks for >TRUTH< *

Skin: Adam n Eve Skins – Laurel Natural Cupcake by sachi Vixen for Adam n Eve

Dress: *ICING* Imperial Blossom – Pink by Miko Omegamu for *ICING* *

Gloves: P.C. Pica white gloves by Ava Lu for Paper Couture

Earrings: Ear Candy ~ Simple Emerald Cut Diamond Stud by Maeve Mortlock for Ear Candy

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

Boring

Saturday Night
We look alright
We’re going out
Boring.

Paris, France
Londontown
NYC
Boring.
Nothing thrills us
Anymore
No one kills us
Anymore
Life is such a chore
When it’s….
Boring

I really hate when people jump into group chat and say, “I’m bo-ored,” don’t you? How can you possibly be bored in SL? If you are, log off. Yet the coolness of bored seems to pervade some venues. I don’t get bored, especially when you can change your look every day.

Today I have put on an assortment of pieces to equal the girl in black. First a new top from Nyte Caligari, who continues to put quality content into SL after all these years, never stopping, always improving. I love the asymmetrical nature of this top. Then we have this spangled skirt from Ivey Deschanel (who rocks the glitter in her textures). I pulled on opera gloves from Anemysk Karu for a touch of glamour and hooked in earrings from Linka Demina for a bit of fabulousness.

Today I have put together an assortment of pieces to equal the girl in black. First a new top from Nyte Caligari, who continues to put quality content into SL after all these years, never stopping, always improving. I love the asymmetrical nature of this top. Then we have this spangled skirt from Ivey Deschanel (who rocks the glitter in her textures). I pulled on opera gloves from Anemysk Karu for a touch of glamour and hooked in earrings from Linka Demina for a bit of fabulousness.

Then I pulled on these cyberfantastic boots from ono Zinner. The brilliant thing about this set are the animations in the soles and running up the backs of the zippers, and the great HUD for changing the colors of the details to whatever you like. The texture of the boots can be changed to four different styles (I am wearing black carbon here), and there are 10 available animations for the soles. How can you be bored when you can find fantasy boots like these?

Nothing thrills us
Anymore
No one kills us
Anymore
Life is such a chore
When it’s….
Boring
(when it’s boring)
Nothing thrills us
Anymore
No one kills us
Anymore
Life is such a chore
When it’s….
Boring
~ “Boring” by The Pierces

Hair: 99Hair -Kerry v3 –r2 by Emelie Carter for 99 Elephants

Skin: [PXL] Dafne SK Twiggy Makeup MEB by Hart Larsson for [PXL]

Top: Nyte’N’Day – Catawampus Shirt (complete) – Black/Almond by Nyte Caligari for NyteNDay

Skirt: :::Sn@tch Confetti Mini Skirt (Black)::: by Ivey Deschanel for Sn@tch

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

Gloves: [glow] Gloves Duo Tone – Black Satin by Anemysk Karu for [glow]

Boots: [NeurolaB Inc.] Evolution Hi-Boots Black Electro V3 by ono Zinner for [NeurolaB Inc.]

Horse Sense

Sometimes you come into SL and think, what else is there to do for fun? Go dancing? Nah. Shop? Nah. Hanging out at Ahern? Nah. So once you have fed the breedable pets and chatted a bit in Hey Girlfriends and rezzed 21 cubes and deleted them in frustration, you now have something else to do.

You can go horseback riding in SL in a way you have never experienced. Finally in SL, you can meet horse avatars who would love to take you out for a spin around a beautiful snow-covered sim. Yes, I know what you’re thinking. Horse avatars? Is this some weird Zindra thing? Not at all. It’s simply people who enjoy being in the place an equestrian community would offer. They like dressing up their horse avatars, adorning them, and interacting with people as them. If you take a ride with a horse avatar, both avatars are engaged in something pastorally enjoyable. If you would like to participate in that kind of role play, even for an evening, you are welcome to join them at Carriage Trade.

I went to Carriage Trade on the invitation of one of its owners, Shenlei Flasheart, and there I got the opportunity to meet Moon (moonsorrow.magic) and Rum Royale, who both allowed me to take a ride and learn more about the Carriage Trade sim.

First things first, however. When you rez in, first make sure you hit the store, “In the Habit,” because they really want folks to dress in style for being on an equestrian sim (and as you know, I am not averse to engaging fashionably). I was able to outfit myself for riding in this beautiful jacket by Shenlei Flasheart over a lovely blouse (that can be worn alone and includes cap sleeves). The breeches give a perfect touch to the ensemble and the boots are de rigueur. These clothes would be perfect for horse breeders as well or just mixing and matching with other fashions. (Chances are you will see the jacket or breeches on me again.) Shenlei has been in SL for a long time, doing many fabulous things, and you will see her experience show in these pieces–well textured, well built and stylish.

I swapped out several hats and helmets during my time with Moon (who is featured in these photos). I think my hats were my favorite thing because they were the most “decorative.” I could see wearing the riding hats with dresses. Shenlei also made a great helmet with hair so it seemed my long red hair from Truth Hawks was now bundled for riding. I popped in some lucky horseshoe earrings and wore a scarf from the store. The scarves are textured with prints from actual fabric you can purchase online for your own designing and sewing. (Shenlei is a RL fashion designer and instructor, so she has a corner on what’s going on in the RL fashion industry.)

Groom the horses, feed them treats, pet them—they are very accommodating and sweet. (Remember, however, they have human drivers. They are not toys nor are they servants. Anything they do with or for others is by mutual agreement and in the spirit of fun.)

A ride around the sim is a relaxing and beautiful experience. Georgianna Blackburn and Shenlei Flasheart have both built the sim with snow-covered hills and Victorian houses, cobblestone paths and grazing cows–it’s a pastoral fantasy.

Romantic carriage rides are also available if you can hook up with the horses or Shenlei. Plan ahead for a magical date with your special someone by making arrangements with some of the horses at the sim. I also met a woman who is planning her wedding with a beautiful carriage drawn by several of the horses, all adorned to the nines for the ceremony.

I find it nearly impossible to sum up this experience. From meeting the sweet horses (who can be so accommodating and gentle and who really enjoy the whole experience of being groomed and enjoyed) to the beautiful surroundings to the absolutely amazing fashions (because you know, I really can’t enjoy doing something unless I have to dress up to do it), this is another new experience in SL you shouldn’t miss.

A lovely horse is always an experience….. It is an emotional experience of the kind that is spoiled by words. ~ Beryl Markham

Hair: >TRUTH< Abbey – cherry by Truth Hawks for >TRUTH< *

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

Jacket: Oxblood Jacket by Shenlei Flasheart for In the Habit at Carriage Trade Livery *

Blouse: Stock Cream Thorobred by Shenlei Flasheart for In the Habit at Carriage Trade Livery *

Hats: @CT@ Michele Riding Hat Maroon and @CT@ Michele Riding Hat Black and @CT@ Riding Helmet With Cherry Hair Black by Shenlei Flasheart for In the Habit at Carriage Trade Livery *

Helmet: @CT@ Riding Helmet With Cherry Hair Black by Shenlei Flasheart for In the Habit at Carriage Trade Livery *

Earrings: Horse Shoe Earrigns Gold/Ruby by Shenlei Flasheart for In the Habit at Carriage Trade Livery *

Scarf: @CT@ Fashion Scarf Dressage/Natural White by Shenlei Flesheart for In the Habit at Carriage Trade Livery *

Gloves: Bow Tie Oxblood and Bow Tie Black by Shenlei Flasheart for In the Habit at Carriage Trade Livery *

Boots: Riding Boot  Oxblood by Shenlei Flasheart for In the Habit at Carriage Trade Livery *

Take a ride at Carriage Trade Livery

Check out horse avatars at The Texture Barn & Tack Shed

Thank you to Moon, the beautiful and gentle horse in these photos.

Being an “Icon”

I had the distinct pleasure of being featured in an article in Avenue Magazine as a “Fashion Icon.” I was lucky enough to meet  Rusch and Jesika, the owners of the magazine, face-to-face when I attended the SLCC both years. They are an amazing couple—warm, kind and whip-smart. I was flattered they thought enough that they had me do an interview for their publication. Then I got to meet the amazing Annough Lykin, who did photographs of me. See her great blog here.

So it got me thinking about what I need to do sometimes to push myself a little harder. I have been taking on shadows and working around the hassles of that, and I share some images I did with you. I am not sure I will do this frequently; my blog isn’t really about my pretty photos—it’s about the beautiful fashions in SL and sharing them with my readers. But let me indulge my vanity today.

Of course, wearing a dress from Nicky Ree always makes me feel beautiful. I was discussing Nicky’s considerable talent with another designer the other night and we both agreed Nicky simply has some of the most beautiful texture work on the grid. We also agreed she pushes the ingenuity with prims in SL. She works within the restrictions of SL and blooms.

I adorn this look with earrings from Squinternet Larnia, of whom I don’t say a lot enough. I visited her store tonight and I was absolutely blown away by the quantity and quality of her content. (Yes, I know I need to blog more of her work.) Her jewelry is exquisite and quite different from lots that is available on the grid—much more “costume” and designer and dramatic than a lot, which I appreciate.

Lucky girl:

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

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

Dress: *DNR* Christine Corset Gown & Dress in Lavender by Nicky Ree for Designing Nicky Ree

Earrings: TOSCA earring by Squinternet Larnia for Donna Flora

Photographed at World’s End on the Heaven Lake sim.

Green green I want you green…

Green green I want you green: green the wind, green the branches. ~ from “Sonambulistic Ballad” by Federico Garcia Lorca

Green is my favorite color. It’s the color of the earth’s bounty, the color of the sea, the color of emeralds and even American money. You’ll see me in a lot of green generally—it suits a redhead. This beautiful dress from Sascha Frangilli is a perfect example. Elegant in silhouette and textures, it is ideal for formal occasions or dancing (and I took this one out for a whirl). Sascha offers this as part of a larger package, which includes her always versatile variety of skirt sizes and shapes and top pieces (including a ruffled shoulder piece and a stole). She also offers this gorgeous emerald in a cocktail dress that also includes several skirt and top styles.

Sachi Vixen has come out with a new set of skins that is absolutely lovely. With a fresher look and subtler makeup, sachi is tapping into the desire we all have for a glowing look and a shapely body. She includes with her skins, as always, a variety of nail polishes, and this time, eyebrows and hair bases. Worn in v2.4 and above, you can pile on the layers. I am showing this in Phoenix, where I have once again tackled the shadows. I am getting there….

Green is the prime color of the world, and that from which its loveliness arises. ~ Pedro Calderon de la Barca

Hair: [e] Away – Red 09 by Elikapeka Tiramisu for Elikatira

Skin: Adam n Eve Skins – Laurel Tan – Natural with Adam n Eve Skins – Laurel – Dark Brows Tan by sachi Vixen for Adam n Eve *

Dress: SAS – Cruella Moss Formal by Sascha Frangilli for Sascha’s Designs *

Jewelry: Eclectica Emerald by Tiffy Vella for Eclectica *

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

The Outdoorsman

My brother, Peter, is an outdoorsman. He has a hard time being inside the house—says it makes him claustrophobic. You can generally find him outside puttering around, putting out salt licks for the deer or tinkering with the Gator (some ATV thing he’s gonna break his neck on) or chopping wood for Mom and Dad or checking his deer stand for the 20 millionth time. He’s a quiet guy but pretty restless. He says the air is clearer out there. The rest of us think winter stinks; he thinks it’s a fine opportunity to throw on a sweater and walk around outside.

I managed to catch him out in the back field, going to shovel some path for the bunnies or something. He has on his new favorite sweater, one he got from mappy Handrick, which is a great turtleneck normally, but he is wearing a scarf he picked up from Jon Ree, hiding the neck. His jeans are from mappy Hendrick too; plain and versatile, they have a nice blue tone that isn’t all washed and wussy. Boots are his trusty worn Somas from Eponymous Trenchmouth.

My brother is actually a handsome guy (he’s related to me, of course). His skin, from Maximillion Grant, gives him the manly look he needs. The thing is, Maximillion has been making men’s skins in SL for a long time so he knows what a guy needs. He even looks great in a dorky hat, this one from Sienia Trevellion. (“My hat is not dorky! It’s so macho you can’t even understand because you’re a girl,” he told me.)

I convinced him to take off his sweater (when I told him some of my girl friends actually read this blog). He wants to make sure you see his ripped abs from all the woodcutting. (He refuses to acknowledge that Maximillion has given him these abs.)

It snowed last year too:  I made a snowman and my brother knocked it down and I knocked my brother down and then we had tea.  ~Dylan Thomas

Hair: >TRUTH< Ben – cocoa by Truth Hawks for >TRUTH< *

Skin: LOGO Eternity Tristan Skin – Chestnut – Stubble Bk by Maximillion Grant for LOGO*

Sweater *ARAI* High neck knit_black by mappy Hendrick for *ARAI*

Jeans: *ARAI* Nonwash Denim by mappy Hendrick for *ARAI*

Hat: sur+ [trapper cord grey] by Sienia Trevellion for sur+

Scarf: MTP Warm Scarf Saddle Blanket [mens] by Jon Ree for Mustang Trading Post

Boots: SOMA 2 Gray/Black by Eponymous Trenchmouth for Jeepers Creepers

Shovel: -RC- Snow Shovel (red) by Redd Columbia for RC Cluster

Inventory Clean Up

I won’t get into the horrifying mess that is my inventory. Notecards strewn all about, pushpins from landmarks stuck in wrong places, a grossly unsorted texture folder, and my animations and poses…? Really bad.

I did a post about this heinous task before (which I call “Inventoil”) and unfortunately, I will not delight you with the oddities I found in my inventory this time (of which there are quite a few). I just want to show you that I do not always wear an evening gown (despite rumors to the contrary)—especially when cleaning inventory.

Needless to say I threw some things on but in SL, you still look gorgeous! Take, for example, this flowered cardigan from Maya Levane. With its combo of a cleverly done system jacket and sculpties, it’s an ideal over-shirt with rolled up sleeves (for getting to work). Loose fitting jeans from Alla Ruff make bending over and picking up packed up prims heavy with poses easy. I did allow myself to sneak out to Renee Harvy’s store for some comfy shoes and I hit pay dirt with these cute little moccasins (decorated with leaves). They were only 20L!

In all cases, my Truth and Tuli folders are well-sorted, so I was able to whip out this lovely skin from Tuli, which is a remake of her Eva line, and a loosely-gathered ponytail from Truth Hawks. They both make it simple to make a good looking style quickly and easily.

The question is this: how many copies of this thing called “object” do I really need?

Hair: >TRUTH< Cady – burgundy by Truth Hawks for >TRUTH< *

Skin: [:T:] Eva / sunkissed / br :: 05 Shimmer by Tuli Asturias for Tuli

Cardigan: (TokiD) loose cardigan – red rose by Maya Levane for (TokiD)

Top: **MIS** Essential Tank – Tomato by Janie Marlowe for Mischief (no longer available)

Pants: -Veschi- Jeanius! Indigo by Alla Ruff for -Veschi-

Shoes: ::Duh!:: Women’s Brown Leaf Moccasins by Renee Harvy for ::Duh!::

Layers

I could do a whole, you know, meaningful deconstruction of layers and I could, like, discuss the many layers of being as a person is real and virtual all at once and how as you peel away the layers, you find these, like, strata of meaning and being. (Cuz you know, I haven’t spared you this tedious discourse before.)

Or I could just about how cool it is to pile layers of tattoos on in V2.4! Guess where I’m going…

First let me dispense with this sexy-as-heck dress from Eclectic Wingtips. A sexy wrap mini with three-quarter length sleeves, it serves its desired function of showing leg up to there without going all the way up “there.” To complete the long legged look, I am wearing some economical sandals from May Vayandar. The hud was a little primitive (in looks and function) but the sandals are sexy and do the job of making my legs that much longer. And critical analysis shows the toes are pretty cute—and that’s a big one for me. I topped this look with a wild and frowsy curly do from Mirja Mills that is coming out this weekend.

The bigger story here, however, is my skin from Maximillion Grant. I blogged about his skins about a year ago when he came out with a great service on the web that allowed a customer to predesign their own skin, choosing a variety of facial features what would add up to a unique skin. I really liked the idea, though I was almost overwhelmed by choice.

Maximillion has taken advantage of the new tattoo layers to bring this versatility in world. With his newest skin, Babydoll, he has released a set of tattoo layers—eyebrows, eyeliners, lips, glosses, blushes, and facial features—which can overlay the skin to enhance it. I logged into V2.4 so I could pile on the layers. This is a skin for the woman who likes playing with makeup.

The first essential feature for me was changing my eyebrows, and let me warn you that when you are wearing the skins, you need to wear the “no brow” skin or the eyebrows won’t cover the base eyebrows. (I foolishly messed around with this with the demos standing in the store for 20 minutes before asking Polly Pavlova, Maximillion’s partner, what I was doing wrong and she patiently explained to me… duh.) Then I tried on all the different lipsticks, popped on a beauty mark (and removed it), and slapped on all the versions of eyeliner, one after the other. Frankly, the time it took to rez was less than it would be to do this in real life at a makeup counter and I didn’t have to wipe my face with oily makeup remover each time. One last note: remember to use “add,” not “wear” in V2.4 to get a correct overlay; with “wear” it will replace a layer. And remember to remove one before putting another on top—unless you like that sort of thing.

What if you are not using V2.4? Well there is a great solution—go back to Maximllion’s website and choose all the features you want minus one. For example, if you know there is one eyebrow in the set you will always like, order your custom skin with that eyebrow style—one less layer to contend with. Maximillion has made the makeup layers to work over all LOGO and Infinity Skins.

The skin itself has beautiful features—Maximillion has been making skins in SL for a long time and knows his stuff. His eyes are beautifully detailed; the lips are luscious (and you can opt out of the pout if you want), and the nose is nicely defined without being too thin. None of the features are over-exaggerated or so set that they require a specific shape to wear them. This skin is a definite win.

Now I have a bag full of make-up. Yay!

Hair: .:EMO-tions:. * ANGIE * /brown by Mirja Mills for EMO-tions *

Skin: LOGO Babydoll Amber – L08 – Brows Style 2 Dk Brown with
LOGO Babydoll Amber – L08 – Brows Style 2 Dk Brown and
LOGO Babydoll – L03 – Upper Liner and
LOGO Babydoll Amber – L01 – Lips – Brandy (Pouty) by Maximillion Grant for LOGO *

Dress: e! Zahra Dress (Chocolate) by Eclectic Wingtips for E!  Eclectic Apparel and Accessories *

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

Shoes: >:TARA:<ExTreme High Heels Cat Rebel Brown by May Vayandar for Tara

First Impressions

…it would be interesting to find out what goes on in that moment when someone looks at you and draws all sorts of conclusions. –Malcolm Gladwell

What’s the first impression you want to give? The thing about our avatars is that they are aspirational—the representation of the impression we want others to have. Do we want to be glamorous and flamboyant, down-to-earth and folksy, standoffish and sleek, elegant and friendly? I aim for the latter. Elegance is always my goal. This latest dress from AvaGardner Kungler makes that easy with the simple sleeveless sheath ending in a sleek skirt with kick pleats (which I find so ingeniously done here—two separate prim attachments). A thin red leather belt (the dress comes with three choices) punctuates the look with color as do my sexy shoes from Rosie Lavochkin.

I picked up this skin by Miah McAuley at the Dressing Room Blue. I was surprised at its sophistication, to be honest. Miah has a lot of win in her work from the nicely shaped eyebrows to the luscious lips and subtle shading across the skin. A simple sophisticated bob from boo Nakamura is really all I need to give a good impression.

You never get a second chance to make a first impression.

Hair: booN KRC190 hair red by boo Nakamura for booN

Skin: Olga-tan-evening by Miah McAuley for ~Natural Beauty~, available at The Dressing Room Blue

Dress: (Kunglers) Donatella – Coffee by AvaGardner Kungler for Kunglers *

Shoes: *Deviant Designs* Envy (Red) by Rosie Lavochkin for *Deviant Designs*

Again, done in Phoenix with screen capture. Very frustrating but working it out.