Accessories Fair2011: Bliensen & MaiTai

Last call for Accessory Fair 2011 which ends on Sunday!  I swear every fair organizer got together and decided to crunch all the big fairs into a 3 month window, all which has put a huge dent in my wallet and a huge addition to my inventory.  I've spent a lot of time recently trying to clear out the outdated stuff and not mope over how wonderful I once spent for it, who made it, etc.  If I've not worn it since 2008 it's doubtful I am going to wear it today.  I swear I could open a SL Museum with all my stuff.

There are, however, some things I always have room for, one being anything made by Plurabelle Laszlo of Bliensen & MaiTai.  I have publicly professed my undying love for her before and her new offerings for the Accessory Fair do not fail me.  I'm still trying to figure out her overall theme with these items or maybe she just has a bunch of great stuff.  Either way, do take time to head over and take a last look at all the goods.  I was there today and had the place practically to myself, so get over there!  Each designer has at least one piece where proceeds benefit RFL for The American Cancer Society.

Her RFL item is the Hatshepsut Necklace which ties into the Egyptian theme of this years fair.  I have been suprised how versitile this piece is and how it works with so many of my outfits.

I mentioned the burgeoning condition of my inventory so Im at a point where I ask myself, "Is this going to enhance my collection or is it just more stuff?"  The Wadjet Snake Necklace is a definite add for my collection and I would imagine it's the same for most of you fashion blog readers.  It's a no-brainer: get it.  Somewhere out in the fair there is a hunt item from Bliensen & MaiTai with earrings that work with the first two pieces though I've not found them yet. 

I freaking love the Bag Full of Wisdom purse with its adorable owl print.  It reminds me of some of the wonderful mod fabrics that my mom wore when I was a kid.  Paired with some big round glasses and people will wonder when you became so smart!  The bag has a holding animation which even works with my uncooperative AO.

I thought the new Paris Pillbox hat and matching gloves were so awesome that I was compelled to throw off my shirt just so I wouldn't pass out from rapture.  Both the hat and the gloves come in 5 colors and each glove set also includes a black pair of gloves which is just the little kind of thoughtfulness that makes me dig Plurabelle even more.  I've not been doing my vintage looks as much lately so I think I need to start sporting.  

Last but definitely not least are the amazing Birds of a Feather fans.  Lemme tell you the awesomeness of these: there is a no animation version (well sure), a version that has a fan dance animation (yay) as well as an additional animated version that is chat channel commanded (dances w/joy).  God I love this woman!

You can see these and so many more items of win at the Bliensen & MaiTai store at Accessory Fair for one more day and then at the main store.  

G Field Group Gift

GField just sent a cute and feminine gift to their subscriber group today.  With the conclusion of Culture Shock, the new maxi skirts have been moved to the main store and Cerberus Noel has also released new puff-sleeve tops.  A yellow version of each is a gift to us!  Thank you, Cerberus, for your kind generosity!

Credits:
Outfit: *G Field*: Group Gift: Puff Sleeve Top and Maxi Skirt - Yellow: Subscriber Gift
Necklace: Addiction: Alluring Necklace: from Lazy Sunday set of awesomeness: Still out @ 75 L
Skin: Idiosyncrasy: Natasha -Natural 6: released at Skin & Shape Expo and now at Main Store
Hair: LeLutka: Rykiel - Sweden
Hair Accessory: Pididdle: Feather Extensions

Skin & Shape Expo 2011: Mock Cosmetics

I joined the Mock Cosmetics group back earlier in the year when our group limits were raised.  I did it on a lark as I had checked out her Midnight Manias and Lucky Boards from time to time.  She was good back then and I was kind of messing around with tattoo layer makeups but not in earnest.  In those few months, Mocksoup Graves has become a force to be reckoned with when it comes to makeup layers.  The woman is absolutely prolific, so today I am only going to show you the products she has out at the Skin & Shape Expo.  Her group, however,  costs 250 L to join BUT this moment there are OVER 30 group gifts in archives, not including demos and dorky gestures and dances.  And there are a few group gifts in the store which I've not even had a chance to pick up yet.  Mock, as she is known, does full makeups, lipsticks, liners, eyeshadows, etc. as well as playing around with skins.  On a personal level she is delightful, down to earth, and friendly and I know from group chats and occasionally being a tester that she works really hard to make her range fit several skin ranges.  How about I shut up now and show you her work?

This is the Basic Eyeshadow in Brights.  I'm wearing the lovely Natalie skin from Idiosyncrasy in the Natural Base tone as a foundation and I've not added or painted on lashes or any of that mess.  The colors are lush, well shaded and have light brown liner that I find interesting.

I have big love for the Nautica Eyeshadow set.  She has played on a seaside theme of sand and surf with delicacy as well as panache.  Again, no retouching as they need no enhancement.

I wholeheartedly recommend the Bronze Desert Eyeshadows for anyone looking for a good solid set of brown shadows.  Different parts of the eye are accentuated with in this series and includes dramatic as well as daytime looks.

The Skin & Shape Expo is only going on for a few more days; May 22nd to be exact.  Right now the number of events closing out soon is a bit staggering but a visit to Mock's booth is time well spent.  I cannot say enough good words about her in-world group or Mock's level of customer service.  See you around the grid! I have catching up to do!

Credits:
Skin: Idiosyncrasy: Natasha: Medium - Base: currently available at Skin & Shape Expo with more at her main store.
Makeups: [mock] Cosmetics: at Skin & Shape Expo as well as a wider range at her main store. (Join the group; it's worth it if you dig makeup!)

Skin & Shape Expo 2011: Idiosyncrasy

Ashia Tomsen, the creator and genius behind Idiosyncrasy, will forever hold a very special place in my heart. Ash was one of the first people with whom I revealed my obsession with all things fashion in SL.  Ashia is the person that started me blogging and she is one of the the most savvy, honest women I've had the honor to meet in SL.  Ashia has been making skins for several years now and she is undoubtedly a stickler.  Any skin you get from Idiosyncrasy has been painstakingly made and checked from top to toe hundreds of times for imperfections.  Her new line, Natasha, named for a treasured friend, receives it's inspiration from the rebellious spirit of Biba cosmetics as well as MAC's Surf Baby collection.  It premiers exclusively at Skin & Shape Expo 2011, which runs through May 22nd.

Natasha is available in 3 skin tones: Pale, Natural and Dark.  Each single pack contains 12 skins with 3 cleavage options, teeth options, light and dark brows, as well as a dark and light tat layer hair base and a full body tattoo layer.  Ashia is nothing if not thorough.

I wanted to show you the full body tattoo layer because Ashia has so carefully placed freckles in proportion to where they would fall in real life.  Ash doesn't do anything half way and the grid is a lovelier place for it.

Skin & Shape Expo 2011 is donating to Direct Relief International and each store has at least 1 items where 100% goes to the charity.

Credits:
All Skins: Idiosyncrasy: Natasha: Makeups 01 through 07 shown in serial order in various brow, teeth and freckle options.  There is also a natural base layer in each shade that also includes all the various options.  They are exclusively available right now at Skin & Shape Expo here. ]
Hair:  Pale 01: Elikatira: Comfort; 02: 69: Keri
          Medium 06: Elikatira: Me; 07: LeLutka: Rykiel
          Dark 03: Elikatira: Mood; 04: Mina: Thulani
          Body Shot: Medium08: LeLutka: Rykiel
Bathing Suit: Mimikri: Starlet Bikini

Culture Shock: Orion / Di's Opera / Mango Mango

First off, my apologies for the blogging gap, but several RL obligations have kept me from doing much on SL this week besides checking messages and sorting out a few things.  Right now there are so many events going on, many being fundraisers for awesome charities, that it is difficult to decide where to go first.  Both Skin Fair and Culture Shock will be ending on May 22nd so if you've not made it to either, now is a great time to go.

Orion Gant of Orion does great things with sculpts in his clothing and I've picked up many pieces over time.  He has 3 items where a portion of the proceeds will be donated to Doctors Without Borders as well as a new dress that is one of my favorites.

Summer Flowers comes in four colors with a dramatic sculpted skirt and floral trim on top.  The sculpts are modify and copy so you can adjust it to fit your personal shape.  Sileny Noel, of Mango Mango, has the lovely Vintage Sweetie skin available at Culture Shock and it was perfect for the clean retro look I was going for with Orion's clothes.  It is available in five skin tones.

Sileny has included many options in each skin pack.  I love her freckles but it also includes a non-freckled version as well as cleavage and various brow options.  She also made a full body freckle tattoo layer that I just love and you can pick up at Culture Shock.

I've way too many leggings (and skin and hair and shoes and dresses and poses and houses, etc.) and I've been starting to thin them out but the Zebra leggings from Orion are becoming fast favorites for me.  I really like the shading on them with adds to their realism.  The sculpted bottoms include both a copy/mod version and a resize scripted pair so that you can fuss with them to get them just right.  I've been completely gonzo for Di's Opera's Old Luggage set, also at Culture Shock.  There are three different bags as well as special poses (one shown above) included in the set.   It my latest fix for pixelated retro items.

One of my friends calls this my Bo-Peep dress but I've also been called Florence Henderson and Bea Arthur and I adore the Arienette 2 Dress. The Custard version above is exclusive to Culture Shock and I love it because I could play this dress so many different ways.  It could easily get myself up like campy Bo-Peep or grunge it up with heavy boots and messy hair, but I'm not going for Look of the Day here. I want you to see the hard work Orion put into the sculpts on this dress. Again, its modifiable for your fitting needs.

I need to get back to Culture Shock and get another good luck before all the wonderful exclusive items are gone after May 22.  For a map and complete list of store locations visit here.

Credits: (Culture Shock slurls should direct you to each store)
Photo 1:
Dress: Orion: Summer Flower - Rose: available at Culture Shock
Bracelets: Mandala: Milky Way Bangles
Hair: fri.day: Tatum
Skin: Mango Mango: Vintage Sweetie - Pale: available exclusively at Culture Shock
Photo 2:
Leggings: Orion: Zebra Leggings (also available in blue): available exclusively at Culture Shock
Shirt: GField: Ruffle Tops: Turquoise: available at Culture Shock: this one was free!
Bag/Pose: Di's Opera: Old Luggage: available exclusively at Culture Shock
Shoes: Theosophy: Caerau Ribbon Pumps
Necklace: Bliensen & MaiTai: Beware of Wolves: available exclusively at Culture Shock
Hair: Truth: Trinity
Photo 3
Dress: Orion: Arienette 2: Custard: available exclusively at Culture Shock
Bag: Di's Opera: Old Luggage: available exclusively at Culture Shock
Necklace: Artilleri: Chunky Bead Necklace (I've had this piece forever so Im not sure its still available)
Hair: Clawtooth: Woman of the Year