Harmony

“You are only afraid if you are not in harmony with yourself.” ~ Hermann Hesse

Trying to put a whole look together and make it work from the things I am committed to blog is sometimes a challenge. I want to have some coherency, a look someone could imagine wearing. I have been working on another project lately so I feel a little fragmented but I hope this one comes together for you. It helps that Harry Hyx has made this elegant top and skirt in limited colors—teal, tan, beige, and white—so I have one main color with neutrals. The beautiful drape Harry manages with mesh and great texturing is amazing.

I opted for the teal top to match this new jewelry from Abraxxa Anatine that includes in the set her unique Harmony ball. My friend has one of these in real life. It jingles very softly and sonorously as you move and Abraxxa has included options to allow that in SL. She also includes texture change options on the jewelry so you get an assortment of looks available, though I loved the  Chrysocolla stone that was on the pendant already. The set comes with the shorter pendant, two varieties of bracelets, rings, and earrings.

Sawsan Secretspy has come out with a new set of skins for the Fashion Fair. As always I look elegant and sublime in her skins with their subtle blush, soft lips and beautifully-lined eyes. MissAllSunday Lemon made this darling hair with a braid hairband for Uber. She has taken mesh and run with it, having converted her once-fantasy hair business into an almost-industry with beautiful mesh pieces combined with great textures. I just please wish she would consider using a texture-change HUD so my inventory can be brought into better harmony.

Hair: /Wasabi Pills/ Sibel Mesh Hair – Rouge by MissAllSunday Lemon for /Wasabi Pills/, available at Uber *

Skin: .::WoW Skins::. Serena Tan 01 by sawsan Secretspy for .::WoW skins::., available at Fashion Fair *

Eyes: #adored – dawn eyes – light green by Constance Daehlie for #adored *

Body: Maitreya Mesh Body – Lara V2.1 by Onyx LeShelle for Maitreya

Top: ISON – celestial bell sleeve top – (teal) by Harry Hyx for Ison, available at Uber *

Skirt: ISON – celestial maxi skirt – (tan) by Harry Hyx for Ison, available at Uber *

Jewelry: EarthStones Krishna Harmony Ball Necklace, EarthStones Krishna Narrow Bracelet (R), EarthStones Krishna Pendant Necklace, EarthStones Krishna Ring (R), EarthStones Krishna Wide Cuff Bracelet (L) by Abraxxa Anatine for EarthStones *

Feet: Slink AvEnhance Feet High by Siddean Munro for Slink

Shoes: Essenz – Rome (Fatpack 1) by Senzati0n Domenitzo for Essenz *

Poses by Fanny Willis for Everglow *

White Obliterate

“All Heaven and Earth
Flowered white obliterate…
Snow…unceasing snow”
― Hashin, Japanese Haiku

I heard it’s going to be a snowpoclypse in the Northeastern US today, so I predict a baby boom in about 38-40 weeks in the same region. I personally prefer white in my fashion and not on my driveway. And this white dress from pepehair from the Trend3 event is a stunner. I have purchased from Pepe before and gotten a little burned by their mesh because this designer is clearly still getting up to speed on designing so I was hesitant this time but this dress fits beautifully. The mesh is rigged wonderfully and looks fabulous on. My biggest problem was getting my butt small enough to fit under the dress (do not wear with the Maitreya mesh body—it simply won’t work). I wedged the Belleza body in much more easily.

I purchased the shoes from MzEvieNoir at the Trend3 event also and while I love the style and look, they were pretty pricey for shoes that just come available for Slink feet. She does offer them in the package with separate ones for plain heel with gold or silver hardware or gold or silver heel. I hope MsNoir sees fit to lower her prices in the future because I would be amenable to buying more if she lowered her price, made versions for the Belleza and Maitreya feet and considered a texture change HUD.

Shyla Diggs has come out with a new set of skins for the celestial theme at Uber. They all have fantastic make ups that tend to pull the eyes together visually, so if your avatar has wider eyes, this might be the set for you. She also includes a full compliment of lipsticks and blush with the fatpack. My hair is one of Catwa Clips smooth and sexy mesh ‘dos, a sleek look to accompany this great dress. And my jewelry was a recent release from AvaGardner Kungler who is secretly yearning to be a jewelry maker. When I look at her pieces, I see the care with which a craftswoman selected the stones, positioned the findings, twisted the wire into place. Every piece she makes is an amazing mesh work at a minute scale and a piece of art. You might have to get a shovel out for the snow but not for this.

Hair: CATWA HAIR Silky [Flat] by Catwa Clip for CaTwA

Skin: -Belleza- Celeste Uber SK 3 R with -Belleza- Celeste Uber SK Blush 1 by Shyla Diggs for –Belleza, available at Uber *

Eyes: #adored – cloud eyes – alchemist – b by Constance Daehlie for #adored *

Body: -Belleza- Venus V 0.02 by Tricky Boucher for –Belleza– *

Dress: Pepe – Sydney Wrap Dress (White) by pepehair for Pepe, available at Trend3

Nail applier: [LB Chrome Purple] *Belleza* Manicure and Pedicure by Santana Lumiere for La Boheme

Necklace: (Kunglers Extra) Tathar necklace – Silver by AvaGardner Kungler for Kunglers Extra*

Shoes: [Co57] Lynette Sandal BLANC Metal Heel by MzEvieNoir for Co Fifty Seven, available at Trend3

Sunday Laziness

“Whenever I feel the need to exercise, I lie down until it goes away.” ~ Paul Terry

Some Sundays I just don’t want to get dressed. I want to laze around in my underwear on a comfy chair and not worry. Of course, in fantasy fashionistaland, that means I will look absolutely gorgeous doing so in this beautiful lingerie from LacunaInc, which comes with a ton of appliers so I can slip these pretties on to my Belleza Mesh body and roll around in a soft chair like this one, made by Whimsy Winx and Sasy Scarborough (the dynamic duo) with sexy, languid poses. Get both at My Attic.

Truth Hawks just came out with these darling curly ponytails, which I colored in this awesome light blue to show off the great curls and texture. My skin is Shyla Diggs’ newest for Uber, a starry-eyed confection of a skin, which is part of a set of beautiful skins she is offering. Pardon me while I lift a finger here to hit “publish”….

Hair: TRUTH HAIR Ivana by Truth Hawks for >TRUTH< *

Skin: -Belleza- Celeste Uber SK 5 Bl by Shyla Diggs for –Belleza, available at Uber *

Eyes: #adored – dawn eyes – light blue by Constance Daehlie for #adored *

Body: -Belleza- Venus V 0.02 by Tricky Boucher for –Belleza– *

Lingerie appliers: *LACUNA* Cleo Lingerie – Dusk Blue by LacunaInc for Lacuna, available at My Attic *

Nail appliers: [LB Ombre2] *Belleza* Manicure and Pedicure by Santana Lumiere for La Boheme

Shoes: [L.Warwick] Elation -Platform Heels- Mint/Candy (Belleza) by Lindsey Warwick for Livalle *

Pose prop: W.Winx & Flair – Temptation Lounge – Pink by Whimsy Winx and Sasy Scarborough for W.Winx & Flair, available at My Attic *

In Purple

“If you wear a short enough skirt, the party will come to you.” ~ Dorothy Parker

A short-as-can-be mini dress,and I am hoping to have a party! This great strappy leather dress with a wonderful tie up the back comes from Beanster Potato, a lot of mesh goodness in a very small package. And as always, Beanster includes a texture change HUD for five looks. I matched it up with the heels Glamistry offered for 21 Shoe. You can’t get these colors anymore but you can get this sexy platform shoe at his store. My unicorn horn from Maxi Gossamer for this month’s Collabor88 is my favorite piece of luck.

Shylah Honey made this fabulous hair for the Fantasy Collective and with its literally flowing locks, it is perfect for mermaids but also for a girl who is going out and wants a little fun in her look, especially with dyed ends. Sawsan Secretspy has made this gorgeous skin for the Designers Circle. I put it on and the dewy skin, the soft and glossy lips, the exquisite eyes—they begged me to take them out to party. I did!

Hair: *~*Damselfly*~*Alba Rigged-Mesh by Shylah Honey for *~*Damselfly*~*, available at Fantasy Collective *

Skin: .::WoW Skins::. Aleida Darktan by sawsan Secretspy for .::WoW skins::., available at Designer Circle *

Eyes: Egozy.Eyes (Brown).Light by Nicole Button for Egozy *

Body: Maitreya Mesh Body – Lara V2.1 by Onyx LeShelle for Maitreya

Dress: 20.FIVE Mesh: Lipita Dress by beanster Potato for 20.FIVE *

Necklace: MG – Necklace – Electra Unicorn Horn – Short by Maxi Gossamer for Maxi Gossamer, available at Collabor88 *

Ring: MG – Rings – Unicorn Maiden Star – Large by Maxi Gossamer for Maxi Gossamer, available at Collabor88 *

Shoes: Glamistry : STATICE Heels by Glamistry for Glamistry *

Poses by Tutys for Tutys

Baby Don’t Tolerate

Now a small and more ordinary man
might not appreciate the guidance of a good woman who truly loves him.
He might drift in despair after the ignorant dumb doins’
of his dirty daily existence.

That’s not me. No, Yessiree. I’m proof that true love will set you free.
Some things, my baby don’t tolerate
my baby don’t tolerate
my baby don’t tolerate
from me.

~ “My Baby Don’t Tolerate” by Lyle Lovett and John Hiatt

Loved these lyrics from Lyle Lovett and made a lady who won’t tolerate. I decided to layer mesh that perhaps wasn’t meant to be layered but I don’t care because I have been holding on to this fabulous mesh fur coat from Adrianne Stormcrow for months, since I got it at the last Thrift Shop at a discount. The new Thrift Shop is opening February 6, and I’m excited to see what bargains are in store. I wored it over a dress from Poulet Koenkamp which already had a fur coat over it, but I liked how the dress looked peeking under this coat because of Poulet’s fabulous textures, and if I hadn’t told you, would you have known?

My fabulous shoes are the almost-newest from Glamistry, the work of the former owner of Kalnins, who also did work for Redgrave. The great thing about Maris (Glamistry) is that he combines some awesome scripted pyrotechnics in his shopping experience with amazingly sexy design. Join his subscribe group and you’ll find out what I mean. You get a wearable HUD that delivers demos to your home and will direct you to his store or marketplace in the click of a button. Then purchase the shoes and you get a full-featured texture change HUD with the ability to purchase more options for add-on. And many of his shoes are made for more than Slink feet. This pair, for example, was fashioned for the Maitreya feet.

Nicole Button just released the applier for the Maitreya Lara body, and I was delighted to use it. Nicole’s skin tones are pretty unique—you can’t just choose a texture already on a mesh body to match—so using the applier is convenient. And I am thrilled to show this rich skin tone with Nicole’s lovely eyes. I donned one of Truth Hawks’ newest hairs, a wavy style, pulled to the side. I went for a ginger tone to mix it up this time and to offset my beautiful earrings from Kikunosuke Eel.

Hair: TRUTH HAIR Echo by Truth Hawks for >TRUTH< *

Skin: Egozy.Hyolee (Coffee).SOFT by Nicole Button for Egozy *

Eyes: Egozy.Eyes (Brown).Light by Nicole Button for Egozy *

Body: Maitreya Mesh Body – Lara by Onyx LeShelle for Maitreya

Fur Coat: *Cosima* Fur Coat V1 by Adrianne Stormcrow for Stormcrow Designs

Dress: :: PM :: Heidi Coat & Dress ALL COLORS MESH by Poulet Koenkamp for PurpleMoon Creations *

Earrings: [MANDALA]Omochi  earrings/shell (double) by Kikunosuke Eel for Mandala

Nail appliers: Flair – Maitreya – Fingernails – Set 1 by Sasy Scarborough for Flair *

Shoes: Glamistry : ERANTHIS Heels by Glamistry for Glamistry

Poses by Luth Brodie for Reel Expression (no longer available)

Happy Birthday!

The way I see it, you should live everyday like its your birthday. ~ Paris Hilton

I’m clapping because it’s Genre’s birthday this month, so the designers participating have made a bunch of great birthday-themed items. I pulled a couple out for this post. First is this FABULOUS stripper cake from Plurabelle Laszlo. Who knew someone who made such sweet shoes and hair and jewelry could make something so naughty and fun? Included with the cake is a great set of animations including those that tuck you far away from the cake so your floaty name tag can’t be seen (surprise!) plus singing, clapping, dancing and POLE DANCING! I will be hauling this around to every birthday celebration I am invited to.

I donned Chandra Meehan’s naughty-but-nice balloons and streamers birthday suit from Genre for popping out of the cake. With Omega and Belleza appliers, she gives you a whole look for a sort of burlesque “Happy Birthday, Mr. President” set up with martinis and balloons and little else. Mr. Beresford saw the ensemble and claimed it was his birthday, so I wrapped my arms around his neck and sang just like Marilyn, my soft curls from Truth Hawks’ newest ‘do tickling his neck while martinis poured out on his lap.

Hair: TRUTH HAIR Topaz by Truth Hawks for >TRUTH< *

Skin: -Belleza- Claudia BFF SK 3 Br by Shyla Diggs for –Belleza *

Eyes: #adored – dawn eyes – light green by Constance Daehlie for #adored *

Body: -Belleza- Venus V 0.02 by Tricky Boucher for –Belleza– *

Outfit: !dM deviousMind “A little Party…” **RED* by Chandra Meehan for.deviousMind, available at Genre *

Cake: Bliensen + MaiTai – Surprise Surprise  – Stripper Cake by Plurabelle Laszlo for.Bliensen + MaiTai, available at Genre *

Magic

“The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper.” ~ W.B. Yeats

I wanted to share this beautiful dress because it has a certain magic. Kiddo Oh creates her own custom mesh and has translated her skills to making absolutely gorgeous evening gowns, combining translucent laces with frills and satin. I am so lucky to be showing this gown because it is a review copy of only 100 that will be sold at the Luxury Fashion Fair, where all the pieces being sold are limited. This is an awfully gorgeous piece to be limited to 100 on the grid with the lace top, pink buttons running down the back, pink satin ribbon around the waist and skirt and beautiful frills, and all this done completely in mesh!

Nicole Egozy has finally come out with her newest skin and it’s absolutely gorgeous. With fine, exquisite features, the skin includes a ton of appliers (though none for favorite mesh bodies—yet). She also includes a variety of tattoos with cleavage, eyebrows, hair bases, and other layers to help match mesh pieces to the body. I added an eyeliner to dress up the skin, which is a gorgeous palette for makeup layers. Kikunosuke Eel has had a sale going on, which I ran to, of course, because he will be retiring pieces soon. I am not sure if this set of earrings is included, but make sure you get there. And MissAllSunday Lemon’s lovely side-swept curls is an elegant alternative to wearing an updo with a formal dress. I chose this pretty pink to highlight the colors of the ensemble.

Hair: /Wasabi Pills/ Tiffany Mesh Hair – Jellyfish by MissAllSunday Lemon for /Wasabi Pills/, available at FaMESHed *

Skin: Egozy.Hyolee (Tan).BRIGHT with Egozy.Hyolee.LipsGloss.(Add)(Tan) by Nicole Button for Egozy *

Liner: I ALEIDA I Eyeliner  A 003 by Aleida Rhode for Elysium

Eyes: #adored – dawn eyes – morning by Constance Daehlie for #adored *

Dress: .::Dead Dollz::. Ma Petite – Gown – Limited Ed. by Kiddo Oh for .::Dead Dollz::., available at Luxury Fashion Fair 2015 *

Earrings: A SMALL [MANDALA]KABUKI EARRINGs/Shangri-La PINK by Kikunosuke Eel for Mandala

Hands: Slink Avatar Enhancement Hands – Casual by Siddean Munro for Slink

Poses by Luth Brodie for Reel Expressions (no longer available)

Angles

“Cock your hat. Angles are attitudes.” ~ Frank Sinatra

In a few minutes we are wandering out into the freezing cold to get crepes, specifically Parisian crepes. I know I can make these at home but the point is that I need to get out of the house. Thank goodness for SL because it cures a certain amount of cabin fever I have right now. For example, while in RL I have a turtleneck and sweater on but in SL I can dress elegantly for a luncheon of crepes with this sleek silk suit from Poulet Koenkamp. Poulet uses templates—it’s not a big secret or shock. Her RL keeps her plenty busy with a little one and learning mesh-making seems a huge time sink. It doesn’t matter because her textures are so amazing. She turns a simple suit into something fabulous with great fashion sense. And her color change HUD makes it so great to match something up. A handbag from the Oh My Gacha from Kismet Chrome and shoes from Senzati0n Domenitzo, and I am set.

I went to bed with yesterday’s eyeshadow on and left my brown contacts in from Constance Daehlie so you see them with Sawsan Secretspy’s newest skin for The Big Show. I think it’s actually a very sophisticated look and goes well with Mirja Mills’ sleek hair, which is a group gift (!). I have had this magnificent hat from Pill Kanto in my inventory for months and have wanted to show it with something worthy of its elegance. Cocked at an angle, it has a certain glamour and attitude I need to get me through the winter.

Hair: .:EMO-tions:. * JONA * by Mirja Mills for.:EMO-tions:. *

Skin: .::WoW Skins::. Noelle Golden 04 by sawsan Secretspy for .::WoW skins::., available at The Big Show *

Eye makeup: #adored – cruz shadow – purpley by Constance Daehlie for #adored, available atAnyBody *

Eyes: #adored – cloud eyes – woodsman – b by Constance Daehlie for #adored *

Suit: :: PM :: Adele Suit by Poulet Koenkamp for PurpleMoon Creations *

Hands: Slink Avatar Enhancement Hands – Casual and Bag by Siddean Munro for Slink

Hat: Miamai_Stratus hat – luxe – cream canvas by Pill Kanto for Miamai

Handbag: Indented: Rebecca l Plum COMMON by Kismet Chrome for Indented, available at Oh My Gacha

Nail appliers: [LB Solid Pink2] *Slink* Manicure by Santana Lumiere for La Boheme

Feet: Slink AvEnhance Feet High by Siddean Munro for Slink

Shoes: Essenz – Vienna by Senzati0n Domenitzo for Essenz *

Poses by Tutys for Tutys

Freedom

“What is freedom of expression? Without the freedom to offend, it ceases to exist.” ~ Salman Rushdie

I can’t help but think that in this time of the Internet, the most important issue we will face will be the freedom of expression. Being the megaconduit of discourse, the Internet amplifies ideas. It can carry messages of good and bad. We each have a role to making things flow peacefully and openly. Part of that is thinking critically and part of it is simply not reacting without thoughtfulness.

With the attacks on Charlie Hebdo recently, it’s easy to champion free speech as if all free speech is ok and acceptable. But before you yourself say something think, “Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary?” Think about your reaction. As a magazine of satire, Charlie Hebdo occupied a certain space of being able to say what others can’t and also of being able to push at the edges of our ideas. Not everyone can do that skillfully and deftly, and it comes with risk. But that risk should not be death. It should be… irrelevance. That’s why when people say stupid things in SL, almost always I just walk away. By not reacting or listening, I make them irrelevant.

That being said, this is a fashion blog, though sometimes I use it as my mouthpiece. I want to mouth off a little about what I am wearing. First I got this cocktail dress from Ariadna Garrigus before the holiday and never got to show it, but lucky me it comes with a HUD that allows three textures so I wasn’t just stuck using the more glitzy patterns. This flowered dress is lovely for any party, daytime or night, and the dress has a lovely silhouette. I was able to match Maxi Gossamer’s lovely necklace for Uber with the colors of the dress and get bowed pumps by Darling Monday, also at Uber.

I am wearing the Maitreya Lara body. I can see the appeal it has with a full apple bottom. I was not able to get the alphas to do much more for me with this dress than other mesh bodies have done—I still had to alter my shape. There are only so many pixels one can provide for cut out. Face it: you have to change your shape. Deal.

I wore the body because Voshie Paine made some terrific appliers for it. I love how the freckles from her skin run down to the body, making a very appealing girl. I added eyeshadow from Constance Daehlie, now at Anybody, to dress up. And I love Shylah Honey’s new hair for Season’s Story. This one is a keeper with tendrils slipping over the shoulder and the long hair flowing down the back.

Hair: *~*Damselfly*~*Kristi Rigged-Mesh by Shylah Honey for *~*Damselfly*~*, available at Season’s Story *

Skin: .la petite morte. ellen t5 by Voshie Paine for La Petite Morte *

Eyeshadow: #adored – cruz shadow – purpley by Constance Daehlie for #adored, available at AnyBody *

Eyes: #adored – cloud eyes – woodsman – b by Constance Daehlie for #adored *

Body: Maitreya Mesh Body – Lara by Onyx LeShelle for Maitreya

Skin applier: .la petite morte. maitreya applier hud FRECKLES by Voshie Paine for La Petite Morte *

Dress: ***ArisAris AA69 Beaded Cocktail Dress by Ariadna Garrigus for ArisAris *

Necklace: MG – Necklace – Selene by Maxi Gossamer for Maxi Gossamer, available at Uber *

Nail appliers: Flair – Maitreya – Fingernails – Set 3 by Sasy Scarborough for Flair *

Shoes: fri. – Isabelle.Heels (Coal) – Maitreya by Darling Monday for fri.day, available at Uber

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

A Little Light Within

Don’t need no compass no map or chart
Don’t need no stars shining above
Don’t need nothing but a little light in my heart
Glowing inside me like a blanket of love

~ “A Little Light Within” by Sturgill Simpson

Barely’s always spinning what he calls “alt country” or what is now called “Americana,” and it’s quite come in vogue lately with some fabulous artists making music the way it’s supposed to be. I don’t think Barely brought Sturgill Simpson to me but he likes him as much as I do. I have been enjoying his album while doing this blog post and loved some of the lyrics, so that’s the title of the blog today.

Sometimes I think SL creations are a bit of everyone’s “little light within” given to all of us. Think about this once: where else in your life are you treated to so many people’s artistic and creative efforts, sold to you for so little to shape and light up your life? For example, this dress from Paul Lapointe and Bastchild Lotus is so sexy and so well rigged and textured, but on top of that, engineered in collaboration between two people who live and love together. As I put it on, this collection of pixels, I marvel at its thoughtfulness and engineering, the sculptural qualities of the mesh, the proportions and “idea” of it, I think, well damn, can’t get that kind of experience for $2 anywhere else, right?

Then you have Maxi Gossamer’s mesh jewelry with her added touches of texture change and materials, the sexy boots engineered around the Belleza foot by Kenadeecole, and even the little dragonfly ring I got in a gacha from Piraiyah Novikov—each piece someone’s inner light shining.

Another miracle is how everyone’s light shines together. I am thinking of things like Sawsan Secretspy’s textures made into scripts for Tricky’s mesh body and Siddean Munro’s mesh feet and hands. And then Santana Lumiere’s nails applied to the hands and feet. And Queue Marlowe’s crazy waves fit to the body and gorgeous eyes from Nicole Button. I feel illuminated, lit within, by all the beauty and creativity this adds up to and absolutely amazed by how I can make this coherent “person” from such a melange of ideas and creations.

Hair: AD – one trick pony – FITTED – dark reds by Queue Marlowe for Analog Dog *

Skin: .::WoW Skins::. Vivy Bronze by sawsan Secretspy for .::WoW skins::., available at Designer Circle *

Eyes: Egozy.Eyes (Brown).Light by Nicole Button for Egozy *

Body: -Belleza- Venus V 0.02 *SlinkFit H&F by Tricky Boucher for –Belleza– *

Skin applier: .::WoW Skins::. Belleza Venus Body appliers by sawsan Secretspy for .::WoW skins::. *

Dress: L&B Swear “Teese” Leather Corset Dress by BastChild Lotus and Paul Lapointe for Lapointe and Bastchild *

Jewelry: MG – Necklace – Valencia Cross – Short and MG – Earrings – Valencia Cross by Maxi Gossamer for Maxi Gossamer, available at FaMESHed *

Ring: NOMAD // Dragonfly Ring by Piraiyah Novikov for NOMAD

Hands: Slink Avatar Enhancement Hands – Casual by Siddean Munro for Slink

Nail appliers: [LB Ombre2] *Slink* Manicure and Pedicure by Santana Lumiere for La Boheme

Feet: Slink AvEnhance Feet High by Siddean Munro for Slink

Shoes: REIGN.- Helix Heels- (Slink)- FATPACK by kenadeecole for REIGN

Poses by Tutys for Tutys