Helpless

I seem to never be able to stay away.  I can go for months without thinking about Second Life, and then somewhere out of the blue I'm wondering about what kind of new shoes may be available.  I'm helpless.

My latest absence had to do more with feeling overwhelmed than anything else.  Second Life has always been a hobby for me, but trying to keep up with my blog, Seraphim and my pose shop felt more like a job than something I did for leisure.  I had to leave... I needed to breath.  I definitely have a new found respect for creators who are able to hold down a real life job and still design in Second Life.


Credits
Clothing: Blooming Moment Dress by ::{u.f.o}:: at Collabor88
Jewelry: Butterfly Neckalce by Izzie's VIP Group Gift
Shoes: Lily Flats in Prussian by Ingenue at Collabor88
Feet: Mesh Female Feet Flat by Slink
Hands: Mesh Hands Elegant1 and Bag by Slink
Nail Applier: Pearl Nails by Izzie's at The Dressing Room Fusion
Hair: Fleur by TRUTH at The Seasons Story
Skin: Mokatana The Diva by Glam Affair
Skin Applier: Slink Hands Skin Applier America by Glam Affair
Eyes: Summer Storm by Poetic Colors
Pose: Model 272 by Glitterati No Longer Available
Location: Frisland

Enjoy the Silence

A new round of FaMESHed started this past week which is where I found almost all of the items in the outfit I'm wearing.  I really like this "sales" event because there are a lot of good quality designers who participate.  It's not really a sales event, however, since all the items are priced as they normally would be.  That of course is completely fine since designers do deserve to be compensated for the amount of time and effort they put into their products.

The top I'm wearing is from Tee*fy, and you really do get a lot of value for your Lindens with this item.  There are twelve total color options available with nine out of the twelve including three different designs in the purchase: a striped version, a polka dot version and a solid version.  It will be difficult for me to not add a few more colors to my inventory... especially the pastels.  Five sizes of each shirt and a modifiable alpha layer are included in your purchase.  A free demo is available.

I picked the pants I'm wearing up from FANATIK, and I had a really difficult time deciding between black and pink.  The girl in me always wants to buy pink, but I went with my husband's suggestion and snagged the black.  They do, after all, go with more things.  The leather texture on these pants is very pretty.  Eight total colors are available and each contains five modifiable sizes with a modifiable alpha layer.  A free demo is available.

The skin I'm wearing is one of the three skin available by Glam Affair at the current round of Collabor88 which only has a few days left.  I was really disappointed when the designer decided to leave The Dressing Room; I probably own almost every skin that was included in the TDR collections.  When Aida popped up at Collabor88 I was, needless to say, ecstatic.  Glam Affair truly does produce some of the highest quality skins in all of Second Life.  If you have ever purchased a high quality skin, you know what an amazing deal 188L for a single skin is.  Three brow colors are included in your purchase, and a free demo is available.

I am deeply in love with the eyes I'm wearing from IKON, and the best thing about them is that they are completely free.  Each month IKON sets out a pair of never before released eyes for one week free to the stores VIP group members (free to join).  Theses Lucid eyes are the first pair in a new line coming from IKON.  The eyes are only available through February 7th; so, don't put off visiting too long!

The shoes by LaRoo at FaMESHed may just be my favorite design by the team yet.  The Lizzy T-Strap Pumps are very feminine and girly.  Ten colors are available; each color features a solid black sole and heel with the body of the shoe featuring the various colors.  A skin and nail color HUD are included with your purchase; instructions for the HUD and the RGB values for popular skins are available on LaRoo's website.  A free demo is available.

If any of you have every wondered where I find the locations I use in my photos, it isn't from me endlessly searching the entire grid before I find the perfect location.  I actually browse the Beautiful Landscapes of Second Life flick group for interesting looking SIMs.  Most people who post their pictures there include slurls to the location.  The blogger that led me to the beautiful Kalki SIM is the very talented Danni Ravinelli.  I always appreciate fellow bloggers who don't mind posting their secrets for others to find and use.


Credits
Clothing: [Top] Olga Sweatshirt in Stripe Grey by Tee*fy @ FaMESHed and [Pants] Leather Leggings in Black by FANATIK @ FaMESHed
Shoes: Lizzy T-Strap Pumps in Pink by LaRoo Shoes @ FaMESHed
Jewelry: Uva Earrings by miel Group Gift
Hair: Josie w/Roots in Mocha by TRUTH
Skin: Renee - Trending 02 D by Glam Affair @ Collabor88
Makeup: Black Eyeliner in Gentle Fume by Acid & Mala
Eyes: Lucid Eyes in Optimism by IKON Group Gift
Lashes: 2011 Lashes Curl by LeLutka
Hands: Mesh Hands Gesture L and Mouse R by Slink
Poses: [1] Model 252, [2] Model 228 and [3] Model 285 by Glitterati
Location: Kalki

A Lesson in Patience

Today has definitely been a lesson in patience.  I typically take my pictures in Second Life on my desktop and edit them on my laptop; I do it this way since my desktop, which is a gaming computer, is a lot faster and can take better pictures while my laptop is the only computer I have that has PhotoShop.  I have known that my laptop was having issues for a while, but today it finally just gave out.  Well, not completely out, but I tried to turn it on for three hours very unsuccessfully.  After a bit of research, I think the CMOS battery has went out on my laptop; it is a pretty common problem with the version I have and is a really cheap fix.  The problem... you basically have to dismantle the entire computer just to replace the battery.  I cannot see myself doing that.

I was left trying to figure out how to use GIMP to edit my photos.  There are some aspects of it that I do like better than PhotoShop; for example, I think the healing tool has clearer results and is easier to use in GIMP.  The IWarp tool is not quite as smooth at the liquify feature in PhotoShop, however.  I'm sure that with practice I will be able to use this program as well as I am able to use PhotoShop (which isn't really saying much).  The extra time to look up tutorials really pushed my nerves.  You would have to have the patience of Job to not be irritated by having to take it all in at once.

Now... on to what I'm wearing!  The top I have on is a new item from Auxiliary available at The Dressing Room Fusion.  The design is extremely adorable, and the three colors it comes is are very pretty.  A free demo is available for you to try; it really annoys me when designers don't have demos out for mesh items.  Each piece fits differently... some not well at all depending on your shape; I really hate wasting money and really appreciate the designers who offer free demos (1L demos are a whole different rant lol).  The straps don't really fit my avatar well (they stand up a bit higher than my shoulders), but I knew that I wanted to wear a long hairstyle; so, that really wasn't much of an issue.  Overall, it's a very fabulous piece for only 70L!

The leggings I "matched" up with the top are actually a modifiable pair of textured white leggings a designer friend of mine passed me long ago.  They are a staple of my inventory when I cannot find pants that match well enough with a top.  Perhaps Auxiliary will release some colored pants in the future to match for the people who don't like tinting!

The newest release from LaRoo Shoes are absolutely amazing!  The Sparta Pumps are the first release by the design team to include a foot base.  I know that some people are a little intimidated when it comes to tinting.  I typically don't aim for a "perfect" match because if I did I would be here for days. Close is normally good enough for me since colors can change with windlights and shadows; I think I did pretty well with my first try.  Tinting the skin with the included HUD is a little different than with others; you first choose the skin closest to your skin color and then adjust the RGB values instead of simply inputting the value of your skin.  I really love the window that pops up for you to enter the codes instead of having thirty seconds to type them into local chat.  LaRoo does offer detailed information on how to operate the color change HUD and the RGB values of well know skin designers on their website.  The values for the skin I'm wearing were not listed, but I'm sure the list will grow with time!  The shoes are available in twelve colors, and a free demo is available for your convenience.

Speaking of skins, I'm sporting the newest skin release from Izzie's titled Ginerva.  The skin is available in eight tones and includes a modifiable shape, freckles option, moles option, four brow colors (with the exception of the mocha tone which only contains one), cleavage options, a nail base, twelve lipsticks, eleven eyeshadows, eyeliner, blush and a brow shape.  As with all Izzie's skins, a free demo is available.


Credits
Clothing: [Top] Mullet Top in Cocoa and Turquoise by Auxiliary at The Dressing Room Fusion and [Leggings] White Cotton Leggings by Siss Boom (Not available)
Shoes: Sparta Pumps in Tan by LaRoo Shoes
Jewelry: Uva Necklace by miel Group Gift
Hair: Rebel in Mocha w/Roots by TRUTH
Skin: Ginvera Skin Pale DB by Izzie's
Makeup: Black Eyeliner in Gentle Fume by Acid & Mala
Eyes: Eternal Eyes in Glass by IKON
Lashes: 2011 Lashes Curl by LeLutka
Hands: Mesh Hands Elegant 1 by Slink
Poses: [1] Elegant 3 and [2] Elegant 1 by aDORKable Poses
Location: Innsmouth

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.

ZombiePopcorn Carnival

The ZombiePopcorn Carnival started a little over a week ago, but I have been so busy with Seraphim that I haven't really had time to post any of the goodness for you here.  The adorable outfit I'm wearing is new from Izzie's and an exclusive for the carnival.  The pattern on the leggings is really out there, but I have to admit that I love the craziness of them!  Izzie's is one of the only brands in Second Life that I will still wear sculpted pieces from.  Mesh has totally spoiled me when it comes to movement, but the reason I fell in love with Izzie's designs in the first place was because of how well her sculpted clothing moved with my ava!  Both the pants and the top are offered in twelve colors and will be at the event through June 30th.

The skin I am wearing is also new from Izzie's.  Estella is offered in nine skin tones and includes dark brows, light brows, red brows, blonde brows, optional cleavage, optional freckles on tattoo layer, a brow shape, a modifiable body shape, a nail base, twelve eyeshadows and twelve lipsticks.  (Ebony, cocoa and mocha skin tones include only one brow color.)  You get so much product for your Lindens with Izzie's skins!  If you have never tried one, I highly recommend stopping by her shop and trying a free demo.


Credits
Clothing: [Top] *Loose Crochet Top in Pink and [Pants] *Aztec Print Leggings in Pink by Izzie's @ ZombiePopcorn Carnival
Jewelry: Chum Necklace by miel
Glasses: Genius Peppers by miel
Hair: Never in Brown 11 by [elikatira] (VIP Group Gift - No Longer Available)
Skin: *Estella Skin Pale DB by Izzie's
Makeup: *Estella Lipstick Rose by Izzie's
Pose: *Pencil II 8m by aDORKable Poses

* Denotes promotional copy.

52WoCC - Thistle

Just what I wanted not to happen during this round of 52 Weeks of Color... getting behind.  And, five weeks behind at that!  Summer is almost here though, and I'm confidant that I will be able to catch up soon.  I really love the color for week eighteen; it is such a light and delicate shade of purple.  It's very classy!

I picked up the Impromptu Cardigan from Fishy Strawberry a few weeks ago when it was featured at The Dressing Room.  It is a mesh piece with brown and black options for the belt.  The color is still available at the main store location along with seven other colors.  Five sizes and an alpha layer are included with the purchase, and a free demo is available.

I was wondering what I was going to pair with the cardigan while surfing the fashion feeds and saw these adorable Balloon Shorts from Perle.  I had never been to the store... had never even heard of it, but I teleported in to grab a demo and see if the mesh shorts would work with the cardigan.  I really don't like paying for demos (1L), but I suppose it was better to see if it would work before paying full price for an item that wouldn't.  The shorts are modifiable which is definitely a good thing since the belt that comes attached to the shorts (not photoed) doesn't quite fit the shorts the larger in size you go.  If I set aside the fact that the demo was not free and that the belt doesn't quite fit, I really do love the shorts.  The design is pretty and the texturing is nice.  Eight colors are available and each pair comes with five sizes and an alpha layer.

The skin I am wearing is Izzie's contribution to the Skin Addiction's Skin Showcase.  I am always extremely impressed by her skins; her skill seems to increase with each new release.  The skin is available in six tones, and each tone includes a modifiable shape, freckles, four eyebrow colors, cleavage/no cleavage options, a nail base, seven lipsticks, five lipglosses, twelve eyeshadows and a brow shape.  For just a little over 1,000L per tone, this is an extremely great value!  A free demo is available for you to try.  Just a little side note... you may want to strip down to just system layer clothing before teleporting into the event since the number of scripts you can be wearing is limited.  Be sure to detach your AOs!


Credits
Clothing: [Undershirt] Femme Lace Cami in Eggplant by JANE, [Sweater] Impromptu Cardigan in Wine by Fishy Strawberry and [Shorts] Balloon Shorts in Brown by Perle
Hair: Jessie with Roots in Mocha by TRUTH (Group Gift)
Skin: *Delusional in Pale by Izzie's @ Skin Addiction's Skin Showcase
Makeup: [Eyeshadow] *Delusional Eyeshadow Purple by Izzie's @ Skin Addiction's Skin Showcase and [Eyeliner] Black Eyeliner Gentle Fume by Acid & Mala
Pose: *Legs 5 by aDORKable Poses

* Denotes promotional copy.

Sweet 'n Low

In my real life, I tend to avoid any shade of orange for clothing like the plague.  I just doesn't go with my skin tone.  But, that is the beauty of Second Life!  I can change the brand/tone/makeup of my skin with every outfit if I choose to do so.  So, orange can be included in my virtual inventory.

JANE released several new mesh items this past week, and in typical JANE style, they are fabulous!  The Sweet 'n Low Jeans have a very natural shape and a natural texture.  Five colors are available and each pair comes with a cuff/no cuff option, five sizes and an alpha layer.  The Drifter Halter is also a new release from JANE.  I really love the loose and flowing look the shape gives; the neckline is also at a nice, conservative level.  The shirt is available in three colors (also three patterns under a different name) and comes in five sizes and an alpha layer.

Izzie's released new jewelry today, and I absolutely love it!  The 50's Pearl Necklace is composed of various pearl sizes that are connected by small pearls.  This is a piece than can give a very casual look a more dressy feel or be the finishing touch on an already dressy look.  It is a very versatile piece!  The necklace is available in eighteen colors.  

The skin I'm wearing is a new release from Filthy Skins.  I really love the face, especially the lips, of this skin.  Mia is available in four tones and comes with eight makeups per tone with optional cleavage.  As with all Filthy Skins, a free demo is available for your convenience.  Also, the Filthy Skins VIP group is currently free to join (199L typical join fee).  Every month, a male and female group gift is released which includes a skin and a modifiable shape.  This great deal probably won't last much longer; so, get in for free while you still can!

Credits

Clothing: [Top] *Drifter Halter in Ochre by JANE and [Pants] *Sweet 'n Low Jeans in Light by JANE

Shoes: The Alice Cullen Ballet Flats in Orange Creme by {Cherry}

Jewelry: *50's Pearl Necklace in Natural by Izzie's

Hair: Never in Brown 11 by [elikatira] (Group Gift)

Skin: *Mia 01 in Creme by Filthy Skins

Makeup: Black Eyeliner in Gentle Fume by Acid & Mala

Pose: Hunting Bears Trickbox by -no wow-

* Denotes promotional copy.

Sally Has Seashells

I'm really in the mood for warmer weather to be here today with this recent design by Siss Boom! Sally Has Seashells is a cute minidress with sculpted features which include the skirt and the belt. The sculpted pieces include resize scripts which make it very easy to size the outfit to fit your avatar. A note that includes tips and suggestions for fitting sculpted pieces also comes with your purchase. Your purchase also includes the cute matching bag. The dress is available in three colors: blue, aqua and red.

The poses I used for this post are brand new by aDORKable Poses. I really love the poses by this designer because of her uniqueness and her inclusion of mirror poses. It can be extremely annoying to find the perfect pose for a picture but in the opposite direction of what you need it to be! You never have to worry about that with aDORKable poses because mirror poses are included in all of the packs! Photo 1 features a pose from the Bag Lady II pack available at the main store location, and Photo 2 features a pose from the Legs pack available at the Festival of Sin.

While you are at Siss Boom you should pick up this adorable group gift titled Black Angel which includes both the top and the jeans. If you aren't a member of the in world group, simply click the board in the store and join for free!


Credits:

Photo 1
Clothing: *Sally Has Seashells in Red by Siss Boom
Jewelry: *Chic Gold by je suis
Pose: *Bag Lady II 8 by aDORKable Poses
Location: Izzie's

Photo 2
Clothing: *Black Angel by Siss Boom (Group Gift)
Shoes: Shox in White/Black by [ hoorenbeek ]
Pose: *Legs 3 Mirror by aDORKable Poses @ Festival of Sin

Both
Hair: Good Morning in Girl Next Door by Clawtooth
Skin: Love (Scarlett) in Milk by Illusory @ Collabor88

* Denotes promotional copy.

Week 4 of 52 Weeks of Color - Iron

I'm so proud of myself for keeping up with Luna's Color Challenge for four weeks in a row! I tend to be a terrible procrastinator which is perhaps why I didn't finish the last one. I know it is only week four, but I'm trying really hard to not get behind.

The adorable outfit I am wearing is The Sea Hole's contribution to the January collection of Collabor88. Both the Herron Skirt and the Minna blouse come in six colors at 88L each. There is also a cute parasol that has been designed to go with the outfit which is also available in six colors at 88L each. Now, I know this outfit isn't the mesh that I have been loving for the past month or so, but it is still a really pretty and classy outfit. Hopefully, Drinkinstein will start releasing some mesh items soon!

I couldn't have asked for a more perfectly matched accessory than the recent release from Izzie's. The necklace is part of a set that also includes rings and earrings titled Turquoise Jewelry Set. The set also comes in four additional colors including onyx, pruple stone, red stone and white stone. Two versions of each are included with your purchase: a set with resizers and one without.


Credits
Clothing: [Top] *Minna Blouse in Slate and [Skirt] *Herron Skirt in Slate by The Sea Hole at Collabor88
Jewelry: *Turquoise Jewelry Set by Izzie's
Shoes: Flats by tram (Group Gift)
Hair: About 2 in Brown 08 by [elikatira]
Skin: *Sundust [Dark] Summer-Pure 2 by Curio
Pose: M Betty 1 by Olive Juice (Closing Sale)

* Denotes promotional copy.

Mesh♥Love

When I saw the first video on YouTube of mesh clothing a few months ago, I have to admit that I was a bit skeptical. The clothing in the video wasn't very well made; the design and the textures were boring to say the least. I shouldn't have put limitations in my mind on the creativeness of Second Life designers! After trying a mesh outfit, I'm not sure that I ever want to wear clothing with 'old prim' pieces again.

I denied a Christmas gift from JANE on accident and headed over to her shop to see if I could pick it up in the subscriber's history. I hadn't been to the shop since before I left Second Life to get married in real life, and I was quite surprised by all the mesh items she has created. I have always loved the designs of this store; they seem to just fit my personality. They are stylish with a mix of classy and casual. I actually forgot completely about the Christmas gift until just now; after peeking in the box, if you haven't picked up one, definitely stop by the store! There are three mesh goodies in what appears to be all colors included in the box!

The textures on JANE's mesh clothing (all of her clothing actually) is very well made; the shading and highlighting add an extra sense of depth to the clothing. I absolutely LOVE the way the mesh clothing moves so smoothly with me. I have noticed a bit of flickering with the alpha layers, but I think that may be a problem with my viewer instead of with the alpha itself. To stop the flickering, simply bump up your graphics a notch (or two). JANE's mesh clothing comes in four sizes; mesh clothing does not stretch to fit around your body, so you may need to edit your shape a little to fit properly in them. Also, the items are very reasonably priced; most mesh clothing I have seen on the grid is hundreds of lindens. Both the coat and pants I'm wearing cost 150L each; JANE also has mesh items priced lower.

What's the thing that I love the most about mesh? I don't have to move around prim pieces when I finally am ready to pose for my photos! It was so nice to not have to take all of that time to make sure every piece is where it should be. Speaking of posing, I was so excited to see Glitterati participating in The Fashion Garret! The first pose set includes five poses for a mere 70L. I'll take discounted poses from one of my favorite pose designers any day of the week! Also, for a limited time you can pick up a free 250L store credit at Glitterati; if you are in the VIP group, there is a free 500L store credit for you!


Credits
Clothing: [Coat] Barn Jacket Harvest in Delicious by JANE, [Top] Intrinsic Tank in Truffle by JANE (FREE) and [Pants] Wide Leg Pants Zooey in Truffle by JANE
Shoes: Move Pumps in Java by [elikatira]
Jewelry: Zahavi Necklace by League
Hair: Details in Brown 08 by [elikatira]
Skin: Elf 2 - Enchant 1 [Dark] by Curio
Pose: TFG 004 by Glitterati at The Fashion Garret
Location: JANE @ Zyrra

New from Curio

There is no denying that Gala Phoenix, designer of Curio skins, is one of the greatest artists in Second Life. Every time I see a new notice pop up announcing the arrival of her new masterpiece... because they are all masterpieces, a little ray of sunshine comes into my day. Last Friday, Gala released three new skin lines with the opening of Truth District: Airhead, Pout 2 and Summer.

Airhead

Summer

Featured above are the Airhead and Summer skins by Curio; both of these skins are completely beautiful. I especially love the lips; they are so plump and juicy. Both of these skins are sexy without being overly dramatic; beauty in simplicity shines through with these designs. The colors and glow on the faces give a very fresh look which is perfect for summer. These skins can be purchased at the Curio main store location or at the satellite store at Truth District. Five skin tones are available for each skin which can be purchased as the following: one makeup/one tone at L$1,000, one makeup/all tones at L$1,500 or all makeup choices in all tones at $3,000 in the megapack which is obviously a fantastic deal.

Although you see dark brows on the photos for the Airhead skin, the brows are actually blonde and there is not a dark brow tattoo included with the purchase. However, the dark brow tattoo is part of the Truth District opening gift from Curio which can be located in the past notices of the Truth District Updates group for approximately the next week and a half. A gorgeous special edition of the Airhead skin is also included in that gift which can be seen in this post.

All photos above were taken in the Sundust [Dark] skin tone.


Credits
Skin: [1-6] *Airhead and [7-12] *Summer by Curio
Lashes: Lash Set 3 by Apple May Designs
Hair: Boyfriend in Kit Kat by !lamb. @ Hair Fair 2011

* Denotes item provided by designer for review.

Truth District

The opening of Truth District caused a lot of stir and excitement over the weekend, and with good reason. Some of the top names in Second Life fashion have joined to create the latest mall hosted by one of the top… if not THE top… hair designers: TRUTH.

What makes Truth one of my favorite hair designers? I would have to say realism. And, not just realism in looks, but realism in movement as well. No other hair designer that I have come across has as realistic movement in their hair designs as Truth. With the opening of the new sim, Truth has released six new styles, one being a gift. You can pick up five of the new designs in the main Truth store, but the gift can only be acquired at the satellite store on Truth District. To receive the hair, you must be a member of the in world Truth District Updates group which is free to join.

Pictured below:

• Darcey in Clove
• Darcey 2 in Carrot
• Jean in Raven
• Pandora in Mocha
• Summer in Seaspray
• Becky (Group Gift) in Beach

To celebrate the opening of Truth District, many of the designers have placed out gifts for the update group in their stores. And, as expected, they are amazing gifts! These gifts will be out until July 8. It may take you a while to teleport into the sim because of all the craze, but keep trying! The design of the sim is absolutely stunning, and the generosity of all the designers is well worth the time it will take!

• Picture 1: Grixdale – Tank and Skirt (Group Gift)
• Picture 2: Whippet & Buck – Top (Group Gift)
• Picture 3: The Sea Hole – Outfit (Group Gift)
• Picture 4: Ducknipple – Top (Group Gift)
• Picture 5: MichaMi – Dress (Group Gift)
• Picture 6: Miamai – Swimsuit (Group Gift)
• Other group gifts used in pictures: Skin by Curio (pictures one and five) and poses by Glitterati (picture one).

You may have noticed the necklace that I am wearing in all the pictures. Eternelle is one of the latest designs by je suis who also happens to have a satellite store at Truth District. This piece comes with so many options, it is absolutely insane! Scripts are included in the necklace, earrings (not pictured) and a ring (not pictured) for size, gemstone, metal and band. This design can be worn dressy as well as casual. I really love that each gemstone can be individually colored; this is one of the aspects that makes it so versatile. Je suis also has a group gift for Truth District in their satellite store; be sure to stop by and pick it up!

Teleport to Truth District


Credits
Clothing: Listed above
Jewelry: *Eternelle by je suis
Hair: *All styles by TRUTH
Skin: [2, 3, 4, 6] *Summer (Sundust) by Curio
Poses: [1] Long Hair 3-3 (Group Gift), [2] Long Hair 2-6, [3] Long Hair 2-3, [4] Long Hair 6, [5] Model 051 and [6] Model 033 by Glitterati

* Denotes item provided by designer for review.

Such a Pretty Face

I’ve been meaning to try the skins offered by Style by Kira for a while, but for one reason or another I never made it over to her store. Thankfully, over the weekend I finally teleported over and grabbed a few demos. I am very sorry that I waited so long! These skins are truly beautiful and offer such variety and versatility.

The faces of LuLu are so striking and pretty! It is evident that Kira has taken the time to add individualized detail to each makeup of this set… and all of her sets for that matter. Two versions of makeup choices are available: classic and fantasy. I’m honestly not sure which I like better. Of course the classic is what I would wear on a typical day in Second Life, but who knows when I may needs that extravagant makeup to complete the perfect look! Individual classic skins are available for L$400 each or L$2,400 for the fatpack and individual fantasy skins are available for L$150 each or L$950 for the fatpack; there is also a pack available if you would like both sets for L$3,250.  The Special Sun Edition skin is available in front of the store for L$50.

Credits
Clothing: *Chiffon Summer Dress (Tinted) by Izzie’s
Jewelry: *Pearl Necklace in Black by Izzie’s
Hair: Again 2 in Brown 11 by [elikatira] (VIP Gift)
Skin: *LuLu in 01 by Style by Kira
Pose: [1] Top Model Angelea by Exposeur

* Denotes item provided by designer for review.

Maia in Lace

I was so super excited when I saw the new shoes from Purrfect 10. They are most definitely a mesh of sexy and elegant. I don’t typically look through all the notecards I get about new releases every day simply because of the sheer quantity of them, but I’m really glad that I looked at the notice from Siss Boom. Stormy Weather was the perfect outfit for these shoes!

Stormy Weather is indeed a simple outfit, but what it lacks in ‘parts’ it more than makes up for in texture and design! The ripped top is completely sexy, and if you are a more conservative lady, you can very easily add an undershirt to hide the necessities! I am more conservative myself which is why I chose sideways poses; I’m wearing this right now in Second Life with an adorable red undershirt (it matches my lips hehe), and it still looks very sexy! You get three different versions of the top all of which are black with different colored ‘sparkles.’ Of course, you can never go wrong with an extra pair of beautifully textured leggings. At L$100, this outfit is a steal. Grab it before the price jumps up!

The Maia Lace Heels are probably my favorite Purrfect 10 shoe to date. There is so much detail included in the lace; they are absolutely beautiful. As with any other shoe from Purrfect 10, Maia includes options for skin color, color sync (which is really nice if you have multiple pairs of their shoes!), walk, size and sound. A feature of the full priced shoes that I absolutely LOVE is the ability to turn them black. But, not only can you turn the complete shoe black, but you can pick and choose which parts to turn! There are so many options in that one purchase! The ‘normal’ color is always listed as the primary, and black is always the secondary. So, what if you purchase the black shoe? The black shoe’s secondary color is always white or silver. Ten scrumptious colors are available for the Maia Lace Heels at L$690 each or L$5,500 for the 10 Pack.

Purrfect 10 has also released new gifts for both the VIP Group and the regular update group. To become a VIP group member requires a onetime fee of L$510, but for at least ten free pairs of shoes every year, it is so worth it! The Amara Heels in Snakeskin is the gift available to the VIP group and the Serenity Heels in Ocean (LOVE the colors!) is available to both groups. Hurry and grab them!

Just a side note… I have joined 2ndHub.com, and if anyone else has an account there, please feel free to friend request me! If you aren’t familiar with the site, it’s like Facebook for Second Life. Lol Just what I need… Another social media site to keep up with!


Credits
Clothing: Stormy Weather by Siss Boom
Shoes: [1, 2 & 3] *Maia Lace Heels in Black, [4] *Amara Heels in Snakeskin (VIP Group Gift) and [5] *Serenity Heels in Ocean (Group Gift) by Purrfect 10
Hair: Bethany in Mocha by TRUTH
Skin: *May [Dark] Blackbird 2 (Sundust) by Curio
Tattoo Layers: May Bonus Makeup 1, 2 & 3 by Curio (Group Gift)
Environment: Lockdown by Glitterati
Poses: [1] *Pin-Up 09 by Izzie’s, [2] *Pin-Up 02 by Izzie’s and [3, 4 & 5] Lockdown by Gliteratti


* Denotes item provided by designer for review.