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 ;)

The Firebird

When I assembled this ensemble, the first thing I thought of was the Firebird, the mythical bird in Igor Stravinsky’s ballet, a rare and beautiful creature who wants only her freedom.

This beautiful dress from Shea Paule, an initial offering in his new “SoftWear” line (as opposed to his “HardWear” line for men), is ideal for the Firebird. With its feathered hem and collar, backless shape and glittering touches (look closely at the chains he so finely built for the back), it’s a gorgeous ensemble for a special look. He includes prettily adorned shoes (which I don’t show here cuza my shoes from Nardya Rousselot were so perfect for this look) and a gorgeously-made necklace and earrings with the ensemble.

I thought this skin from Inka Mexicola would be perfect for the beautiful Firebird with its smokey eyes and bold blush. I like these heavy brows for this Firebird as they define her gorgeous eyes (as always from Ikon Innovia). My hair is from DJAngel Fallen, who has opened a new(ish) store with static hair styles. I love how this ponytail curls around to the front and the bangs are face-defining, again bringing focus on the eyes.

Words are only painted fire; a look is the fire itself. ~ Mark Twain

Hair: Angel – Jane  _Brick by DJAngel Fallen for Angel

Skin: ~Essences ~Alma 01 / nougat with :: Essences :: Hairbase – Red by Inka Mexicola for Essences

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

Dress (with Jewelry): [SoftWear] Spring Fugue – poppy by Shea Paule for [SoftWear] *

Shoes: NX-Nardcotix MANA Rosa Maria Fire by Nardya Rousselot for Nardcotix *

For the Weekend

Weekends don’t count unless you spend them doing something completely pointless.  ~ Bill Watterson

I feel incredibly lazy this weekend though I ended up doing tons of stuff. This cute little outfit is perfect for a chic weekend. With a new top and shorts from AvaGardner Kungler, I am cool and sexy. I love Ava’s textures on this wrap top—she has such a great eye for color and color combos. Her little shorts are versatile and have a great prim waistband. I added this little scarf from Mika Nieuport to dress it up a little.

My skin is a preview from Launa Fauna from 50L Friday. I have to say that I like this one quite a bit—she has smoothed out her over-pouty lips and round eyes a bit to fit a standard shape very nicely. The makeup is gorgeous.

Finally, my boots are the newest from Bax Coen, and I have to repeat myself—the best fitting on the grid, bar none. This is because of Bax’s ingenious fitting system, which fits lengthwise and circumference—you can actually change the proportions of the boots with her system to fit your avatar. Therefore, a super tall girl with skinny legs is just as likely to look great in them as a short curvy girl. (Wish they had this in RL!) Even better, Bax offers custom fitting at her store by herself or one of her assistants. I tp’d into the store and Bax herself fit me—perfectly. Get fit once, you can transfer the data to any pair of Bax Prestige boots you purchase later. This is a system that can not be beat. This new pair shows Bax’s foray into supply luscious sexy suede. What a great texture!

The biggest problem with the weekend—even a holiday weekend—is that it’s just too short ;)

Hair: Maitreya Taryn – Cacao by Onyx LeShelle for Maitreya

Skin: L.Fauna 50L Friday Lea Preview with BROWN L.Fauna Lea Eybrow Shape by Launa Fauna for L.Fauna

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

Top: (Kunglers) Dione – top cream & pink by AvaGardner Kungler for Kunglers *

Shorts: (Kunglers) Eliette – shorts – brown by AvaGardner Kungler for Kunglers *

Bow: MIEL ELLE UBER bow – click to change texture by Mika Nieuport for The Hive

Boots: BAX Prestige Boots Dark Brown Suede by Bax Coen for Bax Coen Boots *

(Yes, shadowless.. fiddling and futzing with it all.)

Days Away

My computer decided to up and quit the other day with nary a goodbye to warn me—it just beeped and died. Rather than arguing with it, I took it immediately to Computer Gallery and let Phil mess with it—Phil, the miracle worker. He finished it at 5 pm this evening and called and said, “Get it or it’s here til Tuesday.” I was there in a flash.

I was in a funk the entire time. While I could deal with not having access for a few days (in part because I could still read my email from my iPad), it was slowing sinking in that all the data on my computer might be lost. I didn’t care about my photos from SL as much as I cared about photos of last Christmas. My knitting patterns could be replaced; the video of my kid’s sing-a-long couldn’t. When you’re severed from technology, you suddenly appreciate what matters in life.

I had done these photos before the big crash (which is called The Crash of 2011, not to be confused with The Panic of 2010, wherein Phil did slay a virus). I was pretty psyched to show this little pantsuit from Neferia Abel, part of her new summer line. (And I was gonna be one of the first to show it… bah.) Neferia has always been known for her elegance, attention to detail and RL fashion history, and her exquisite textures. This is another I love the antiqued floral print and fluttery ruffled leg and bodice. It’s comfy, cute but also unusual—the print dresses this up quite a bit.

I show it with one of AvaGardner Kungler’s new jewelry sets. Ava first explored the “earth” and has now moved on to the “ocean” in her inspiration. She calls her work “statement jewelry,” and that’s precisely what is. This is not work for a shrinking violet or a Barbie wannabe with its piles of baubles and links. My hair is a cute pigtail ‘do from Helyanwe Vindaloo—she has fantastic blondes and my skin is an interesting look from Irishka Hotshot, offered at the Fashion Garret.

What was it? Dunno.. he reseated the heat sink and reinstalled the operating system, and I honestly think that was it. SL creates some heat in there ;)

Hair: .ploom. Eva – Dirty by Helyanwe Vindaloo for .ploom.

Skin: [IREN]-=Barbara=- for TFG by Irishka Hotshot for [IREN]

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

Outfit: L’Abel-Country chic –Summer brown pantsuit by Neferia Abel for L’Abel *

Jewelry: (Kunglers Extra) Perolas – cream necklace and earrings by AvaGardner Kungler for Kunglers Extra *

Shoes: I ALEIDA I Busoga ballerina by Aleida Rhode for Aleida

A Heartbreaking Blog of Staggering Genius

“She needs a new journal. The one she has is problematic. To get to the present, she needs to page through the past, and when she does, she remembers things, and her new journal entries become, for the most part, reactions to the days she regrets, wants to correct, rewrite.” ~ Dave Eggers

Since I was talking about crushes a few days ago, I have to bring up Dave Eggers, who I admire greatly. He wrote the book for my generation in the US—A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius when he was a young man—a sort of diary but so much more. After that, rather than self-indulgent Generation Y writing, he chose to reach out to the bigger world in his novels and his work. Now he leads 826 National, a non profit writing and tutoring center for kids in San Francisco. I could go on and on about how inspiring this man is. And his writing is damn good too ;)

Apropos of nothing about Dave Eggers, I show a pretty summery look. Well actually this is the kind of girl I think would like Dave—a beautiful sophisticated but not pretentious lady in a simple summer dress from AvaGardner Kungler and little shoes from Elikapeka Tiramisu.

A pretty summer skin from Gala Phoenix with bold flowery colors to match the colors of the dress and my namesake hair from Queue Marlowe, and it’s a pretty look for a fangirl for a pretty awesome person.

“Still though, I think if you’re not self-obsessed, you’re probably boring.” ~ Dave Eggers

Hair: harper mahogany by Queue Marlowe for Analog Dog *

Skin: :GP: Sundust [Light] Chic-Flair 2 with :GP: Chic-Dark Brows (Tintable) by Gala Phoenix for Curio *

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

Dress: (Kunglers) TDRB #26 – Summer Dress by AvaGardner Kungler for Kunglers

Necklace: NHA! Necklace Samy by kyrha Bouscario for NHA!

Shoes: [e] Flair Flats – Watermelon (SoM Gift) by Elikapeka Tiramisu for [elikatira]

Sofa prop: [Starstruck] Langar Sofa Green Sequin RARE by Cyclic Gearz for Starstruck

A Good Man

The tragedy of machismo is that a man is never quite man enough.  ~ Germaine Greer

I have been given crap in the past about not being “man” enough in my blogs. I wore this to a party recently and Voshie Paine nearly jumped me and she is a fine connoisseur of men, so there :P I think it starts with this white shirt from hiwinyu Fazuku—amazingly rendered with wrinkles and a great collar (white is NOT easy to do, folks). He includes a couple scarves with the shirt, including this striped number. Now you might think shorts are not masculine, they do just fine, especially on a man who knows who he is. These tweed shorts have a great texture and a fine tailored fit. My loafers are from Rob1977 Moonites, his generous gift for Menstuff (which is coming up again soon—starting June 3—woot!).

I think I know why Voshie was hot for me. First it was this skin from Ramses Meredith, which I wear with a body hair layer. (I personally LIKE men with some hair on their bodies.) Those legs—num! And Ramses has paid attention to all details of the male body with equal exactitude.

Maybe it’s the shape. Sophia Rossen has invested a fair amount of time learning the shape of a man’s body (in making shapes, that is) and this one certainly hits all the best notes for me. He’s not too muscular, not too overdone, but he’s still manly. Rowr!

My hair is from a (kinda) new designer, Doctor Aho, who is making hair for the younger male avatars out there—lots of straight hair and shorter cuts (no long or ponytails). His place is definitely worth checking out.

Macho doesn’t prove mucho.  ~Zsa Zsa Gabor

Hair: *DROT* Dex – Dark Chocolate by Doctor Aho for Drot

Skin: Antoine Medium Normal Beard1 – Bald with Antoine Medium Normal Beard1 – Bald – body hair – Tone Pale 4 by Ramses Meredith for Egoisme *

Shape: Sophistishapes – MILTON bodyshape by Sophia Rossen for Sophistishapes *

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

Shirt with scarf: ::Mr.Poet::White Shirts and Slim scarf by hiwinyu Fazuku for ::Mr.Poet::

Pants: Tweed Pants_H&S_Gray_KALMIA labo.(MNK*SHOP)sw by kaneyan Nicholls for MNK*SHOP

Glasses: Solar Eyewear ~ Nash by Solar Flare for Solar Eyewear

Shoes: MENstuff Hunt #7 *FIR & MNA* by Rob1977 Moonites for *FIR & MNA*

European Carryall: HOC – Leather messenger bag – Black by Guu Nishi for HOC Industries

Brief Interviews

“[T]his was what one might call a quote Granola Cruncher, or post-Hippie, New Ager, what have you, in college where one is often first exposed to social taxonomies we called them Granola Crunchers or simply Crunchers, terms comprising the prototypical sandals, unrefined fibers, daffy arcana, emotional incontinence, flamboyantly long hair, extreme liberality on social issues, financial support from parents they revile, bare feet, obscure import religions, indifferent hygiene, a gooey and somewhat canned vocabulary, the whole predictable peace-and-love post-Hippie diction….”

~ David Foster Wallace, Brief Interviews with Hideous Men, ‘#6   E——— on “How and Why I Have Come to be Totally Devoted to S——— and Have Made Her the Linchpin and Plinth of My Entire Emotional Existence”, The Paris Review

I recently read the above story from David Foster Wallace and was reminded why I had such a big crush on him while he was alive (which he is not anymore, having tragically committed suicide after a long battle with depression and tinkering with his meds, which proves to be a cautionary tale). He was the kind of man who is sensitive and abhorrent all at once, vulnerable as a tomcat’s wet pink nose, brutal in his masculinity, uncomfortable in the knowledge of his inborn inheritance as a quote Straight White Male .[1] You could smell through his writing his struggle with his need to be Male while being Sensitive, Thoughtful, and all those things a good post-feminist man should be. He quarreled with his own existence vis a vis women, as evidenced in his book, Brief Interviews with Hideous Men. [2] (The character speaking in the above was not Him—David Foster Wallace—but him—a representative of a male type DFW clearly had encountered as have many of us because DFW’s greatest gift was seeing the smallest cultural cues and entwining them in his epic works.) What made DFW so abhorent is that you knew he was going to be the kind of man who was kind, giving, understanding, and attentive, humble and profound when you met him, but the day after he would be the kind of man who would crush you when he did not call you in the morning as he suggested.

This is his Granola Cruncher, all free and loose in her tie-dye dress from Larcoco Mathy, barefeet from Siddean Munro slipped into little Birkenstocks from Take Lowey. (Thank goodness for multiple attachments—oh yes, I did.) Her lustrous blonde hair is wavy and loose, banded by a loose leather tie and beads from Truth Hawks.

But it’s her face he sees—the freckles scattered over her nose, the gentle blush of her cheeks, the exactitude of the shape of her lips (with a tiny ridge down the middle of her lower lip, two dimples teasing at the corners of her mouth)—all supplied by Gala Phoenix.

Why?Truthfully, he was really good-looking.

Hair: >TRUTH< BoHo – seaspray by Truth Hawks for >TRUTH< *

Skin: :GP: Petal [Dark] Chic-Noir 1 by Gala Phoenix for Curio *

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

Dress: ::C’est la vie !:: tie-dye summer dress(blue) by Larcoco Mathy for ::C’est la vie !::

Bracelet: [BO] Leather and Beads Bracelet by Heather Rau for Black Orchid *

Sandals: magi take sandal [M][L][ blue ]  by Take Lowey for Magi

Feet: SLink Jolie Pied v2.0 Barefeet Low by Siddean Munro for SLink

[1] He, however, was not as bad as the police captain in Junot Diaz’ masterpiece “The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao,” who was “one of those very bad men that not even postmodernism can explain away.”

[2] The story cited in the above quote was awarded the Aga Khan Prize for Fiction and possibly was the precipitant for his receipt of a MacArthur Fellowship.

Spring Layers

Spring is a time when you’re not sure what the weather will be—it might be warm, might be cold. And then you’re kind of anxious to get your summer clothes out after wearing the same sweater what seems 100 times.

This outfit from Anyusha Lillienthal is a reminder that layers can be functional AND fashionable. She puts together a long top with a ruffled bottom (cleverly made with a sculpty tight-to-the-hips), capri leggings and a denim vest. A scarf tops off the set, keeping the cool spring winds off the neck while still showing a little skin and allowing for the removal of layers as the day gets warmer. I love the funky modern print Anyusha chose. She also includes a cleverly engineered alpha layer to hide your fanny—a sort of SL Spanx—though I am not wearing it.

I haven’t worn Tuli in a while and it’s high time I did again. All the features of a beautiful Tuli skin came back to me—the perfectly drawn eyebrows, the gorgeous eyes, the sumptuous lipstick makeup layers. My glasses are a funky color-change pair from Leona Iuga. (Thanks to Daphne in Fashion Emergency for the landmark!)

Happy Spring!

Hair: >TRUTH< Courtney – fudge by Truth Hawks for >TRUTH< *

Skin: [:T:] Zoe / sunkissed :: 04 Electric with [:T:] Zoe / sunkissed / lips :: Lilac by Tuli Asturias for Tuli *

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

Outfit: Ibizarre Neelie Dress – Nature by Anyusha Lilienthal for Ibizarre *

Glasses: -NALA-*Cruella* by Leona Iuga for –NALA-

Shoes: Ingenue :: Tallula Heels :: Chocolate by Betty Doyle for Ingenue *

Dreaming of a Mojito

One of my favorite drinks is the mojito. I really got hooked on them when I went to Tampa for SLCC and sat at the bar with Lauren Weyland and Eshi Otawara and several others, enjoy the great drinks. Yum!

So this beautifully done dress from Tammany Goodliffe makes me think of a fruity refreshing mojito (though it’s less lime than orange). With its great tropical print and excellent construction (that’s a sculpty skirt there but you would hardly even think about it the way it is fitted to the avatar and the way it moves), it’s an antidote to “spring-is-too-damn-long-coming.” Tammany’s work is perfection from top to bottom.

I wore it to match the ethereal skin Gala Phoenix has recently released—May. Gala has combined photoreal features with artistically rendered elements to create a more mature, more refined skin for her customers. The lips are absolutely luscious this time—not overdone or oversized and her eyebrows are perfection.

I wear the set with one of AvaGardner Kungler’s beautiful jewelry sets. Ava makes jewelry go beyond the representative to the artistic in SL. I can really imagine these beads as an intricate couture piece for both the necklace and ring. This is part of a series she is completing based on nature; the next series will be about the ocean. I can’t wait!

Finally, my shoes are a warm weather showstopper from Sissy Pessoa. Available at the Shoe Fair, they have all the earmarks of a chic summertime shoe—straps lacing up the foot, a sexy, more casual wedge, and golden python, which seems to be Sissy’s specialty. These would be perfect at a club or bar ocean side, where mojitos can be leisurely sipped.

“When life gives you limes, make a mojito!”

Hair: [e] Follow – Blonde 07 by Elikapeka Tiramisu for [elikatira]

Skin: :GP: Petal [Light] May-Blackbird 2 by Gala Phoenix for Curio *

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

Dress: salt. calypson batik by Tammany Goodliffe for salt.

Necklace and Ring: (Kunglers Extra) Aroeira – necklace golden and ring – golden by Avagardner Kungler for Kunglers Extra *

Shoes:Baiastice_Maxine wedge-gold pyton by Sissy Pessoa for Baiastice

Flower of the Mountain

“…I was a Flower of the mountain yes when I put the rose in my hair like the Andalusian girls used or shall I wear a red yes and how he kissed me under the Moorish wall and I thought well as well him as another and then I asked him with my eyes to ask again yes and then he asked me would I yes to say yes my mountain flower and first I put my arms around him yes and drew him down to me so he could feel my breasts all perfume yes and his heart was going like mad and yes I said yes I will Yes. “

~ James Joyce, “Ulysses” (inspiration for Kate Bush)

What do Andalusian girls wear? Roses in their hair, at their waist, beautiful dresses. This dress from Mami Jewell would suit an Andalusian girl just fine with its bold red color and bright blowsy roses. Mami makes a sheer texture like no other in SL—there are no alpha clashes—it’s pure netting and light and airy in the flexi settings. The system pieces are rendered perfectly, as always. Mami is generously donating proceeds from this dress for Japanese relief—to help folks in her own country.

My skin is a new one from Diarmiud Miklos. I was struck by the beautiful rendering of the features and the gorgeous collarbone. (These things matter, people!) The hair base is not truly black hair—it’s more dark brown, so I wore a mixed color updo from DBS Heart rather than a straight black. I tucked a rose from Siyu Suen above my ear and donned extravagantly beautiful earrings from Dita Tron.

You can’t see my shoes in the first two shots but they are under there. (I took off the skirt to show them). A new offering from Nardya Rousselot, they are being featured at the Shoe Fair. Nardya is back in action in SL again, and thank goodness for that. Her toes are the some of the loveliest tootsies in SL and her styling is influenced by her South American life. Check out the great metallic accents on the straps that Nardya so skillfully renders. These are pretty darn hot for any girl, even an Andalusian girl ;)

Written while listening to Kate Bush’s “Flower of the Mountain” and struggling with shadows in Firestorm.

Hair: ::DBS::Mireya-ebonytan by DBS Heart for Bishwear

Skin: ISPACHI Skin [ PORTIA ] Tanned ~ Hair/Bluebells by Diarmuid Miklos for ISPACHI, available at the Skin and Shape Expo *

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

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

Dress: -AZUL- Esperanca/Egretta(Red)/Japan Relief Fundraiser by Mami Jewell for –AZUL- *

Earrings: NEW – FuLo – “Lacie” earring – Ruby by Dita Tran for FuLo *

Rose: *~*Hair Rose: Red/Copy by Siyu Suen for *~*Illusions*~*

Shoes: NX-Nardcotix MANA Rosa Maria Fire by Nardya Rousselot for Nardcotix *