The Person Behind the Screen

Supposedly, all of us in SL are old, balding paunchy men. Every single one of us. (Now having met and seen photos of quite a few people from SL, I can tell you that is SO not true. In fact, some people in SL look better than their avatars. You know who you are, Callie….) Let’s indulge that fantasy, though, and show you the *supposed* man behind the screen (again, this is not me!!!!).

Our guy occupies a certain character named Speedlvr458 Seymour in SL. “Speed,” as he prefers to be calls, runs a club called “Trancepositive,” where the playlist includes trance and psytrance. He likes to dress up like a big bear furry and dance with big colorful particles while iming with his partner, Haruhi Spitfire, a darling little fox furry, who is a 25 year-old female automotive repair student from Fenny Stratford, UK (whom he constantly exhorts to “Stay in school!”). His staff loves him; they think he is the coolest thing since paperclips. They engage enthusiastically, working their patrons into a frenzy of particle- and music-induced mania every Tuesday evening, Saturday night, and Sunday afternoons during the school year for tips to spend on their furry goodness. SL is his favorite hobby and his “family” is his touchstone for the kindness and the openness of people around the world.

In real life, Speed is named Frank, and Frank is the Building Superintendant of a 8-apartment building in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He doesn’t need to dress up—he’s behind the computer or attending to his work in the building. He’s neither famous nor infamous. He’s just a guy. But in SL he’s a big furry warm bear.

Thanks to the incredible work of Lorac Farella, I can bring Frank to life. Her artistry goes beyond the simple pretty to skins with character and skins that tell stories. Lorac made this as a gift for her husband on his 1000 day in SL. (This, supposedly, is what 1000 days in SL looks on a person.) The shirt is from Rob1977 Moonites, SL’s resident friendly Irishman and male clothier extraordinaire. Pants were thrifted at Floatie Hock, where clothing for the retro set can be found. Shoes are from the amazing Eponymous Trenchmouth, who is even cooler than you imagined. Glasses were found dropped off the elevator at Svarga but appear to be made by Guu Nishi.

Today’s show has been brought to you by the letter B.

Hair: Bryce ~ Nicholas – Whitewash – Chalk by Bryce Tully for Bryce Designs

Skin and Shape:  Pulse Gift-1000 Days in SL/Male by Lorac Farella for Pulse Skins * (no longer available)

Shirt: *FIR* White Wife Beater by Rob1977 Moonites for Fir *

Pants: HB – Leonard – Golf shorts and pants by Floatie Hock for Hell Bop

Tattoo: /artilleri/ maggie tattoo (no chest) (ushirt) by Antonia Marat for /artilleri/

Glasses: HOC – Aviator Style Glasses – Unisex #003 by Guu Nishi for HOC

Shoes: Scratch – Sand by Eponymous Trenchmouth for Jeepers Creepers

Polka Dot Princess

The princess, the girl who has everything, who can wear anything, who will wear anything and wear it as she pleases… that’s what I want to be sometimes.

It’s easy to be a princess in this dress from Kimmera Madison. With its sculpty puffs and bows, it’s not something just any woman can wear. Kimmera has always managed to make her textures so real with the right highlights and shadows and a richness in the material that is not easy to replicate. Our princess is definitely not wearing off-the-rack.

I show it with a lovely skin from Lorac Farella that I spotted in her remodeled store/sim. I love the subtlety of the skin, which could serve a blonde as well as a brunette. The lips are luscious, the eye makeups subtle and sophisticated, and especially nice is the collarbone, which is not a “stain” as I see on so many skins, but a drawn beautiful feature.

“Being a princess isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.” ~ Princess Diana

Hair: MIEL SUN HAIR – brown 5 by Mika Nieuport for MIEL

Skin: Pulse Skin Trinity/M 2 by Lorac Farella for Pulse Skins *

Dress: Tres Beau “Polka Spot” Brown by Kimmera Madison for Tres Beau *

Nails: [ Love Soul ] Posing nail*Oval-Natural* by BlueStarRUI Villota for [ Love Soul ]

Jewelry: Ear Candy ~ Chocolate Diamond Necklace and Earrings by Maeve Mortlock for Ear Candy

Shoes: [Armidi Gisaci] Barcelona Slingback  – Bole w/Gold by Nicole David for Armidi

Easy

It’s only love
It’s only love
You know how it feels
Feeling is easy
I know

~ Easy by Anoushka Shankar and Karsh Kale, sung by Norah Jones

We’re deep in the middle of summer when things just need to be cool and easy—a tank top, a short skirt, wedge sandals. The tank top is from Dick Wiesel, who knows about making it easy, with this rich green color and great rendering of wrinkles and lace. The short skirt is a Japanese sim find with two tiers of skirt (and two more to switch out to change the look) from kinbo Akina.

Finally the wedge sandals with the pretty toes from JB Gazov, one of his newest offerings. I get the fat pack immediately—denial about my need for every color is fruitless. These shoes are available at the Shoe Fair, which opens today noon slt and goes til Sunday, August 22. I got a tour of the four sims, which are cuter’n heck (designed and build by Delora Starbrook all by her own self and amazingly done), and there are a wide variety of shoe makers offering some tasty pieces. It’s a budget breaker, but worth it as proceeds benefit Soles4Souls.

Finally this lovely summery skin from Lorac Farella, who has just reopened the Pulse store, remodeled and revitalized. Look at the glow on these lips, the soft vulnerable lips, the smokey and sensual eyes. And this beautiful jewelry set from Tiffy Vella, who is herself in the deep dark of winter on the other side of the earth and happily assembling pretty tiny prims while she waits for her own summer.

I’ve been shown
The other side
And now I see the way
Things are

Hair: >TRUTH< Sylvia Streaked – almond by Truth Hawks for >TRUTH< *

Skin: Pulse Skin Dance With Me-M2 by Lorac Farella for Pulse *

Top: :. WoE .: Madison Lace Cami (Mustard) by Dick Wiesel for :. WoE .: *

Skirt: oyakin*fril-miniskirt(used*flower) by kinbo Akina for oyakin

Jewelry: Eclectica Nouveau Rose-moccha set by Tiffy Vella for Eclectica *

Shoes: J’s Real Toe Wrap Front Sandals—Olive Green by JB Gazov for J’s, and available at this year’s Shoe Fair

The Woman with the Accent

Ever meet a woman of indeterminate origin? You know who I mean.. one who has an accent that you can’t quite place, a look and manner that is so eclectic you can’t say, oh, she’s from Boston or Buenos Aires or Berlin or Bangkok. All you know is she is not from your own small town.

She’s really nice, friendly, interesting when you meet her at your cousin’s boss’ wife’s cocktail party. She will tell you a story about where she got her lace top, this one being from Sissy Pessoa. “I found it in this very interesting boutique in Milan,” she’ll tell you. “And the woman there—what an artist! She sewed each button herself!” You’ll hear the perfect way she says “Milan” and inspect the top, which is indeed made of the finest black Italian lace, and conclude she has to be Italian.

She catches you checking out her skirt and leggings, and she explains she got them in Japan from this great designer, cocoro Lemon. “There is something so marvelous about feathers,” she laughs as she pushes around the food on her plate with her chopsticks, picking up the sushi appetizer with such skill, you would swear she was Japanese.

She seems to be eating but none of ever it goes in her mouth or so it seems because her bold red lipstick is never smudged. Then you will compliment her makeup and she’ll tell you all about this great American artist, Lorac Farella, who has created a most unique makeup line that combines a gothic and pale look for the average woman, so she has a darker and more elegant look. And then you think, hm, she has to be from New York.

She fluffs her flexi ostrich feathered skirt and your eyes travel down to her boots as she sets down her plate still full of food (she *looked* like she was eating but nothing went down). The boots, leather with zippers all over, are also from Japan—the same cocoru Lemon, she explains. “Ah Tokyo!” she smiles. She sets down her empty champagne glass (the second one—she DOES seem to be swallowing that down), scans the crowd looking for the next person to speak to, and gives you a sweet little smile. “Nice meeting you,” she says. “Toodle-loo!”

“As a woman I have no country. As a woman my country is the whole world.” ~ Virginia Woolf

Hair: *eha~Jean Black by Salut Erin for *eha

Skin: Mystere Skin-Tone 3 /No.12 by Lorac Farella for Pulse Skins/RFyre *

Blouse: * Baiastice_Charlotte shirt by Sissy Pessoa for Baiastice

Skirt with leggings: *COCO*_FeatherSkirt by cocoro Lemon for *COCO* *

Scarf: Sonatta Morales*8* Night Scarf by Sonatta Morales for Sonatta Morales

Earrings: p.c.; Black Pearl Drops Earrings by Cora Lu for Paper Couture

Boots: *COCO*_ZipperBootie by cocoro Lemon for *COCO* *

All the Time

Have you ever felt just free and beautiful? I heard a song today on KCRW (y’all know I almost only listen to that) that had such a free and open beat.

Wearing a breezy pretty dress from Sissy Pessoa is the perfect thing for a day like today. Sissy presents us with a spring/summer dress that is perfect for garden parties or weddings. With its almost abstract flower print on the bottom, sexily criss-crossed back and full translucent skirt, it is light and free, elegant and happy all at once.

Lorac Farella has come out with yet another skin line, this being the Isabella II, a revamp of her Isabella line. I have styled it with dark eyes because of its lovely olive tinge and bold features. The elegantly shaped eyebrows, luscious full matte lips and gentle blush make me a knock out. Lorac’s almost painterly attention to her skins make them a different proposition for wearers. This woman is not nor ever will be “cute.” She is beautiful, striking, and mysterious.

“I love her all the time, I love her all the time, I love her all time…”

Hair: PE Portia Kohl by Aemilia Case for Philotic Energy *

Skin: Pulse Skin – Isabella ll /M13 by Lorac Farella for Pulse Skins *

Dress: Baiastice_Printed Chiffon on blue by Sissy Pessoa for Baiastice *

Jewelry: Ear Candy ~ Purple Briolette Necklace and Earrings by Maeve Mortlock for Ear Candy

Shoes: B&G WOMAN SHOE MELODY – BLANCO – T000 by BG Planer for B&G

Poses by Rogan Diesel for Diesel Works Animations *

Listen to the inspiration: “All the Time” by A Race of Angels

When the Zebra Meets the Moth

If you look at enough RL catwalks online, you will see a lot of juxtaposition of styles as designers try to create an aesthetic frisson.

Applonia Criss has done this with her Spring collection, combining textures and styles to create a set of clothing that reflects tropical and natural themes, from rainforest to water to animals. It’s a great approach Applonia took, deciding to hone to a specific theme in designing her collection. I chose this from the set offered to me because I liked the contrast of the black and white zebra with the shimmering tropical print. The dress has a great system piece striped across the bodice with slit sleeves. The skirt could have been assembled with more care (I found a prim in a very odd spot and it bunches towards the front of the avatar), but I am guessing this was assembled in a manner so as to get the visual achieved on the front.

I show the dress with these amazing boots from Krystal Silverweb, suitable for men or women. I top it with a sleek haircut from Fhaya Denimore, both gamine and sexy.

Finally, I feature the new skin from Lorac Farella. Lorac is again testing her new equipment, this time coming out with a skin that is cleaner than her most recent have been. This skin is for the avatar who wants a more painterly look. There is no photosourcing—this is all hand drawn, a wearable piece of art from top to bottom. Set this artistry in motion by wearing it yourself.

Written with Thom Yorke’s Eraser playing on KCRW

The more you try to erase me
The more, the more
The more that I appear

Hair: [OH] :::: Oh my life –BL by Fhaya Denimore for Hair Oh

Skin: Pulse Skin-Annie/Makeup No. 3 by Lorac Farella for Pulse Skins *

Dress: CHANTKARE-INMOTHION  ZEBRA MOTH by Applonia Criss for Chantkare *

Boots: *LightStar-Buckled Boots-Black by Krystal Silverweb for LightStar Art Studios

Lavender for RFL

As you wander around the RFL Clothing Fair, you will see a lot of designers have featured purple or lavender as the color on their creations. Lavender is the color for the awareness ribbon for cancer, and besides it’s a great fashion color, especially in spring.

Sissy Pessoa chose this for one of her beautiful offerings for RFL. This bold purple will get you noticed but Sissy’s elegant style makes it less garish than stunningly noticeable. With her great sculpty skirt, embellished with flowers at the waist and neckline, this sweet little kicky dress will take you around the grid from one dance hall to the next.

Then you have the jewelry Abraxxa Anatine is debuting at the RFL Clothing Fair. Abraxxa is the most prolific and talented of jewelers in SL, bar none, and this set features again her amazing talents. From the irregularly shaped semi-precious stones to the beautifully textured silverwork holding them, you can’t get better than this. And the styling of this set makes it perfect for this dressier look or a more dressed down ensemble. I wear this beautiful look with Lorac Farella’s equally beautiful new skin from her Emotional series.

Finally I show cute purple pumps from NovaStar Shilova, also being offered as an RFL special. Nova has been making terrific clothing and shoes for a while. It’s great to see her spreading her wings and offering some of her wonderful stuff at the RFL Clothing Fair.

A lavender ribbon for cancer awareness:

Hair: >TRUTH< Jocelyn – fudge by Truth Hawks for >TRUTH< *

Skin: Emotional Skin-T2-No.5 by Lorac Farella for Pulse Skins *

Dress: Baiastice_Veronica dress-indigo by Sissy Pessoa for Baiastice available on the Milan Sim at the RFL Clothing Fair *

Necklace: EarthStones Zahra Necklace, Bracelet and Earrings – Abalone/Sugilite by Abraxxa Anatine for EarthStones available on the New York City Sim at the RFL Clothing Fair *

Shoes: (nova) Black Tie Affair RFL PURPLE by NovaStar Shilova for (nova) available on the Milan Sim at the RFL Clothing Fair

Gig

It’s funny how some things in SL remind you of other things. Weird neural connections.

This outfit by Kru Flan reminds me of the movie 200 Cigarettes, which takes place on New Year’s Eve in NYC in the 80s. The reason is the guitar case and the punk look—the plaid and the dark stockings, the collar, the piercings up the ear. Kru Flan really hit on a great punk look.

Kru includes some awesome accessories with this outfit: a guitar case with pose, a clove cigarette (yes, clove!) with appropriate “ashing” animation and a pack of cigarettes. You get the collar, the bracelets, the belt—all in one outfit. You also get some boots which are not so fabulous, but replace them as I have, and you have a complete punk look, quick.

I show it with spiky hair from Zero Style and skin from Lorac Farella. Plus my ever favorite boots from Fallingwater Cellardoor.

Punk:

Hair: * 0 Style * Euphoria *(Black Cherry) by Rei Gully for Zero Style

Skin: Pulse Skin-Life/Tone 5 Warm m1 Black brows by Lorac Farella for Pulse Skins *

Outfit: *Black Stones Outfit by Kru Flan for Kru’s Boutique

Boots: (Shiny Things) Old Boots – black by Fallingwater Cellardoor for Shiny Things

Queen of the Ice

So many of my friends were caught on the East Coast in a snowstorm, I am not sure I should be featuring this outfit, but it’s a wonderful outfit to give as a gift for the holidays as it’s transferable. I am again breaking blog rules, but I just felt like it.

What prompted showing this dress in particular was a question from a friend—where can I get the most extravagant, elegant dresses as Christmas presents. A short list was given to him and this ended up on it. Raven Pennyfeather’s dress is a wonder of airiness and beauty, especially this version, which includes an incredible silver bodice.

I am showing a hair piece from Eshi Otawara, no longer available but I liked it for this look. The skin was done by Lorac for a winter look. It is one of my very favorites with its frosty lips and pale skin, the subtle yellow around the eyes to offset the coolness of the rest of the skin, the pretty stars around the eyes. It’s fantastic and ideal. (This photo WAS postprocessed, which is not usually my way. I am breaking all sorts of rules today. Don’t tell Santa!)

Brrrr…

Hair: Large bun(white) by Eshi Otawara (no longer available) *

Skin: Raven/Pulse Skin – Frost by Lorac Farella for Pulse Skins *

Dress: SPECIAL EDITION – RFyre Snow Queen, Womens, Ice Silver by Raven Pennyfeather for House of RFyre *

Vintage Grace

I am breaking another rule of my many (unwritten) blogging rules. I have always been reluctant to blog Raven Pennyfeather’s work because I work for her and she’s a dear friend of mine. I felt there was some sort of conflict in doing so, but I have been convinced otherwise as long as I give the following disclaimer: Raven is one of my best friends and I love her dearly. She is the reason I am still here in SL, plugging away, pursuing fashion, dressing up every day. If I walk away from SL, she will still be with me. Our friendship is the proof that SL is more RL than many people like to acknowledge.

That being said, I am blogging this beautiful new dress from Raven because she truly has outdone herself. The system top is absolutely exquisite, with the feathered décolletage, the tweed pattern running through it, and the three-quarter length sleeves punctuated by satin cuffs. A tortured prim collar surrounds the neck like a piece of constructed fluffery with a well-chosen sculpty belt around the waist. A dramatic (but not overdone) feather hat tops the ensemble. The system skirt is tight and sexy with a brilliant pleated flexi attached, and Raven’s characteristic textured stockings complete the outfit. This truly is high fashion—unique, artistic, designed well. It shows how Raven continues to push herself artistically and technically.

I was originally (brilliantly) photographed in this outfit for the ad by SC Tracy, using styling from Raven. I have restyled it in a different vintage fashion for these photos using this amazing hair from Betty Doyle. (I remember coming into SL and wanting to pursue the vintage look—Marleen Vaughn was doing some brilliant stuff but she was the only one until Betty Doyle came along. Betty IS vintage in SL.) A skin from Lorac Farella with decadently lined eyes and a full ripe red glossy lip and beauty mark complete the look.

With elegance and grace:

Hair: Ingenue ~ Lamour ~ Cinnamon by Betty Doyle for Ingenue

Skin: Pulse Skin – Honey/Oh My!-Radiance blk  brows by Lorac Farella for Pulse Skins *

Dress: ! RP Couture Fury Womens Black by Raven Pennyfeather for RP Couture *

Shoes: Maitreya Verve Pumps – Black by Onyx LeShelle for Maitreya