A Boy of Summer

I love pretty boy hair.  I love it when I want a look that is completely at ease.  One of SL's most popular events, Hair Fair 2012, opened it's gates today and I fell hard for [INK]'s new Yoke style.  The designer, nontroppo torii, very wisely made this hair with cross-dressers and men that love to style by making the sideburn tattoo separate from the hair base.  It's one of my favorite items I picked up yesterday at at walkthrough and am tempted return once the sims are not full.  Regarding events, One Voice has been extended through the 22nd of July.  I will mention the charity aspects of the events at the end of the post (I can get a bit tangential).  I bought a lot at this event including the mesh shorts and shirt and the skin I am wearing at One Voice.

Boom has a great little cropped baseball tee at One Voice. The item is mesh and comes in standard sizing.  I went up a size from my usual because I liked a baggy look.  It comes in two black/red and 2 black/white versions.  The adorable black leather shorts from Toki-doki also come in standard sizes and fit perfectly.

I think I might have been the very first person to purchase LAQ's special version of the Elena skin at One Voice.  I busied myself with other shopping while Mallory Cowen was setting up but as soon as she left, my bff, Whisper Despres, and I ran over to her display and demo'ed the skin.  I only demoed in an attempt to be prudent but it was basically an insta-buy.  The skin is a completely natural look and I've not added anything but lashes and LAQ freckles for this shot.  The brows are dark, so if you prefer super light brows you might want to think otherwise; otherwise its the pure, creamy look I love from LAQ.  

OK, now...what's up with these events.  Most blog readers are already in the know but I feel it's my blogger responsibility to talk about the purpose of both events.  Hair Fair IS a charity event and has chosen Wigs for Kids for it's charity for many years now.  Each designer is responsible for at least 3 new releases and 15% at the minimum must go towards the charity.  I saw many designers who donated more than the minimum.  There are 4 sims of fantastic hair.  The Hair Fair blog has slurls to all locations as well as tips to make your trip enjoyable.  My hat goes off to the Committee for creating such an elegant but simple build.  I love being able to just run through the phantom walls! A round of applause to Mel Vanbeek for all his efforts with scripting and invisible shoppers to keep the lag bearable.  At all landing points, there is a map...touch it and you will receive a folder with landmarks to all the stores. I found that once I arrived at a sim I could tp around using my map.  There is also a free low-lag outfit at all landing points, graciously provided by DCNY and Exile.  If you want to demo hair ahead of time, please join the Hair Fair Demo group, for free demos from all the designers (some are not free at the event).

The One Voice event is probably one of the kindest and most worthwhile events I've seen in all my years in SL.  Many designers are offering items where at least 50% of the sales go directly to Gala Phoenix of Curio, to help cover legal costs resulting from an unfair copyright claim by another person who sells skins.  I've wrote a lot about it on the Free*Style blog, including links to other blog articles that contain both facts and castle intrigue so I am not going to belabor that here.  Many designers have also set up their One Voice item at their store and there is a complete list at Salome Says, which wins my vote for bravery and devotion to the cause.  What has happened with Gala scares me right out of my pants on so many levels, from the very actions and decisions made by of Linden Labs to how this has affected the real life income of a very popular SL designer.  

Shop wisely and selflessly! 

Credits:

Hair Fair: [INK] - Yoke - Amber

One Voice:

     Boom: Twenty-Three Tee

     Toki-Doki: coroco shorts (black leather)

     LAQ: Elena - Natural Edition (milk)

Prop: Diesel Works: Baseball Bat: free prop

Eyes: IKON: Sunrise Eyes

Color Challenge: Shuttle Grey

In RL I live in a northern climate and grey is a shade I know a lot about.  It's odd how I am drawn to it even in SL even though there are very few sims that are blustery year 'round.   The challenge for me was calling good enough alone as I have so much.  In the end I was happy with a casual look that included one of my favorite pants from Maitreya and a sweater from Baiastice.  The hair is a new style from Wasabi Pills and right now can be found at Fantasy Faire 2012.

Credits
Sweater: Baiastice: Mary Fall Pull-grey
Pants: Maitreya: Acer Chino
Tank: MichaMi: Washed Out Tank (currently at TDR)
Earrings / Bracelet: U&R Dogs
Ring: Rozoregalia: Carpe Diem
Hair: Wasabi Pills: Teeloh Mesh Hair (also available in men's version): available at Fantasy Faire
Skin: Laq: Ebba
Makeup: Mock Cosmetics: Shadow Dark Purple Winterberry
Pose: Exposeur: Full of Grace 4

Kissing Frogs for Kouse

Kouse Singh is releasing a new gown that can be found at her main store tonight or tomorrow.  The Deseree Gown will be available in many rich colors; red and ocean are shown here.  It comes with 2 skirt options and is a perfect gown for RP but not so period in styling to be unfit for an evening of romantic dancing. 

The new Ginger hair is from my favorite maker of mesh hair, Wasabi Pills. It is available only at the March Mesh Madness event and though I consider it quite a hippie hair it worked well styled for an unlucky maiden.

Credits:
Gown: Kouse's Sanctum: Deseree: new release
Hair: Wasabi Pills: Ginger: available this month @ March Mesh Madness
Skin: LAQ: Ebba
Nails: Mock: Candy Apple Mock Nails
Shadow: Cheap Makeup
Frog: Magnifique Poses: Prince Charming

Color Challenge: Patina

Happy Monday!  Some people are absolute speed freaks with these color challenges.  When I looked this morning there were already almost 80 responses of completed posts!  I feel like a total slowpoke even though each week I do it earlier.  I refuse to do it sooner; it's become part of my Monday ritual once my son is finally off to school and I have some time to myself.  I love the color of patina; we have a gorgeous old basilica near my home that has a copper dome and it has aged to such a lovely patina.

The upside of having a gargantuan inventory is that so far I have had plenty of items for this challenge.  It was hard to sort out the all the 'greeny' and 'bluey' things but some of my household items actually helped blend the colors for this picture.

My only new item is a must have for all of you doing the color challenge. Mocksoup Graves of MOCK Cosmetics sent her group a "color block" gift that has several of the next few weeks colors in it!  The group is not free but Mock has to be one of the most insanely generous women I know here and she is damn good at her craft.

I've not been online much lately but I have been slowly culling my inventory.  Jacqui and I are keeping track of our progress on the sidebar of the blog.  Hopefully, I can make some good progress this week and feel like I deserve to blog more.

Credits:
Jacket: DeLa: Shearling Jacket "Rosa" -  Crystalblue
Skirt Outfit: Schadenfreude: Seafoam Funster Top and Skirt
Shoes: Pixel Mode: Fae Wedges - Teal
Hair: Wasabi Pills: Kimmy Hair - Ethereal
Skin: LAQ: Ebba
Eyes: Mlo: Crystal Eyes: store is closed
Makeup: MOCK: Patina Luna Eyeshadow: Group gift
Decor: All but right print from Post: Fin de siecle set and Picasso print
  North West: Clip Hanger Poster - Programma
Pose: Di's Opera

Waiting on the Mothership

Today was not a good day for my inventory but I did help contribute to the SL economy! There are a few good sales on now and I actually managed to buy things that could be worn together.  My purchasing generally has a very random quality to it.  So Many Styles has some nice pieces on sale.  My favorite was the feather vest.  I've paired it with the chiffon skirt, also from SMS, though this particular piece is not on sale this time.  A laced chiffon skirt is though, and I did pick up a few colors that did need updating (because, yes, I deleted a lot).  LaGyo has a half price sale on EVERYTHING right now and I picked up the new Desparado Bag, which is one of my favorites.  I used to not be a big purse fan because they just swung around and sliced through your head but they are so well animated right now that I am being won over.  The pose I'm using is in the purse.  I love the pose though in this shot I looked a bit like my brains had been zapped by the aliens, so I used a background submitted by Whimsy Winx for the wonderful SL Stock Images Group on Flickr. The Lainey boots are a new release from Baby Monkey.  They currently are not on sale but Pixie has been offering new releases at a major price reduction lately, so it's worthwhile to check.  Finally, Heart Softens is closing and I picked up several styles at only 39 L a piece while I had the chance.  Now, back to sorting.

Credits:
Vest: So Many Styles: Feather Vest, Natural
Skirt: So Many Styles: Chiffon Skirt
Shirt: JustB: Autumn Shimmer: store is closed :(
Stockings: Rotten Toe: Moth Stockings: on Marketplace
Boots: Baby Monkey: Lainie Boots
Purse: LaGyo: Desparado Bag
Hair: Heart Softens: Wolf - Brown
Skin: Laq: Ebba

Color Challenge: Coral or The Day Eden Broke Down and Blogged Something

I'm finally getting back on track from the holidays and decided that I want to join in on Luna Jubilee's second year of the 52 Weeks of Color Challenge.  I missed last week, which was champagne which picks at my OCD tendencies but one of my resolutions for this year is to let some of the small things go, so I jumped in.  Then Jacqui says to me, "You are wearing brown, not coral!", for which I snarled at her but secretly worried would expose me as a really bad blogger.  But it's my first try and Ms. P can do her own challenge (because she is)!

There were a lot of items in my inventory that were called coral and there was a ton of variation.  Probably the most perfectly coral colored item is Whippet & Buck's cropped boatneck shirt.  I topped it with Pig's Lady's Like Sweaters which she has for free at The Free Dove.  There are also a pair of her awesome Socks Mit Suspenders in the package.  Drinkinstein Sorbet from The Sea Hole has such a marvelous eye for color and her new skirt for Collabor88 has one with coral undertones and I thought would be a great option for tying together the shirts.  I chose Bliensen & MaiTai's Dreaming Klimdt necklace, which is available at the Black Market for my accessory with it's coral touches.  I even found a makeup from Mock that has coral in it.  So yay for matchiness!

Credits:
Sweater: Pig: Ladies like Sweaters - Coral: free at The Free Dove
Shirt: Whippet & Buck: Cropped Boatneck: Coral
Skirt: The Sea Hole: Heron Skirt: Dusted - exclusively at Collabor88
Necklace: Bliensen & MaiTai: Dreaming Klimdt - available at The Black Market
Skin: LAQ: Ebba
Makeup: MOCK: Coral Cotton Candy Makeover
Nails: MOCK: Coraline Coral Mock Nails
Hair: Love Soul: 098 - Auburn: on sale!!!! 

Happy Monday Kinda

I usually blog because I have a reason.  I'm not the kind of person that loves to take pictures of myself or spend a lot of time fussing and editing my photos.  It takes too much time and I always think nobody is looking anyways.  But one thing I do love to do and seldom have the time to do anymore is put together ensembles.  And shopping - I love to shop!  Usually I shop solo but the one person who I can shop with pretty well is Jacqui.  The problem is we start "oooo'ing" everything and the next thing you know we've each blown a lot of Lindens.  Some days we practically channel each other and look like the Olsen Twins and other times Jac is full out sexy girl and I look like some primmed out version of Bea Arthur or something.

Lately, I've been covering a lot of events which means I spend a lot of time by myself taking pictures.  I'm pretty introverted but sometimes it can get lonely and every IM or notice feels like an intrusion.  I'm sure other bloggers can relate; I'm organizing things into folders so I don't lose them, trying to stay on top of my inventory size, and taking photos.  What I'm wearing is usually the last thing I blogged.  My whole household has been sick since just after Thanksgiving and I picked up the horrible plague sometime last week and am still narly.  The boy finally returned to school today (yay). So when I logged in yesterday I just said "screw it" and put together an mishmash made up of pieces I already owned.  Those of us that lean towards the fashion scene can get so caught up in new stuff that we overlook the great things we have.  So this is a reminder to myself to enjoy SL, for me it's not a job, I don't have to be so driven and single minded and can take time for fun.  

Credits:
hair: [e]: Quirky: new - ok I didn't already have this until Saturday so technically I had it.
skin: LAQ: Ebba Fair
freckles and "beauty marks": LAQ: purchased separately from skin
lashes: L. Fauna Lashes: underlashes
blush: Mock: Winter Rainbow Collection - Rushing : group gift, I think
shadow: Mock: Back to Basics Eyeshadow - Paarl
skirt: The Secret Store: Chiffon - Silk Kerchief
jacket: TailleursPutain: Eden Brown: part of a free woman type outfit - I don't RP Gor but I think she makes some great stuff! 
necklace: Bliensen & MaiTai: Sapiencia
tank: MichaMi: Washed Out Tank - turquoise - the perfect turquoise tank
stockings: Love Aya - closed :(
boots: Azoury: Les Bottines Doll Marron: I picked these up at the Tropicalia Bazaar but I am sure she has similar in-store.  
Poses: LAP

Big photo taken at (PRISS) - what a cute store! I picked up the cute fur skirt for Project Themeory.

Meow

The Vintage Fair is much easier to navigate now and it remains my favorite place in SL at the moment. I adore seeing so many designers take a shot at Vintage wear.  There is so much great stuff there; I need to pick up my pace - I've had this outfit on for 2 days now trying to finish this post!  RL got really hectic again.  It's just that time of the year.  Bliss Couture has a hot little vintage fur set at the fair that is just darling.  I love sexy clothes but I tend to like ones that give off a sensual vibe while not requiring me to bare it all.  In addition to the roomy capelet the outfit includes fun ruffled lace shorts and leopard leggings, though you could pair it with the perfect pencil skirt and cat-eye's or even go apres-ski for fun looks.

I added the adorable lace collar from Scrub.  Scrub did the sweet playable gramophone that I've shown and seen used as a prop in so many Vintage Fair posts.  The collar is resizeable as well as has some color change options.  It really has a nice feel to it; if you have any goth/french maid tendencies this one has exceptional texturing.  I added BlackLiquid's 1920's Brooks lips for a bit of pop.  You can pick those up at the fair as well.  Before I forget, kik has moved locations and has a sale on hair.  I loved this style to complete my mod look!

Credits: (please refer to the Chic Management blog for slurls and a map of the fair)
Outfit: Bliss Couture: McCullough Fur et.al
Collar: Scrub: Dollar Rosary
Lip makeup: BlackLiquid Makeup: Brooks Lips
Eye makeup: Mock: Funsies Eyeliner Liquid C (not at fair)
Hair: [kik] Sun - blond (not at fair)
Skin: LAQ: Ebba - Fair (not at fair)
Boots: Hoorenbeek: Pleaser Boots (not at fair)

Factory Girl

Ingenue's latest release is aptly named Sedgwick. I'm assuming so as it conjures up images of Edie Sedgwick, Andy Warhol's "Superstar" of 1965, who's trademarks were mini dresses and chandelier earrings among other things.  I adore all things mod and love that Betty Doyle did these dresses, with their Jetson/Lost in Space flair and would love to see more along this line.  This dress works because of it's splashes of color and could be accessorized in a myriad of ways.  You can find it in 4 yummy colors along with the fabulous Bridget flats only at Collabor88 for a month.

Credits:
Dress: Ingenue: Sedgwick Dress - Lime: exclusively at Collabor88 for only 88 L!
Shoes: Ingenue: Bridget Flats - Lime: exclusively at Collabora88 for only 88 L (you will never get these colors at the main store)
Hair: .lamb: Sleepyhead
Skin: Laq: Tess2
Earrings: Kycies: closed - :( I know!
Bangles: Je Suis: Asymetrique
Pose Prop: Behavior Body: Photo Room: Free (TY, Anto, you are always so generous)

Gatcha Chic and a Few Squees

I know Jac did a post about the Albero Gatcha Fest but I got some things there I love so much that I haven't wanted to change clothes...so maybe I should get off my avoidant backend and do a post.

This look is so much like me in RL it's not funny.  I've been unable to take off Lelutka's new Rykiel hair since I got it.  It's all over the feeds but IMO it should be. (God, did you see it on Tact Arida?) It's a look that I've wanted for a long time; in RL I have slick straight hair and a crimping iron was the only way I've ever been able to achieve anything close to curls or body, so I dig it big time.  Pididdle's new feather extensions could not be more perfect with the hair.  These are a group gift version and I know earlier this week there was an easter egg hidden at the store that had an Easter set as well as some makeup for only 25 L.

Ok, but the gatcha's.  I love babydoll tops and my favorite in the lineup this time were Rude Rebel's Spring camis.  In RL I'm also wearing glasses very similar to the Sinner Man glasses from Alpha Villan. Young Urban's Summer at English Bay shorts could also be worn by the fellers and the steal at the fest are Duh's Straw Button Flats at only 10 L a pop.  Lots of cute little shoes at the fair.

Cheap Makeup's Wheel of Suprise has all kinds of win in it but I was particularly happy with the smokey eyeshadow that is #12.  The only thing I am starting to really dislike about all these great tat layer makeups is that I can't rename them and end up putting each one in a folder with an elaborate description in the label so I will remember later what it is. I am extremely rez impatient.  Croire has some super cute pendants there and this one has me all matchy girl so my mom would be proud of me.

Credits:
Gachas: all at Albero Gatcha Fest - generally runs about 2 weeks
Hair: Lelutka: Rykiel: Swedish (should not have let Jac talk me out of the fat pack)
Hair Extensions: Pididdle (group gift) <3 Bru
Skin: LAQ: Tess2
Eyes: Glam Affair: Stella Eyes V2-14

In the Pink

I hit the sale today at Indyra Originals where all things pink are 60 - 90% off through May 1st.  My favorite outfit was Catalan because I really like one-shoulder pieces and liked the care that was taken to detail the outfit.  I also picked up the Suha Beads in Peony, which were a steal! Normally, I would forgo the necklace with a frilly top but I wanted to show you the full set.

I am also big in love with Miel's new Troupe Shoes.  The one-prim shoes have a ton of options, including the ability to recolor various parts of the shoes in matching or contrasting colors.  I know falling back on black is a bit drab but I am a minimalist and there was enough already going on this this outfit!

Credits:
Outfit: Indyra Originals: Catalan - Cotton Candy: on sale!
Jewelry: Indyra Originals: Suha Beads: Peony: on sale, too!
Shoes: Miel: Troupe Shoes Naturals
Skin: LAQ: Tess2
Hair: Elikatira: Later: I bought the store out this weekend.
Lashes: Chocola: Black Extension w/Lower
Eyes: Glam Affair: Stella Eyes V2-14
Poses: all by LAP

Fashion For Life: Haven Designs

I love it when Delora Starbrook from Haven Designs makes dresses.  Delora is known for making sexylicious camisks and stuff but she is one heck of a dressmaker.  I love the crisp linen look of the Vintage  Dress that is just one of her charity offerings at Fashion for Life.  Fashion for Life is just 1.5 M Lindens away from their goal and the event runs thru Sunday.  All proceeds from donation vendors will be donated to the American Cancer Society so keep on shopping!

Getting back to the dress.  I love simple, clean looks and this dress is just right.  The lace and cut edging on the skirt are a lovely touch as is the ribbon belt.  I can have all kinds of fun with dresses like this, either wearing it like now with a simple set of pearls and a casual hairstyle like this one from Elikatira, which is also a FFL donation vendor, or play it up and pretend I'm a secretary on Mad Men hoping Don Draper will notice me.  Isn't that what dressing up on SL is all about?

Credits:
Dress: Haven Designs: Vintage Dress - Antique - available at Haven on the Irving Penn sim, sponsored by LaPointe & Bastchilde.
Hair: Elikatira: Lasting - available at Elikatira on the Bourke White sim, also sponsored by Elikatira.
Necklace: Deco: Triple Strand Pearls
Skin: LAQ: Tess2
Makeup: M.O.C.K.: Jungle Tiger Beat Makeover - group gift: OMG join this group.  Mocksoup Graves is a makeup making fiend! 

Fashion For Life: Kouse's Sanctum

Fashion in SL is nearly an obsession to me.  Like my cat sitting in the windowsill soaking up the Spring air and the sounds of busy birds, I have an insatiable craving for the breadth of design in SL.  Though my personal taste tend to run towards midcentury modern and euro-style, Kouse Singh is at the top of my go-to list when I need to feel like a princess.  I've been collecting her gowns since I figured out how to chuck my system hair and get out of Orientation Island and her work just continues to get better and better.  Her releases for Fashion for Life are nothing less than sublime. These are her charity offerings for the event.  It is a fantastic chance for you to celebrate pure femininity while providing assistance to the American Cancer Society.

The Michelle gown is my personal favorite of Kouse's event offerings.  The minute I saw it I had a million questions for Kouse like; How did you decide on those textures?, and What made you decide to add the extra layer on the skirt? and OMG, that trim!  The pure genius that goes into those decisions are what keep me hooked on SL design.  I don't need to necessarily know the answer; rather I appreciate that there are people out there that can make this happen.

And the same brain and hands that make the gowns also makes the jewelry!  Someone needs to marry this woman even if she isn't already or at least move into her brain and see how it ticks.  I don't tend to think about Kouse's Sanctum when it comes to jewelry but I should, and you should too.  The Lilly set is  a masterpiece of tiny prims and wonderful textures.  The entire set includes 3 crowns, necklace, earrings and bracelet.

The Jocelyn Gown comes with a long skirt but I had to put on the shorter version and put on some Heidi hair and get ready to find some kids and take off for a picnic in the Alps.  It comes with two colors of apron.  It could not be sweeter.

The Faith gown reminds me of an Iris at the peak of it's bloom. The sculpted layers on the skirt makes it stand out from what I call "justa gown". The deep textures, lacing at the bust, scarf that flows down the back and arm "garters" (I'm blanking on the word) make this a complete piece.  IMO adding more accessories is unnecessary.

Please remember that all proceeds from these fantastic items benefits the American Cancer Society.  Over 3 Million has been already been donated and FFL continues through March 22. Help fight for the cause!

Details:
All Clothing and Jewelry from Kouse's Sanctum.  Kouse's is located on the Stieglitz sim, sponsored by House of RFyre.  The jewerly in the Jocelyn photo (Camilla Gold - Gem set) can be purchased along with all of Kouse's goods at her main store.
Hair:
Elikatira: Blind 2 @ Bourke White at FFL or at her main store .
Discord Designs: Astrid
trico: New Year's Gift
Skin: LAQ: Tess2
Eyes: Glam Affair: Stella Eyes V2 - 14