Not Quite Monday

I love Strawberry Singh's Monday meme challenges and have previously participated in a few.  This week's challenge of blogging about your favorite poses and pose makers isn't really that challenging to me since I have had a bit of an obsession with poses since I first discovered them in my early days of Second Life.

I've always felt that poses are one of the most important parts to any picture; they convey so much emotion and contribute such depth to the overall impression and perception of the photographer.  Without good pose makers, Second Life photography most certainly would not be what it is today.

The pose featured in the above photo (click to enlarge) is from a new to me designer, Axix, recently discovered at Pose Fare 2014.  The crow prop is what initially caught my attention; if you ever browsed my shop before I closed, it should be no surprise that I would be drawn to a pose with props.  They are extremely fun to use and make for very interesting photos.  The pack, which was only 100L, included eight static poses and pre-positioned crow props for each pose.  They only thing that I did not like about this pose pack was that the poses do not have smooth transitions; however, that is a very minor detail.

Unfortunately, my two favorite pose makers no longer make poses.  I have hundreds of poses from aDORKable Poses and Glitterati; I probably could never purchase another pose in Second Life and still be set for the duration of my blog just by using what is already in my inventory from these two designers.  We all know that will never happen though!  Both Adokable Peapod and Katey Coppola created graceful, elegant poses that can work in almost any photo.  Thankfully, you can still purchase poses from both designers on the Second Life Marketplace (linked above).


Credits
Clothing: Bohemian Maxi in Aqua by Croquet at FaMESHed
Feet: Mesh Female Feet Flat by Slink
Hands: Mesh Hands Elegant1 and Bag by Slink
Nail Applier: Peary Nails by Izzie's at The Dressing Room Fusion
Hair: April by TRUTH at Collabor88
Skin: Mokatana The Diva by Glam Affair
Skin Applier: Slink Hands and Feet Skin Applier America by Glam Affair
Eyes: Summer Storm by Poetic Colors
Pose: LadyCrow 7 by Axix at Pose Fair 2014
Location: Templemore Hesperia

Sweet Nothing

Things I enjoy about summer... being able to sleep until noon and managing to actually make two blog posts in one week!  If only the summer could last forever.

My photos today were completely inspired by the new release by LaRoo Shoes at FaMESHed.  I always think schoolgirl whenever I see socks worn with shoes that are typically worn without socks... like heels.  The Ellie Sock Pumps are extremely adorable and very well made.  They are available in ten solid colors and four floral patterns.  A HUD containing twelve colors is also included for the socks.  FaMESHed closes at the end of the month, but I'm sure these will also be offered at LaRoo's main store afterwards.

Credits
Clothing: Montgomery in Sea by coldLogic
Shoes: Ellie Sock Pumps in Peach Floral by LaRoo Shoes @ FaMESHed New
Hands: Mesh Hands Relaxed R and Elegant L by Slink
Nail Applier: French Nails by Izzie's
Hair: Daffodil in Brown 08 by [elikatira]
Skin: Lulu 07 BR by Glam Affair @ The Arcade
Skin Applier: Slink Hands Skin Applier America by Glam Affair
Makeup: Black Eyeliner in Gentle Fume by Acid & Mala
Eyes: Ardent Eyes in Skyfall by IKON
Lashes: 2011 Lashes Curl by LeLutka
Poses: [1] Shy 3 and [2] Pencil II 6 by aDORKable Poses
Location: Pretty Island

My SL Pet Peeves Meme

This past week I came across the Meme Challenge blog posts by Strawberry Singh and thought that it would be a fun way to get back into blogging on a regular basis.  Her latest theme is SL Pet Peeves; I try not to complain too much on my blog, but I suppose that we all do need a release every now and then.

1. Designers who do not offer demos or who charge for demos.  Nothing annoys me more as a shopper than designers who do not offer demos for mesh clothing, shoes, skin, hair or poses.  Since each of these items works very differently with the many different body shapes of the second life avatar, it is really important for me to be able to "try before I buy."  I hate wasting money even if it is only a few Lindens.  More annoying than no demo is a demo that I have to pay for.  To me, asking a customer to pay for a demo suggests that the designer doesn't have much confidence in his or her product and must make Lindens wherever they are able.  In each case, you are most likely not going to get my business.

2. Designers who do not put their store name in/on their vendor or in their profiles.  As many of you know, I have been blogging for the Second Life event and sales coverage blog SeraphimSL since it began in the summer of 2011.  It has been very surprising for me to see how many designers do not include the name of their store somewhere in or on their vendor or even in their profile.  Do you not want customers to be able to locate your store?  When it takes me five plus minutes to simply try and figure out what the name of your store is, I'm more than annoyed and would never search that long as a customer.  You're losing business!

3. The ever expanding unorganized mess that is my inventory.  No matter how good my intentions are, I can never seem to be able to completely organize my inventory.  It has expanded to the point that I have almost lost hope in it ever being under control again.  I seem to accumulate items much quicker than I sort them and put them in their place.  I did purchase the Visual Inventory Organizer Wardrobe a few months back and was doing really well with photoing and sorting, but like with all other plans... it kind of fell to the wayside.  The biggest thing that annoys me about not having an organized inventory is that I really have no idea what I have.  Over the past three and a half years I have easily spent hundreds of real life dollars on items in-world... perhaps even into the thousands.  It really bothers me that I cannot find items or even remember what is there.  I suppose I should start blogging weekly installments of my Pieces of My Closet series once again to motivate myself to sort through this mess.

4. Designers who add me to their subscribers without my permission.  The first time I got a notecard from a designer I didn't recognize, I thought that perhaps I had just forgotten about the store or they had rechristened themselves.  However, the more often that it happens, the more convinced I become that some designers actually are adding residents to their subscribers.  I completely understand that designers want to advertise themselves and get information out about new designs and sales, but I feel this method is a bit tacky and unprofessional.  Flickr is a great way to connect with people in Second Life and gain potential new customers; send me a contact request... I'll be more than happy to add you!

5. Grid lines and disappearing shadows in my photographs.  I thought all my photography woes had been solved when my husband and I were finally able to purchase a high functioning gaming computer.  I was finally able to see shadows, but I came to realize that there are so many glitches with the actual software that it is almost impossible to take a photo without some type of flaw... be it the ever dreaded grid lines or complete blocks of shadows missing from the picture.  I use the Firestorm viewer and have heard that grid lines are a thing of the past with the latest official Second Life viewer, but I have yet to try it for myself.  Perhaps I should put that on my list of things to do in the near future!

Credits

Clothing: Morning Tank in Solids (Texture Change) by DRIFT

Hair: Tymber w/Roots in Toast by TRUTH @ FaMESHed

Skin: Asia Skin Light DB by Izzie's

Eyes: Ardent Eyes in Pewter by IKON Group Gift

Lashes: 2011 Lashes Curl by LeLutka

Pose: sweet.sour pose 2 by fri.day @ Pose Fair 2013

Alone

I hope you have all had an amazing weekend.  This is the first time I have had a chance to make any photos for my blog in two weeks, and I must say that I have really missed it.  I have a lot of fun putting outfits together and finding the perfect spot to take a snapshot.  My husband and I spent the weekend at my mother's house last week, and unfortunately I cannot pack up my desktop and take it with me for photos.  Spending some time away from the computer is definitely nice, but I always end up missing Second Life no matter how long I've been away.  It's kind of like home... You enjoy going on vacation every now and then, but you always want to go home eventually!

I'm honestly not sure how new the top I'm wearing from Ducknipple is.  I spotted it while checking out the designer's new releases and really liked it.  If you have never visited this store, you may want to pencil it into your schedule sometime in the near future.  Almost all mesh items include a color change HUD; it's like purchasing a fatpack for the price of one regular item.  The Leather Jacket w/Top that I'm wearing includes twelve color options for the jacket and twelve color options for the top; this gives you a total of one hundred and forty-four possible color combinations.  A free demo is available.

I picked the jeans that I'm wearing up from Cracked Mirror at FaMESHed.  I really love the shape of these pants and the fact that there isn't a huge gap in the crotch which seems to be a fashion epidemic lately.  I've never had that problem with this designer, however.  The Disclaimer Skinny Jeans are available in five colors and include five mesh sizes and a modifiable alpha layer.  It's rare for me to find jeans that I really like in Second Life; so, when I do... I stock up.  The texture on these jeans is fabulous; it contains enough realism to be credible with enough artistry to properly fit in world.  Although my tush isn't photoed, the butt of jeans really makes it or breaks it for me.  The pockets have to look good and the shape (with mesh) has to be nice and round.  These jeans score on all points!  If you want to try them out for yourself, a free demo is available.

I have to admit that I haven't always been the biggest fan of hair by Exile.  His styles have always been pretty, but I thought the tips of the hair were way too pointy.  That problem, however, seems to be a thing of the past.  I spotted his new releases this weekend and instantly fell in love with Crazy in Love.  This hairstyle is so dramatic!  The volume is fantastic, the textures are beautiful and best of all... there are no pointy tips!  The hair is available in thirteen color packs, and a free demo is available.

A new skin was recently released by Izzie's titled Harlow.  I love the soft but classy and chic look of this skin.  Harlow is available in eight skin tones and includes a modifiable body shape, freckles options, moles options, four brow colors (excluding the mocha skin tone), cleavage options, a nail base, twelve lipstick colors, twelve eyeshadow colors and a brow shape.  I particularly like the eyeshadows included with this skin; they are very shiny and shimmery.  A free demo is available.


Credits
Clothing: [Top] Leather Jacket w/Top by Ducknipple and [Pants] Disclaimer Skinny Jeans in Faded Light by Cracked Mirror @ FaMESHed
Shoes: Millside Flats in Taupe by [elikatira]
Jewelry: Lena Earrings by Donna Flora No longer available.
Hair: Crazy in Love in Drift by Exile
Skin: Harlow Skin Pale DB by Izzie's
Makeup: [Eyeshadow] Harlow Eyeshadow Silver Teal by Izzie's (Included with purchase of Harlow Skin), [Lips] Glossy Lip Highlights 3D by Izzie's and [Eyeliner] Black Eyeliner in Gentle Fume by Acid & Mala
Eyes: Lucid Eyes in Optimism by IKON
Lashes: 2011 Lashes Curl by LeLutka
Hands: Mesh Hands Elegant R And Relax L by Slink
Poses: [1] Honey 2 and [2] Legs 7m by aDORKable Poses
Location: Hazardous

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

Helix

The idea for this outfit was completely inspired by the new shoes from LaRoo that are currently being offered at FaMESHed.  They reminded me of the combat boots my sister used to wear when we were teenagers.  Of course she never wore them with anything resembling what someone in the military would wear; she definitely dressed them up.

I found the undershit I'm wearing while shopping at House of Fox for the shorts that I am also wearing.  I love the illusion of modest sexiness that it gives with the high neckline and semi-see through texture.  Everything is technically covered, but you can see just enough to want to see more.

The jacket that I paired up with the outfit is a newish piece by DIRAM.  The dramatic shape really caught my attention as well as the nine flamboyant textures it is offered in.  The only thing that I don't really like about the this particular texture for the jacket is that the stripes do not line up down the sides under the armpit.  It's a pet peeve I've had for years even with real life clothing.  Perhaps that is why I no longer wear stripes in my real life.  A free demo is available, and your purchase includes five mesh sizes and an alpha layer.

As mentioned previously, the Liberty Boots are part of the current collection available at FaMESHed.  I continue to be increasingly impressed with each new release from LaRoo.  The detail that is obtainable with mesh designs make a three-dimensional world presented on a two-dimensional screen appear so much more real.  LaRoo also had a new release this past week with their first skin and foot shoe; I hope to get a post up with those in the coming week!  The Liberty Boots are offered in ten colors, include three mesh sizes and an alpha layer; a free demo is available.


Credits
Clothing: [Jacket] Blake Blazer in Rayure by DIRAM, [Undershirt] Vintage Sheer Top by House of Fox, [Shorts] Tailored Shorts in Black by House of Fox and [Tights] Sheer Tights in Black Less Sheer by Izzie's
Shoes: Liberty Boots in Black by LaRoo Shoes @ FaMESHed
Jewelry: Ebru Earrings by Bens Beauty
Hair: Escape in Brown 08 by [elikatira]
Skin: Jadis Natural A TRD #24 by Glam Affair (This makeup is no longer available)
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] Odyssey 5 and [2] SidePony 3 by aDORKable Poses
Location: DangerInEvolution LEA27

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

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.

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.

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.