True Blue

True blue, your silent cry
And I can see it and I want to touch you
Please, cause no one sleeps
True blue is breaking the waves
I used to know all the gates of love
And all the love was streaming through you

~ “Eclipse Blue” by Nosaj Thing

I put together this true blue outfit because I just loved all the elements and wanted to wear something that made me feel good. Start with this open-necked chambray blouse from Julliette Westerberg, who has a fine grasp of mesh rigging and clothing with great textures and fashion. Add my favorite jeans from Paul Lapointe that come with a texture-change HUD for the jeans and the belt. I ran over to Jewelry Fair and found that RealEvil was there with some fabulous mesh jewelry. The necklace I show has texture change for the metal and all three layers of feathers, so it’s versatile and really nicely made.

I brought out this gorgeous skin from Inka Mexicola again. Gosh it’s beautiful. I LOVE the eye makeup, especially with this whole look. (The next blog I am going to be showing Inka’s skin with the Belleza body. Think it won’t work? It does!) My gorgeous ponytail is one of Truth Hawks’ newer ‘dos. I am true to blue, true blue.

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

Skin: Essences {Linka02} *medium01* brown by Inka Mexicola for Essences, available at the Dressing Room Fusion *

Eyes: #adored – siren eyes – kelp by Constance Daehlie for #adored

Top: -tres blah- Open Collar Blouse – Chambray by Julliette Westerburg for -tres blah-

Jeans: L&B Jeans “Classic Boyfriend” by Paul Lapointe and BastChild Lotus for Lapointe and Bastchild *

Necklace: **RE** LUX Elix Necklace by Crashnoww for RealEvil Industries, available at the Jewelry Fair *

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

Nail appliers: Nailed It – Slink – Raw Nostalgia Set HUD by Giela Delpaso for Nailed It *

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

Shoes: Eudora 3D Ragnarok Clogs by Eudora3D for Eudora 3D, available at Uber *

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

Postmodern Jukebox

“My goal with Postmodern Jukebox is to get my audience to think of songs not as rigid, ephemeral objects, but like malleable globs of silly putty. Songs can be twisted, shaped, and altered without losing their identities….” ~ Scott Bradlee from the Postmodern Jukebox website

One of my favorite discoveries on YouTube recently has been Postmodern Jukebox. A gentleman named Scott Bradlee rearranges popular pop tunes in different genres. For example, a doo wop version of Miley Cyrus’ “We Can’t Stop” or a vintage 1940s version of Selena Gomez’ “Come and Get It.” He has some brilliant fellow musicians perform with him—his lead singer is great. Hearing the raunchy lyrics sung in these forms is hilarious as well.

This outfit has a tinge of the postmodern to it. Start with this sheer top from Julliette Westerburg, which she is offering at Collabor88. The brilliance of the top is that it ends just right so you can wear it with other mesh pieces. It fits wonderfully with Paul Lapointe’s new mesh skirt with color change HUD designed by his amazing wife, Bastchild Lotus. The skirt comes with a HUD for 20 different colors and then you can add on this hud for 8 more styles:

I love the thin belt, the high waist, the leather-textured panels. Paul and Bast are all about the details, which is what makes this a great piece and an excellent deal (all those colors in one skirt).

Babychampagne Sass is contributing a pair of high fashion, sexy shoes for the SL Fashion Week, which make this look complete. The fashionable red sole (evocative of a Laboutin shoe), the buckles and straps, and of course the stiletto heel give this look an edgy quality, especially when I pair it with Maxi Gossamer’s skull ring for Collabor88.

Finally I wear Aida Ewing’s new skin for Collabor88, part of a set that includes wild makeups and then a plainer look—a two-fer bargain for an already low price! Mr. Truth Hawks gives us his new hair with a HUD. A menu of color choices allows the user to choose the shade she wants while keeping her inventory clear of a bazillion prims. Thank you, Truth!

I am stuntin’ and flossin’ and
Savin’ my money and I’m hella happy that’s a bargain, bitch

~ “Thrift Shop” from Macklemore and Ryan as done by Postmodern Jukebox

Hair: TRUTH HAIR Rocky – Browns by Truth Hawks for >TRUTH< *

Skin: Glam Affair – Shanna ( Europa ) Clean ( Brown ) by Aida Ewing for Glam Affair, available at Collabor88 *

Eyes: .::Mother Goose’s::.eye2013/charcoal brwon_M by milok Hermit for .::Mother Goose’s::., available at Season’s Story

Blouse: -tb- Short Sleeve Blouse – Grey by Julliette Westerburg for Tres Blah, available at Collabor88

Skirt: L&B S’wear (XS) “Pencil Skirt” FatPack with ADD ON HUD L&B “Pencil Skirt” Animal Print by Paul Lapointe and BastChild Lotus for Lapointe and Bastchild *

Glasses: Bubblez Design- Unisex Glasses by Milo Bubble for Bubblez Design

Ring: MG – Rings – Dream Angel Skull Ring – SILVER by Maxi Gossamer for Maxi Gossamer, available at Collabor88 *

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

Hand appliers: Glam Affair – Slink Hands Skin Appliers (Europa) by Aida Ewing for Glam Affair

Nail appliers: Orc Inc. Fingernails – Glitter Split Fatpack by Nicole Twigvald for Orc Inc. *

Shoes: {{BSD Design studio}}IT girl (L)shining black in by BabyChampagne Sass for {{BSD Design studio}}, available at the SL Fashion Week *

Poses by Mavi Beck of Ma Vie *

Awareness

There are a lot of functions centered around “awareness” of this or that thing in SL lately. Personally, I’ve attended a number of these “awareness” events and am shocked at how little they do to actually make people aware other than putting it in their title (and, to be honest, I wonder if – in some cases –  it is a ploy to boost business by saying it is “for” something.) There is so much more to say than “be aware” and give it lip service. Let’s go beyond the virtual and get real about this.

This month is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It’s not about being aware that breast cancer exists—we know that. It’s about being aware about your risk, about treatments, about the need to fund research to help treat and eradicate it. (Meanwhile I will show some virtual breasts—I can’t skip the picture/review portion of this blog and perhaps it will catch people’s attention.. heh heh).

Skins, left to right, clockwise: L.Fauna {Lola . Tan 1} [Whisper] by Launa Fauna for L. Fauna; no.07 :: Demetris – Natural :: Beard 02 – Bald by Aeon Jiminy for no.07, [LeLutka]-LOLA_stan-makeup2(L Brows) by Minnu Palen for LeLutka; -Belleza- Elle Dark SK 4 by Tricky Boucher for Belleza

Here are some quick facts. (Please note I have linked all my sources—please check them. It’s important to think critically about what you read. I am not just shoving some “statistic” in a notecard without proper attribution to a credible source.)

• Breast cancer happens substantially more in women than men. But.. it does occur in men.*
• It is estimated that 207,090 women will be diagnosed with and 39,840 women will die of cancer of the breast in 2010* Death rates have been decreasing since 1991, however. These decreases are thought to be the result of treatment advances, earlier detection through screening, and increased awareness.*
• Based on rates from 2005-2007, 12.15% of women born today will be diagnosed with cancer of the breast at some time during their lifetime.*
• In 2010, there are more than 2.5 million breast cancer survivors in the U.S.*

&Bean – hounds of love LIGHT Rav  1  brow by Keiko Morigi for &Bean; []::Tuli::[] Audrey (tone 3/br) :: 07 by Tuli Asturias for Tuli; 04   Dark-Tan Skin -Tyson-/goatee+base+chesthair  *REDGRAVE* by Emilia Redgrave for Redgrave; :GP: Sundust [Dark] June-Pure 3 by Gala Phoenix for Curio

Wanna get even more real? I recently had my first mammogram. I did it on the instigation of my friend, Raven Pennyfeather, who knew that I was overdue for my first exam and whose father was recently (successfully) treated for breast cancer himself.

Since some of my readers may not have had this valuable exam, let me explain to you my experience. My breasts were each placed on a platform and pressed down by a clear PETG plastic paddle—gently and briefly. (I know so much about the paddle because in my former life I helped manufacture them.) The discomfort was temporary. Ripping off the little band-aids that were put on my nipples hurt the most. The woman who did the exam was fabulous—she has seen boobs all over on every age and size of woman and man. I felt no shame at all.

[ PXL] Daniel NAT Face00 Dark H by Hart Larsson for PXL; :: DUTCH TOUCH ::kEIra:: Olive – Dawn CL1 EBblack by Iki Ikarus for DUTCH TOUCH; *Sawode* Ada Umber Skin Makeup 1 by sanalyildiz Yalin for *Sawode*; Adam n Eve Skin – Marina t3 Delight by sachi Vixen for Adam n Eve

I had put off getting it the exam done because I feared the discomfort and the embarrassment. And deep inside, I feared finding out something negative—my grandmother had breast cancer. It was very quick and easy and my test results were normal.

Many of you out in the metaverse are doing what I did—putting off this very important and easy exam. Why? I told you it’s not bad. (Really! It’s not!) The person doing it was very experienced and very helpful. And while my insurance paid for it, there are many places that offer this exam for free in the US. Not having insurance or the means to pay for one is NOT an excuse! Click here for more information about free mammograms in the US.

Pulse Skin Dance With Me-M1 by Lorac Farella for Pulse; -tb- {Light} DU Echo’s Meadow – Dark Thick Brows by Julliette Westerburg for tres blah; [dekade.] SKINS -Brooke 2- Sunkissed/Hair/L Brows/TDR by Kira Ahn for dekade; LaVie Mark Chin Beard Hair Base Normal by KaoZ Kobe for LaVie

I know the mammogram is not the sole means of detecting breast cancer. I do frequent self exams and also visit my doctor for an annual exam (while I get my annual pelvic exam and um, yeah.. I won’t be blogging THAT). I am also aware of my risk for developing breast cancer. Being female and past a certain age (*ahem*), it’s already increased. Do YOU know everything you need to know?

There is so much more to say that I can’t cover in this blog, but at least I put out something of substance and value. Want to know more? Click through on these links:

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Susan G. Komen for the Cure

National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc.

National Cancer Institute Breast Cancer Page

Mayo Clinic

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer

Perfect Autumn Day

It was one of those perfect English autumnal days which occur more frequently in memory than in life. ~ P.D. James

I remember a perfect autumn day when I was in high school and the leaves were falling to the ground and we were doing marching band practice and Tom Garvens was ahead of me with his saxophone, marching through the leaves in the perfect golden light of an autumn afternoon and the air was dry with a hint of the menace of winter and the rhythmic crunch crunch of the marchers was mesmerizing.

Or another day when I was in grad school when I was taking the bus from one campus to another at Duke and the wind blew up and took the leaves in big swirls like some movie, blowing them as a frame around the scene of the chapel as we departed.

Did you know my blog was supposed to be an exercise in writing? Let me write about the outfit, which is something I definitely would have worn on that day at Duke. First the jacket from Rob Moonites, a definite win as it has menswear styling but it’s sized for women. I love the tweed texture, how he has done the inside with a checkerboard plaid, how he has shaped the lapels. I wore a suit like this (thrifted from Goodwill) all autumn with everything.

A scarf was frequent as well. This one is from Pixel Chrome. And I wore a t-shirt underneath until it got colder, and then it was a sweater. This one from toraji Voom is ideal. Jeans were always old and scuffed—poor grad student, dontcha know. Dick Wiesel provides these artistically grungy jeans (almost like someone had doodled on them during a particularly long lecture about postmodern theory–heh). The funky fringy boots from Kao Sands are de rigueur for the smart grad student–flat heels for walking all over campus, fringes for that bit of Bohemian flavor that is so important.

This fresh skin from Julliette Westerburg has a little autumn briskness to it in the pretty blush on the cheeks. Autumn Hykova (perfect name) provides this lovely wavy hair with a color change knit cap topping it. All I am missing is my book bag (which usually got left in my office in the basement when I was just out strolling for a breath of fresh air between classes—it was too damn heavy).

Delicious autumn!  My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns.  ~George Eliot

Hair (with hat): Tiny Bird – Have You Forgotten – Golden Auburn by Autumn Hykova for Tiny Bird

Skin: -tb- {Tan} Jejune Rose – Dark Thick Brows by Julliette Westerburg for tres blah

Jacket: *FIR & MNA* The Dorset Coat Khaki Womens by Rob1977 Moonites for *FIR & MNA* *

Sweater: **DP**yumyum:romantic sweater/green by toraji Voom for YumYum

Jeans: :. WoE .: Graecyn Capri Jeans (Bronze) p by Dick Wiesel for :. WoE .: *

Scarf: >TRUTH<  Lygon Scarf [green stripe] by Pixel Chrome for >TRUTH<

Boots: KAO : Suede Fringe Boots / camel by Kao Sands for iTuTu

Twiggy

Lauded for being an icon of the 60s, Twiggy was one of the first supermodels. Naturally thin (the wiki about her says she was 5’6” and 91 pounds), she had a beautiful face with big eyes and the gawky appearance of an adolescent.

I show my version of Twiggy in a retired dress from Cora Lu. With it’s empire waistline and ballooning skirt, it is one the few in SL that so well exemplifies this retro shape. What makes the dress even better are the exaggerated roses at the shoulder and great textured red tights.

I constructed the whole look around a skin from Julliette Westerburg, which is being featured at the Designers United 19. With its dark heavy makeup and painted on eyelashes (similar to Twiggy’s famous make up), I thought it was a perfect match. I modified my shape quite radically (of course) to create this look—making my eyes much larger, pushing them together, changing the shape of the head and the nose, and making my eyes quite a bit larger. And of course, I made the body very thin and without breasts or hips (though you can’t see it under the dress).

It’s not what you’d call a figure, is it? ~ Twiggy

Hair: Kin-Cricket-[Sand] by Kin Keiko for Kin

Skin: -tb- {Pale} Space Mod – Light Winged Brows by Julliette Westerburg for tres blah, featured at DU19

Eyelashes: Detour – Klee Dot Lashes by Keri Clip for Detour

Shape: Made by me :) (With Eshi’s help)

Dress: P.C; Red Baby Roses by Cora Lu for Paper Couture (but not available)

Shoes: *GF* Square-toe Shoes “Sophie” -grape- by Cerberus Noel for G Field

Let It Be Me

“If it’s a friend you need
Let it be me…”
~ Ray LaMontagne

I took a trip down to Tampa this weekend to visit my dear friend Raven Pennyfeather (yes, like in Real Life!) and I had the opportunity to meet the wonderful folks who have run the RFL Clothing Fair, Nevar Lobo and Amethyst Starosin (and it will have a different name this year—more coming soon). I also got to meet Cashel Rang and my dear friend SC Tracy (in the flesh)! It was hotter’n heck down there for me. I got home, and it seemed arctic in comparison. A cold front came through and gobsmacked me. I had to wear SOCKS! Then the winds cracked a huge branch off my favorite crab tree. (I have been moping all week.)

I also had to put on a sweater. This outfit reminds me of the whole ordeal. I start with a new jacket from LeeZu Baxter, the queen of texturing over sculpties and the goddess of building a terrific fashionable silhouette with them. Again, we see LeeZu’s complex but fashion-forward color ways and textures playing themselves out in this jacket. What is most impressive is the multiple prim sleeve she has made that articulates with the movement of the arm without showing gaps. The line of the sleeve moves directly into the collar in one seamless line. Excellent work!

The skin is a new one from Julliette Westerburg, part of the Designers United offerings and delicate with its gentle blush, porcelain skin and glossy neutral lips. Julliette’s style is definitely more illustrative than photo-real. You can see her strokes in the eyebrows and lips. It’s a unique look, reminiscent of colorized illustrations from the 50s. The pop of green on the eyelids is a last summer hurrah before the leaves turn red and orange.

Finally these lovely pastiche boots from LeeZu, illustrative of her texturing prowess AND building skill. I zoomed in very close on these boots and nary a flaw did I find. Every piece is in place and they fit perfectly (though the brand on the sole suggests they are “flexible size”). I suggest you get a pair just so you can gaze at their exquisite and detailed construction, from the stitching along the cuffs and along the sole to the buckles on the front and back to the pretty string tie holding them closed. You want to see art in SL? Look no further than my feet!

Written while listening to Ray LaMontagne sing “Let It Be Me,” a perfect melancholy fall song.

Hair: (fd) Lopsided Lilly – Golden Egg by Toast Bard for fashionably dead, available at the Hair Fair

Skin: -tb- {Light} DU Echo’s Meadow – Red Thick Brows by Julliette Westerburg for Tres Blah, available at Designers United 4

Jacket: [LeeZu!] Venus Jacket /darkbrown by LeeZu Baxter for LeeZu! *

Top: ::P:: Petunia Maia Tank, Bronze by Aree Lulibub for .:Petunia

Pants: [KA] – Cuffed Pantaloons (Moss) by Saeya Nyanda for Kyoot Army (modified with a darker color)

Boots: [LeeZu!] Dncorde Danse Booties /ambience by LeeZu Baxter for LeeZu! *

Rise, Gentle Moon, Rise

I had to show another set of items I picked up at the RFL Clothing Fair and the Melt exhibition, combined to make a very interesting look.

Aradhana Voight has made a beautiful gold dress to benefit RFL as well as being sponsor of the absolutely gorgeous New Delhi sim built by Grace Loudon. With its amazingly shimmering gold textures (making gold look like this in SL is no easy feat) and beautiful silhouette, this Indian-inspired gown is magnificent and sleek for any occasion. Aradhana cleverly adds a feathery optional waist skirt that can also be worn as a separate piece so you can wear the top with pants.

I show it with this amazing skin from Juliette Westerburg for the Melt exhibition. Again, having the artists combine efforts based on a common theme was a great exercise for all of those who participated. Some, like Juliette really answered the call, in this case using her great skills in texturing to create magical and fantastic skins. I like seeing her go from her “everyday girl” fashions to this more artistic and fanciful skin. It shows the girl has some chops and can think outside that same old box. The hair is a crazy cool piece I bought at Hair Fair last year made by Miranda Milestone. I had never had the opportunity to use until now. It needed an equally cool look to make it all make sense.

Goodnight, Moon:

Hair: [MC] Moon – gold by Miranda Milestone for Milestone Creations

Skin: -tb- Arctic Ice (blonde brows) by Julliette Westerburg for Tres Blah available at Melt: An Installation on Thin Ice

Dress: :Mashooka: RFL 2010: Isha gown by Aradhana Voight for Mashooka available on the New Delhi sim at the RFL Clothing Fair