Tip on the Tightrope

When you get elevated,
They love it or they hate it
You dance up on them haters
Keep getting funky on the scene
While they jumpin’ round ya
They trying to take all of your dreams
But you can’t allow it.

~ “Tightrope” by Janelle Monae

Janelle Monae is one little bundle of something good. I played this song over and over this evening so I could get this blog together. I have a few pieces I HAVE to show. First is this dress from ruca Moyet. It’s a simple three system pieces and one prim and no sculpties. So how does she do that fabulous draped top? By exploiting the ability to make the system blouse fuller and then covering the gap between system top an skirt with a belt on the jacket layer. Brilliant. Lower arc, no scripts, and no sloppy looking sculpty prim around the middle (which I really hate).

Then I have the skin I have been gushing about lately from Maximillion because of the myriad makeup options I can exploit in Firestorm (up to five—I checked). I have put FIVE layers on my face. Maximillion gives so many options—even parted lips and shimmer for the lipstick, five eyebrow styles with 6 shades, 6 beauty marks, so on, so forth. It’s so fun!

Finally my sexy little shoes are a sneak preview from Oct Oyen, who will be bringing these shoes out in the very near future in several colors. What is amazing about these pretties is that they do not have an ankle strap or other encumbrance around the ankle to attach the foot to the leg. (If you look closely, you will see where *I* did not adjust the foot quite right. I purposefully did not fix this photo.) Check the textures on the shoe itself—the gloss on the upper and heel, the great bumpiness on the platform, the sexy ankles, the pretty little toes. Damn sexy.

And you know exactly what I mean,
Yeah I’m talkin’ bout you
You can rock or you can leave
Watch me tip without you

Then baby whether I’m high or low
Baby whether you’re high or low
Ooh, you gotta tip on the tightrope
Yeah, tip on the tightrope

Hair: ++AY.LinE++Darjeeling[[Charcoal]] by Anywa Nyoki for ++AY.LinE++

Skin: LOGO Grace Bloom Skin – Lagoon Base (No Brows) with L03 – Cat Eye Liner, L08 – Brows Style 3 Black, L02 – Blush 3, L01 – Lips – Temptation (Matte) and LOGO Grace – L07 – Beauty Mark 4 by Maximillion Grant for LOGO *

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

Dress: ::fore :: lace OP-02 (gray) by ruca Moyet for :: fore ::

Bracelet: Dark Mouse Vintage Thrift Bracelet (Left) by Mouse Mimistrobell for Dark Mouse*

Shoes: +ADDiCTIA+ PLATFORMA Wedge  Sandals -Glossy Black by Oct Oakleaf for +ADDiCTIA+ *

Now put some voodoo on it….

Sweet Surrender

I could spend my life in this sweet surrender. ~ Aerosmith

One set of images that have left the mainstream grid, for the most part, is the sight of people in alternative lifestyles doing their thing. BDSM players, ponygirls, burlesque dancers, latex lovers, furries—they have, for the most part, been consigned to what some call the ghetto—Zindra. SL has been wiped clean and sanitized, presumably for the couple hundred of kids who migrated over from the Teen Grid. (And who could find much worse on the Internet all on their own.)

Really it was sanitized for all of us. I admit I don’t miss seeing some big burly avatar dragging his slave girl around a store as she hopped up and down from nadu to standing like some inane bunny. But let’s not forget one of the engines that made SL what it is today: sex. The sex industry made the need for great fashion, for scripted furniture, for sexy skins, for crazy-high shoes and for skyboxes. The biggest earners in SL—even before Anshe Chung—was Stroker Serpentine. And he made his money off of sex beds. We built this city on .. well.. sex.

I honor that with this outfit from LeeZu Baxter, who came out with a whole series of inventive pieces under a line name of “BDSM” a few months ago. I love this piece with its combination of burlesque and bondage, from the collar to the big fishnet stockings (which DO terminate at the ankle) to the corset to the ropes around the wrists. Is she domme or sub? What is she speaking of when she finds her “sweet surrender”–the chance to free herself of restraint with her sub or the chance to surrender to her dom? Her 11” platform heels from Viktoria Brandenburg tell you she is not just dressing up—she means business.

The best skin for such an intense look—sexy, fierce, detailed—is one from Hart Larsson. For some reason, I always take Hart’s out when I am showing lingerie or something sexy. I am guessing I am drawn to using it because of the detail he pays to the skin—from the collarbone to the butt cheeks to the shoulder blades and knees. Additionally, he allows you to add makeups to make the skin look completely different. Here I wear bright red glossy lipstick. I just received these new alluring eyes from Ikon Innovia, who is dipping into more fantastic colors and combinations.

It doesn’t matter what you do in the bedroom as long as you don’t do it in the street and frighten the horses. ~ Mrs. Patrick Campbell

Hair: …:::Beautiful Dirty Rich:::… Aiden Hair Black by Cameron Vasiliov for B.D.R.

Skin: [PXL] GAIA SK CE DEB C2 with [PXL] GAIA SK Red Lips (Tattoo) by Hart Larsson for [PXL] *

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

Outfit: [LeeZu!] BDSM Sablier /black by LeeZu Baxter for LeeZu! *

Nails: [PM]Sculpted Nails V3. – Jori Edition by Tya Fallingbridge for Pixel Mode

Shoes: VvB HEDONIC 11″ Platform Heels BLACK V4 by Viktoria Brandenburg for VvB *

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 *

Brenda

When I was a girl, my uncle, who was only 14 years older than me, had the most beautiful girlfriends. First there was Linda, then Gina, and then Brenda, who once was a model, or so she said. How she had any interest in my uncle, who was obnoxious, big-mouthed and a dork (do you notice a little older brother/younger sister thing here?), was beyond me. She was exquisitely and naturally beautiful: high cheekbones, beautiful eyes, sandy blonde hair, long legs. To look at her each time was to be stunned. She looked a lot like Bo Derek to me (who was the woman of the day).

She liked to spend the summer with my uncle on his boat on the lake (a hole in the water he poured money into, my mother suggested) or zipping around in his MG (which was one bolt away from falling to pieces, my uncle said) or walking his German Shepherd, Roulette (who was fed soup by my 98-pound grandmother). He wasn’t rich; he wasn’t a hunk. But she really loved him. I never quite got it. I am not sure any of us did.

This look reminds me a lot of her—a kimono thrown over her bikini, cut-offs, and a big straw beach hat to keep the sun off her face. Her kimono, from Miraiwave Iwish, is a perfect cover for her eensy weensy from Aranel Ah. Little shorts from summse Sands, are because of rolled up cuffs.

My skin is a pale one from Gigi Ponnier with peach-toned lips. My brilliant blue eyes are a new set from Ikon Innovia, who has blessedly come out with a new set (finally). I used the multiple attachment points available to put flip flops from Detour Sideways on over my terrific little feetsies from Siddean Munro (and an alternative to the prevailing news).

He married another woman in the end. She’s also beautiful (tall, long gorgeous hair, thin) as are their two daughters, my sweet cousins. How he managed it, I can’t tell. Times are tough for them, but he loves his wife and daughters a lot.

Hair with Hat: KLETVA-Hair/JOSS/Blond/Super Summer by Vitor Algoma for KLETVA

Skin: Enya Pearl Bare by Gigi Ponnier for Bare Sensual

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

Kimono: ][AV][jacket kimono red by Miraiwave Iwish for ][AWRAM-VIIE][

Bikini top: *BOOM* Infinity Halter Hibiscus-Red by Aranel Ah for *BOOM*

Cut-offs: Chikka Design shorty darkgrey by summse Sands for Berries

Feet: SLink Jolie Pied Barefeet Low by Siddean Munro for SLink

Flip-flops: [Detour] Layback Flip Flops – Black by Detour Sideways for [Detour]

A shout out to Draco and Theodore, who in their small way, made me blog one day more ;)

Cloves

Her breath is like honey spiced with cloves, Her mouth delicious as a ripened mango. ~ Srzgarakarika

Even in summer I like warm colors, like the golden colors of this beautiful dress from Sakao Adamski. With the lacey texture running over the bodice into the skirt and its flared gold mermaid skirt at the bottom, this dress is glamorous and warm, making it a sexy look for a warm summer evening. I accompany the look with new jewelry from AvaGardner Kungler, this time following her new series of pieces inspired by the sea.

Maximillion Grant’s new Grace skin set is fabulous to try in the new Firestorm with its tattoo-layering possibilities. I was able to make my own custom skin by layering on eyebrows, eyeliner, and lipstick. (I could have had a blush, eyelashes, a lip gloss, or a beauty mark as well from Maximillion’s collection.) Even if you don’t use this client, you can create your own custom skin on Maxmillion’s website and choose from a number of options of base skins and make-ups to create your own individual look.

Glamour and spice….

Hair: :MIRONE: ADIE V2_apricot by Miu Edman for :MIRONE:

Skin: LOGO Grace Bloom Skin – Coffee Base (No Brows) with LOGO Grace – L03 – Extended Liner Black and LOGO Grace – L03 – Extended Liner Black and LOGO Grace Bloom – L01 – Lips – Cinnamon (Matte) by Maximillion Grant for LOGO (also available on the LOGO Custom Skin Creator website) *

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

Dress: [Entre Mares] Dania/Gold by Sykao Adamski for [Entre Mares] *

Jewelry: (Kunglers Extra) Anemona – Ivory by AvaGardner Kungler for (Kunglers Extra) *

The Babysitter

I am blessed to have a school-aged person home this summer (I say this through clenched teeth). The ennui, the apathy, the utter lassitude is almost unbearable—and the kid is pretty cranky too. This all led me to wonder what I did all summer when I was his age. I know I wasn’t in camp all summer—I was a chicken about overnights and it was too expensive. My parents both worked, so what was I doing all summer? Oh yeah, I remember—the babysitter!

The summer I was my son’s age, I was smoking my first cigarette, shoplifting candy bars, and drinking gallons of sugared Kool-aid—all under the watchful and encouraging eye of my babysitter, Susie, a sixth grader from down the block. My parents knew nothing about it until she and I set a fire in the basement. Yep. (And put it out before they came home.. the mark on the basement floor is what gave it away.)

My babysitter here is a more innocent sort (I hope). With a cute little flowered top from Monica Outlander (that I have modified quite a bit—changed the color on the underlayer and buried some prims on the sleeves) and a shorty short skirt from suppe Koba, this sweet girl (with Red Cross certification, darn it) can do no wrong. Knee socks from Anessa Stine and little sneakers from Pixieplumb Flanagan prove she is ideally suited to watching your lovely children (or Kittycats or Meeroos or whatever needs sitting).

Short little braids from MissAllSunday Lemon with long straight bangs suit our babysitter just fine. One of Diarmuid Miklos’ newest skins with a little lip gloss from Mocksoup Graves (watermelon-flavored, don’tcha know) over a shape from Sophia Rossen makes our babysitter just right.

Let it be noted: my child has only once had a babysitter under the age of 28. *cough*

Hair: /Wasabi Pills/ Juliette Hair – Dark flame by MissAllSunday Lemon for /Wasabi Pills/ *

Skin: ISPACHI Skin [ AUDREY ] Tanned ~ Bald/Nude by Diarmiud Miklos for ISPACHI *

Makeup: [mock] Mizu LipGloss Wild Watermelon] [Pia] by Mocksoup Graves for MOCK Cosmetics *

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

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

Top: Miamai_Ara Summernight by monica Outlander for Miamai * (modified)

Skirt: [SOUP]  Juice*          (CAKE) by suppa Kobe for [SOUP]

Bracelet: [SC] Surf Couture – Beach Pass Bracelet (F) – Orange by Emma Gilmour for Surf Couture

Knee Socks: DCNY_Sporty Socks_Midnight 3 by Anessa Stine for DCNY *

Shoes: BM Candi Lo-Top Sneakers Rose by Pixieplumb Flanagan for Baby Monkey *

Bear: toy_bear12_chocolate by Sakuya Lane for =Feather=

Poses by Rogan Diesel for Diesel Animation Works *

Fashion is Danger!

Oooooh oooh oooh ooh
You think you know fashion, well fashion’s a stranger
You think fashion’s your friend, my friend
Fashion is danger

~ Flight of the Conchords in “Fashion is Danger”

I couldn’t help but share that song because it’s funny. Eshi Otawara’s newest outfit is sort of dangerous fashion—from the huge hatpins sticking out to the wild prims whipping about, there is a chance you may get hurt. If you don’t, just admire the construction of her work—the feathery fringy furry jacket, the speckling of flowers over the outfit, the crazy body-changing shape—all of it subversive fashion for SL. Wear it for fun or wear it for drama—it’s dangerous fashion.

Wear it with bold pink lips from Monicuzza Babenco as I do here (you can barely see the skin but the lips are luscious enough to carry this) and wear with white fantasy hair from MissAll Sunday Lemon (who seems to be putting out tons of new hair—go to her store), and you’re going to be one dangerous fashionista.

I’m the edge
I’m the chic
I’m the taste
I’m a larger than life with just a hint of lace

Hair: /Wasabi Pills/ Yumi Hair – Iceberg by MissAllSunday Lemon for /Wasabi Pills/ *

Skin: *YS & YS* Beatrice – 05 Happy by Monicuzza Babenco for *YS & YS* *

Outfit: AOI TORI (black and white) by Eshi Otawara for Eshi Otawara *

Quick and Easy

I threw this outfit together—quick and easy—and I’m pleased.

I really enjoyed putting it together, mostly because of the pieces that dominate—the chic and long-legged slacks and darling short brocade jacket with fabric flower from Maylee Oh. Pairing these two pieces creates a different proportion—making the look show legs for miles and punctuating it with a busy pattern up top. That pattern would be WAY too much all over but is ideal on a short jacket. I put one of moonbubble Gothly’s great and versatile tanks underneath and wedges from Teresa Republic extend the leg even further.

My skin is another version of Monicuzza Babenco’s latest. The coloring seemed to match the warm colors of the outfit. I have been wondering what it is about this skin that I like so much, and I think it’s the little twist to the lips that really makes this one. I love chiaku Xue’s short styles. She does short like no one else on the grid. I keep putting this one on for every occasion.

Written while listening to David Hidalgo and Louie Perez singing “Cure for Love.” Dang!

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

Skin: *YS & YS* Mary – 12 Gold by Monicuzza Babenco for *YS & YS* *

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

Jacket: The Secret Store – Eglantine – Floral by Maylee Oh for The Secret Store

Top: [bubble] Basic Top Orange by moonbubble Gothly for [bubble] *

Slacks: The Secret Store – Basic flared pants – Cream by Maylee Oh for The Secret Store

Earrings: (Kunglers Extra) Marajoara earrings – nature by AvaGardner Kungler for Kunglers Extra *

Shoes: HM – Bilson Wedge – Coral Rose by Teresa Republic for haut.monde *

Poses by Freedom Parx/GM Nikolaidis for Fluke *

No Blog Is An Island

It would be a complete lie if I said that I do my blogs completely alone. I do a lot of the work on my own—searching for items to show, photographing, posting, etc. But I spend a lot of time talking to friends who give me feedback about my blog. For example, my blog from a couple days ago about Grayness was heavily influenced by the feedback and contribution of a friend, who also contributed the background of the photo. I have found more and more that the discipline of writing I wanted to find with my blog has turned out to be a process that involves many friends and mentors.

I don’t think a single thing in SL is made without some sort of collaboration of that sort. A blog, a piece of art, a piece of content—they are all products of social action and interaction. They all want to say something and be spoken to (hence “Comments” sections on blogs, for example). No blog is an island, as it were. Why would I bother doing this if I didn’t want to speak to you and have a discussion? I am very mindful of you, Dear Reader, and because of this, I do this blog every day as carefully as I can.

My look today is the product of a friend’s input. As I was at Tiphares, I donned this dress, having purchased it at Sonatta Morales’ garden party to launch her new collection. I was so excited to see how it would look on me. (And let me say, Sonatta Morales’ new collection is jaw-droppingly cool. She makes the most exquisite historically accurate 20th century period fashion in SL.) It looked amazing on me. Sonatta has rendered elegance complete on the SL avatar. I was wearing the hair I show here, and my friend, Todd Action, IM’d, “You look like Florence Welch. She might wear a dress like that.”

I set to making my look more like Florence Welch, with Todd’s feedback. Fortunately, Maximillion Grant had sent over his newest set of skins, the Grace collection. Max’s collection, I know, is made in collaboration with his wife and many friends. He reaches out for feedback from customers and incorporates them into his work. Therefore, he offers a wide variety of choices with his skins. I was able to layer on different eyebrows, liner, blush and lips with Todd looking on to approve. (I did also try to change me shape to match Florence Welch’s longer face and nose but that was for naught. Todd said, “Just be Harper as Florence.”)

I may look like like “Harper as Florence,” rather than Florence proper. This look is the result of my collaboration with Todd and all the designers who contributed to this work (as their content made it). That is why their names always appear in credits below.

“No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main.” ~ John Donne

Hair: >TRUTH< Kitty – carrot by Truth Hawks for >TRUTH< *

Skin: LOGO Grace Bloom Skin – Carbon Base (No Brows) with LOGO Grace Bloom – L08 – Brows Style 5 Brown and LOGO Grace – L03 – Soft Liner plus LOGO Grace Bloom – L02 – Blush 2 and LOGO Grace Bloom – L01 – Lips – Vamp (Matte) by Maximillion Grant for LOGO *

Eyes: FASHISM ‘Sunrise’ Eyes – Silver&Green 3 (ML) by Ikon Innovia for FASHISM *

Dress: Peach by Sonatta Morales *8* by Sonatta Morales for Sonatta Morales

Shoes: Gossip Pumps – Silver Peony by Teresa Republic for ! haut.monde *

Scootin’

Summer vacation is the perfect time to get the scooter out and run around town.

Naturally, a girl wears something casual—shorts, a little tank top, flats. My tank top is retired as far as I know—a cute little striped one from Juju Armidi, who is wandering the grid and making content under an alias, I am sure. My shorts were Rob Moonite’s offering for 50L Friday. Rob is great for making items that can be worn by girls or guys and these shorts are no exception. My shoes are an inexpensive pair from Renee Harvy, who makes some really nicely priced shoes in great styles.

My skin is Mallory Cowen’s newest—a fresh face for women who want to be on the grid with a youthful look. There’s no pretense to this skin—it’s simply young and clean with a much more subtle glow than Mallory’s previous skins. This is not about the makeup or the fashion—this is about dressing down and being casual. The eyebrows took a bit for me to get used to—I like mine more refined and groomed but they actually are a bonus. This skin is not like all the others and this young face is fresh and beautiful.

I wear a new ponytail hair from Truth Hawks with streaking and color change ponytail bands. And I have been holding this calculator watch forever. It’s so dorky it’s cool. And don’t you love my posing scooter? I tripped across this in my sim wanderings. Suri Yangtz loaded it with lots of fun poses (more than you see here) and it comes in five colors—all for the price of one.

A visit to the bookstore, pick up some spices for dinner tonight, get those knitting needles I need… errands around town ;)

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

Skin: LAQ ~ Mini – [Nougat] Brown HB – 01 by Mallory Cowen for Laqroki

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

Top: (Elephants Outfitters) Ribbon Tank – noir blank  by Juju Armidi for (Elephants Outfitters) (no longer available)

Shorts: *FIR & MNA* The Heathersfield Shorts White Long by Rob1977 Moonites for *FIR & MNA* *

Earrings: ++Je veux_earring_diamond++ by sucreee Menges for Je veux (no longer available)

Bandana: MTP Bandana neck wrap by Jon Ree for Mustang Trading Post

Watch: **SB** Calculator Watch by Adelaide Dae (unavailable)

Shoes: ::Duh!:: Spring Flats – Ink (Black) by Renee Harvy for Duh!

Scooter: [socialANGtz] scooter red by Suri Yangtz for [socialANGtz]