Roast Beef

OK, I agree, there is something perverse in starting an entry on a fashion blog with the words, “Roast Beef,” but it makes sense to me. First, perhaps I will get cooking blog readers to accidentally click on my blog and become hooked. Second, it’s a provocative title that might make some skinnier fashionistas who haven’t eaten all day (eat something!) to click through. Third, usually while I am waiting for my client to go through its iterations of blinking on and off, waiting for inventory to load, etc, I am doing something in another window—in this case, watching an episode of “Cook’s Country” about making herb-encrusted roast beef and whipped mashed potatoes.

It has nothing and everything to do with fashion. Why? Well, fine cooking is like putting together a great outfit—just like you always put potatoes with roast beef, you always wear sandals with a bikini. The flavors of all the pieces work off each other and also enhance each other. It’s all a sensual pleasure that goes beyond the pure biological needs of clothing or food.

For this serving, I offer you this beautiful dress by Merivale Ewing. I originally saw this dress on its maker and instantly asked for a landmark, but at the time she was only designing for herself. Probably at the encouragement (read: nagging) of many fans, she finally opened a shop. Consider the gorgeous textures in this piece, the combination of lace with a muted brocade. I do a switch up for you because this piece includes two skirts—the shorter sexier one for showing leg and the long elegant one for more elegant dress-up. A closer look reveals a beautifully done bodice piece with sheer lace and a tight corseted middle. Even a little tie holding the bodice together in back shows that Merivale attends to the details.

The accompanying dishes are no less important in presentation and taste. I offer this beautiful luminescent skin from Mallory Cowen with its elegant visage and sexy décolletage. My updo is a confection of curls, stray tendrils, and a little hair bow from DBS Heart with lush brown textures. Shoes are ruffled (to echo the ruffled cuffs on the dress) from Felicity Overlord.

And finally, the pièce de résistance: jewelry from Matchbook Monday. Actually, I received this set and saw it would fit perfectly with its exquisite scroll work and beautiful gems, except the stones were green. Then I was reminded that there is a script in the necklace to change the color of the gem. One click to crimson and the dish was complete!

The girl’s a dish!

Hair: ::DBS::Macey-goldenbrown by DBS Heart for Bishwear

Hair base: booN gathered raised hairbase brown by Boo Nakamura for booN

Skin: LAQ ~ Thea [Peach] 01by Mallory Cowen for Laqroki

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

Dress: DRAMA by Merivale Ewing for Merivale

Jewelry: : Amorous : Cathartik by Matchbook Monday for Amorous *

Shoes: *Felicity* Odetta Stilettos – Brown Leopard Ruffled High Heels by Felicity Overlord for Felicity

Finally, a footnote. I never do this but I have to this time. I saw a performance at the Museo del Metaverso this morning that was just gorgeous using avatars and animations. I was mesmerized. While the performance I saw was live, it will be repeated over and over with bots and I encourage you all to see it. Created by Jo Ellsmere, Pyewacket Kazynenko and Kai Streamer, it is a modern dance done in a manner that humans could never do (the avatars actually blend). Brynden Button of DanceMaster made the script that allowed them all to coordinate. I show a few preview photos below. See it at this stage (link right here.)

The Reveal

Fashion is like the ashes left behind by the uniquely shaped flames of the fire, the trace alone revealing that a fire actually took place. ~ Paul de Man

Revealing and alternately not revealing is Elisea Carter’s newest dress, Acate. With its intricate bodice design and sheer skirt, it’s beautiful and body conscious. Elisea understands that a woman has to look good coming and going, and she makes the back end absolutely sexy and sculptural. A closer examination shows the medallions on the pelvis are actual prim filigrees with ribbons hanging off and the skirt has a gradient from hem fading to top so the sheer material fades up into the bodice.

Of course, if I am going to to show a dress this revealing, I need to wear a skin that shows well from top to bottom. Gala Phoenix’s skins have a defined, sexy body, bold enough to show through the sheer material. Look at that sinuous back and that beautiful booty. My jewels, which I spent a considerable time trying to find, are from Bastchild Lotus and echo the filigree of the gold tread in the skirt and bodice.

The embers of a flame.

Hair: !lamb. Girlfriend In A Coma – Powder by Lamb Bellic for lamb, available at Collabor88

Skin: :GP: Sundust [Dark] Candy-Sugar Town 1 by Gala Phoenix for Curio *

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

Dress: “ACATE long Powder” by Elisea Carter for GOLD IN THE NIGHT *

Jewelry: .:L&B:. “Decadence Elite” Diamond Gold Med Necklace v3 and .:L&B:. “Decadence Elite” Diamond Gold Earring v2 by BastChild Lotus for Lapointe & Bastchild *

Shoes: ::TGIS:: Miranda Gem Heels WhiteDiamond Pack by Freya Oliveiri for TGIS

Homeopathy

I took a bit of an unintended break from the blog because I came down with something and ended up sleeping for hours on end. I have been plying myself with homeopathic remedies—teas, herb-infused steams, vitamins. My throat still hurts but I feel better psychologically.

A dear friend gave me a cup of tea to sip (which did soothe me) and I decided to go into earth mother, hippy dippy mode to enjoy homeopathy to it’s fullness. This cute bohemian outfit from Austina Magic makes me feel wholesome and herby and cleansed. I love the textures on the skirt, which are carried into the top. Her intense colors brighten my mood. My jewelry is from Danielle Astonia, her most boho piece with leather strung with charms wrapped around my (sore) throat and wrist.

My skin is a sneak peek at Sachi Vixen’s newest. She has worked on the body some, toning down the breasts and creating a beautiful face with sumptuous lips. My hair is one of Truth Hawks’ newest and ideal for this look with it’s little color change braid and long loose locks.

Tea is a cup of life. Thank you for the tea… and everything :)

Hair: >TRUTH< Agnes 2 Streaked (Upper) – dawn by Truth Hawks for >TRUTH< *

Skin: Adam n Eve Skins – Ariadne – Warm Walnut by Sachi Vixen for Adam n Eve *

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

Outfit: * AB * Boho Chic Red by Austina Magic for Arya Boutique *

Jewelry: *Esmeralda Necklace Brown (Long) and *Esmeralda Bracelet Brown (Right) by Danielle Astonia for La Forgia *

Shoes: *BF* Naida Sandal Left Beige by Grace Selene for Sentou Yousei, in the CarWash cart sale (only 10L!!!!!)

Tea cup: EbonyTeal-Tea cup by Yelo Uriza for Aria

City Limits

One of the best sites I have stumbled upon recently is the line up for the Austin City Limits Music Festival, which is taking place October 12-14 in Austin, Texas. You can see all the performers listed but you can also click through and listen to their music! It is amazing and oh, the line up is enviable. I would so pay for that ticket if I were in Austin.

What would I wear to such an event? Something chic, sometihng sexy but also something practical. Probably something artistic and sleek too. So this is the ideal outfit. First we have a leather jacket from Trill Zapatero, made with sculpties. It has a photorealistic texture but works really well. I love how it’s short and girly and not overwhelming or overdone. My body suit is from a darling set from Aikea Rieko. I have always liked her clothing for its well done textures and seamlessness. I appreciate that she shows this as a top over leggings and not just one big piece.

Silent Alchemi produced this luscious skin. I love the intensity of the lips and eyebrows, the shade of the skin itself, and the proportions of the features. I received many compliments wearing it around the grid and suspect you would too. My eyes are deep black beauties from Ikon Innovia. Ikon has a way with dark colors that others don’t—my eyes glisten and reflect light in a gorgeous way.

My hair is one of chiaki Xue’s newest. As always, she gives us short and curly and gorgeous in silhouette. She just “gets” how a hairstyle should look on a head and how it should be proportionate to a body.

My necklace, earrings and bracelet are from Matchbook Monday. The metals can be changed up to bronze and several other silvers. Matchbook textures her metals (rather than relying on SL shiny) and they are complex and beautiful if you look closely—every color of rainbow goes in to make up those metal textures. The sexy futuristic shape of the metal pieces, separated by the little beads, is gorgeous.

Gonna be listening ‘til they take that site down. Yay!

Hair: *Dura-Boys&Girls*24(Black) by Chiaki Xue for Dura *

Skin: *Birth* Abi Skin (honeytone) Scarlett_normalbreasts by Silent Alchemi for Birth Store *

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

Jacket: BoHo HoBo black leather jacket w/ resize script by Trill Zapatero for BoHo HoBo *

Body suit: [Plastik]-Friday-Tux by Aikea Rieko for [Plastik]

Jewelry: : Amorous : Tungsten for Amorous *

Shoes: (Shiny Things) Saturday Flats – black by Fallingwater Cellardoor for (Shiny Things)

Taken at the Pharmatopia sim.

Supernatural

There’s magic in everything you do,
Supernatural
I’m in love with everything about you.
Tell me does it surprise you that behind closed doors, it’s you I adore?

~ “Supernatural” by King

I love the EP by the group King, a group of twin sisters and a friend. Their sounds are smooth and joyful and stylish. They go well with a look like this one, which is almost supernatural in its beauty and sexiness. Mohna Lisa provides the sexiness in the form of this glorious champagne-colored gown. Cut up to there on one leg, the gown provides a dramatic lace prim skirt and a beautiful sparkling stole at the shoulders. (The sparkle shows brilliantly in SL.) For Mohna, it’s all about details—the textured prims have no ghosting, the seams are all seamless—even the gloves have wrinkles at the elbow.

My skin is again, Tricky Boucher’s gorgeous new Chloe. A dramatic bouffant from Thora Charron tops the look. Named after Bridget Bardot, Thora wisely included a separate braid for the shoulder (which I did not wear). I love the roots on this hair—a girl with dark brows and platinum hair is clearly not going au naturel, especially when her skin is so beautifully tan. This bit of artifice is excusable when it makes her seem supernatural.

I really wonder why you’re running circles in my head
Aw we got a supernatural love…

Hair: [LeLutka]-BRIGITTE hair – Powder by Thora Charron for LeLutka

Skin: -Belleza- Chloe Tan 4 by Tricky Boucher for Belleza

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

Dress: *MLC* Aphrodite Beige :by Mohna Lisa  for Mohna Lisa Couture *

Shoes: ::TGIS:: Miranda Gem Heels WhiteDiamond Pack by Freya Oliveiri for TGIS

Tropicalia

A little break from all the work, a dip in the ocean off my sim, a little sunbathing…. ah!

I took a dip in a cute little suit from Freya Olivieri, who is an unsung designer in my opinion. I have seen several pieces from her that are inventive, well textured and fun, so I thought I would show off a swimsuit she made and share it with all of you.

Of course the real reason I am wearing the new suit is to show off my skin from Belleza, Tricky Boucher’s newest release called Chloe. With its luscious tone and beautiful makeups (with many lipsticks available), it’s a glorious new release from Tricky. Girls all over the grid are going nuts. (And their lovers are enjoying the updated view.)

“The waves of the sea
Help me get back to me.”

–Jill Davis

Hair: >TRUTH< Ricci Streaked – treacle with >TRUTH< Ricci Flower 4 by Truth Hawks for >TRUTH< *

Skin: -Belleza- Chloe Tan 10 by Tricky Boucher for Belleza *

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

Swimsuit: ::TGIS:: Wrap-Around Bikini Print [Blue] by Freya Olivieri for TGIS

Self Made

While doing the SL Forums, I asked a question about people’s SL benefactors—the people who took you under their wing, taught you how to open a package, gave you your first 100L to spend, etc. I realized in doing this that SL really IS a social network—you are dropped into a new world and have to find your way around as you can (not unlike the anthropologist who travels to a strange land). You work your way into learning the platform and the culture through the assistance of many generous people—your fellow residents.

Many people answered that they had had a wonderful benefactor in many people, but surprisingly to me some people said they had none. I found that confounding because, frankly, in SL as in RL, nothing happens because someone is solitary. People help you along the way—the people who write the wikis, the people who chat in groups, the folks who do blogs, even the content creators. We all create a web of social relations that help lift us up as individuals and help catch the merest resident (IF they enter the web). It’s this web that makes society, a set of mutually beneficial actions that connect us together. No one in SL is self made. We all have benefactors in each other.

Now that I am done being all schmaltzy, let me thank the benefactors of this gorgeous look, starting with Kaysha Piers. I got this outfit at the Modavia Fashion Week and I consider it a great piece with its simple halter top extending down to the full pants. Kaysha doesn’t do elaborate textures—she doesn’t need to generally. She lets silhouette and style do the work for her. Complicated textures would just muck up an outfit that is beautiful in its simplicity and slightly avant garde turn.

If you look closely, you will notice my elegant hands. Now, I have Dita Tran to thank for cluing me into these. Siddean Munro not only makes feet (and teeth) but she has these elegant hands available. Now as is universally known, I stink at matching feet to skin and I am no better with hands. That’s where the cuffs from Kaysha’s outfit come in. Slip them over the juncture and it’s all just fine. A little variance doesn’t matter. (Incidentally, I used the hands to shoot a photo for Dita of her little gacha rings for the Jewelry Fair, one of which you see here.)

Finally, my skin is, again from Gala Phoenix. My eyes are from Ikon Innovia, purple/silver beauties he made for Fashion for Life. And my hair is on my head thanks to Voshie Paine, who led me to Boo Nakamura’s store. I had the hairbases already and this topknot was just what I needed.

No man is an island entire of itself; every man
is a piece of the continent, a part of the main;
if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe
is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as
well as a manor of thy friends or of thine
own were; any man’s death diminishes me,
because I am involved in mankind.
And therefore never send to know for whom
the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.

~ John Donne

Hair: booN MKT012 hair purple with booN gathered raised hairbase purple by Boo Nakamura for booN

Skin: :GP: Sundust [Light] Lustre 2-Wish 1 by Gala Phoenix for Curio *

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

Outfit: MFW2011 – Osakki // FLOW Jumpsuit / Phlox by Kaysha Piers for Osakki

Ring: FuLo – “Tina” ring – Amethyst by Dita Tran for FuLo, available in the gachas at the Jewelry Fair 2011 *

Hands: SLink De Jolie Mains Hands Relaxed Set 1 by Siddean Munro for Slink *

Your SL Evolution

I asked a question on the SL Forums the other day about how people had changed over the years in SL, and I got quite a wonderful response. Marianne Little provided a sort of format that allowed people to see her evolution over her time in SL and many people chimed in in like fashion, and it was a lot of fun. There are a lot of amazing avatars out there. (Above was my hastily assembled filmstrip and what’s amazing is I can tell you almost everything I was wearing in almost every photo.. omg…!)

Not only did we get to see the evolution of people’s personal styles, we also got to see how they remained the same in aesthetic and viewpoint as well. Through the photos we got to see the evolution of SL as well, which was a sort of celebration of the progress of technology, content, and population in SL.

Therefore I am challenging you, dear readers, to go to the Flickr group “Your SL Evolution,” and share your progress in SL over the years. I have posted mine there already and look forward to seeing yours!

Heavy Petting

Got your attention with that title, didn’t I? Well this blog truly is about petting.. a KittyCat. KittyCats has revised their kittens with new features to add some cuddle factor. Now not only can owners cuddle their cats, but anyone can pet them as well. Right click ANY KittyCat you see and you can instantly be coochie-cooing.

Each cat has three animation interactions for their adorer: relax, pamper, and spoil. Callie sent over some kittens for me to.. inspect.. yeah. It was hard work, especially rubbing this one’s belly because he looked up at me and pawed me and darn if I didn’t say, “Awwww.” (Callie loves doing this to me because I am usually so grumpy.) The kittens have different poses for this petting as you can see because they are still a little too young for “heavy petting.”

When Callie sent over the cats and kittens, she flooded me with them. I said, “Callie, I don’t have enough prims for all these cats!”

“No worries,” she said breezily. “As you rez them, click on each one, choose animation, and then ‘8 prim’ in the dialogue box. You can put them in basket, can or bucket and they will be fewer prims than regular rezzed cats.”

“Is this some add-on? What does this cost?” I asked her.

“Nothing,” she smiled.

Want to know more about the latest KittyCats updates? Read their blog to get the whole story.

Hair: *Dura-Boys&Girls*23(Dark Brown) by chiaki Xue for Dura *

Skin: [MyDear]Damita Skin– Sunkiss #3 by Marisa Feila for [MyDear] *

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

Top: KIM-Frost-Brown by Kimberly Flagon for KIM Bodysuits

Leggings: Ibizarre Leo Leggings by Anyusha Lilienthal for Ibizarre

Earrings: P.C.; Couterati Earrings by Cora Lu for Paper Couture

Necklace: *BF* Naida Necklace by Grace Selene for Sentou Yousai

Ring: Florina ring – silver by Fallingwater Cellardoor for Shiny Things

Boots: J’s Long Boots Round in Brown by JB Gazov for J’s

Cats and kittens leant by Kittycats for display and returned :)

Five Easy Pieces (the SLURLS)

This is a mirror blog for one being posted on the Second Life website. I am including SLURLS for the items I show in the photos as I was not able to get enough space there to do so and I feel pretty strongly about attribution. If you are here from there, welcome! If you are here and need to go there, please do.

AND while you’re at it, join me in the SL Forums TODAY (right now!) from 9 am slt to 4 pm slt to chat about fashion. Bring your photos, comments, learned answers to the Forums and don’t make me sit there alone (well alone with Frolic and Sasy and Whimsy and Laylinha).

For over two years, I have written daily about SL fashion for my blog,  “A Passion for Virtual Fashion,” and I co-lead Fashion for Life, for Relay for Life, one of the biggest fashion charity events on the grid. Linden Lab graciously invited me to share my expertise.

The other day, I saw a TV ad for a fashion show about five easy pieces for one’s real life wardrobe. This got me thinking about five essential pieces in SL.

1. An AO.
The Animation Override (AO) is a script that replaces the avatar’s standard animations. An AO will provide those “non verbal cues” that say who you are—manly man, nerd, anime girl, kitsune pup, fashionista. Purchase a preloaded HUD (Heads Up Display) or buy animations and load them into a HUD (or into a special folder in some third party viewers) and replace the “newbie waddle.”

2. Shape
The shape of an avatar is the frame of your avatar. It is our “body” and the core of our virtual selves. Buy a modifiable one from a good shape maker and tweak it to your personal tastes rather than starting from scratch. Making a pleasingly proportionate avatar is harder than it looks.

3. Skin
The skin is the decoration on your basic shape. You can’t have an avatar without a skin. The skin you purchase should be a statement about you and should please your eye. Consider a neutral skin so you can change it using the five additional makeup layers that SL allows.

4. Hair
Hair is a huge differentiator between avatars. Whether you want a cute ponytail, luscious locks, a sassy pixie cut, a mohawk or a mullet. Combining regular prims, flexies, and sculpties (and soon mesh) with gorgeous textures and scripted features, hair is one of the engineering wonders of SL.

5. Eyes
Our avatar’s eyes move to follow our sight line as well as blink, giving avatars a human quality. When the eyes are flat or bland, the entire avatar looks “fake.” Eyes are an inexpensive investment change you from cartoonish to alive.

Want to know more about the great content I have featured? Check out this entry on my blog for references and SLURLS.

What are your five easy pieces? Leave a comment here!

Base look:

Hair: fri. – Dixie – Natural Black by Mollie Monday for fri.day

Skin: :GP: Sundust [Dark] Pout-Big Baby 1 by Gala Phoenix for Curio *

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

Top: *CUPCAKES – Wrap Top –  Grey by Mimi Coral for Cupcakes

Jeans: Maitreya Rolled Skinny Jeans – #06 by Onyx LeShelle for Maitreya

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

AO:

S. *SLC*STAND55(P2) by Mammoth Nishi (no longer available)

T. -RC- AO Wedgie by Redd Columbia for RC Cluster

U and V. MRS – DRAG QUEEN  & TRANSgender AO by MrSigmund Fride for MrS

W. CCFStand04.2 by Beauvoir Rousselot for Maitreya

X. CCBirdGirlStand04.4 by Beauvoir Rousselot for Maitreya

Y. *AW* Patience by Keiki Lemieux for Huddles

Z. Elegance 5 by Ninja Petion for Digital Dragon Designs

Shapes:

1. Personal shape

2. Little Duck for Maverick Designs by Harper Beresford for Maverick Designs

3. Yoon for Maverick Designs by Harper Beresford for Maverick Designs

4. Dolly by Harper Beresford (personal)

5. Girl Next Door by sachi Vixen in the SL Library

Hair:

11. fri. – Dixie – Natural Black by Mollie Monday for fri.day

22. ::Exile:: Bailey:Roots-Chardonnay by Kavar Cleanslate for Exile *

33. ladonna punch by Queue Marlowe for Analog Dog *

44. Francesca Chocolate by Truth Hawks for >Truth< *

55. /Wasabi Pills/ Earleen Hair – Grafite by MissAllSunday Lemon for Wasabi Pills

66. Asymmetric Bob (Purple) by Truth Hawks in the SL Library

Skins:

A. -Glam Affair- JadisV2 MedTan – D HB 11 by Aida Ewing for –Glam Affair- *

B. DREAM INK-SF-ARIANNA-D-4 by esra Noyes for DREAM INK

C. alpha.tribe::: Quiet Purple by Alpha Auer for alpha.tribe

D. mythic ~ maeve ~ fire ~ ash – sparked by Mattie Rae for mythic fantasy skins *

E. Nubian M0-1 by Anzhela Karsin for Angel Rock Skins *

F. :GP: Swan Frex [Dark] Jasmine 2-China Rose 1 by Gala Phoenix for Curio *

Eyes:

AA. ::UH::GS eye(noir-S) by umetaro Mayo for ::Umedama Holic::

BB. eyes by LL – bright – spanish moss (m) by Lano Ling for Poetic Eyes

CC. [PXL] SOUL  Eyes – Blue (M) yb Hart Larsson for PXL

DD. Pulse Eyes Dance With Me #3 by Lorac Farella for Pulse Skins

EE. Pulse Eyes Trinity #3 by Lorac Farella for Pulse Skins

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