Fiona

Why can’t I be more conventional
People talk
People stare
So I try
But can’t be
Cuz I can’t see
My strange little world
Just go passing me by

Today’s look is named after Fiona Apple because I was listening to Fiona Apple and this looks like a Fiona. In fact, this Fiona likes blossoms. My top is from Teresa Republic—a form fitting top with a panel of flowers running down the middle. I paired it with a skirt from Mikiya Alter with golden blossoms running along the hem.

I have two pieces of good news in this outfit. First, Queue Marlowe has been up to tricks, and my ‘do is from her newest line, which is a breath of fresh air from her with 92 color choices (talk about upload charges!). Queue has been working hard on this new line with new textures, new shapes and a new brand name for this line: Point B. She has more coming out soon… join her group to keep apprised.

My second piece of good news is Siddean Munro’s platform flip flops. Siddean has tried to address the same problem that Oct Oakleaf did with his sandals—trying to eliminate the “ankle join” for prim feet while making them easier to match. Her solution is smart and makes matching easy. The great thing about Siddean’s work is that she never sits back and says, “OK, I am done.” Continuous improvement is Siddean’s ethos, and that’s why she’s always one step ahead (gah, no pun intended).

So let people wonder
Let ’em laugh
Let ’em frown
You know I’ll love you
Till the moon’s upside down
Don’t you remember
I was always your clown
Why try to change me now

~ Fiona Apple, “Why Try to Change Me Now”

Hair: tavern passion by Queue Marlowe for .b *

Skin: #5 LaVie Asia -Tiffany- Light by Pompeja Rossini for LaVie *

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

Top: haut.monde – Mariska Blouse – Blue Cacarao 2 by Teresa Republic for haut.monde *

Skirt: ****em**** Bohemian Skirt(Turquoise) by Mikiya Alter for ****em****

Necklace: *HD* Bertille Pendant by Delora Starbrook for Haven Designs (no longer available :( )

Shoes: Slink Shaz Platforms Teal by Siddean Munro for SLink *

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 *

Mandarin Orange

When you squeeze an orange, orange juice comes out – because that’s what’s inside. When you are squeezed, what comes out is what is inside. ~ Wayne Dyer

The beautiful girl in orange that shows up at the party—who is she who dares to wear orange and wear it so well? What does it say about her? Sonatta Morales made this gorgeous dress, offered at Fashion for Life this year, to catch the eye, and it does that with its exotic print and elegant assembly. From the bow at the shoulder to the sleek primmed skirt, it’s an evening gown for a woman who is bright inside and out.

My skin is a lovely Asian look from Gala Phoenix. What works for this skin is that it can be put on a shape and look just right—I have not modifed my shape in any way yet I look perfect. I love the coloring and skin tone. My jewels are courtesy of Tiffy Vella, whose aesthetic is truly based in the early 20th century with her deco motifs and lavish use of pearls. This lovely pair of earrings comes from a new set Tiffy is offering.

“Orange is the happiest color.” ~ Frank Sinatra

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

Skin: :GP: Honey [Light] Jasmine-Pure 1 by Gala Phoenix for Curio

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

Dress: Breeze by Sonatta Morales for Sonatta Morales

Jewelry: Eclectica Deco Knot bracelet-pale silver and Eclectica Deco Knot earrings-pale silver by Tiffy Vella for Eclectica *

Shoes: ! haut.monde – Gossip Pumps – Coral Rose by Teresa Republic for haut.monde *

Mollena

Mollena before I met you
I’d always walked the line
I know you’d leave me
If I let you
The blame’s entirely mine
Cause I could fall into a whole world of trouble over you

~ “Mollena” by James Hunter

Remember that girl in school who got every boy’s attention just by being who she was—she exuded some energy, some spirit and life that turned boys’ eyes? I knew several girls like this. As years passed, their stories always turned out to be a sad for whatever reason. Despite being able to capture any boy’s attention, they always chose the worst ones—the bad boys—and it always turned for the worse. No one can sustain that kind of energy forever.

My Mollena here is in tribute to the beauty who captured the boys’ attention. All sorts of boys fell into a world of trouble over her. From her slinky tank top from Betty Doyle (a great separate that can span tons of looks—from retro to contemporary) to little black capris from Ivey Deschanel, Mollena has a look that’s rockin’. Accessories from Dick Wiesel (who has this belt out in color change) and Nyte Caligari make the look. And of course, high heels from Teresa Republic turn cute into sexy.

The real story here is the skin and hair. First, this skin from Helyanwe Vindaloo is fresh and pretty—youthful but not kewpie-doll. The eyeliners in this series are fantastic—I opted for this modified cat-eye, which looks smokin’ hot without being over made-up on this pale skin. My hair is from Kavar Cleanslate’s newest color set—Evolution. I love how he includes roots with the hair—we all have them as the hair grows out and lightens as it gets long. The style reminds me of that girl in school—she wore it short and feathered and sassy just like this. (She’s divorced with three kids now. *sigh*)

Cause I could fall into a whole world of trouble over you

Hair: ::Exile:: Caitrin:Roots-Stefani by Kavar Cleanslate for ::Exile::

Skin: .ploom. Maia_Cream – BL – Eyeliner 4 by Helyanwe Vindaloo for .ploom

Top: Ingenue :: Trixie Halter :: Halter :: Teal by Betty Doyle for Ingenue *

Capris: :::Sn@tch Le Jazz Hot Bodysuit Capris (Black)::: by Ivey Deschanel for Sn@tch *

Earrings: [mixxES]Hoop and feather earrings04(L) by marron Vita for Mixx Ethnic Style (no longer available)

Bracelets: Nyte’N’Day – Elle Bangles – Green by Nyte Caligari for Nyte’N’Day

Belt: :. WoE .: Nomi Leather Belt (Grey) by Dick Wiesel for :. WoE .: *

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

Poses by Rogan Diesel for Diesel Works Animations *