Spring Again

“It is spring again. The earth is like a child that knows poems by heart.” ~ Rainer Maria Rilke

I know every season Serene Footman changes up his sim at Prides Crossing so I went down to take a peek and I was much rewarded with springtime beauty on the sea. I wandered the grounds, nearly avoided a wild turkey, petted his dog and took a few photos of myself in this lovely dress from Giz Seorn, which she has at Shiny Shabby this month. Available in several colors, the dress combines very real mesh details (not just textures but actual cut out shapes) with a lovely springtime lightness. With a beautifully framed cut-out back, the dress is a must have. I paired it perfectly with flower-embellished sandals from HauteCoutureDesign.

JuneMonteiro brings spring time freshness to Skin Fair with her line of skins that also all come with TMP appliers. She includes four eyebrow options and a ton of luscious lipsticks and glittering eye shadows plus Slink appliers. These skins are truly hand-drawn with elegant features. Truth Hawks has issued a number of new hairs this past week including this side swept look with straight bangs upon which I placed one of Jacinda Jaxxon’s Coachella Bound gacha hair flowers.

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

Skin: .:JUMO:. Alexa Skin Cream Brown Brows with .:JUMO:. Alexa Lips Bourbon by JumoFashion for .:JUMO:., available at Skin Fair *

Eyes: {D.A} – Marble – Jeans by Soleil Reid for Dead Apples, available at The Men’s Dept.

Dress: GizzA – Cara Dress [Plum] by Giz Seorn for GizzA, available at Shiny Shabby *

Hair flowers: {le fil casse} coachella bound! flowerchild hair cluster spring by Jacinda Jaxxon for le fil casse

Hands: Slink Avatar Enhancement Hands V2.1 – Casual by Siddean Munro for Slink

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

Feet: Slink Mesh Feet (Av) Flat by Siddean Munro for Slink

Shoes: Poute- Lolitta Flat Sandals- FATPACK by HauteCoutureDesign for Poute *

Poses by Valencia Southard for Marukin

Photos taken at Prides Crossing, assembled by Serene Footman

Did We Live Too Fast?

Did we live too fast in this fantasy?
Sandcastles were the walls we made
Did we live too fast in this fantasy?
It tangles and it drifts away

~ “Did We Live Too Fast” by Got a Girl

How come I connote cutting edge, crazy fashion with Wicca Merlin? Maybe it’s her outre modeling and photography, her grasp of the possibilities of fashion rather than the realities, her desire to poke at the dark side and come out with something beautiful. I knew Wicca did poses but I just recently found out she also makes fashion, so I had to show you something she has created.

Her Abigail dress is testament to her very unique style. She cleverly covers a dress with a sculptural silhouette with a muted black on black modern brocade, allow the shape to be the boldest part of the look. Then she pairs it with a clever veiled hat with a big red flower and tendrils, like a modern flower arrangement on the head. Finally, zipped high heels (I always imagine a zipper or safety pin somewhere on Wicca) with spikes (of course) complete the look. I accented with red cuffs from Ivy Burner from the gacha at her store. (IM me to trade other colors!)

I did a combo on my face with skin and lipstick from JunoMonteiro and then eyebrows from Eleri Catlyn. I was going for blue brows to make a crazier look but I didn’t want to detract from the hat so I ended up with the dark brows, which I rather like with this skin. The bold lips Juno includes with her skins are luscious and give high fashion and energy to the look. I went with the blue option on Queue Marlowe’s color HUD to change up this look a bit and lend some more of that high fashion energy to Wicca’s outfit.

Hair: AD – val – splash by Queue Marlowe for Analog Dog *

Hat: Wicca’s Wardrobe – Abigail Hat by Wicca Merlin for Wicca’s Wardrobe *

Skin: .:JUMO:. Leona Skin Cocoa Black Brows with .:JUMO:. Mariah Deep Red Lips by JuneMonteiro for .:JUMO:. *

Eyebrows: [Buzz] Sophia Eyebrow – Black by Eleri Catlyn for Buzzeri

Eyes: [theSkinnery] Bohemian eye collection – 18 by Umazuma Metaluna for[theSkinnery],available at the Chapter Four *

Dress: Wicca’s Wardrobe – Abigail Dress by Wicca Merlin for Wicca’s Wardrobe *

Cuffs: ~Sassy!~ Polished Cuff Bracelet L (trans) – red by Ivy Burner for ~Sassy!~

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

Nail appliers: Flair – Fingernails and Toenails Applier Slink A/E – set 223 by Sasy Scarborough for Flair, available at My Slink Obsession *

Feet: Slink AvEnhance Feet High by Siddean Munro for Slink

Shoes: Wicca’s Wardrobe – Ripley Heels – District 5 by Wicca Merlin for Wicca’s Wardrobe *

Poses by Dahriel for *PosESioN*

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 *

Leaving on a Jet Plane

So kiss me and smile for me,
tell me that you’ll wait for me,
hold me like you’ll never let me go.

~ “Leaving on a Jet Plane” by John Denver

The sims at Fashion for Life are all about travel, so of course some of the designers jumped in. Nancoix Urquan chipped in to the theme with a set of poses complete with a suitcase prop that has texture change. Of course, everyone is taking photos on Troy Vogel’s sim with this set because it’s so perfect. Troy built the sim despite a personal RL move, and I love him and his bears to pieces for his generous contribution to Fashion for Life.

Sysy Chapman has always been a big supporter of Fashion for Life as well, and she is offering this great dress in several version with a portion of each sale going to Relay for Life/American Cancer Society. With her great bright textures and sexy silhouettes, she makes my travelling girl look fresh and sexy. With little espadrilles from Freya Olivieri and jewelry from JuneMonteiro and Moonsoul, I have Fashion for Life covered.

Don’t you hate the women who come off the plane looking fresh and rested, not a crumple in their clothes, not harried or tired? That would not be me. I would be the one posing on the tarmac and missing my connection regardless of how great I look. My skin from Inka Mexicola gives me that tan traveled look with a high-fashion makeup for glamorous traveling. Add this great feathered hair from Alice Demonia, which she is offering at the Thrift Shop, half off (in price, not style) with a great HUD for texture changes. I’ll catch the next flight out.

‘Cause I’m leaving on a jet plane,
don’t know when I’ll be back again.
Oh, babe, I hate to go.

Hair: *Alice Project* Kimberly [M] – Basics by Alice Demonia for Alice Project, available at The Thrift Shop *

Skin: Essences – Athena TDRF *moka* brown by Inka Mexicola for Essences, available at The Dressing Room Fusion *

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

Dress: SYSY’s Wanderette – Aqua Coral by Sysy Chapman for Sysy’s, available at Fashion for Life on FFL Trek

Jewelry: .:JUMO:. Ikenna Bangle Color Agate and .:JUMO:. Ikenna Necklace Color Agate by JuneMonteiro for .:JUMO:., available at Fashion for Life on FFL Promenade *

Bracelet: Opal*Kalan Green Bracelet [1] by Moonsoul for Opal Jewelry, available at Fashion for Life on FFL Meander *

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 216 by Sasy Scarborough for Flair, available at Fashion for Life on FFL Trek *

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

Shoes: *MC* (Slink Mid) Rosa Espadrilles #Mint by Freya Olivieri for Mon Cheri, sponsor of FFL Voyage at Fashion for Life *

Poses: {NanTra} Jet Set (includes suitcase for poses) by Nancoix Urquan for {NanTra} Poses, available at Fashion for Life on FFL Voyage *

Hometown

When you finally go back to your old hometown, you find it wasn’t the old home you missed but your childhood. ~ Sam Ewing

Fashion for Life opens tomorrow and of course, it’s a scramble to get things done in the background. I have been so pleasantly surprised and entranced by the sims that I have not been of much help. Walking around going “ooh” and “aah” is not productive. Bianca Bender built this sim for Fashion for Life and it’s absolutely amazing with the Western vistas and the great retro feel of the cars and the buildings. It’s a perfect vision of a hometown in the Western US with a main street and cars parked in lots and along the streets.

Ariadna Garrigus is offering this lovely dress at Fashion for Life with a portion of the proceeds going to RFL. With pretty flowers on the skirt and around the waist, she has created a girlish dress that has a touch of sexy with its sleeveless cut and feminine silhouette. Shoes from Lonlysoule, which she is offering at the Thrift Shop (opening June 8), make the look a little more sophisticated—like a city girl come home to visit.

JuneMonteiro is generously offering proceeds from this gorgeous skin to RFL at Fashion for Life. With several lipstick and makeup options and appliers, this skin is beautifully rendered and creates a sexy sophisticated look. My tousled hair is Mina Nakamura’s exclusive for Fashion for Life, a wondrous flow of sexy locks, this shown with materials (which is why you see some lightening in the strands).

“Everybody that went away suffered a broken heart. ‘I’m coming back some day,’ they all wrote. But never did. The old life was too small to fit anymore.” ~ Annie Proulx, The Shipping News

Hair: MINA Hair – Femke (marerials) by Mina Nakamura for MINA, available at Fashion for Life, which opens TOMORROW

Skin: .:JUMO:. Leona Skin Honey Brown Brows with .:JUMO:. Leona Lips Guarana by JuneMonteiro for .:JUMO:., available at Fashion for Life, which opens TOMORROW

Eyes: [Buzz] Ardent Eyes – Angel by Eleri Catlyn for Buzzeri, available at Kustom 9 *

Dress: ***ArisAris AA42 Other Epochs Black dress by Ariadna Garrigus for ArisAris, available at Fashion for Life, which opens TOMORROW *

Hands: Slink Mesh Hands (av) Elegant S Left and Slink Mesh Hands (av) Elegant1Right by Siddean Munro for Slink

Nail appliers: Nailed It – French Manicure – Pastels Set by Giela Delpaso for Nailed It *

Feet: Slink AvEnhance Feet High by Siddean Munro for Slink

Shoes: .ARISE. Rumba Heels / Black (silver) by lonlysoule for .ARISE., available at the Thrift Shop, which opens June 8

Poses by Olaenka Chesnokov for oOo *

Art

What art offers is space — a certain breathing room for the spirit. ~John Updike

The Fashionart event is still going on and in honor of the “art” of the event, I found myself at an SL exhibit (thanks to Stephen) taking photos of this amazing mesh dress from LyricalBizarre. She has created a dress that wraps around the body like a long ribbon, running right down the arm with a mermaid tail flair at the bottom. It’s a unique and dramatic dress, perfect for an art theme, and she has made a ridiculously intricate alpha to fit under the dress so peekaboo skin shows between the straps.

JuneMonteiro’s skin for Fashionart is featured again because of its elegance and dramatic beauty. A gorgeous updo from Carina Larsen tops the look with its stylish upsweep and soft rolls of hair. Big bold earrings from AvaGardner Kungler complete the look.

Make sure you “The Absence of Color’ exhibit, which shows fractal art in black and white with a great simple but effective build.

An artist is someone who produces things that people don’t need to have but that he — for some reason — thinks it would be a good idea to give them. ~Andy Warhol

Hair: Amacci Hair Maria ~ Brown Auburn by Carina Larsen for Amacci *

Skin: .:JUMO:. Mariah Skin Cocoa Red Brows with .:JUMO:. Mariah Eyeliners 010 and .:JUMO:. Mariah Deep Red Lips by JuneMonteiro for .:JUMO:., available at Fashionart *

Eyes: [Brixley] Spring Eyes – evergreen by Isabelle Requiem for Brixley, available at Stuff in Stock *

Dress: !Lyrical B!zarre Templates! – Impressions by LyricalBizarre for Lyrical B!zarre Templates, available at Fashionart *

Earrings: (Kunglers Extra) Esplendor earring – Gold rose by AvaGardner Kungler forKunglers Extra, available at L’Accessoires *

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

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

Poses by Di Hoorenbeek for Di’s Opera

Photographed at The Absence of Color: An Exhibition by Ranadeep and Milly Sharple at Fractal Insanity Art Gallery – The Art of Milly Sharple

Libertango

“Music is the most direct art, entering through the ear and going to the heart.” ~ Astor Piazzolla

When I saw this gown from Carrie Snowpaw that she is featuring at Fashionart, I was immediately reminded of Astor Piazzolla’s “Libertango,” a famous piece of tango nuevo. I went searching online, of course, and found it being danced in a gown similar to this while being performed by the Russian Philharmonic, which I could only consider was kismet. (Click through because it is seriously gorgeous dancing and beautifully arranged and performed. And here is another dance performance even more gorgeous.) Why did I think of this music? The gown is elegant and dramatic all at once, ruffled and sleek at the same time, feminine and bold. With gorgeous jewelry from Zuri Rayna that includes texture change in the different gems and stones, it’s an elegant, dramatic piece perfect for this ensemble.

I can’t help but think that the drama also comes from this gorgeous skin that JuneMonteiro is featuring at Fashionart. June is, in real life, a textile designer, so her sense of fashion and art extends from RL into SL. Her skin is elegant with the heated zest of a Brazilian beauty. She offers the Slink appliers free at Fashionart for her skin, and she also sells a set of liners and lipsticks. My high up-do is one of Shylah Honey’s gorgeous pieces for Fashionart, an abundance of soft hair and wisps and drama, perfect for a passionate tango.

“Music is more than a woman, because women can divorce you, but not music. Once you get married, [it] is your eternal love for life and [you] go to the grave with her ​​on top.” ~ Astor Piazzolla

Hair: *~*Damselfly*~*Drewleigh Big Pack Non-Rig Mesh by Shylah Honey for :::Damselfly Hair::, available at Fashionart *

Skin: .:JUMO:. Mariah Skin Cream Black Brows with .:JUMO:. Mariah Eyeliners 010 and .:JUMO:. Mariah Guarana Lips by JuneMonteiro for .:JUMO:., available at Fashionart *

Eyes: [Brixley] Spring Eyes – evergreen by Isabelle Requiem for Brixley, available at Stuff in Stock *

Dress: Snowpaws – Viale Gown – Watercolor by Carrie Snowpaw for Snowpaw, available at Fashionart *

Necklace and earrings: Zuri’s Chantelle’s Heart Necklace~ Elite-Metals/Pearls/Gemchang with Zuri’s Chantelle’s Heart Earring Elite by Zuri Rayna for Zuri Jewelry *

Bracelet: (Kunglers) TDRF #039 – R Bracelet – Golden by AvaGardner Kungler for Kunglers Extra, available at the Dressing Room Fusion *

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

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

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

Shoes: Essenz – Rhodes (Fatpack) by Senzati0n Domenitzo for Essenz, available at Fashionart *

Poses by Tutys for Tutys