La Dolce Vita

Talking about dreams is like talking about movies, since the cinema uses the language of dreams; years can pass in a second and you can hop from one place to another. It’s a language made of image. And in the real cinema, every object and every light means something, as in a dream. ~ Federico Fellini

La Dolce Vita is a movie directed by Federico Fellini. The title means “the sweet life” and in it a journalist searches for happiness and love in Rome. The film is in crisp black and white, and this is why it came to mind when I put together this ensemble. The new ballgown from Carrie Snowpaw is a lesson in living life large with swirling flowers and a transition from dark to sheer on the gown. It’s fantastical and dreamlike, as Fellini’s quote remarks, a quote that reminded me an awful lot of SL.

I pair it with Tricky Boucher’s elegant skin with its dark eyes and pale pink lips and Ikon Innovia’s luminescent blue eyes. (In fact, the eye liner reminds me of Anita Ekberg in La Dolce Vita—dramatic and dark.) Drop earrings from Julia Merosi add to the elegance and Truth Hawks’ newest mesh hair—an updo—completes the elegant look.

There is no end. There is no beginning. There is only the infinite passion of life. ~ Federico Fellini

Hair: >TRUTH< Magdalena w/Roots – espresso by Truth Hawks for >TRUTH< *

Skin: -Belleza- Ava Sk 8 by Tricky Boucher for -Belleza- *

Eyes: IKON Horizon Eyes – Light Blue (ML) by Ikon Innovia for IKON *

Dress: Snowpaws – Silhouette Mermaid Gown – Night by Carrie Snowpaw for Snowpaws *

Earrings: ::je::suis::Leah::earring by Julia Merosi for je suis

Nails: [PM]Pixel Mode – Diamond Edt. Mesh Nails : Regular by Tya Fallingbridge for Pixel Mode *

Poses by Rogan Diesel for DieselWorks Animations

P.S. Someday, yes, I would like to recreate Anita Ekberg in the Trevi Fountain.

I have never reblogged so we’ll see how this goes but Harper outdoes herself every year with her Oscar photo contest and this year’s winners are amazing!

Around the Grid

It’s always easy to judge my annual Oscar Fashion Photo Contest — at least for the first two cuts, at the most.  After that, the cream is definitely rising to the top of that year’s pool, and I have to start looking really hard, and at times going with a gut decision on what worked and what didn’t.  As the knowledge of the contest starts circulating around the Grid (no pun intended here with the title of my blog), more and more really good photographers/models start submitting photos to the Flickr and Koinup groups, or contacting me with link submissions.  It always makes for an interesting few days following the submission deadline (at the end of the Academy Awards in RL) as I work through the offerings of people whose work I come to respect and admire.  Additionally, I normally plan out extra time to work on this, just in…

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What Barely’s Wearing Today

Barely and I had a little discussion about his photos. He just got that LUMIPro and he’s be going to town with it (literally—he won’t let it go—he sleeps with it). I said, “That’s fine. The photos are artsy and emo, but people want to see the clothes.” He then sent me photos labeled “Barely Emo.” I think that should be his new display name.

I like this look because it’s eclectic and rock n roll. I especially like the pattern on the shirt from Voodoo Gear and the skin from Fruk. He looks like your little brother, grown up to go out clubbing or play in his alternative band.

Skin – Fruk – Chucky Hollak – Bennet skin Rock of Ages- Limited Edition

Hair – Redgrave – Emilia Redgrave – Jacob in black

Eyes – Ikon – Ikon Innovia – Eternal Eyes in Heath

Necklace – Trinket – Stephberry Delling – Guitar Pick Necklace

Shirt – Voodoo Gear – Voodoo Shilton – Men’s Mesh Dress Shirt in Arabia #1

Jeans – breathing|time – Kevin Titian – Lazy Jeans in Print

Boots – Shelly Laufer – Shelly Laufer – Mesh Boots DT in black

Ebullience

“Fashion is neither moral or immoral, but it is for rebuilding the morale.” ~ Karl Lagerfeld

The dog days of winter are upon me and I am feeling kind of bleah, so I have been looking for happiness where I can. Good thing I have fashion and art. A pretty dress can bring you joy. So can a beautiful and interesting art exhibit. I visited Alpha Auer’s part of Topophonia: Four Installations in Sound, sponsored by HUMlab at Umea University in Sweden and was taken by the beauty and fun of the exhibit. As you walk over light beams projected up from square pads, you hear a combination of sounds and music that layer on each other to create an aural experience. It’s nothing new in SL but it has been beautifully and is an ebullient experience.

I wore Bonadea Cobalt’s lovely evening gown to the exhibit to photo. I love the texture. I think it’s a classic look. I tried to dress it up elegantly with Gospel Voom’s boutique shoes. My hair is slightly blue tinted, which gives it a little more magic. Kavar Cleanslate is offering this gorgeous, almost Victorian updo at The Attic. I LOVE that he is doing mesh updos and I love love love the tendrils. Have been wearing this one a LOT. Finally, my skin was a lovely 1L skin from Steffi Villota for her group members. I am not a gift finder per se, but I love the opportunity to see someone’s work and wear it around for a bit without “demo” scrawled across it. This was a great chance for me to get a feel for Steffi’s work. And fine work it is, especially those brows and eyes.

“You can’t be melancholy in fashion because people don’t respond to it.” ~ Isaac Mizrahi

Hair: ::Exile:: Loveshack:Moonlight by Kavar Cleanslate for ::Exile::, available at The Attic *

Skin: Gogo Face 2 MED/DARK by Steffi Villota for DeeTaleZ

Eyes: .ID. Light Sensitive/Basic – Slate by Audrey Lamede for Insufferable Dastard

Dress: Olga evening dress by Bonadea Avedon for Ruca Tease *

Shoes: [Gos] Mae Platform – Naturelle Collection by Gospel Voom for Gos Boutique *

Exhibit: One of the Topophonia: Four Installations in Sound, this one by Alpha Auer (only until February 28—hurry!)

Harper at Home

“Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.” ~ William Morris

Join my in my Linden Home. Yes, you read it. Linden Home. With the proliferance of mesh furniture in SL, you can outfit a Linden home rather nicely within the 117 prim limit and still have some left over for rezzing packages or keeping a KittyCat or two. I managed to make my home *quite* cozy here with the new line of furniture from Tya Fallingbridge. With beautiful textures, color change pillows and blankets and versions of PG and Adult animations, this furniture will make a fine addition to your Linden home. And in mesh, it’s low prim, even with poses (no pose balls). I added some mesh drapes with finialed rods from Maxwell Graf. They come in several styles and are perfect for house finishing.

I host you in my home with a gorgeous new dress from Lilly Juno. Lilly has rebranded to “Immerse” and wants you to see her beautiful textures and inventive style. She has made gorgeous furniture in the past but now is stretching out to mesh clothing, and I think you can agree that the result is pretty special. Her texturing is exquisite. I look forward to seeing more of her work.

Get close and you see this absolutely drop dead gorgeous mesh necklace from Mirja Mills. With its fine detailing and color, it’s a work of art, appropriate for RP, which is Mirja’s original audience, or simple elegant dressing. Gosh I love this necklace. I love mesh!

“Ah! There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort.” ~ Jane Austen

Hair: smitten 1b by Queue Marlowe for Analog Dog *

Skin: Elysium – Devine (freck) – light medium by Aleida Rhode for Elysium *

Eyes: IKON Kaleido Eyes – Ancient (ML) by Ikon Innovia for IKON *

Dress: Immerse Cami Gold by Lilly Juno for Immerse *

Necklace: .:EMO-tions:. * VARI* – necklace ( aqua ) by Mirja Mills for Emo-tions *

Nails: [PM]Pixel Mode – Diamond Edt. Mesh Nails : Regular by Tya Fallingbridge for Pixel Mode *

Shoes: [Gos] Sophia Peeptoe – Essentials Collection by Gospel Voom for Gos Boutique *

Furniture: All by Tya Fallingbridge for Pixel Mode *
[PM]Pixel Mode – Basevi – Chair – Black – 2 Pillow,
[PM]Pixel Mode – Alcott – Sofa – Adult: Black
[PM]Pixel Mode – Basevi – Sofa  – Adult – Eggshell
[PM]Pixel Mode – Basevi – Chair/Blanket – Eggshell
[PM]Pixel Mode – Voo Voo Lamp: Black/Black
[PM]Pixel Mode – Basevi – End Table – Brown
[PM]Pixel Mode – Basevi – Candle – Wood 2
[PM]Pixel Mode – Basevi – Coffee Table – Brown
[PM]Pixel Mode – US Picture Frame – Black
[PM]Pixel Mode – Voo Voo Divider –  White

Drapes: Rustica – Mesh Drape PLAIN SHEER PANEL with Rustica – Mesh Curtain Rod SPHERE by Maxwell Graf for Rustica *

Rug: [LeeZu!] Studio Fur Carpet by LeeZu Baxter for LeeZu!

Poses by Olaenka Chesnokov for oOo Studio

Shot in location in a Linden Home. Yes, they aren’t so bad.

Chicken Soup

“Only the pure in heart can make good soup.” ~ Ludwig Beethoven

Eshi came over the other day, made a fabulous chicken soup (after she shopped for all the ingredients), made fried chicken and mashed potatoes, brought the best cupcakes, and left a mess in my kitchen.We sat at the table and teased my kid, looked at her mom’s paintings on Facebook, laughed at my DH’s truly dreadful joke, and enjoyed being a family. She drove home out in the country on a chilly, crystal clear evening. Later that night she sent this dress to me.

Sometimes we forget that “artists” are also humans, with varied talents and traits. Knowing a person who makes a dress like this makes it even more intriguing. I know where she lives, how she sleeps, what she drives. Where in her mind did that sweet girl she pull something like this out? Probably the same place her big black garbage bag dress came from. She has made this from mesh, added a spectacular top, and made one of her characteristic hats held on by long hat pins. She accompanies it with otherworldly feathers and pleats at the bottom. I love this dress and hat! (Almost as much as I love her soup.)

I thought Aleida Rhode’s skin from the TDR Fusion would be perfect for this with its very minimal yet high fashion details. The lips are to die for with their pale but classic line and the shaping of the face elevates me to a model. Truth Hawks’ side-swept and gorgeous blonde hair completes this look.

The road to a friend’s house is never long.

Hair: >TRUTH< Zendaya w/Roots – oasis by Truth Hawks for >TRUTH< *

Skin: Elysium – Sarah – light by Aleida Rhode for Elysium, available at TDR Fusion

Eyes: IKON ‘Sunrise’ Eyes – Light Aspen (ML) by Ikon Innovia for IKON *

Gown: MARIE GOWN – Eshi Otawara by Eshi Otawara for Eshi Otawara *

Nails:[PM]Pixel Mode – Diamond Edt. Mesh Nails : Long by Tya Fallingbridge for Pixel Mode *

Pink Attitude

I was very against pink and purple when I was young, because they were girls’ colors. But that was only because I didn’t want people to write me off for what I can do. When I got into my 20s, I decided that was stupid. ~ Danica Patrick

Pink always scares me. It’s the color of Pepto Bismol and marshmallow chicks and aisles and aisles of Barbie Dolls at Toys R Us. (In a previous life I did work that ended up at Mattle so I know the PMS color of Barbie ads. I saw LOTS of pink.) But I had to put pink on this time because.. well it just needed to be done. I started with this darling pink top from Ivy Burner, queen of sales events and sexy textures and general good stuff. Then I found some shorts LeeZu Baxter released a bit ago.. meshy cute and perfect and hunted down socks from Tsutsuji Klees on MP. Finally little boots from LeeZu again.

The whole impetus was this colorful, pink and purple skin from Tuli Asturias, being offered at the Attic. And of course, I couldn’t pass up this hair from Mina Nakamura, also being offered at the Attic. But get this—it comes with a hud so you don’t just get this cotton candy confection but several other colorful options. I popped in these gorgeous eyes from Ikon to make the whole sweet candy look complete.

Pink isn’t just a color, it’s an attitude! ~ Miley Cyrus

Hair: MINA HUD – Spice – Disco by Mina Nakamura for MINA, available at The Attic *

Skin: [:T:] Zoe / petal :: Pop by Tuli Asturias for Tuli, available at The Attic  *

Eyes: IKON Kaleido Eyes – Sky (ML) by Ikon Innovia for IKON *

Lashes: [LeLutka]-2011 lashes/long by Thora Charron for [LeLutka]

Top: ~Sassy!~ Mandarin top – pink by Ivy Burner for ~Sassy!~ *

Shorts: Heather Hotpants /candy pink by LeeZu Baxter for LeeZu!

Nails: [PM]Pixel Mode – Diamond Edt. Mesh Nails : Regular by Tya Fallingbridge for Pixel Mode *

Socks: Sakura Pink Overknee by Tsutsuji Klees for Tsutsujiya

Boots: BeachBum Boots WITH DOLL/pink by LeeZu Baxter for LeeZu!

Poses by Willa Whybrow for don’t freak out!

Awakening

It is possible to experience an awakening in this life through realising just how precious each moment, each mental process, and each breath truly is. ~ Christy Turlington

Today’s dress is brought to you by the beauty of the upcoming spring and the awakening that happens in the spring. LeeZu Baxter is clearly looking forward to the turn in seasons with this lovely mesh dress, painted with flowers and grasses over a beautiful lace background. Wearing a pair of lovely pumps from Monica Outlander, I am ready, so ready, for spring.

Whenever someone asks for a skin recommendation in Skin Addiction, Hlin Bluebird’s brand inevitably pops up. Is it the finely drawn now, the groomed brows, the succulent colors? Perhaps it is the subtle shading on the body. When I saw this skin at TDR Fusion, I grabbed the chance to see what all the interest is, and I am glad I did.

Queue Marlowe has come out with a new hair that may well become ubiquitous (and should). With a combination of mesh and flexis, this curl carefree style looks wonderful in blonde as well as her other shades, and it fits many ensembles. I adorn my neck with a delicate necklace from Abraxxa Anatine, a gift from a friend to brighten my day.

Listen to Awakening by Craig Pruess

Hair: smitten blanched by Queue Marlowe for Analog Dog *

Skin: al vulo- Ramona* femme fatale blonde brow sunkissed by Hlin Bluebird for al vulo, available at TDR Fusion

Eyes: IKON ‘Sunrise’ Eyes – Light Aspen (ML) by Ikon Innovia for IKON *

Dress: CoCo Dress (mesh, rigged) /olive by LeeZu Baxter for LeeZu! *

Jewelry: EarthStones Siobhan Necklace – Golden Calcite by Abraxxa Anatine forEarthStones

Nails: [PM]Pixel Mode – Diamond Edt. Mesh Nails : Regular by Tya Fallingbridge for Pixel Mode *

Shoes: Miamai_Camille High Heels_Silver Flax by Monica Outlander for Miamai *

Poses by oOo by Olaenka Chesnokov for .oOo Studio and Olivia Lalonde for Le Poppycock

Feeling Lucky?

“You’ve got ask yourself one question: ‘Do I feel lucky?’ Well, do ya, punk?” ~ Clint Eastwood as Dirty Harry

Well, do ya? This feeling lucky isn’t about me in the bed, by the way, though you might get lucky if you get this one, because Barnesworth is offering his new Chinoiserie line with sex poses. Yes, you heard it here. Barnesworth is getting’ jiggy with it. I would caution that the ones I went through show a uh.. male sensibility, but I am sure Barnesworth will find more romance in his later selections. I am stretched out in a sexy mesh dress from Tutys (which I highly recommend for good curves) and the gifty shoes from Gospel Voom. (I guess we were all his valentine this year.)

Look closely at my nails. I am going to be moving to these fabulous nails from Tya Fallingbridge because they include a hud for color change. They fit nicely, include many colors (though I want moooooore), and move well with my avi.

The lucky part really has to do with this skin from Hart Larsson. Once again, he has stuffed his gachas with skins— the Seven Deadly Sins: Lust, Greed, Sloth, Envy, Pride, Wrath and Gluttony. Lust, which I am wearing, is one of two rare skins, the other being Gluttony. So the question really truly is, are you feeling lucky, punk? Well, are ya?

“Go ahead. Make my day.” ~ Clint Eastwood

Hair: >TRUTH< Sierra w/Roots – espresso by Truth Hawks for >TRUTH<

Skin: [PXL] KATE NAT 7Sins LUST (RARE) by Hart Larsson for [PXL] *

Eyes: IKON Utopia Eyes – Dark Brown (ML) by Ikon Innovia for IKON *

Dress: TuTy’s SWEATER stretch mesh dress – RED by Tutys for Tutys

Necklace: MG – Necklace – ForgetMeNot Flower Heart – Short – SILVER by Maxi Gossamer for Maxi Gossamer *

Nails: [PM]Pixel Mode – Diamond Edt. Mesh Nails : Regular by Tya Fallingbridge for Pixel Mode *

Shoes: [Gos] Grace Sandal – Red Glitter by Gospel Voom for Gos Boutique *

Bed: [ba] pagoda bed red – cuddles and adult animations by Barnesworth Anubis for barnesworth anubis *

She Breaks Down in Blue

Holding off she breaks down in blue
Standing on that bridge and she’s waiting,
Waiting for you
holding off she breaks down in blue
I’m gonna wait right here for you what you wanna do

~ “Bad Insect” by Ultraista

An ethereal song deserves an ethereal dress. (Well, the song itself it could be argued is not but I think it is.) I have been walking around the grid in this dress and receiving compliments left and right. Mami Jewell has, once again, given glamour and elegance to the grid. The wrapped top actually emphasizes the hourglass shape of the silhouette without being “busty” or oversized and the beautiful color of the gown is breathtaking.

My face is, as you can see, not my normal shape because I am wearing Maximillion Grant’s new Sadie mesh head. I tinkered with makeups and expressions, clicking in my blonde brows and hair base in no time, clicking on some eyelashes and clicking in my baby blues. Clickety click and click, done. Max has come up with some new makeups and the brilliant part about them is that you just drop a script into the hud and poof, click, they are there. Pop my ringlets on from MissAllSunday Lemon, beautiful deco jewelry from Tiffy Vella and click on a poseball, I am off dancing.

So I’m going out, and I’m not gonna dance
Not gonna sing unless somebody’s holding on

Hair: /Wasabi Pills/ Momo Mesh Hair – Golden by MissAllSunday Lemon for Wasabi Pills *

Mesh head: LOGO Sadie Almond by Maximillion Grant for LOGO *

Skin: LOGO Infinity Sadie Base Skin Almond – Style 1 by Maximillion Grant for LOGO *

Dress: -AZUL- Audrey/Aqua by Mami Jewell for –AZUL- *

Jewelry: Eclectica Deco Knot bracelet-pale silver, Eclectica Deco Knot necklace-pale silver, Eclectica Vintage Dress Ring by Tiffy Vella for Eclectica *

Shoes: [Gos] Grace Sandal – Elegance Collection by Gospel Voom for Gos Boutique *

Poses by Dove Swanson for Long Awkward Pose (no longer available)