Catching Up

I'm so far behind on posts and there is so much to show! There are some sales that cannot be missed, like the Winter Sale at Coco that ends December 15.  Everything is half off and so I went big spender! The Men's Department, where everything there is original work, is in full swing. And Wasabi Pills has recently done 3 completely awesome hairs which I must show off.  Kira from Arcade is probably one of my all time favs from Wasabi creator, MissAllSunday Lemon. I'm a little obsessed with the widow's peak. Lastly, HANDverk creator Daphne Klossovsky has up and rebranded her work to ieQED and is working under her favorite avatar, SigiFaust.  Her HANDverk items are now being added to The Marketplace, but be sure to keep following her creations on ieQED!

Credits:
Hair: Wasabi Pills: Kira - Golden: gacha available at The Arcade
Skin: Glam Affair: Vera - last week's FLF item (LOVE)
Eyes: IKON: Destiny Eyes - Clarity
Necklace: HANDverk: Strand Necklace - manic maize
Sweater: NERD.P: Sweater 006 - 01 (mens size S for a cute boyfriend look): available at The Men's Dept.
Purse: Indy&Co: The Ireben Carry-all
Pants: Coco: Tapered Pants - black: HURRY for 50% off!
Shoes: Coco: Ankle Boots - black: HURRY again!

Birding

A few more of my favorite designers from Geeks'n'Nerds as well as Shoetopia.  Shoetopia ends in a few days and right now it really is shoe heaven.  The crowds are gone and you can shop in comfort.  It really is a wonderful showcase and the build is fantastic.  Slink is introducing their new Av Enhance High Feet and has included some new shoe releases as well.  This is a great foot for uber sexy shoes and I cannot wait to see what she will release next.  Two designers that have reappeared on the scene recently are Sienia Trevellion from Lark and Fae Eriksen from Fishy Strawberry.  I have been a follower of each for years and basically rush to get my hands on any new releases from each.  Super talented women who do not cut corners.

Credits:
From Geeks'n'Nerds: 
Outfit: Fishy Strawberry: 3 wonderful separates - Bookworm Mesh Cardigan, Ivy League Tops and Freshman Skirts. Each comes in a wide choice of colors and tartans so you can mix and match.  Fatpacks are discounted which makes having to make hard decisions less painful
Glasses: ISON: Pegley Glasses - Tortoise
Furniture Set: Lark: Bird Nerd - quite a unique set of nerdworld are these folks!  My husband was a huge big bird fan.  You can purchase this set as a full set or if you prefer in 7 individual pieces.  Shadows have not been baked into the desk so it presents naturally.
Blocks: floorplan: Winter is Coming: fun accessory!
Handheld Game Console: c( TC ) : Yes, my favorite Pokemon are the Flying type. This little system comes in many colors and can be held or rezzed. It has a menu for a game as well as an animation that plays when you wear it
Pose: Elephante Poses: from the Dream Pack - includes wand and sparkly dust
From Shoetopia:
Slink: AvEnhance Feet Female High: Rigged Mesh in Standard Sizes. Easy to use and fully functional HUD for self tinting or skin and stocking appliers.
Boots: Slink Demi Boots - Chocolate: These are add-ons exclusively for the Slink HIGH feet.  Includes HUD to show or hide toecap.
Other:
Horsie: HANDverk: Carousel Horse: Ceramic Unicorn (rare) stretched and sized huge for a sneak preview for The Arcade December 2013!
This will be the last new release under the HANDverk brand, which has become ieQED.
Hair: LeLutka: Helen - Praline

Collabor88: Bye Bye Lindens

Like every other budget-wise fashionista in Second Life, I adore Collabor88.  Lately, the collections have been simply outstanding and it becomes a true effort on my part to decide what to purchase and what I must live without.  It's not that I don't have clothes; my 100+ K inventory is a testament to that.  It's just that everything is so stinking well made and thus I would be a fool to wait and purchase it later at a higher price, and so my logic goes.  I must look good while hiding out on my platform!

R2 gets the win for the totally impractical but oh, so sexy kagaya bodysuit.  Mesh is nearly impossible to layer unless you have pieces from a set, but it reminded me of the skimpy clothing worn by the woman in the iconic Annie Lebovitz portrait of James Gandolfini as Tony Soprano, that woman with the legs that went on forever, thus I had to have it.  I should have bought the nude but I love black.  Gos introduced his new Isabella sandals at Collab and of course I had to get the 3 pack.  I love his shoes but they do take a bite out of the wallet and it's like 3 pairs for the price of 3.

I was and am a HUGE Sopranos fan and this photo is etched in my brain.

Clawtooth made me drool with his new Windswept hair, also new at Collabor88. I've been following Bubbles since he started and this style reminds me of one of his first, Lola's Big Date.  It was very glamorous and this one is even more so, with a few air-brushed layers that gives it a nice sense of depth. He also makes some of the best reds on the grid and I pretty much favor them over my usual blonde.  Glam Affair is selling even more skins that I cannot live without, especially as I am a sucker for a smokey eye.  Lastly, not at Collab but special right now are HANDverk's Lion's Tail necklaces that are at a steep discount at We <3 Roleplay.  Sales are your friend!

Credits:
At Collabor88:
Bodysuit: R2: kagaya - black
Shoes: GOS: Isabella sandals
Skin: Glam Affair: Neva - Arctic 02b
Hair: Clawtooth: Windswept - Strawberry Cream

At Other places of awesomeness:
Necklace: HANDverk: Lion's Tail Necklace - bright: discounted at We <3 RP event (50% off)
Cupid Motel: 7 Emporium: was at a recent FaMESHED and being a sucker for roadside Americana I bought at first sight with my awesome Linden shooting trigger finger. Now at the mainstore.
Hands: Slink: Mesh Hands - Elegant

Girl Friday

One of my all time favorite looks is the ingenue look from around the 1950s.  That was before my time but I used to love those old romance movies where the new to the big city girl is "seduced" by some more sophisticated man.  Now I sneer at the sexism of those films but I recall daydreaming about moving to a large city and living at the Barbizon Hotel. It's still one of my favorite looks to put together in SL though mesh layers aren't always cooperative with that (thank god for those times when a larger size coat works!).  Tomorrow I might be wearing a phatazz, but today you can call me Miss Priss.

Credits:
Coat: ISON: Oversized Wool Coat: currently at Collabor88
Dress: Baby Monkey: Pilar: HUD driven color change: New group gift
Shoes: GOS: Peeptoe Pumps - Black Satin
Purse: The Secret Store: Girly Briefcase - Cherry (not mesh but still ridiculously cute)
Necklace: HANDverk: Mucha Necklace - Silver
Hair: LeLutka: Dulcina - Praline
Skin: Glam Affair: Katya - Europa 03
Lips: Pink Fuel: Elly Glam Lipstick - Vamp

DU! No, U!

This is how I feel when there is a Designer's United event!  Honestly, I adore this event and I have waited YEARS for it to return.  A fashionista's dream it is...highly skilled designers creating exclusive one-of-a-kind items that I treasure forever in my own special overflowing SL museum called Inventory.  This is why I can't leave SL.  Think what could happen!  The theme of the event this time is Surrealism so don't be looking for basic tube dresses here...they will not be found. Many Lindens were spread among many designers today and they deserve it because the one sad thing about exclusive is that; they can't ever sell the items again.  Today I am wearing So Many Styles Son of Man Coat, which I adore for it's tweedy vintage coat ala housedress style. Was so hard to limit myself to one!  The freakishly amazing and yet really cool shoes are from HANDverk, who really didn't need to have a theme to make weird things because that is what Daphne Klossvsky is..strange and how I love her for it. Oh also, the shoes can be purchased as a Slink med feet add-on or regular Linden feetage types.  I am wearing the regular shoes because Appy needs to come back and make all her socks for mesh feets.

Also, joy upon joy, Glam Affair released a new group gift today.  I wear GA skins almost exclusively and well the new Angelica with bright happy eyes was like so perfect for this outfit it defies belief.  I know!

Credits:
Skin: Glam Affair: Angelica - Europa Group Gift: 30 L join fee a bargain, too!
Hair: Truth: Hailey
Lashes: dfo!: faux Twiggy lashes
Jacket: So Many Styles: Son of Man Coat - Pink: exclusively at Designers United
Skirt: Maitreya: Mini Skirt - Vivid Leather Minsk
Purse: Boom: Studio Bag - Black - available at Collabor88
Socks: Pig: Knee Socks mit Suspenders - Coral
Shoes: HANDverk: Magritte Pumps - teal and lime: exclusively at Designers United
Pose: dfo!: Escape: exclusively at Designers United - a totally awesome pose set!

Yer not much if you aren't Dutch

Honestly, I don't agree with the statement but I live in a city that is heavily populated by Dutch and it's something we jokingly say here.

Credits:
Hair: Wasabi Pills: Akiko - Golden: new release at The Season's Story
Skin: Glam Affair: Candy04: new release at The Arcade
Cape: Milk Motion: Wool Cape - Navy: new release at Collabor88
Pants: Schadenfreude: Tweed Fanceh Pants: new release at Collabor88
Shirt: Pig: Plain Olivia - Olive
Socks: Pig: Socks mit Suspenders - Mint
Clogs: Handverk: Klompen: new release at The Arcade (gacha)
Bike: What Next

The Elephant in the Room

We've all experienced it. Now you can have your very own Elephant for your room.  Daphne Klossovky from HANDverk created these adorable elephants for The Liaison Collaborative in Summer and she is releasing them in a bunch of new colors so there is no excuse to ignore them anymore.  HANDverk VIP group members can pick up an elephant in red, blue and jade for 50% off on Thursday, September 12.  They come in 2 sizes but they are modifiable so if you want to size one say...elephant sized...and stick it in our living room, you can.  The white one on the left is a new subscriber gift and is a must-have at any yard sale.

Credits:
Tables: .Shi: High Stools
Elephants: HANDverk: White - Subscriber gift
                                    Red, Blue, Jade - 50% off Flash sale for group members 9/12/13 only
Hair: Wasabi Pills: Akiko - Gingerbread: new release available @ The Season's Story
Skin: Glam Affair: Candy 04 - available at The Arcade
Dress: Tee*fy: Aurora Nightdress - Passion - available @ The Arcade
Stockings: Izzie's: Cat Tights (Slink Appliers included!)
Shoes: HANDverk: Clogs - Dorothy Rare - available @ The Arcade

It's Been One of Those Days

Actually, it's been one hell of a few years.  I am a single mom (widow) and have a fifteen-year-old son who is not navigating the teen years well. Things have recently gotten worse and have required a great deal of my attention.  I'm on SL less and less lately and when I do come on, it's usually to blog.  I love blogging and have been doing it for many years on Free*Style and this blog.  I do so because I love SL fashion; it's been an obsession of mine since I figured out how to leave Orientation Island and I have the inventory and transaction details to prove it.  However, right now my mind is elsewhere and I've decided to take a blogging "break".  A wise person once said to me "don't make any major decisions when you are under a lot of stress", so, I'm not sure what that will mean for me and blogging.  I've always disliked the title of my blog and kept meaning to switch and will probably do so when I'm ready to come back to steady blogging.  I will continue to post on Free*Style as well as run and manage the group with Sileny Noel.  I have a store to organize and open for Free*Style and I am months behind in doing so.  Therefore, I will still be around the things in SL that I love; just not at the pace I have done for the last year.  My mind and my heart are needed at home more than ever.  I thank all the designers that have entrusted me to show their work.  It has been a true honor and I do so hope you will have me back when I can give you all the attention you deserve.  Some of my favorite people made the items that I am using in this post.  They are talented, good folks.  Eden Knoller

Credits:
Hair: Wasabi Pills: Izumi Mesh Hair for October FaMeshed
Shirt: Boom: Twenty-Three Tee - Fetish: new release - available in about a zillion colors and discounted in colour packs.
Shorts and Stockings: Erratic
Shoes: [HANDverk]: Western Ankle Boots - Ostrich/Pink for October FaMESHed
Skin: PXL: Faith NAT Pinkish: group gift
Electric Chair: FD Decor: partial mesh, animated and adjustable

Code Red

I've hardly had time to be online lately, but I snuck in the last few days to chat up some friends and go blow a few billion Lindens at The Arcade and then I started going to the yard sales for them and well.. I got a little obsessed.  But on to the stuff here.   Code Bastard Redgrave (or Codie, as she is also known) has owned and operated the Rouge sim for years and is now feeling the pinch of declining funds.  She is not asking anyone to save her but there will be a 90 hour party at the Rouge Lounge from Friday through Sunday, with nonstop DJ'ed music and dancing. Several designers are offering exclusive designs and I hopped over there early today to check out some of the exclusive reds that Kallisti Burns from Discord Designs made for the event, some in styles that have never been released before.

My favorite was Sydd; which is perfect as I wanted to butch up this cute mesh herringbone suit from Dew.  The suit has a slim cut and the pants have a clean higher waist and trim ankle length pants.  It's a versatile suit that can be dressed up or down.  I kept it a clean look with simple bolo from [Handverk] and added bright lips to one of the yummy Glam Affair skins that can be scored at The Arcade.

More details about the rouge sim, the party (tp here) etc can be found on Codie's flickr page.  Most of us SL oldtimers know it well and I'm happy regardless of the outcome to see it celebrated.

Details:
Hair: Discord Designs: Sydd in Rouge Gentille - exclusively @ Rouge Lounge
Suit: Dew: Herringbone Suit
Shirt: Pig: Olivia
Skin: Glam Affair: Rosa 07 - exclusively at The Arcade
Bolo: [HANDverk]: Rio Grande Bolo Tie
Chair: [HANDverk]: Eames Lounge - @ FaMESHeD for a few more days!

Beware of Thorns

[HANDverk] has released the most spectacular, sexy mesh Rose jewelry and shoes for their guest appearance at September's Collabor88 event.  Daphne Klossovsky, who makes the wearable items for the brand, made her first pair of shoes, the Claw - Leo shoes for August's Zodiac event and since then has been creating several pairs of amazing shoes for various events around the grid.  Her items are far from average.  I've been around the grid for quite a while and while I love to score a deal, I have more than enough "stuff" and look for designs that are unique and particularly handmade. The items that [HANDverk] cranks out never ceases to thrill me.  The fact that the items are not outrageous in their pricing leaves me completely dumbfounded.

The items pay close attention to all parts of the rose, with the flower almost being an afterthought of the thorny stem, which is used so artfully in these designs.  I love the idea of walking on a dangerous, thorny branch...something that we can only do in fantasy, so why the hell not?  The earrings use the stem to thread though your earlobe so you are literally wearing the flower as art.  The necklace weaves the rose through a slender chain.  There are five color options to chose from and all are perfect for fall.

I got really behind in my blogging commitments during the last round of major event coverage and I wanted to make sure to mention Wasabi Pills Skye hair, which previewed at August's Zombie Popcorn event and is now at the main store.  I chose it because it reminded me of the [HANDverk] rose items with it's peaked top and mixture of tough and sexy.  I've become fascinated in the look of "weird" models lately.  Though I really am despising the current format on this seasons America's Next Top Model and can barely manage to sit through the show, they have talked about weird as a look for several seasons.  I've been tweaking Eden on this shape since I made it when I was lost on Orientation Island all those years ago and while she has maintained some characteristics that I love, like her flamingo legs and refined nose, I've been working on making her not as "pretty", which probably explains why men never talk to me and also why I so dearly love unique goods to enhance her.

If these designs intrigue you, I highly recommend that you check out [HANDverk] at the following events: Zodiac, FaMeshed, Collabor88 and L'accessoires as well as the Main location for beautiful, intelligent mesh design.

Credits:
Shoes and Jewerly: [HANDverk] Rose: currently at September Collabor88
Lingerie: Fishy Strawberry: Desiderio - Purple
Hair: Wasabi Pills: Skye - Wild Honey
Skin: Curio: Vintage - Ritz2 - Sundust: currently closed
Poses: HelaMiyo and Glitterati

So Go the Days

I'm quite subdued but happy to be home and getting ready for another school year for my son.  I have been dealing with aging relatives and a tragedy that is causing great pain to my family and another's.  I don't want to go into detail but one of my family members has killed someone else, in self-defense, which has left us all reeling.  If that does not put some perspective on all the dramas in SL, I do not know what  will.  With RL, unfortunately I did not get to complete my blogging demands for August...so many amazing events, so I apologize now if I promised to blog something and it didn't happen.  The events in my life were unplanned and demanded my attention, both physically and emotionally.

September's presence always has a huge effect on me.  While it is still hotter than Hades during the day, I begin to notice the cooler evenings that accompany the shortening days and I even want to start dressing Eden in more substantial clothing.

Boom recently released the most marvelous mesh pants.  The Miami Linen pants have a nice masculine flair and are available in standard sizes and could also fit a smaller male just dandy.  I am generally size XS if that provides you with some perspective.  They have wide legs and large cuffs and a perfect little slouch at the waist that keeps them modern.  Aranel Ah, the creative force of Boom, never leaves you with few choices and these pants are no different. They are available in over 35 colors as well as several color packs for added value.  Trousers are a must have for fall and the linen textile makes it perfect for the transition.  I topped the trousers with the adorable Portia Cape from The Sea Hole that was only $L50 Moving Sale The sale runs thru the 7th of September and you can find one color of each item, including the newest releases at a super low price.  Those items are clearly marked by a key.

Before life unraveled in mid/late August I was intending to show more of the amazing jewelry from Vintage Fair.  I love [HANDverk]...did I mention I love them?... and the Mucha earrings in rose gold worked perfectly with my look.  They will soon be out at the main store.  The skin I'm wearing really drove me to put together this look.  It is one of Glam Affair's latest skin for  August Collabor88, which is wrapping up very soon.  It is exquisite with it's fairness and its pinky/orange tones and just the smallest bit of smoke.  I like it best with no lashes.

Credits:
Pants: Boom: Miami Linens - Army (new release)
Cape: The Sea Hole: Portia Cape - Westward (on sale)
Tank: Jane: Intrinsic Tank - celery (free!)
Earrings: [HANDverk]: Mucha Earrings - rose gold (from Vintage Fair and soon in store)
Skin: Glam Affair: BaroQ 03 (exclusively at Collabor88)
Hair: Analog Dog/b.: Issues: Chili
Poses: Miseria: August Pose Set

Handverk: Love You Long Time

The creators over at [HANDverk] just keep cranking out the most amazing things.  Daphne Klossovsky, who primarily makes the things over thar that you wear on your bod has come out with another amazing pair of shoes of this month's Zodiac event.  I had loved her Leo shoes for the event last month and has delighted me this month with the "virginal" Rump Pumps.  They are fully mesh and completely hand made, as are all of their products.  You get two pairs with your purchase, both non-rigged and one is resize scripted.  If you are interested in more [HANDverk] exclusives, make sure you check out August's FaMESHed event for the Tassel Jewelry Set, which you can purchase separately or as a set with earrings and necklace.  They come in silver and gold versions and several different vivid colors to chose from.  Vintage Fair has gone on for most of the month and there are still several more days to go.  My fun 2 piece is from Faster Pussycat.  The top is sculpted for that structured retro look.  Wasabi Pills Gloria Mesh hair is lovely and works for all kinds of looks.  Make sure to check out the skins at GOLA.  They are so much fun and are reminiscent of memorable books from the "antique" era.

Just a few FYI's.  [HANDverk] has relocated so update your landmarks.  The items here are not at the store yet but you can find their entire legacy collection, which is all just stunning.  Vintage Fair runs thru the 29th and the landing points have been removed so you can hop directly to any of the stores, all of which are conveniently located on the Chic Management website.

Credits
Shoes: [HANDverk]: Rump Pumps - white for Zodiac (Virgo)
Earrings: [HANDverk]: Tassel Earrings - gold/electric blue for FaMeshed
Swimsuit: Faster Pussycat: Hollywood Bikini - red @ Vintage Fair
Hair: Wasabi Pills: Gloria @ Vintage Fair
Skin: GOLA: Hatter skin @ Vintage Fair 

Vintage Fair: The L'Ook

I've got lots more head-to-toe Vintage Fair looks to show off.  There are so many awesome items I'm having a dreadful time narrowing down my looks, but I have to remember it's one photo at a time.  Hand me the world's smallest tissue and let's get on with this.  I will talk more about the look above but I want to show you the most wonderful prop you can pick up exclusively at Vintage Fair.  It is called the L'Ookbook Boutique Prop and it is set as a small shopfront with bay windows.  The poses are especially made for the prop and include poses both in the doorway of the shop and in the store window.

I took a quick shot of the prop to give you an idea of how it's laid out. I added the platform/black wall, lamps and furniture just to goof off but you can see that it's pretty spiffy and a worthwhile investment if you blog or enjoy taking fashion photos.

Getting back to clothes and such...I am a huge fan of Ingenue!  I remember at last year's Vintage Fair mesh was still in it's very early stages and few designers had invested a lot into adding it to their lines.  But Betty Doyle, an amazing designer and I'm guessing a perfectionist, dived right into it and had full sets of personally created mesh outfits.  I think pretty much all of Ingenue's work now includes some elements of mesh and in my opinion is of the top 10 masters of the craft.  As always, her textures are exquisite, the clothes fit exactly as they should and have such range.  The Lauren skirt I'm wearing is a perfect example of that.  It has that a vintage fair but is infinitely flexible, so you can dress straight period or incorporate it into more modern ensembles. I've never regretted any purchase I've made from Ingenue and my collection is vast.  LeeZu is another brand that has made some amazing mesh outfits but I find the prim sculpts to be brilliant with the jacket, Yriin, to be a stunning example of that.  It's elegant and edgy yet easily wearable, which are adjectives I associate with the LeeZu brand.  I love avante garde but frankly, when I want to look put together and go shopping, that is not the look I tend to grab.  Slink is offering these fabulous kitten-esque heels at Vintage Fair.  These are not just shoes!  These are mesh shoes with separate mesh feet!  The feet are sized in standard size equivalents so that they are proportional to other parts of the shape that meet these standards.  They include a hud for both the nails on the bare feet as well as another hud for skin tinting and nail polishes.  If you go back up to the first photo you can better see the lovely hair from Vanity Hair, The Hamptons, which includes a color change hair band.  I love this style for it's casual refinement and Tabata Jewell's wonderful hair textures.  Lastly, and I hope to show more of this amazing collection is Eclectica's Nouveau Leaves set.  This gorgeous set includes the items I am wearing plus a tiara, brooch, and hair pins, all of which are controlled by a hud for stone and metal color as well as size and shine.  I so admire Tiffy Vella's work and her shop at the fair is just glorious.

Ingenue has also released the darling Greta dress for Vintage Fair.  It is mesh and comes in standard sizes.  There are some adorable dotted versions as well as a variety of prints. I love the texture of the songbird version as it is soooo retro and fun.  The shoes are the fabulous Cleaver heels from :{MV}:, which is a store that is new to me.  Lots of yummy shoes there (Cherelle)!

Tuty's, another store that is new to me, has some fantastic Vintage hair.  I probably should have worn a lighter hair color against the dark wall but trust me, it is definitely worth a demo.  The style I'm wearing, Romantic, is a lovely representation of 40's hair and I love how full use of the hair base is used to enhance the style.  The jewelry I'm wearing from [HANDverk], which I'm not shy about my declaration of love for, has both amazing mission style furniture and jewelry sets, created by partners and design team of Daphne Klossovsky and Tobias Convair.  The Mucha Necklace does not show up well in this flat picture and it's so gorgeous I will show it again but its delicate and distinct like the work of it's namesake, Czeck painter and decorative artist, Alphonse Mucha. The skin I'm wearing in all the photos is from Aeva, and is called Jaci~2 and I've worn it for a few posts lately because I love it so much.  Aeva is the new brand by Heartsick creator, Amesha Jewell, and I love the clear face with bright lipstick and perfectly tilted cat-eyes 

Vintage Fair runs thru August 29th.  It's really worth a good walkthrough or five because there is so much to see.  The slurls for everything I'm wearing ala Vintage Fair can be found at the Chic Management site.  Non-VF items will note slurl to the main store.

Credits:
Prop: BENT.: L'Oolbook Boutique @ Vintage Fair
Skin: Aeva: Jaci~2 @ Vintage Fair
Photos 1&3:  Hair: Vanity Hair: The Hamptons @ Vintage Fair
Skirt: Ingenue: Lauren - Army
Jacket: LeeZu: Yriin @ Vintage Fair
Shoes: Slink: Vintage 2 Strap Pumps @ Vintage Fair
Jewelry: Eclectica: Nouveau Leaves @ Vintage Fair
Shirt: Whippet & Buck: Cole Boatneck
Photos 4&5: Hair: Tuty's: Romantic @ Vintage Fair
Dress: Ingenue: Greta - Songbird @ Vintage Fair
Shoes: :{MG}: Cleaver Heels @ Vintage Fair
Jewelry: [HANDverk]: Mucha Earrings and Necklace in gold @ Vintage Fair
Streetlamp: Trompe Loeil: French Streetlamp
Bench and Planter: Trompe Loeil: Garden Bench and Planter: available in lots of colors
Sconce Lamp: Barnesworth Anubis: Victorian Outdoor Sconce

Vintage Fair: Faster, Pussycat

I have a teenage son; a pimply, awkward, lately frustrating child that is really pushing the limits of my patience lately.  To say he is distracting is to be gentle and by late evening, when I'm usually on SL and blogging I have been a complete zombie.  Vintage Fair has become my favorite event of the year and provides me with a very pleasant distraction from teenage angst.  Styling ala retro is a treat.  I've always been fascinated by Varga girls and high fashion models like Suzy Parker and her sister, Dorian Leigh as well as Dovima for their haughty glamour.

I am head-to-toe Vintage Fair for these photos and the fair is 3 sims of awesome.  Faster Pussycat always puts a very sexy spin on their clothing and their offerings for the fair do not fail in that regard.  Honey Bender, head designer for the brand, loves burlesque and the lingerie I am wearing reflects that. The top is sculpted (and modifiable) and the highwaisted panties are adorned with sweet little bows.  I'm not one to be accessory heavy and the shiny Bettie pumps from :{MV}: and Addiction's delicate Beloved set were all I needed to complete the look.  The Sol ring is one of many gorgeous jewelry offerings from [HANDverk] and I will be showing more in another post.

It amazes me how a skin can completely change your look.  Anges Finney's Muse skin for the fair is so glamorous, with rich bee-sting lips, strong brows and extreme cat-eye liner that is perfect for retro looks.  It's a different look for me and I like it!  Wasabi Pills has 3 new hairs at Vintage Fair, including one for the guys.  My hair, Veronica, is reminiscent of the 1940's film icon, Veronica Lake's, peek-a-boo hairstyle.  It is mesh and comes complete with hair bases and a version for those of you that are well endowed.

Vintage Fair runs through most of August.  The Chic Management website has a complete list of stores and their slurls at the fair and you can tp to them directly once you've landed at a landing point.

Credits:  Everything I am wearing is available at Vintage Fair 2012
Lingerie: Faster Pussycat: Burlesque
Necklace/Earrings: Addiction: Beloved Set - Amethyst
Ring: [HANDverk]: Sol ring
Shoes: :{MV}: Bettie Heels - Candy Apple
Hair: Wasabi Pills: Veronica - Pancake
Poses: oOo Studio: Rouge

Hair Fair: Miamai + the French Connection

If there is one thing that Monica Outlander of Miamai is the master of it's glamour.  Be it classic, avante garde, or romantic, she makes it look effortless.  She has released 5 new mesh hair pieces for Hair Fair 2012 and they are stunning. They are all unrigged and modifiable. I honestly could not pick a favorite. Hair Fair wraps up this weekend and the 2 weeks of it have flown by.  Soon the hair will be in the stores but there is an important reason to still visit and that is that Hair Fair is a charity fundraiser, with a percentage of sales going to Wigs for Kids.  If you are inclined to purchase, do so now and help out a child in need.

Before I start carrying on about these gorgeous styles I wanted to mention the gown.  HelenSue Helendale of DEW Designs shared her newest release with me, the French Connection gown, and it's just super stunning. The main dress is mesh and comes in standard sizes and she has added to flexi attachments for ruffles on the back.  You can remove these attachments if you prefer a simple, drop dead slim gown and the integrity of the dress remains intact. It was the perfect backdrop for Monica's hair pieces.

I got to say first off that I love Miamai's hair bases.  They come in several versions and Monica has picked the right one for each style.  I appreciate this level of extra attention to detail.  Giselle utilizes a hair base with a strong central part.  The hair piece sits high on the head with with an updo with a sturdy braid wrapping the front.  It has an extra texture layer to provide depth as well as a few loose tendrils.

 Yanne plays it tighter with sleek french braids running at contrasting levels on both sides of the head and ending in a tight bun at the back of the head.  It utilizes the same hairbase as Giselle (Style C).

Lika is classically gorgeous.  It uses a hairbase that is pulled straight back and has a large bun as well as braids that run the length of the skull and wraps around the back of the bun.  No whispies on this one.  It's perfect in it's formality.

Ixie is probably the most casual of the hair pieces.  It uses a partless hairbase (Style B) and is in the style of hair that has been swept back into a pony-tail and then made into an updo with a set of barrettes.  It also has a gentle flexie layer to make it less severe.

Kirge utilizes a hairbase (Style A) with that is side parted then combed tight to the head.  It features a two level bun and strong side tendrils.  The hairbase really makes the look for me and I think would be fun not only with glam but strong urban looks.

Now go get 'em at the Miamai booth at Hair Fair 2012. There is also an special gift updo available at the fair, that probably won't be available after the fair (hint hint).

Credits:
Hair: Maimai: All hairbases and updos are new mesh releases available at Hair Fair 2012
Gown: DEW: French Connection - Black
Skin: Filthy: July Group Gift - Cream
Lipcolor: Pink Fuel: Elly - Glam Lipstick/Smoked Plum
Jewelry:  photo 2: LaGyo:  Spring in Gold
               photo 3: Caroline's: Kennedy Pink Pearls
               photo 1 & 4: Zaara: Anuska Pearl Drop Earrings - Night
               photo 5: [HANDverk]: Wassily Black
               photo 6: Mandala: Kagetora
All Poses: Miamai

Hair Fair 2012: Analog Dog and more more more!

Admission of Honesty: I've become a huge fan of Analog Dog over the past year, especially since designer, Queue Marlow, added her Point B line (love that name!).  The styles she released for Hair Fair this year are super sophisticated, rich in color and retain the best elements of Queue's unique textures.  You can see them all at Hair Fair 2012.

I must ask Queue about the backstory on the naming of Pornado, the hair shown above.  Not exactly sure how it relates to endless porn images, though I love the style and think it's damn sexy.  It's one of those perfect loose do's that are perfect when you want to play off a bare shirt or for primmy collars. Before I get on to the next style I need to talk clothes for a sec.  At Collabor88 for maybe about another week you can pick up Ingenue's perfectly made peplum top, Mignon.  The shadows, wrinkles and seams are perfect on this mesh garment.  It comes in standard sizes and includes 2 versions of alpha layer.  Often I still prefer regular clothing layers for tight fit shirts but this one is absolutely fabulous.  The [HANDverk] jewelry i've shot in another post but wanted a clearer shot of the gorgeous Hammered Metal set in Silver.  The Silver earrings are a 100% donation at the Hope for Emilia event and every little eansty bit...the string, the beads, the hammered texture is hand done.  Love. 

Issues is my favorite in the new set of releases.  I am in love with this thick braid that can be worn as a sexy and glammy side-set that wraps all around the back and sides and with a touch of the hair the braids fall over your face ala blindfold, which connotes all kinds of yummm.

Ging. Queue was so strangely clever in the name department.  I am going to innocently assume that the name relates to the cantonese equivalent of 'good' but the more curious of you might want to check out it's slang references.  Ging is a lovely classic long style, which is exceptionally wearable.  For those of you that enjoy super long, Queue has included a flexy extension that you can add to the hair.  I love the widow's peak on the hair.  When I was a teenager I used to be so jealous of girls that had one of those and now I get one too!  

There is still time to hit Hair Fair 2010 before it ends.  Visit the official website for information! 

Credits:
All Hair: Analog Dog: currently at Hair Fair 2012!!  Thank you, Queue!
Shirt: Ingenue: Mignon -Summer Sky: at Collabor88
Skirt: Ingenue: Lana - Slate
Jewelry: Handverk: Hammered Metal Set - Silver.  Earrings are 100% donation at Hope for Emilia
Necklace: Love Soul: Necklace*Water Bag* Neon Tetra: Lucky Chair prize -- OMG
Skin: Glam Affair: Leah - Spring Breeze
Eyes: Glam Affair: Stella V2-14

meow

Zodiac, a new monthly themed event, opened for the first time yesterday.  One of my favorite stores, [HANDverk] is one of the participants.  Daphne Klossovsky modeled her Leo Claw Pumps after Christian Louboutin's Alex Paw Pumps and I think they are just amazing.  They are completely mesh and Daphne makes ever little bit of them herself.  They come in one color--lion--and are a steal at $L200.  Leo is a fire sign, like mine, Sagittarius, and I've dated more than my share of Leo's in my day. I wonder if someone will make a big horse's behind for my sign; it would be fitting.  [HANDverk] is also involved in the Hope for Emilia event which raises funds for victims of the earthquake in Emilia, Italy.  The Copper Ring and Silver Earrings of the Hammered Metal jewelry items are 100% donation items and Daphne's partner, Tobias Convair, also has a chair available at 100% donation.  

Credits

Shoes: [HANDverk] Claw Pump - Leo: available at Zodiac

Jewelry: [HANDverk] Hammered Metal Jewelry: available at Hope for Emilia

Shirt: Kyoot: Prey Bustier: available at Zodiac

Shorts: Miel: Fit Shorts

Hair: LeLutka: Salome: available at Hair Fair 2012

Skin: Glam Affair: Leah - Spring Breeze

Lashes: FlugeIn Brise: Eyelash02 matel

Wasabi makes me so Happy!

I am a huge, huge fan of Wasabi Pills.  I sing it's praises to most of my friends and MissAllSunday Lemon did a fantastic job on her new releases for Hair Fair.  There are four total and I am showing 2 this time, with summer and SL being so nuts lately, it's about all I have time to do at once.  I'm gonna have to buckle down and do a few huge hair fair posts because there is just so much awesomeness to show.

MissAllSunday does lovely things with braids and I love the Brigitte style.  It has an elevated tease effect in back that gives it a shin-diggy 60's look that I cannot wait to put together with the soon to come Vintage Fair looks.  Schadenfruede's Color Field dress, that debuted at Colloabor88 last month, is available both at One Voice and at the main store.  Allegory Malaprop, who is Schadenfreude, is nothing short of genius in my eyes.  Always has been.  What the squee is about here is that Allegory is already working with a mesh deformer which basically is supposed to make mesh conform to each avatar's individual shape.  Most mesh clothes currently are based on a Standard Sizing system with is a very smart workaround for mesh challenges (w/o the deformer mesh only conforms to certain parts of our shapes) but some folks do not want to make adaptations to their shape to fit mesh.  I know I've made several versions of my shape to fit mesh because even with the changes I made for standard sizing all clothes don't fit. So big props to Allegory for doing some groundbreaking work!  The dress does come in standard sizes and a child's size as well as a deformer version for both men and women (hurray for cross-dressing!).  In both photos I am wearing [HANDverk]'s Coral Medallion Necklace which is available this month at FaMESHed.  You can also purchase earrings and a smaller pendant necklace and it comes in lots of yummy colors.

The Zoey hair from Wasabi is a cute middle-part pigtail with a hippie-ish headband.  A hud is included so that you can change the band and bead textures.   The dress here is the Color Field dress in a Mondrian print.  It was available at last month's Collabor88.  I checked the main store and I did not see these out, so they may have been exclusive or Allegory has not put them out yet.  I dunno.  I just know I respect the hell out of all three designers: MissAllSunday Lemon of Wasabi Pills, Allegory Malaprop of Schadenfreude, and Daphne Klossovky; their work is intelligent, original and I can trust that the craftsmanship will be tip-top.

Hair Fair, of course, is a charity event where a portion of the proceeds benefits Wigs for Kids.  One Voice is a fundraiser for one of our own, Gala Phoenix, to offset legal costs for an unjust copyright claim made against her brand, Curio.  Please consider a revisit as many designers have put out new items!

Credits:
Hair: Wasabi Pills: Brigitte and Zoey: available only at Hair Fair 2012
Dresses: Schadenfreude: Phoenix FireField Dress: available at One Voice and the main store.
                                        Mondrian Color Field Dress: was at June Collabor88
Jewelry: [HANDverk]: Coral Medallion Necklace: available at FaMESHed
Skin: Belleza: Lily V2 Med: Group Gift - a gorgeous skin... may still be available at the store
Poses: WetCat: from the Runway set available at One Voice: this is a great pose set! 

Loxodromic

A quick post for now as my son chose the very moment I sat down in front of the computer to beg me to take him to the movies.  As we have been holed up in our thankfully air-conditioned home in this ungodly heat, I will willingly oblige...trading one sanctuary for another from the swelter.  

This is the last round of Stumblebum.  I've always enjoyed the event and look forward to what the current operators, Tyr Rozenblum and Ivy Graves, cook up next. I like that name...Stumblebum.  I also have huge love for [HANDverk], that I learned about at Culture Shock.  [HANDverk] joined Stumblebum and I will miss seeing what they offer for the event but thankfully they are also involved with FaMESHed.  Daphne Klossovsky and Tobias Convair make a brilliant team and seem to have this mesh thing down to a science.  Each new release is unique and artful. The new Loxodromic jewelry set is offered at 25% less than it's normal price for the course of this round, which runs through the 28th of July.  The set is offered in 5 different band colors and is unrigged mesh so you can edit the fit.  PLEASE NOTE: The Landmark to the [HANDverk] store is INCORRECT in the Stumblebum list.  I will provide the correct one in credits.

Toki-doki is also participating in the final Stumblebum round and is offering this fab mesh tank.  It comes in standard sizes and has a stunning back detail that sets it apart from others.  I wore it one size up from my usual size because I like the shirt a bit off my body.  I could do that without the alpha messing with my look (poorly fitting alphas make me insane).

I also want to show you some more items from two events that are near and dear to my heart: Hair Fair and One Voice.  Hair Fair is one of my favorite events each year and I'm like a kid at Christmas.  I fell in love with !Ohmai's new hair releases and think the "messy" version of Myer is simply brilliant.  The hairpiece also comes in a clean version but I have to be real and say that I rarely am put together like a prima ballerina and I love the whispies.  The hair-bases for this style have a sparkly effect to it and all the names have a cosmic theme which suits.  I will show more styles later.  One Voice continues to go strong and the skin and pants I am wearing both come from that event. AV!SAGE's Jayda skin is brilliant and I particularly love the strong brow and the perfectly placed mole.  The sari pants from One Bad Pixel come in 4 gorgeous jewel textures and have a perfectly, I mean perfectly, wrinkled effect so much like real silk.  Both these events are charity events, with Hair Fair benefiting Wigs for Kids and One Voice proceeds going directly to our dear Gala Phoenix for her legal defense fund.  I've detailed this several times so won't belabor it again.  I'm off to eat popcorn and hopefully avoid some horrible summer blockbuster!

Credits:
Jewelry: [HANDverk]: Loxodromic set: each piece can be purchased separately at 25% off the normal price.  This is the correct landmark.
Top: Toki-doki: Mari top: available in many colors
Hair: !Ohmai: Myer: available at Hair Fair 2012
Skin: AV!SAGE: Jayda skin for One Voice
Pants: 1bp: Sari Pants - green for One Voice

Tea Leaves

Wow! It's been a week since I've been back from the Dandy's and I've barely had a decent chance to sit down and blog, so I'm hopelessly behind.  Most of this week had stunningly perfect early summer days to be outside or working on the house with all the windows open, so I took advantage before the muggy summer set in.  I've wanted to talk about Cory Edo of Trompe Loeil's NYC66 skyhome that is available this month at Collabor88.  I am a huge Mad Men fan and loved Don's Park Avenue apartment from the moment I saw it and am so thrilled to see it replicated for us in SL.  I make no secret of my love for all things mid-century modern and this is a perfect setting.  The fact that the skybox is partially furnished in fully animated furnishings is a bonus.  The apartment is modifyable and I did a bit of messing around with the original to show you.  I switched out the living room seating with different colors that you can pick up at C88 for 88 Lindens each and I easily altered the tint of the carpet.  There are 9 photo frames throughout the build for you to drop in your own photos.  The skybox is also copyable so you can rez it over and over again when you want to start fresh. 

Chic2 continues for another week and is chocked full of great items that have been made new for the event.  I thought that Bilo's mesh Talullah dress was perfect for my Betty Draper look.  I added CIA Designs bolero jacket to gussy it up for a day on the town.  I added [HANDverk]'s new Octopussy jewelry for an accent.  The jewelry is all mesh and is unrigged so you can resize it as you need.  It is available for the remainder of June for Stumblebum.

Credits:
Dress: Bilo: Tallulah - maroon @ Chic2
Jacket: CIA Designs: Black Bolero Jacket @ Chic2
Skin: al vulo: Baba2 - coquette custard @ Chic2
Hair: LeLutka: Bonjour
Shoes: Ingenue: Freynii
Purse: je suis: Coquet bag: was exclusive to Culture Shock 2012
Jewelry: [HANDverk]: Octopussy - soothing saffron: note new store location!
Skybox and all furnishings: Trompe Loeil at Collabor88!
Poses: Estetica: Chic @ Chic2