Maria

She moves like she don’t care
Smooth as silk, cool as air
Ooh it makes you wanna cry
She doesn’t know your name

She walks like she don’t care
Walkin’ on imported air
Ooh, it makes you wanna die

Ooh, don’t you wanna take her?
Ooh, wanna make her all your own?

~ “Maria” by Blondie

Mami Jewell is now a classic in SL. I remember when she was just starting out and I was amazed by her textures and use of prims and system pieces. Now she’s “established,” which says as much about how old I am in SL as how long she has persisted as a designer. Mami has recently remodeled her store, and as an incentive to get people there, she has taken many of her dresses and made a limited color version at a discount price for the grand opening. Available through October 31 (which gives you plenty of time to browse and come back for more), the dresses will no longer be sold after the sale is over. One such is this elegant dress, done in turquoise with a gorgeous brocade texture and Mami’s distinctive satiny flexi prims. It comes with a feather boa I chose not to use.

I paired Mea Carnell’s gorgeous necklace for Cosmopolitan with the dress and Kuranosuke Kamachi’s wavy lush ‘do for Shiny Shabby with the outfit. Equally elegant Nicole Button’s newest skin, a beautiful take on a Lebanese woman with luscious lips and a refined nose and gorgeous eyes. Nicole’s skins come with appliers for many mesh bodies so you can get the face of your dreams for your mesh body. Photos were taken at the gorgeous Debauch club.

Hair: =DeLa*= “Collete” Hud (Dark Browns) by Kuranosuke Kamachi for =DeLa*=, available at Shiny Shabby *

Skin: Egozy.Jolina (Golden).SOFT by Nicole Button for Egozy *

Eyes: .ID. September Eyes / Brown by Audrey Lamede for Insufferable Dastard, available at The Men’s Dept

Lashes: .LeLutka.Kyra lashes.01 by Thora Charron for LeLutka *

Body: Maitreya Mesh Body – Lara V3.4 by Onyx LeShelle for Maitreya

Dress: -AZUL- Iolanda  /Turquoise by Mami Jewell for –AZUL- *

Necklace: Meva Gujarat Necklace Gold by Mea Carnell for Meva, available at the Cosmopolitan Room *

Poses by AnneMarit Jarvinen for Katink

Taken using the LumiPro HUD V3.41 by Stefan Buscaylet *

Taken at Debauch

Enchained

It wasn’t the blackness of your hair
nor the brown beneath your eyes,
it was the passion of your
kisses that enchained me.

~ Traditional Solea

Saya Littlething has made a beautiful line of mesh flamenco gowns, so of course I need to wear one because flamenco is one of my favorite things. With a beautiful lace texture and ruffles going up the legs and across the decolletage, the gown is a lovely piece of work and moves well. (I was dancing with it to test—for the sake of my lovely readers, of course.) I wore gorgeous strappy shoes from Eku Zhong that were made for Slink feet but with minimal moving, fit the Belleza body just fine.

I am wearing one of Sawsan Secretspy’s newest skins, this one made for the Black Dot Event. I love the elegance of this one with its classic makeups and beautiful brows. I have matched it to the Belleza mesh body and it looks pretty seamless. Truth Hawks made this tumbled curly ‘do for the Uber event, a very good choice for the event as it’s sexy and classic all at once. Sometimes long hair is not necessary for sexy.

Hair: TRUTH HAIR Vixen by Truth Hawks for >TRUTH<, available at Uber *

Skin: .::WoW Skins::. Aisha Darktan 02 by sawsan Secretspy for .::WoW skins::., available at the Black Dot Event *

Eyes: #adored – dream eyes – black coffee by Constance Daehlie for #adored

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

Dress: [Scarlet] Lilire / Fitted Mesh Gown by Saya Littlething for *::Schoen::* *

Shoes: KoiKoi Mambo by eku Zhong for KoiKoi *

Poses by Annemarit Jarvinen for KaTink and Tutys for Tutys

Everywhere Hair

I called this “everywhere” hair because Thora Charron from LeLutka has managed to hit every demographic in SL for her Hair Fair offerings: RP, high fashion, romantic and dressy. In Thora’s typical style, the textures are detailed and beautiful with all the exacting touches typical of a LeLutka hair.

The styles, of course, vary in vision. Using mesh in interesting and exciting ways, Thora has managed to make a collection for Hair Fair that is certain to donate lots to Wigs for Kids, especially with the lush hair colors and great hair textures.

The hair comes in packs by color and do not include a HUD. This may or may not be a winner for some. Certainly, wearing non scripted hair IS a winner to most people, and there are abundant color choices. I love this lush red—Harvard—and think it’s stunning for all these hair styles.

Hair (top to bottom):

[LeLutka]-CHRISTINE hair/Dark Red by Thora Charron for LeLutka, available at Hair Fair 2014 *

[LeLutka]-FRANCINE hair – Harvard by Thora Charron for LeLutka, available at Hair Fair 2014 *

[LeLutka]-COLLEEN hair – Harvard by Thora Charron for LeLutka, available at Hair Fair 2014 *

[LeLutka]-CHARLENE hair – Harvard by Thora Charron for LeLutka, available at Hair Fair 2014 *

Skin: .:JUMO:. Mariah Skin Cocoa Red Brows with .:JUMO:. Mariah Eyeliners 002 by JuneMonteiro for .:JUMO:. *

Eyes: pearl – clear pond – medium dark by Lano Ling for Poetic Eyes *

Dress: Bon Bon Longdress <mesh,rigged,materials> /cream by LeeZu Baxter for LeeZu! *

Poses: KaTink – Chanel Runway Fat Pack 1-15 by Annemarit Jarvinen for KaTink *

Donna di Mondo

“Everything you see I owe to spaghetti.” ~ Sophia Loren

My travel budget is kind of slim this year so I am relying on travel within SL to sate my needs. Addy Hax and several others from her community built a lovely little parcel based on their pretty sim in SL. You get a taste of little Italy right at SL11B (which still has the sims open). And what a taste it is!

Which brings me to Italian women. How do they manage to eat all that pasta and still stay so chic and lovely? I think it’s the lifestyle—the cobblestone streets, the pretty views, the refreshing air. (Yes, I realize this is a very imaginary Italy but I think the attitude of enjoying life, of seeing beauty, of feeling the invigoration of living is certainly an Italian way of being.)

I decided to go chic with one of GraceHaddington’s newest designs, which she is soon to release to the public for her summer line. On July 5 and 6, LivGlam is hosting a fashion show at which the entire collection will be released. Grace is terrifically excited, and I can’t blame her. This piece, with translucent top and skirt, has Grace’s signature luscious prints and her inimitable style. I can only imagine a dress this chic in Italy.

I accessorized with Erratic Rain’s new slingbacks for Summerfest. Erratic does her own mesh and she’s painstakingly meticulous about it, so when you get a pair of her shoes, it’s like buying handmade Italian shoes in Milan. Every single pixel is perfect. She offers these in a variety of classic summer colors and prints. Abraxxa Anatine’s dangling semi-precious stone earrings with a texture-change HUD allowed me to find the perfect look to match.

Shyla Diggs’ makeup for her latest skins at the Liaison Collaborative is lovely—deep and sensuous and as usual, we see Tricky Boucher’s great work on this lovely skin. My hair is a twisty ponytail from Shylah Honey from the Manga Fair, a great look for a manga style, I am guessing, with its corkscrew shape, but also chic enough for this look with wispy bangs pulled to the side.

“Sex appeal is fifty percent what you’ve got and fifty percent what people think you’ve got.” ~ Sophia Loren

Hair: *~*Damselfly*~*Campbell Rigged-Mesh Big Pack by Shylah Honey for:::Damselfly Hair:: , available at Manga Fair *

Skin: -Belleza- Nina Sk TLC 1 Br by Shyla Diggs and Tricky Boucher for –Belleza, available at The Liaison Collaborative *

Eyes: [Brixley] Spring Eyes – evergreen by Isabelle Requiem for Brixley *

Dress: [LG] Boutique-[ SUMMER14] Sliced Tomatoes by GraceHaddington for LivGlam (available July 5) *

Earrings: EarthStones Chianna Earring – Fatpack by Abraxxa Anatine for EarthStones *

Hands: Slink Avatar Enhancement Hands – Elegant and Elegant1 by Siddean Munro for Slink

Nail appliers: Nailed It – Ombre Set HUD (wear) by Giela Delpaso for Nailed It *

Feet: Slink Female Feet (AvEnhance) – Mid by Siddean Munro for Slink

Shoes: erratic / sarah – wedges / cyan by Erratic Rain for erratic, available at Summerfest *

Poses: KaTink – Chanel Runway Fat Pack 1-15 by Annemarit Jarvinen for KaTink *

Taken at A Little Dream of Italy at the SL Community Celebration (still open!)

Martha My Dear

Martha my dear
Though I spend my days in conversation
Please remember me
Martha my love don’t forget me
Martha my dear

~ “Martha My Dear” by the Beatles

This cheerful Beatles’ tune popped up and made a perfect title for this beauty, who I have named Martha. Fashion for Life opens today, featuring the work of over 150 designers, with donations from a portion of every single sale going to RFL. Because of RFL SL’s rules, the designers were required to load their items into individual vendors, one at a time, so you had better shop til you drop to make it worth their while. (It’s open two weeks. Take a sim a night or day and you’ll have seen everything and been able to explore these gorgeous sims too.)

The sims are, as I have mentioned, gorgeous. I took today’s photos on Pluto Fairey’s beautiful sim, which is sponsored in part by LeeZu Baxter. And check out the dress LeeZu is offering as her exclusive. Available in eight combinations, this down-right sexy dress with its bold graphic print will put you ahead of the crowd, especially with this amazing silhouette on a proprietary mesh piece. LeeZu has filled the store with items, all in the RFL vendors, so buy buy buy! (And make sure you click the flowers—there is a dance pose in them. I will be spending any time at FFL dancing in these flowers.)

My goal was to be top to bottom FFL content and I managed it. Start at the top with hair from Shylah Honey and Tommy Fairplay. With their great texture change HUD I was able to get this great two-colored look that matches my dress. My skin comes from LadyLuy and includes a ton of makeup options including blush. My eyes are from a set being sold by Marisela Bouchard, who generously paid for two shops so she could sell skins and clothing. My jewelry is offered as the exclusives by Sebastian Dionysus and Plurabelle Laszlo (who is also offering some darling shoes that I somehow have to get into the blog). Sasy Scarborough leapt in at the last minute to grab a store and is offering some darling nails, one of which is just great colors (no decoration), which is great for many outfits. My shoes are from Senzati0n Domenitzo, who is now creating for Slink feet (yay!) and is sponsoring another sim. And my elegant poses are a set that AnneMarit Jarvinen is offering in her shop.

Hold your head up you silly girl
Look what you’ve done
When you find yourself in the thick of it
Help yourself to a bit of what is all around you

Hair: *~*Damselfly*~*Zendaya by Shylah Honey for:::Damselfly Hair::, available at Fashion for Life on FFL Wander *

Skin: Skin Aimi  Milk with Eyeliner Louis Vuitton, Gloss, and Blush Warm Red by Ladyluy for Center Ville Maison, available at Fashion for Life on FFL Perambulate *

Eyes: Silk Dreams Eyes – Dark Brown by Marisela Bouchard for Silk Dreams, available at Fashion for Life on FFL Journey

Dress: Bon Bon Longdress <mesh,rigged,materials> /cream by LeeZu Baxter for LeeZu!, sponsor of FFL Parade for Fashion for Life *

Necklace and Bracelet: Crystal Ice Necklace C Black and Crystal Ice Bracelet R Black by Sebastian Dionysus for Designs by Sebastian, available at Fashion for Life on FFL Trek

Necklace: Bliensen + MaiTai – Yasemine – Necklace by Plurabelle Laszlo for .Bliensen + MaiTai, available at Fashion for Life on FFL Wander *

Hands: Slink Mesh Hands (av) Elegant  Left and Slink Mesh Hands (av) Elegant1  Right by Siddean Munro for Slink

Nail appliers: Flair – Fingernails Applier Slink A/E – set 217 by Sasy Scarborough for Flair, available at Fashion for Life on FFL Trek *

Feet: Slink AvEnhance Feet High by Siddean Munro for Slink

Shoes: Essenz – Detroit (Fatpack) by Senzati0n Domenitzo for Essenz, sponsor of FFL Trek  at Fashion for Life *

Poses: KaTink – Chanel Runway Fat Pack 1-15 by Annemarit Jarvinen for KaTink, available on FFL Promenade at Fashion for Life *

Taken on FFL Parade, built by Pluto Fairey

Strength of Spirit

“It is not the strength of the body that counts, but the strength of the spirit.” ~ J.R.R. Tolkien

Epidermolysis Bullosa is a rare disease that affects 1 in 50,000 children born throughout the world as a result of a genetic disorder. It varies in severity among its sufferers. It is characterized by a defect between the anchoring of the skin between the epidermis (top layer of skin) and the dermis (second layer). People who suffer from EB suffer from skin fragility, blistering and constant pain. “Butterfly Children” is what kids with the disorder are called due to the fragility of their skin. A group of designers and bloggers in SL are putting on the EB Awareness Event with proceeds going to DEBRA of America, a national research charity group dedicated to curing EB. Thank NatashaAngelFire and Cerise Emor for putting this event on and organizing it in a little over a month. Cerise volunteers to help children with this condition in RL. Designers are all donating part of the proceeds from sales to DEBRA of America.

I agreed to blog for the EB Awareness event because I knew a boy in my high school when I was growing up who had this devastating disease. Rolled from classroom to classroom in a wheelchair by a special education teacher, Adam was one of the best students in my Advanced Geometry class. His skin was friable and ruddy. His face looked raw and painfully exposed with scabs and irritations all over his face and head.  His hands and feet were stumps. He resembled an old man more than a child.

No one picked on Adam—that would have been too overt. He was simply invisible. He could not participate in regular school activities; he was rolled around between classes to avoid getting hurt by the boisterous physicality of high school kids. He was welcomed by us geeks in Advanced Geometry; we understood being invisible. When he participated in class—raised his hand or laughed with us—we were heartened. (He was really cute when he laughed.) That year in that class was solely remarkable to me for his presence.

I am sure Adam has died. His skin was very fragile; he was truly debilitated physically, though clearly not intellectually or emotionally. He was a normal boy in a body that failed to contain him due to a genetic anomaly that was no one’s fault. I am glad he got the opportunity to join us in that class and in high school. We were the better for having him in our company.

Now I am not sure how thrilled Adam would feel being called a “butterfly,” but the theme stands. AnneMarit Jarvinen has contributed to it with these gorgeous poses with a butterfly prop and floral backgrounds. Tella Twine is donating 100% of her proceeds from the sale of two dresses, available in several colors including this lovely pink one I am wearing. She also has a gift for visitors. My shoes, from Tash Porthos, are an event exclusive (she also has a dress) and my nails and makeup are lovely donations from AnneAlyce Maertens.

My lovely skin has butterflies around the eyes and it’s an exclusive offered by Marisa Gregan. She has appliers available for the skins, so do not hesitate to check this out. My hair is an exclusive from Kohana Xue, who is also offering two “Spring” packs of other hairs only at this event. I love my orchid necklace from Hannah Daviau with butterflies flitting around, perfect for spring. Consider the generosity of these creators for the Butterfly Children and their fragile lives and spend lavishly.

“… [A]nd when all the wars are over, a butterfly will still be beautiful.” ~ Ruskin Bond

Hair: +Spellbound+ Serenity // Fatpack by Kohana Xue for +Spellbound+, available at the EB Awareness Event *

Skin: *APS* DIVA SKINS -JOLIE- T3 Debra Exclusive 2 by Marisa Gregan for Apparence Skins & Shapes, available at the EB Awareness Event *

Makeup (eyeliner): ::DS:: Karma Eyeshadow 10 by AnneAlyce Maertens for Dulce Secrets, available at the EB Awareness Event *

Eyes: #adored – dream eyes – velik by Constance Daehlie for adored

Dress: Peponis EB-Awareness Blossom Pink by Tella Twine for Peponi’s, available at the EB Awareness Event *

Necklace: DMZ – Summerlovin’ – Rose by Hannah Daviau for DaneMarkZ, available at the EB Awareness Event

Hands: Slink Mesh Hands (av) Casual Right and Slink Mesh Hands (av) Relaxed Left by Siddean Munro for Slink

Nail appliers: ::DS:: Ombre Sunrise Slink Nail HUD by AnneAlyce Maertens for Dulce Secrets, available at the EB Awareness Event *

Shoes: [d.l.s] :: EB Exclusive MESH ladies high heels by Tash Porthos for [dirty.little.secret], available at the EB Awareness Event *

Poses: KaTink – Chasing Butterflies by AnneMarit Jarvinen for KaTink, available at the EB Awareness Event * (includes the butterflies prop)

Background:  From KaTink – Soft Blooms Pack by AnneMarit Jarvinen for KaTink, available at the EB Awareness Event *