Tweed

-siss boom- reopened recently with an adorable new mesh release titled Afternoon.  The one thing that I have always loved about the products from this designer are the textures; they are very soft and feminine... very much like something I would wear in my real life.  Nine colors and textures are available, and your purchase includes five mesh sizes and an alpha layer.  Demos are always free at -siss boom-.

I have been wanting to visit Amorous jewelry for a while and finally decided to do so with this post.  The designs offered at this store are very interesting, and the amount of product you get for you money is wonderful.  I'm wearing the Cathartik set; both the necklace and earrings are included in your purchase.  The gems are color change and include ten different choices.


Credits
Clothing: Afternoon in Tweed by -siss boom-
Shoes: Ruffled Flats in Brown by Cracked Mirror
Jewelry: Cathartik by Amorous
Hair: Fight in Brown 08 by [elikatira]
Skin: Mary Natural 29 by Glam Affair (No longer available - Previous TDR item)
Makeup: Black Eyeliner Gentle Fume by Acid & Mala
Eyes: Eternal Eyes in Glass by IKON
Lashes: 2011 Lashes Curl by LeLutka
Hands: Mesh Hands Elegant by Slink
Poses: [1] Just Shut Up 8 and [2] Freestylin' 1 by !bang 30% Off Sale Main Store
Location: Whispering Wind

Pieces of My Closet XI

Sorting through my inventory is always interesting, but I've had a reoccurring problem of forgetting not only about the things that are unorganized but also forgetting what I have in the organized section of my inventory.  I came across a blog about a visual inventory organizer on Every Second Man yesterday that had me very intrigued.  I checked out the marketplace listing and thought that the system was a bit pricey; I definitely was not about ready to shell out 699L for a product that I wasn't sure would work for me.  Fortunately, the designer has a very thorough website with an example of how the system works.  In short, this program is designed to allow you to efficiently organize and catalog your inventory with pictures and custom tags.  I honestly do not know how I have survived without this for the past three years; it is most definitely worth 699L plus some.  If you want to use the wardrobe to not only organize your inventory but to be able to wear outfits directly from it, you do have to be using a RLV capable viewer.  No matter the size of your inventory, I highly recommend this product.

I'm not typically a fan of system layer dresses that have a prim piece stuck between the legs; too often the prim piece is shaded differently than the dress, and it just ends up looking bad.  I made an exception with the Malika dress by Baiastice (since the items from this brand are extremely well made!) that I found in my inventory.  I had been wearing the boots by LaRoo the entire time while sorting in the hope of finding something that would look good with them.  For some reason, when I saw the dress with the boots I was instantly reminded of a favorite movie from my childhood.... Teen Witch.  The combination looked like something Louise would have worn.  Unfortunately, the dress by Baiastice is an old Dressing Room item that is no longer available; the designer does have similar type designs offered in her store, some of which are mesh.

So the boots by LaRoo aren't technically something old that I rediscovered in my inventory, but they were already there when I started sorting this week; so, that should count for something!  LaRoo is a newly formed collaboration brand between Cracked Mirror and CrashOV Uladstron; all designs offered by this brand are completely original mesh creations.  The Clyde Boots are available in twelve colors and feature a partially laced shoe with a girly touch of studs adorning the toe and heel of the shoes.  A free demo is available for you to try, or you could pick up the free Christmas version via the subscriber; simply click the board to receive the shoes.


Credits
Clothing: [Dress] Malika in Scarlet Red by Baiastice (No longer available) and [Tights] Sheer Tights in Black by Izzie's
Shoes: Clyde Boots in Black by LaRoo Shoes
Jewelry: Chouette Earrings in Gray by je suis
Hair: Lewna in Indecisive Blonde 2 by ploom 50% Off Sale
Skin: Mistletoe (With Love Hunt 2011) by Atomic (No longer available)
Makeup: Black Eyeliner Gentle Fume by Acid & Mala
Eyes: Eternal Eyes in Storm by IKON
Lashes: 2011 Curl Lashes by LeLutka
Hands: Mesh Hands Casual by Slink
Pose: Moody 2 by aDORKable Poses @ Zodiac
Location: MadPea Carneval

Obscure

I hope everyone has had a great couple of weeks since the last time I posted.  A combination of a large amount of real life work to complete and a new found addiction to Pretty Little Liars has kept me away, but I should be back on a regular basis now.  I really need to stop finding new shows to watch on Netflix... especially when they have 2+ seasons available for you to watch.  I get so sucked in and then just have to keep watching episode after episode.  Lol  I suppose I could have worse addictions.

I came across the oversized sweatshirt I'm wearing when I was covering FROST for Seraphim.  I have to admit that I have always been a bit turned off by the store name Cynful since it doesn't really sound very conservative at all.  I shouldn't judge a book by its cover, right?  After checking out the designer's profile, I think the name of the store may actually be a play off of her name, Cynthia Ultsch.  Curiosity lead me to check out the main store location, and I actually do like quite a few of the designs available.  Perhaps you will be seeing more from this store on my blog in the future.  The oversized sweatshirt is available in six colors and includes five mesh sizes and an alpha layer; a free demo is available for your convenience.

Izzie's is participating in this month's round of Collabor88 with an exclusive version of Geanna available in two skin tones, fair and pale.  Each skin includes four brow colors, a nail base and a brow shape.  A free demo is available for you to try; you may also want to snag the exclusive nails by Izzie's while you are there which include nine colors and three sizes.     

A new jewelry set was recently released by je suis titled Chouette.  Eleven strap colors are available for both the necklace and the earrings.  The pearls and metal pieces are both color change; ten colors are included for the pearls and five colors are included for the metal pieces.  The jewelry is resizable by script.  While you are at je suis, check out the We Are Back! section; a lot of previous event exclusives have been placed out for a limited time.  Grab them while you still can!

LaRoo Shoes officially opened their main store location about a week and a half ago with two new releases.  All designs by the two founders of the brand are completely original mesh creations.  The Arsene Boots are available in twelve colors and come with twelve strap colors and four heel colors changeable via a HUD.  The boots are extremely well made; the mesh is very smooth and the straps give a little extra dimension to the look of the shoe.  I honestly love how mesh boots bend with my avatar's legs.  I used to avoid boots when we had to rely on prims and sculpts because boots that contained two or more pieces per shoe could end up looking extremely odd when walking or posing.  That is something that we thankfully don't have to deal with anymore since mesh has come along.  A free demo is available for your convenience.


Credits
Clothing: [Top] Oversized Sweatshirt in Snow by [Cynful] @ FROST and [Leggings] Sheer Tights Colors in Pink by Izzie's
Shoes: Arsene in Black by LaRoo Shoes
Jewelry: [Necklace] Chouette Necklace in Gray and [Earrings] Chouette Earrings in Gray by je suis
Hair: Indulge in Brown 03 by [elikatira]
Skin: Geanna Frostbite Skin Pale DB by Izzie's @ Collabor88
Makeup: Black Eyeliner Gentle Fume by Acid & Mala
Eyes: Eternal Eyes in Storm by IKON
Lashes: 2011 Curl Lashes by LeLutka
Hands: Mesh Hands Relax by Slink
Poses: [1] Model 219, [2] Model 228 and [3] Model 254 by Glitterati
Location: Pretty Island

O Little Town

It's funny how simple things can trigger so many memories.  I had a flood of them come back to me while I was shopping The Arcade last weekend.  I remember wearing footie pajamas as a child, and the holiday town was something I just could no go without getting.  I suppose that some things are sentimentally invaluable.

My sisters and I grew up in a single parent home; we actually all lived with my grandparents until I was eight years old.  My mom was there with us, but she didn't make enough money for us to live on our own.  I never felt weird or different because of where we lived; I loved spending time with my grandmother and would never trade those moments for anything.  My grandmother was truly like a second mother to my sisters and me, and there hasn't been a day in the past seven years that I haven't missed her.

My grandparents' house was really old; parts of it were over 100 years old (there had been additional sections added over the years).  The age made the house a bit drafty, and there definitely hadn't been any updates to add central heating and cooling.  Needless-to-say, it got cold in the winter.  Mom would always have us wear footie pajamas to stay warm, and when it got really cold, we would move one of the mattresses into the living room where there was a fireplace (Don't worry... it was a large living room, and we were a safe distance away from the fireplace).  I know it probably sounds silly, but I sometimes miss the days of us all being snuggled up together trying to stay warm.  I did have a taste of this a few years ago, however, when our electricity went out for five days after a massive snow storm; we were once again all snuggled up by the fireplace.

I hadn't thought about wearing those pajamas for years until I saw the footie pajamas by Cracked Mirror at The Arcade.  Eight common colors/textures and two rare textures are available.  A rare item is designated as such because there is a much smaller chance that you will get one of these items compared to the common items.  When playing the gacha, you have to choose one of five mesh sizes that you want your prize to come in; a free demo is available for you to check out before you make your gamble at 50L per play.

As I mentioned earlier, when I was eight we were finally able to get our own house.  It was bittersweet since I loved spending so much time with my grandmother, but we did need our own space to grow in at the same time.  I still got to spend a lot of time with my grandma though since she only lived half a mile away; she watched us after school, and I stayed all night with her almost every weekend.

I know most children look forward to putting up a tree every Christmas... and I did as well, but what I really looked forward to was putting up our Christmas village that we got after moving to our new house.  That was my job every year!  We had glass coffee tables, and I would use two of them for the town.  One table was taller than the other; so, it added a little bit of depth to the overall look.  I was so careful when placing each of the fragile pieces, hooking the lights up to them, spreading all the snow around, deciding where the frozen pond was going to go, adding trees all over the place... The list goes on and on.  I loved that village so much!  My mother does still have it, and even though I'm no longer there to put it out each year, I still look forward to seeing it when I stop by her house.

I suppose I will need to purchase my own Christmas village someday, but when I saw the village by PILOT at The Arcade, I knew that I had to have it for my virtual home. There are eight common pieces to the set and two rare pieces.  I really wish that I had had a display table like the one that was made for this set; I guess I can keep that in mind when I purchase a real life set for my house.  The pieces are very low prim ranging from one to nine land impacts each (Only one house is nine... all the rest are three or less).  I love how much detail can be put into mesh pieces at such a low land impact cost.  It really is amazing!  The gacha is 50L per play, and I must warn you... it is very addictive trying to get all of the pieces!

Credits
Clothing: Footie Pajamas in Pink by Cracked Mirror @ The Arcade
Hair: Kimmi in Dirty by Illusory (Re-branded Auxiliary)
Skin: Geanna Frostbite Skin Pale BLB by Izzie's @ Collabor88
Makeup: [Eyeliner] Black Eyeliner Gentle Fume by Acid & Mala
Eyes: Eternal Eyes in Storm by IKON
Lashes: 2011 Lashes Curl by LeLutka
Hands: Mesh Hands Relaxed by Slink
Props: Christmas Village by PILOT @ The Arcade and Friendship Bear by Damien Fate Free
Build: The Porcelain by [ABODE] (No longer available)
Poses: [1] Floored II 5 and [2] Flower Child 2 by aDORKable Poses

Caged

I haven't really had a lot of time this week to sort through inventory; so, I decided to forgo a Pieces post and do something with new items instead.  It seems that this time of the year is always so busy.  I am definitely ready for the holiday break!

I really love working with props and should probably use them a lot more than I do in my posts.  This full mesh prop is the latest release by Diesel Works titled Nightingale's Sorrow; it comes loaded with fifteen fully adjustable poses.  Needless-to-say, it is perfect for dramatic shots.  If you are looking for something a little more cheerful, Diesel Works released a 'sister prop' in gold titled Nightingale's Glee; this version comes complete with a swing and sixteen fully adjustable poses.  Both props can be demoed at the main store location and are also available via the Second Life Marketplace.

The shoes I'm wearing today are a new release by the recently opened LaRoo Shoes.  This brand is a collaboration between Cracked Mirror and CrashOV Uladstron that features entirely original mesh shoes.  The Anca Boots are available at the current round of FaMESHed; there are twelve beautiful colors to choose from, and each color includes twelve strap color options changeable via a HUD.  Four sizes are included in the purchase, and a free demo is available for your convenience.

Credits
Clothing: Needful Things Romper in Black Raven by JANE Free
Shoes: Anca Boots in Red by LaRoo Shoes @ FaMESHed Main Store Coming December 7th
Hair: UKA687 in Black by booN
Skin: Geanna Skin Pale DB by Izzie's
Makeup: [Eyeshadow] Fuyu Eyeshadow Silver by Izzie's (Included with Fuyu Skin purchase), [Lips] Lipstick Dark Red by Izzie's (Included with Geanna Skin purchase) and [Eyeliner] Black Eyeliner Gentle Fume by Acid & Mala
Eyes: Eternal Eyes in Storm by IKON
Lashes: 2011 Lashes Curl by LeLutka
Hands: Mesh Hands Casual by Slink
Poses: [All] Nightingale's Sorrow Prop by Diesel Works

Gacha

I definitely have a shopping problem when it comes to gachas... Especially with all the cute new items that are available at The Arcade which opened a new round yesterday.  I keep thinking... "Oh, that's not that much money," and end up spending a ton before I realize how much that little bit of money has added up.  They are really fun, though, and you can get a lot of cute stuff that makes great stocking stuffers.

The best feeling at gacha events is getting the product that you wanted on your very first try.  You feel like you have completed some magnificent feat.  Well, that's how I felt when I landed the slate color of Tulip's cute mesh sweater anyway.  Nine colors of the shirt are available at 50L per play; be sure to try on the free demo before you buy since you have to choose the size of your shirt to play.

I've never really been much of a 'big bows on your head' type of girl, but the mesh bow from Auxiliary at The Arcade was absolutely too adorable for me to pass up.  There are ten total colors of the bow with studded and unstudded versions available at 50L per play; the studded bows are a 'rare' item which means you have less of a chance to score one than the unstudded bows.  

Bright lemon yellow pants are definitely not my usual style, but I think they just go with this outfit.  When I was searching for flat shoes last weekend I ran across these pants from Cracked Mirror and knew that I wanted to blog them.  Although you cannot see it my pictures, the pants have a really cute white belt attached.  They are definitely a versatile piece that can be dressed up or down.  I got the gray pair first, but they just didn't do it for me with the color of the shirt; so, I decided to spice it up a bit and go with a color I would typically find outlandish.  Your purchase includes five mesh sizes and an alpha layer; a free demo is available for your convenience.

Are the phone poses not adorable?  I wouldn't really expect anything else from aDORKable Poses, though!  The With Love Hunt started last Friday, and the Call Me set is aDORKable's prize for the event.  The collection includes ten poses with mirror poses and the cell phone prop for each pose.  Items in the hunt cost a mere 10L each but are worth at least 400L each; you definitely can't beat ten poses with props for such a low price!  While you are at aDORKable Poses, be sure to get the free pose the designer has set out for Christmas; a total of twenty-five poses will be given away, but only one pose per day is available.  So, you have to come back every day!

My husband suggested that I take a picture of what the photo would have looked like if the phone had actually taken the picture.  I have to admit, it was a cute idea, and I liked the way it turned out!


Credits
Clothing: [Top] Baggy Sweatshirt in Slate by tulip. @ The Arcade and [Pants] Mambo Jeans in Yellow by Cracked Mirror
Accessory: Slouchy Leather Bow Studded in Brick by Auxiliary @ The Arcade
Shoes: Ruffled Flats in Ruby Red by Cracked Mirror
Hair: Reema by Alice Project
Skin: Geanna Skin Pale DB by Izzie's
Makeup: [Eyeshadow] Geanna Eyeshadow Teal by Izzie's (Included with purchase of Geanna Skin) and [Eyeliner] Black Eyeliner Gentle Fume by Acid & Mala
Eyes: Eternal Eyes in Storm by IKON
Lashes: 2011 Lashes Curl by LeLutka
Hands: Mesh Hands Casual by Slink
Poses: [1] Call Me 1 and [2] & [3] Call Me 4 by aDORKable Poses With Love Hunt 10L
Location: Virtue

Pieces of My Closet X

I'm a day late on my Pieces post this week, but it's all good!  Sometimes, real life just gets in the way of other things we like to enjoy, and there is no need to stress out about deadlines that we set ourselves.  I hope you are all having a fabulous, and less busy than I am, week!

I distinctly remember buying the outfit I'm wearing by coldLogic; I picked it up simply because I liked the colors.  I honestly don't think I have ever worn it before.  There are probably way too many outfits scattered around my inventory that have gotten there the same exact way.  But, that is part of what this cleaning journey is all about... organization and rediscovering loved items lost in my huge item count.  Like all coldLogic pieces, both the top and the capris come in standard sizes, and free demos are available.

The necklace I'm wearing is a piece by Izzie's which I had completely forgotten about as well.  Big chunky pieces are not something I typically like wearing in my real life; I definitely prefer smaller jewelry that doesn't attract a lot of attention.  But, part of the beauty of Second Life is that I can wear things that I think are beautiful but don't have the confidence to wear in my real life!  The necklace is available in sixteen colors which can be purchased individually or as a fatpack.


Credits
Clothing: [Top] Gilbert in Beach by coldLogic and [Pants] May in Clementine by coldLogic
Jewelry: 50's Pearl Necklace in Teal by Izzie's
Hair: La La La in Coffee by Clawtooth
Skin: Geanna Skin Pale DB by Izzie's
Makeup: [Eyeshadow] Geanna Eyeshadow Teal by Izzie's (Included with purchase of Geanna Skin) and [Eyeliner] Black Eyeliner Gentle Fume by Acid & Mala
Eyes: Eternal Eyes in Storm by IKON
Lashes: 2011 Lashes Curl by LeLutka
Hands: Mesh Hands Casual by Slink
Pose: Go-Go 4 by aDORKable Poses 50% Off Sale
Location: Sea Salts

Foggy Morning

The final round of FAIR opened last weekend which is where I found the adorable sweater I'm wearing by Zenith.  I'm almost always cold and wearing sweaters in my real life; so, my pictures today are definitely a reflection of the real me.  I've loved Zenith for a very long time and was really excited to see that they are now making mesh items.  After nearly a year of wearing mesh clothing, it is really difficult for me to wear outfits with prims and sculpts even from my favorite designers.  The sweater is available in six colors and includes five sizes, an alpha layer and a color change HUD for buttons and leather pieces.  A free demo is available for your convenience.

I couldn't believe how incredibly difficult it was to find a pair of flat shoes to go with this outfit.  I have the set by [elikatira] that I wear all the time, but I wanted to change it up a bit.  I considered the flats with bows by mon tissu, but the texture on the bow really didn't go with the look.  I wanted something that was frilly and not just a plain flat shoe.  With the help of the lovely people on my Plurk timeline, I finally (after two hours of searching) settled on the pair from Cracked Mirror.  The Ruffled Flats are absolutely adorable; they are available in twelve colors and can be purchased as singles or in a fatpack.  A free demo is also available for your to check out.


Credits
Clothing: [Top] Billie Lace Tank in Cream by Pink Outfitters 50L Sale, [Sweater] Hoodie Sweater Coat in Cocoa by Zenith Fashions @ FAIR and [Pants] Cotton Pants in Army Green by mon tissu
Jewelry: Voyante Necklace Plain Long by je suis 50% Off Black Friday Sale
Shoes: Ruffled Flats in Brown by Cracked Mirror
Hair: Details in Brown 08 by [elikatira]
Skin: Geanna Skin Pale DB by Izzie's
Makeup: [Eyeshadow] Geanna Eyeshadow Moss by Izzie's (Included with purchase of Geanna Skin) and [Eyeliner] Black Eyeliner Gentle Fume by Acid & Mala
Eyes: Eternal Eyes in Storm by IKON
Lashes: 2011 Lashes Curl by LeLutka
Hands: Mesh Hands Casual by Slink
Poses: [1] Elegant 2 by aDORKable Poses 50% Off Sale and [2] Clever 3 by aDORKable Poses @ Zodiac
Location: Mer de Trudeau

Pieces of My Closet IX

My outfit this week is completely inspired by Black Friday shopping.  I don't participate in real life (I tried that once, and it didn't work out so well.), but I know there will be lots of sales in Second Life as well; so, of course Seraphim is covering it!  We wanted to do a group shot to head the coverage page, but I didn't really want to go out and buy a new outfit.  So... I decided to pair it up with my Pieces of My Closet post!

When I think of all day shopping, the first thought that comes to mind is to wear something that is comfortable but still cute.  I had completely forgotten about purchasing this top from Maitreya.  I'm almost positive that I bought it for a 52 Weeks of Color post, but the color wasn't close enough to what I was looking for.  So, like everything else, it got lost in my inventory.  The sweater is available in twelve colors and includes four sizes and an alpha layer; a free demo is available for your convenience.

I know that I said absolutely no new purchases for my inventory cleaning posts, but since I actually bought this stunning hair by Alice Project for the Seraphim photo... that lets me off the hook for wearing it for this post as well... Right?  Thought so!  I first remember coming across this designer when I was covering Hair Fair this past summer.  I thought it was odd that the hair comes in a base color and you have to change the color via HUD, but the more I think about it, the more genius I realize it is.  Since these posts are all about reducing the number of items in my inventory, one hair with a HUD instead of multiple items for all the different colors really helps to get my inventory smaller!  Your purchase comes with a mini dye HUD that includes ten natural colors and twenty more 'colorful' colors; you also have options to tint the ends of the hair with dark, light or white.  If those aren't enough colors for you, Alice Project also has other dye HUDs available for purchase!  Demos are free; so, I definitely recommend checking these out.


Credits:
Clothing: [Top] Athena Sweater in Black by Maitreya and [Pants] Leggings in Pearl by Maitreya
Jewelry: Jackie Nekclace by LaGyo
Hair: Yuri by Alice Project @ Around the World
Skin: Geanna Skin Pale DB by Izzie's
Makeup: [Eyeshadow] Geanna Eyeshadow Silver and [Lips] Lipstick Dark Red by Izzie's (Included with purchase of Geanna Skin); [Eyeliner] Black Eyeliner Gentle Fume by Acid & Mala
Eyes: Eternal Eyes in Storm by IKON
Lashes: 2011 Lashes Curl by LeLutka
Pose: Elegant 2 by aDORKable Poses 50% Off Sale
Location: Mayfair

Unhinged

I know there has been a lot of controversy over events (especially charity events) lately, but I personally love them!  I like the convenience of having many designers set up items in one location, I like the interaction with people I meet at events, and most of all... I really love how Second Life residents come together to help people in need.  I don't think that anyone could deny the compassion and willingness to give of Second Life residents.  Unhinged is a charity event from Elysium Hynes and Sonya Marmurek for a friend (Eku Zhong) who has suffered many medical problems including multiple sclerosis, cancer, radiation treatments, and bone replacements and marrow transplants.  Repeated treatments has left Eku's skull very fragile, and she now needs a prosthesis to reduce (or eliminate) the possibility of her temporal bone being pushed into her brain.  Unhinged will be running through December 15th; so, there is plenty of time left for you to purchase products to help raise money for the prosthesis or jump over to attend one of the music events and donate to the cause.

The shirt I am wearing is one of the designs being offered by Geometry to help raise money for Eku.  Your purchase includes two shirt styles, five sizes of each style and two alpha layers.  The top is offered in nine colors, and a free demo is available for your convenience.

If you have been wanting to try the adorable poses I use so often in my photos, now is the perfect time! Through December 1st, all singles, couples, groups and props have been discounted by 50%; this sale does not include items located in the discount room and collaboration poses. After teleporting to the SIM, you will need to use the teleport board to get to the aDORKable Poses shop (or just follow the red arrow).


Credits
Clothing: [Top] Eku Tank in Pink by Geometry @ Unhinged and [Pants] Leggings in Black by Maitreya
Shoes: Flower Flats in Black by Izzie's
Hair: Interrupt in Black 04 by [elikatira]
Skin: Geanna Skin Pale DB by Izzie's
Makeup: [Eyeshadow] Geanna Eyeshadow Silver and [Lips] Lipstick Pink by Izzie's (Included with purcahse of Geanna Skin); [Eyeliner] Black Eyeliner Gentle Fume by Acid & Mala
Eyes: Eternal Eyes in Storm by IKON
Hands: Mesh Rigged Hands in Elegant and Elegant 1 by Slink
Poses: [1] Bag Lady II 3 and [2] Breezy 2m by aDORKable Poses 50% Off Sale
Location: Black Kite

Pieces of My Closet VIII

I have to say that I am extremely proud of myself for consistently working on cleaning out my inventory for an entire month now!  I have only dropped a few thousand in item numbers, but I think I may have finally convinced myself that I will get there.  Eventually.

The dress I'm wearing tonight is by Baiastice and was featured at Fairy Tales this past summer.  I really love events in Second Life because more often than not I find new to me designers; I also love walking around the venues and looking at the creative architecture the builders have come up with.  The aspect of participating in said events that can be a bit overwhelming, however, is the volume of items available.  Many times I want to feature so many of the items available, but I simply do not have the time.  Perhaps that is part of the reason I started blogging for SeraphimSL... You do technically get to show all of the pieces, but in a summarized fashion.  What can I say... I really love sharing what I find!  The dress is available at the Baiastice main store location and is offered in eight colors which include five mesh sizes and an alpha layer; a free demo is available.

I'm not sure when or where I picked up this hair by Raspberry Aristocrat, but it is quite gorgeous, and I'm very glad that I rediscovered it.  It could very well have also been a piece I picked up at an event (Hair Fair perhaps?) and forgot/lost/misplaced in my unruly inventory.  The hair is available at Raspberry Aristocrat's main store and is available in nine color packs, a mixed pack and a fatpack.


Credits
Clothing: *Lily Mesh Dress in Gold by Baiastice
Jewelry: VernaRose by Alienbear's Designs
Hair: Beth in Brown Bittersweet by Raspberry Aristocrat
Nails: *Metal Stripe Nails by Izzie's
Skin: *Geanna Skin Pale DB by Izzie's
Makeup: [Eyes] *Geanna Eyeshadow Moss and [Lips] *Lipstick Brown by Izzie's (Included with purchase of Geanna Skin)
Poses: [1 and 2] *Pencil II 2 by aDORKable Poses
Location: The Pixel Bean Coffeehouse

* Denotes promotional copy.

Retro

When The Secret Store released the Rise Skinny Jeans a couple weeks back, I instantly fell in love.  I'm not much into the ultra low rise jeans that have been popping up all over the grid lately, and this style is definitely a nice alternative to that.  However, I still had a dilemma with the gorgeous pants.  I had no idea where I would find a top to show off the cute high waste cut.  That problem was quickly solved with the new round of FaMESHed; The Secret Store released Sweet Sheer at the venue which obviously goes quite well with the pants.  The Rise Skinny Jeans are offered in eight colors (four classic and four pastel) and include five sizes and an alpha layer; a free demo is available.  Sweet Sheer is also offered in eight colors and includes five sizes and an alpha layer; a free demo is also available with this design.  If you are looking for a great value, The Secret Store is offering both the pants and the shirt in a special color for Lazy Sunday.

Izzie's released a new skin this past week titled Geanna.  It should be no secret by now how much I love the skins by this designer; her designs are absolutely stunning and you get so much for what you are paying.  The skin is available in ten tones and includes a modifiable body shape, freckles on tattoo layers, four brow colors (with the exception of the mocha, cocoa, ebony and dark tones which contain only one brow color), cleavage options, nail bases, twelve lipsticks, eleven eyeshadows, eyeliner and an eyebrow shape; as always, a free demo is available for your convenience.

The perfect addition to any wardrobe always has to be items that are modifiable... And it is even better when the modifiable piece is jewelry!  I was looking for a simple pearl set yesterday when putting this outfit together and thought about the sets by Yummy Accessories at a previous Collabor88 event.  Unfortunately, I hadn't picked any of them up; so, I said a little prayer and teleported on over to the main store to see if by chance they had been put out there.  They have been and are still set at only 88L for the necklace, earrings and bracelet set.  Four versions of the white unrigged mesh jewelry sets are available and are all completely modifiable.  Don't forget to make a copy of any item before you start to modify it just in case you have an oops moment, and trust me, I have plenty of them myself.

Although I love all the pose sets by aDORKable Poses, I honestly never thought I would use any of the Floored poses that were released a couple weeks ago.  I'm just not a sitting down in pictures kind'a gal.  When I was thinking about what type of photos I wanted to shoot for this outfit, however, one of my first thoughts was sitting on the counter of a retro diner.  Adorable picnic tables at a retro diner shop worked just as well though!  Two sets of the poses are available with each containing five poses plus mirror poses.  Demos of the poses are available.


Credits:
Clothing: [Top] Sweet Sheer in Candy by The Secret Store @ FaMESHed and [Pants] Rise Skinny Jeans in Black Denim by The Secret Store
Jewelry: Timeless Pearls Single Strand by Yummy Accessories (Modified)
Shoes: Millside Flats in Onyx by [elikatira]
Hair: Rumor in Black 04 by [elikatira]
Nails: *Fall/Winter 2012 Classic Nails by Izzie's
Skin: *Geanna Skin Pale DB by Izzie's
Makeup: [Eyes] *Geanna Eyeshadow Pink and [Lips] *Lipstick Rose by Izzie's (Included with Geanna Skin purchase)
Poses: [1] *Honey 5m and [2] *Floored II 5m by aDORKable Poses
Location: Artilleri

* Denotes promotional copy.

Pieces of My Closet VII

I wasn't sure that I was going to be able to get this week's addition to the Pieces of My Closet series finished in time.  I typically give myself a few days to get my photos ready for my blog; with work and just life in general, there aren't enough hours in my day left to sit down and do a complete blog post in one go.  I sorted through my inventory Monday and got rid of over 1,000 items (Yay!), shot the photos yesterday and edited them both today.  I learned how to use a new PhotoShop tool... the magnetic lasso.  I have to say that I think it really does make a difference in the depth of field look compared to when I was just using the regular lasso tool.  I'm learning... little by little!

The pants I'm wearing are one of my favorite pair in all of my inventory.  They were one of the first mesh releases by Janie Marlow at JANE; in case that name sounds familiar to you, Janie is also one of the co-founders of coldLogic.  She retired these pants a few months ago since they were released before standard sizing came out; you can still find a lot of great pants at both JANE and coldLogic, however.

I'm pretty sure that the top I'm wearing from LeeZu was picked up on a whim because I saw the entire fatpack on sale for a very cheap price.  I have a feeling that a lot of items have ended up in my overgrown inventory because of impulsive buying.  I'm not sure I ever tried the top on before I found it while sorting through my inventory, but I do like the design even if it is a bit impractical for keeping you warm.  But, since avatars can't feel, who cares?!  Lol  The top is still available in four colors at 50L each or 150L for the fatpack.

I'm still wearing the very beautiful skin Fuyu by Izzie's.  The great thing about a well made skin is that it can go with so many different looks.  Izzie's skins are gorgeous and a great value all at the same time.  When compared to a lot of skin stores in Second Life, her prices are very affordable and you get so many options for the cheaper price you are paying.  The skin is available in eight tones and includes a modifiable shape, optional freckles, four brow colors, optional cleavage, a nail base, twelve lipsticks, twelve eyeshadows, eyeliner, blush and an eyebrow shape:


Credits
Clothing: [Top] Nataly Mesh Pullover in OliveBrown by LeeZu (Available) and [Pants] Wide Leg Pants Zooey in Truffle by JANE (Currently Unavailable)
Jewelry: Baroque Earrings by Magic Nook (Available)
Shoes: Millside Flats in Desert by [elikatira] (Available)
Hair: She Sends Kisses in Bittersweet by Shag (Currently Unavailable)
Nails: *Long French Nails by Izzie's (Available)
Skin: *Fuyu Skin Pale LB by Izzie's (Available)
Makeup: [Eyes] *Fuyu Eyeshadow Autumn and [Freckles] *Fuyu Freckles Pale (Both included with skin purchase) by Izzie's (Avaialble)
Poses: [1] * Shy 4m and [2] *Side Pony 2 by aDORKable Poses (Available)
Location: Water Reserve

* Denotes promotional copy.

Textures

I got a bit braver this weekend playing with PhotoShop... I decided to work with textures!  I've seen a lot of other people do it with their photos and wanted to try it myself, but as I have stated many times, PhotoShop makes me nervous.  I would love to take at least one formal course dedicated specifically to the software, but for now, I will just have to keep working with YouTube tutorials.  Adding the texture to the photo was a lot easier than what I thought it was going to be; the difficult part was finding one that I liked.

As soon as I saw the new mesh top, titled Sanya Draped, from Zaara at FaMESHed, I knew I had to have it!  The flow of the shirt is absolutely stunning and the texture is so beautiful.  The top is available in twelve colors which can be purchased individually, in packs of 'gold' or 'silver' or as a fatpack.  Five sizes and two alpha layers are included, and a free demo is available.

I purchased my first pair of Maitreya mesh jeans to go with this outfit, and I must say that I am deeply in love!  They are a bit expensive for a pair of jeans (coming in at 420L per pair), but I don't regret spending the extra lindens on them because they are well worth it.  The shape is absolutely beautiful and the texture is amazing.  Even though you cannot see it in either of my pictures, my hinny looks amazing!  Your purchase includes twelve sizes and an alpha layer; you can purchase the jeans individually or in a fatpack for 1750L which is an excellent price for all eight colors (you save 1610L total). A free demo is available.

I'll be the first to admit that when it comes to accessorizing, I tend to stick with a necklace and some earrings.  I've never really bothered with nails before because I'm a little OCD when it comes to fitting them.  The nails from Izzie's are absolutely fool proof; simply size your hand to 5, 10, 15 or 20 and attach the appropriate nail size.  Don't panic if it doesn't look like they fit correctly when you are on your pose stand; as soon as you hop off, everything lines up just right.  The Metal Stripe nails are just one of three sets released by Izzie's this weekend.  This set includes thirty-four colors which are changeable via a HUD, scripted and unscripted versions, four sizes and thirteen modifiable nail bases on the gloves layer.  The nail bases work perfectly with Izzie's skins... I really love that convenience!  I loved how well the color of these nails matched up with the top from Zaara; I actually had a difficult time finding a pose to show the nails off because the pink portion of the nails was blending so well with the top.  These are a definite must have for any wardrobe!


Credits
Clothing: [Top] Sanya Draped in Fuschia by Zaara @ FaMESHed and [Pants] Flair Jeans in #8 by Maitreya
Jewelry: Alice Earrings by LaGyo
Shoes: Mesh Sequined Heels by DECO (Fifty Linden Friday)
Hair: Control in Black 04 by [elikatira]
Skin: *Fuyu Skin Pale DB by Izzie's
Makeup: [Eyes] *Fuyu Eyeshadow SilverPink and [Lips] *Lipstick Rasberry by Izzie's (Included with Fuyu Skin purchase)
Nails: *Metal Strip Nails by Izzie's
Poses: [1] *Breezy 5m and [2] *Pencil 10m by aDORKable Poses
Location: Petit Pas

* Denotes promotional copy.

Pieces of My Closet VI

Click here to see a larger photo.

I had originally planned for this photo to be my fifth entry in the Pieces of My Closet series, but I thought it might be a bit more appropriate as a "Halloween" release even though I'm not really into the holiday.  I had a lot of fun playing with the shadows in this photo; I ended up using a combination of shadows from the sun and shadows from a projector.  They are a little trippy, but I thought that might fit in with a padded room!

I honestly have no idea where I got the outfit I'm wearing by Nemesis.  I don't think that I have ever been to the main store location; so, I must have purchased it at a discount shop or an event.  I love the texture of the bodysuit; it adds just the right amount of highlights and shadows to give the system layer piece a sense of depth.  Unfortunately, Nemesis is currently closed, and there is no word on when or if it will reopen.

I would have loved to have purchased a new pair of mesh feet for this photo, but since these posts are supposed to be about me cleaning out my inventory and no adding to it, I used the prim feet that Maitreya released last year.  They are definitely still perfectly good bare feet, and I find tinting them to match my skin to be very easy.  A notecard is included with the purchase with RGB codes for many well known skin brands in Second Life.


Credits
Clothing: Friendship Bodysuit in Black by Nemesis (Currently unavailable)
Collar: Friendship Bodysuit Black Collar by Nemesis (Currently unavailable)
Feet: Bare Foot Tip-Toe by Maitreya (Available)
Hair: Hairbase Long in Black Coffee by Wasabi Pills (Available)
Skin: Grace Skin (LB)Buff Red Hot by Atomic - Rebranded Auxiliary (Currently unavailable)
Pose: *My Padded Room by aDORKable Poses

* Denotes promotional copy.

A Day in Black & White

To begin with, I hope all of those who are in the path of Hurricane Sandy remain safe throughout the coming week.  The local meteorologists are still not completely sure how the storm will affect the area in which I live... We have snow alerts for anywhere between a grassy coating to twelve inches.  Huge difference!  You are all in my thoughts and prayers.

I have always loved finding and exploring unique SIMs in Second Life.  Of course, as time has gone on it does take more to impress me, but Circa delivers uniqueness in spades.  The SIM is completely decorated in black and white; it feels like you are walking into an old stick figure cartoon.  If you want to visit the SIM and don't use a neutral windlight in your daily Second Life activities, I highly recommend using the region settings and setting your draw distance to at least 300 m.

The dress I'm wearing is a new mesh design from 22769 Casual Couture and is available at the new round of Zodiac which started a few days ago.  As most of you know, I have been blogging with SeraphimSL since the summer of 2011; the one thing I enjoy the absolute most about working for the coverage blog is the opportunity to discover new to me brands and watch them grow in skill over time.  I first came across 22769 Casual Couture while doing coverage of The Gallery Gift Shop some time last year; their designs were never bad, but the designers' skills have most definitely increased.  I am very excited to see where this brand goes in the future.  The dress I'm wearing comes in four designs, includes standard sizes and is available as a free demo.

Izzie Button released a new version of the Fuyu skin just in time for Halloween at The Costume Ball.  This tone is much lighter and worked great as a vampire skin for a Halloween party I attended last night.  The new set includes two brow colors, cleavage options, a nail base, four lipsticks and four glosses on tattoo layers, blush on a tattoo layer, an eyebrow shape and a modifiable body shape.  A free demo is available.

The stunning new eyes I am wearing are from Mayfly and are available to purchase as system eyes or mesh eyes.  Both packs include four versions with differing levels of white, but I personally prefer the mesh eyes.  They give a very realistic look to your avatar which is very important if you love doing head shots with photography; also, you can adjust the iris size of the eyes with the mesh version.  You get more options with mesh at the same price as the system layer eyes!


Credits
Clothing: Geometric Lotus Dress in Black Block by 22769 Casual Couture @ Zodiac
Jewelry: Never Earring Silver by Bens Beauty (Currently Unavailable)
Shoes: *Ute Mesh Pumps in Red by Baiastice
Eyes: *Liquid Light Mesh Eye in Pale True Grey by Mayfly
Hair: Shine in Black 04 by [elikatira]
Skin: *Fuyu Skin (Costume Ball Edition) DB by Izzie's @ The Costume Ball
Makeup: *Lipgloss Red by Izzie's (Included with Fuyu Skin)
Poses: [1] *Pencil II 10 and [2] *Odyssey 5m (Available @ Cinema) by aDORKable Poses
Location: Cica

* Denotes promotional copy.

Pieces of My Closet V

Click here for larger photo.

I first started the Pieces of My Closet series over a year ago to encourage myself to clean out my inventory on a regular basis.  As you can see, I've only made it to the fifth post in the series, and my inventory has grown much larger and much more unorganized.  Since I've been able to post consistently each Sunday for the past month without feeling overwhelmed, I've decided to start posting a new Pieces of My Closet installment every Wednesday to encourage myself, once again, to get my unruly inventory of 80K under control.  Every item I am wearing in these posts will be solely from my existing inventory... No new purchases!  Unfortunately, that does mean that some items may no longer be available.  If I am able to locate the products in the store, I will indicate that bit of information in the credits which are located at the bottom of each post.

The dress I'm wearing is by the very talented Lestat Reuven.  I came across this designer's store very early in Second Life and have always loved her pieces.  There is a very modern yet elegant feel to her designs.  If you appreciate designers who are willing and able to change, you will definitely love visiting her store.  Since I have known her, she has changed her store name from The French Farm to Wondrous Strange to Siss Boom... and not to mention how often she loves to change her building!  Her designs have also changed from formal ballgowns (which I totally used to rock on a daily basis) to a more classy casual feel (which I obviously love).  Lestat just recently returned to designing in Second Life and hasn't completely finished setting Siss Boom back up.  She does create mesh items that have very wonderful, soft textures.  If you are interested in wanting a heads up on new items, drop into her store and join the in world group.

I seriously doubt that I need to introduce Glam Affair to anyone who knows anything about fashion in Second Life.  The specific skin I'm wearing is a former Dressing Room item; to my knowledge, TDR skins from Glam Affair are event exclusives and are not available for purchase after their two week feature period at the venue.  There are, however, other tones and makeups for the Roza skin available at Glam Affair.  I really love this skin because it has such a mature and elegant look.  If you would like to try Roza, a free demo is available for purchase.

I fondly remember purchasing the Dream Booties by fri.day when I was very, very young in Second Life.  These shoes were the first good quality shoes I had ever purchased in world, and fri.day was having their annual sale... So, I got a good product at a great price.  I was so excited that I ended up buying every single color.  If you they are as gorgeous as I did... and still do... the shoes can still be purchased at fri.day for 100L each or 1,400L for the fatpack.


Credits
Clothing: *Devil May Care by Siss Boom (Currently unavailable)
Jewelry: Butterfly Collector Necklace by Yummy (Avaialble)
Shoes: Dream Booties in Copper by fri.day (Available)
Hair: Girlfriend in a Coma in Kit-Kat by !lamb. (Avaialble)
Skin: Roza in Natural Summer 01 D by Glam Affair (Currently unavailable)
Pose: *Poofy 9 by aDORKable Poses (Available)
Location: The Looking Glass

* Denotes promotional copy.

She's Got the Look

My husband is away on a trip with his dad this weekend which left me with a little extra time to play around with some photography effects I had been wanting to try.  I have always loved photos that incorporated the depth of field feature.  Unfortunately, my experiment was full of frustration and left me confused as to what I was doing wrong.  My viewer camera would capture in-world DoF when I took small snapshots, but the effect was completely lost when I switched to high resolution snapshots.  I took my frustration to Plurk where the lovely Harlow Heslop shared that this was very common.  On one hand, the information was a relief since I really hadn't been doing anything wrong with the viewer, but on the other hand, it stressed me a little to think that I would have to use PhotoShop to really get the effect that I wanted.  I panic a little every time I think about learning something new with PhotoShop... I'm not exactly good at it.  I ended up finding a very easy tutorial on how to create a depth of fiend effect in PhotoShop, and trust me... If I think it is easy, anyone can do it!

coldLogic released several new designs this past week, including the adorable skirt I'm wearing.  I have been in love with this brand's designs since their opening this past January.  They have a very classy casual look, and to be such high quality items, you can purchase them for an extremely reasonable price.  The Gemma skirt is available in four colors and includes standard sizes; the same skirt design is also offered under two other names (Glass and Giles) in four colors each.  The Matta shirt was released in early September and is also available in four colors with standard sizes included. All demos are free at coldLogic.

This entire look was inspired by such a simple item... The new tights from Izzie's!  Two packs of fifteen colors each were released this past week with one pack containing colors and the other pack containing the basics.  The tights come on the underpants and socks layers; they are modifiable which really allows you to make them your own and fit any look you are going for.

aDORKable Poses is participating in this month's round of My Second Box.  If you aren't familiar with this 'event,' each month you join the in-world group at a cost of 300L per month.  A selection of designers will send out samples of products via the group starting on the 15th of each month.  You have until the 25th to snag the items from the group's notices section; on the 26th of each month, everyone is ejected from the group and new enrollment will begin on the first of the next month.  If you would like to check out the featured designers and products before joining, check out the My Second Box website and Flickr.


Credits:
Clothing: [Top] Matta in White by coldLogic, [Skirt] Gemma in Charcola by coldLogic, [Undershirt] Intrinsic Top in Red Delicious by JANE (free) and [Stockings] *Sheer Tights in Cherry by Izzie's
Jewelry: Jackie by LaGyo @ The Dressing Room
Shoes: Amina Mesh Platform Booties in Black by Baiastice
Hair: Spark in Brown 08 by [elikatira]
Skin: *Fuyu Skin Pale DB by Izzie's
Makeup: [Eyeshadow] *Fuyu Eyeshadow Silver and [Lips] *Lipstick Cherry by Izzie's
Poses: [1] *Attitude 2m by aDORKable Poses @ My Second Box and [2] *Honey 1 by aDORKable Poses
Location: Izzie's

* Denotes promotional copy.

In the Spotlight

I think I may have overdone it just a tad with the number of pictures I have for my post this weekend, but I honestly couldn't help myself.  I finally figured out how to use a 'homemade' projector to create shadows in Second Life.  Two things I learned from the experience: (1) This technique can add a lot of drama to the picture, and (2) shadows produced on the body can be a little much.  I still need a lot of practice using this photography style, but I love learning and improving what I can do with photos. I would really love to learn how to do more Photoshop techniques... The really dramatic photos almost always seem to be heavily Photoshopped.

Cinema opened this weekend, and I must say that I am extremely impressed with the build.  The entire venue is mesh; the design is absolutely beautiful and the textures are so much fun.  When you go, be sure to turn the music on; it really adds to the experience.

The outfit I'm wearing is one of the creations available from Volstead at Cinema.  Before the event, I had never heard of this designer, but I immediately fell in love with all the products available in her booth.  Unfortunately, she does not have a shop in world to visit, but there are a few items on the Marketplace to check out.  It was very difficult to choose which dress I wanted to showcase and then even more difficult to choose what color I wanted to purchase.  Each color comes with two colors of lace.  I decided on the short and sexy yet conservative design that could be lingerie or simply a very sexy dress for a night out with a special someone.  The mesh fits me perfectly and moves so beautifully with my ava.  The textures are stunning and add so much depth to the design.  Five sizes are included with the purchase, but there is no alpha layer included; instead, the texture of the dress has been put on clothing layers to wear under the dress.  A free demo is available.

Izzie's released a new skin this past week titled Fuyu.  The thing I love the most about this new set is the eyeshadow!  I'm absolutely in love with the shimmer on the different colors; it looks very much like something I would wear in my real life.  The skin is available in eight tones and includes a modifiable shape, optional freckles, four brow colors, optional cleavage, a nail base, twelve lipsticks, twelve eyeshadows, eyeliner, blush and an eyebrow shape.  Each tone is priced at 1170L (with the exception of Mocha and Cocoa since these contain only one brow option), and a free demo is available.

All poses in this post are brand new from aDORKable Poses and are available at Cinema.  Four packs were released containing five poses each plus mirror poses.  Two couple poses are also available at Cinema.  I really need to log my husband's avatar in, give him a makeover and take some sappy couple pictures with him.  We celebrated our first anniversary this past week in real life, and I couldn't feel more blessed to have such an amazing person in my life.


Credits
Clothing: Liaison in Blush by Volstead @ Cinema
Jewelry: Timeless Pearl Earrings in Black Pearl by EarthStones
Stockings: Lace Pantyhose in Black A by Attitudes
Shoes: *Ute Mesh Pumps in Black by Baiastice
Hair: Morning in Black 04 by [elikatira]
Skin: *Fuyu Skin Pale DB by Izzie's
Makeup: *Fuyu Eyeshadow PinkBlue by Izzie's
Poses: [1] *Frontier 2 Mirror, [2] *Flux 2 Mirror, [3] *Element 2 and, [4] *Odyssey 1 by aDORKable Poses @ Cinema
Location: The Pixel Bean Coffeehouse

* Denotes promotional copy.

A Brisk Fall Day

I have always loved watching the leaves change colors each fall... Even if it means the trees will soon be bare for a good five months.  I have never been fond of the extremely hot temperatures that summer brings or the extremely cold temperatures that winter brings; spring and fall hold the wonderful in-between temperatures that I long for most of the year.

I have always preferred fall and winter fashion over spring or summer.  I love coats and sweaters and layers upon layers of warmth!  I'm very excited to see what designers put out this season; the quality of mesh has improved so much over the past year, and I am sure those newly found skills will shine through in their new releases.  I think I have a bit of an obsession with coats in my real life and my second life, but before mesh, I didn't purchase a lot of outerwear in world because the prims and sculpts simply did not look realistic.  Posing for photos with those primitive designs was a nightmare; mesh has most definitely made photography a lot easier.

The coat I'm wearing for this photo is NYU's contribution to the October collection of FaMESHed.  I love the high collar and the large buttons and buckle.  The texture is also amazing and adds a lot of depth and character to the piece.  The coat is available in nine wool colors, three leather colors and includes five sizes and an alpha layer.  As beautiful as the coat is, I do have to say that I would have loved it a little more if the backside had been a bit curvier; a flat behind is something I have never been accused of having... and I like it!

I know that I am a little late on the Maitreya mesh boots train, but when I saw the jacket, these boots were the only thing that I thought of to put with it!  Shoes are something I have never allowed myself to indulge in since good quality comes at a rather high price in world... and in real life to be honest.  I think I may allow myself to splurge a little more often than I have in the past to build up a nice variety for my inventory.  I have so many clothes... I'm sure I could spend a little less there to get a little more elsewhere.  The boots are available in twenty-five colors; if you would like to grab more than one color, it is more affordable to purchase a pack of three (1250L) than it is to purchase colors separately (750L each).  Of course the downfall to that strategy is that you cannot choose the three colors in a three pair pack.  Maitreya has also set out a pair of these boots in a tan color for only 225L for VIP members; the group is surprisingly absolutely free to join.

The perfect mesh accessory for this outfit came with LaGyo's addition to the latest release at The Dressing Room.  Titiana is a color change piece with three main colors and three metal colors.  I absolutely love texture change jewelry since it allows you to have so much variety for your money.


Credits
Clothing: Trench Coat in Wool Scarlet by NYU @ FaMESHed
Shoes: Radical Boots in Suede Coal by Maitreya
Jewelry: Titiana by LaGyo @ The Dressing Room
Hair: Control in Brown 08 by [elikatira]
Skin: *May Blackbird 2 in Sunset Light by Curio (Currently not available)
Poses: [1] *Go-Go 4 and [2] *Golightly 5 by aDORKable Poses
Location: Water Reserve

* Denotes promotional copy.

A Fair Trade

This past week has definitely been long and crazy.  Six days of working and one day off can be tiring to say the least.  With things as they are, however, I'm simply thankful to still have a job!  I hope all of you had a great week and will have an even better one in the week to come.

In my previous post, I mentioned changing the aim of my blog from one that simply publishes what I find stylish to one that publishes stylish items found at bargain prices.  While I do love finding amazing deals in real life and Second Life, I don't think that it is fair to the designer to simply purchase items that are free or very cheap.  Owning a store in Second Life is not free; tier fees and uploading designs costs designers money.  Also, the amount of time it takes to create original (and even template) items deserves to be compensated.  With that being said, I'm not limiting my blog to only free items or bargain items... I will be posting a mixture of full priced, bargains and gifts just as I always have.

The outfit I am wearing is made up mostly of bargain items and free gifts since I put this look together last weekend but didn't get a chance to post it until this weekend.  The dress I'm wearing is the VIP Group Gift at FaMESHed from Valentina E. Couture.  I honestly had never heard of this designer before checking out the September collection of FaMESHed, but after wearing this dress I am very much inclined to visit the main store location.  I have always loved gifts for the sole purpose of sampling the quality of the designs being offered by the vendor.  The mesh dress features a zebra pattern and a translucent overlay that softens the look of the outfit.  Joining the VIP group is absolutely free.  The FaMESHed venue is currently closed so that designers can switch out items for the new round starting tomorrow, October 1st.  However, it is very easy to use your cam controls to zoom into the building and snag the group gift just in case it disappears before tomorrow (I'm not sure how long gifts are available).

I know that it is really difficult... if not impossible... to see the earrings I am wearing.  For some reason, I never think about posing for the tiny things until I've taken my photos, done small edits (cropping, liquify, etc.) and am writing my post.  I picked up these cuties at a new event from CHIC Management called FAIR which encourages designers to set high quality items at fair prices instead of only at discounted prices.  I couldn't agree more with the goal of the new monthly event, but I must admit that I was a tad surprised and a bit curious to find a free gift at the event from the new store Stargazer.  Not that I mind free gifts (obviously)... I was just not expecting that at this event.  If you visit the main store location, you can find another free pair of earrings!  While you are there, join the VIP group which is free to join until October 1st.

I was so disappointed to have missed the annual [elikatira] sale last year; I was away getting married at the time and didn't get internet for almost two months after moving.  After being offline the past two or so months, I thought to check the notices in the VIP group and was ecstatic to see that the sale is now going on and I hadn't missed it a second year in a row!  If you haven't heard, [elikatira] has marked down every item in her store by 70% through October 1st (everything seems to be ending/beginning on that date!).  I know that I am giving you a very late heads-up about the sale, but you still have a chance to teleport in and snag hair and shoes at extremely cheap prices.  I have personally loved her designs for many years (even back to the ETD days) because of their classy, elegant styles.  I do believe that I just picked up every mesh style that I had missed from her while I was MIA and even some of her older sculpted hair.  If you have never tried an [elikatira] hair, right now is the perfect time!

I mentioned the new skin from Izzie's in my last post, but unfortunately the windlight I was using wasn't very good for showing off skin.  I wanted to give you a better, up close look at the skin in this post.  Faith is available in ten skin tones at just a shade over 1000L each.  With all that is included with these skins (check out my last post) and the quality with which they have been created, it would be very difficult to find a similar skin at a better price.

Poses have been one of my passions in Second Life for years... even before I started blogging.
Although I love poses and have collected so many, I still have only a handful of favorite pose designers... actually probably less than a handful.  aDORKable Poses is one brand that I always know I will be getting unique, quality and versatile poses with.  If you are just starting your own blog or if you are a veteran in the 'business', I highly recommend this designer.  Other than uniqueness, versatility and quality, I love the fact that all aDORKable sets come with mirror poses!  This feature has come in handy many, many times while photoing.  The two poses I used for the above photos are part of the Elegant set currently at Zodiac and can be purchased at the venue through October 17th.  


Credits
Clothing: Long Summer Dress Black Zebra by Valentina E. Couture @ FaMESHed (VIP Group Gift)
Jewelry: [Earrings] Dream Catcher by Stargazer @ FAIR (Free Gift)
Hair: Return in Brown 08 by [elikatira]
Skin: *Faith Skin Pale DB by Izzie's
Makeup: [Eyeshadow] *Faith Eyeshadow Smokey and Faith *Eyeshadow Smokey 2 by Izzie's [Lips] *Lipstick Cherry by Izzie's
Pose: [1] *Elegant 4 and [2] *Elegant 3 Mirror by aDORKable Poses @ Zodiac
Location: Pretty Island

* Denotes promotional copy.