Inventory Check - Hair Designers

I know that in my head I have an imaginary and purely subjective list of "favorites", but I got to wondering if that was actually where my Lindens were invested.  So, I figured it might be fun to total up the actual numbers and see how they stacked up to my mental list and, more importantly, what I was actually wearing the most.  Why hair first?  Cause I just spent time sorting through my "demos to buy" folder and my "stuffage from Hair Fair" folder as well as moving all those unfiled recent purchases to their proper categories.  For the curious, I have hair under body parts instead of clothing and my categories are - Exotic, Long, Short, Mid, Ponytails, Updo, and Hats (which includes any hair that comes with a hat, scarf, goggles, etc).  The "Top Ten" were:

1. Truth (15) mostly updos
2. Damselfly (11) mostly long
3. Tukinowaguma (9)
4. Detour (9)
5. Mirai Style (7) mostly scarves
6. Bishwear (6)
7. Cake (6)
8. EMO-tions (5)
9. W&Y (5) mostly short
10. BooN (4) mostly short

 

My "Go To" list of "hair I grab first on a regular basis in SL" in no particular order other than that of the photos in this article does come from this list of designers, but is mostly different from my "blogging go-to list" which pulls from more categories and designers:

Bishwear TossMeAround (Raven)
W&Y New 92 (Pack A - Black)
Mirai Style Ofif (Black)
Truth Grace (Crow)

 

One of the really interesting things I discovered was the huge number of onesies and twosies I have where I don't have a lot of different styles from an individual designer but I have a couple of really unique or interesting ones - I think I might own every short style on the grid.  I had hairstyles from a huge number of designers and a whole folder of LMs (which I think I may turn into a nice inventory preserving notecard).  I also noticed that I have an affinity for "slightly messy" even with more formal updos - must be some kind of commentary on my having come to terms with my more than slightly unruly RL hair. :)

 

SLURLs are within the article this time; I would like to additionally credit Cubic Effect's fabulous Knit Jacket (Black) and YS&YS Afrika Set (Silver/Onyx) seen in each shot.  I think that my next few inventory checks will be jewelry, poses and tattoos (once I catch up a little bit on my backlog of locations, pictures and outfits).

Wild Rumpus

I'm so glad I finally stumbled across Where the Wild Things Are.  One of my favorite books has been turned into a truly marvelous sim full of exactly the kind of spectacular scenery and detail you would expect.  Plan to spend time here just exploring - looking under, over and around.  This week is more wonderfulness from Cubic Effect, Mandala and Truth combined with the fabulous face tattoos of Tattanooga.  So join me. "And on our way... I can show you your kingdom. This is all yours. You're the owner of this world. Everything you see is yours...."

Location:  Where the Wild Things Are, Pax

Credits:

Shirt: Cubic Effect Shirt H5 for Women (Pansy)

Pants: Cubic Effect Flare Trousers (Gray)

Hair: Truth Mena (Crow)

Necklace: Mandala Kagetora (Purple/Silver)

Earrings: Mandala Monica (Purple/Silver)

Face Tattoo: Tattanooga Catwalk 003

Poses by DeePosed

Featured SLURLs:

Ce Cubic Effect Mainstore

Mandala Mainstore

Tattanooga Mainstore

Truth Mainstore

American Gothic

I think I was one of about 4 people that watched and adored "American Gothic" - not the famous painting, but the incredibly twisted and unfortunately short lived television show.  The Missing Mile dark rural community is the virtual representation of everything I loved about the show - small town decrepit with a hint of noir absurdity.  Sit at the Waffle Hut, walk down the railroad tracks to the abandoned engine, wander through the houses, lean up against the police car or play in the deserted playground - it's brilliantly dark and therefore a great foil for the fabulous Cubic Effect Sheer Knit dropped strap dress, my new Stiletto Moody "best pumps on the Grid" (from the Linden sucking member sale) and my latest jewelry addiction, Mandala.

Location URL: The Missing Mile, Soap

Credits:
Dress: Cubic Effect Sheer Knit (Crimson)
Hair: MrS Malice (Black)
Shoes: Stiletto Moody Bare Brigitte (Red-Nude)
Necklace: Mandala Kajetora (Red)
Earrings: Mandala Monica (Red)
Bangles & Nails: Mandala Takara (Red Leather & Fur)

Featured SLURLs:
Cubic Effect Mainstore
Stiletto Moody Mainstore
Mandala Mainstore

Paradise Worth Painting

Brackish has to be one of the most beautiful sims I've seen - you portal in to a small attractive shops area where you are greeted by a series of teleport lanterns to various spots on the sim.  Be sure to set aside enough time to walk through each one and to take some pictures.  Indeed I was so inspired I dug through my closet until I found the amazing Montemartre belt from Manna (my pictures are with v.1, but it has been released in an equally detailed v.2), the "perfect for painting" H7 Shirt from Cubic Effect and my new Medala jewelry from Faceted.  A pair of jeans, a pair of boots and I was ready to adventure among the lizards, flamingos, and elephants inhabiting the gardens.

Location: =Ja Nye(t)=, Brackish

 

Credits:
Shirt: Cubic Effect H7 Shirt (Ivy Green)
Hair: BishWear TossMeAround (Raven)
Skin: Dutch Touch MaAn (Cocoa - Copper)
Jewelry: Faceted Medala Set (Silver/Jade)
Belt: Manna Montmartre (V.1)
Jeans: Naima Sexy Ripped Jeans
Boots: Redgrave Girls' Bikers Reloaded (Caramel)
Poses: DeePosed

Featured SLURLs:
Cubic Effect Mainstore
Faceted Mainstore
Manna Mainstore

EarthStones - Halo of the Dark Sun

RL yeesh... but enough about that. Other than the holidays, I've got smooth sailing into the new year, so I've been busy sorting and sifting through huge piles of clothes and shoes and tattoos and, yes, even more lingerie. I'll be blogging a few scraps of leather and bits of lace from Nymphetamine, then headed to the I's with Insolence and Intimizzio...but I'd like to start with a breathtaking design from a staple of my wardrobe - EarthStones.

For my "Yup, I'm back" post, I'm featuring a gorgeous little piece that Abraxxa Anatine over at EarthStones did first as a custom piece and has now released to the lucky public. In both men's and women's styles, Halo of the Dark Sun is a delight in blood red and black stones, dramatic enough to stand alone as the focal point of an outfit, stylized enough to blend with the noir side of your wardrobe. At L$500, this is a spectacular piece of artwork, with symbolic filigree orbited and centered with runed spheres.

Pick up the Halo of the Dark Sun (but don't stop there) at the EarthStones Main Store at EarthBound.

Credits:

Hair - TossMeAround (Black) by Bishwear

Eyes - Transparency Shine Eyes (Forest Green) by Glanz

Glasses - Danielle Black Glasses by Insolence

Earrings - Desmodus (Black Steel/Red Jasper) by EarthStones

Piercing - Bali Lip Ring (Labradorite/Silver) by EarthStones

Necklace - Halo of the Dark Sun by EarthStones

Sweater - Full Sculpted Knit Jacket (Black) by CE Cubic Effect

A Perfect Place - SiniStyle (Goth Horror)

Graveyards, desanctified churches, gas lights, and absolutely magnificent trees make the SiniStyle Design Main Store sim a photographer's dream for All Hallows' Eve. From the Addams Family architecture to the occasional bat (both in the trees and in the air), this is simply a wonderful setting for any dark and stormy shoots. I received a review copy of EarthStones newest set, Desmodus, in gold and opal and decided I wanted to do a few shots as if I was entering the photo contest - All Hallows Eve theme with jewelry as the focus. Wow, so much harder than it looks...
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I bought a few copies of Desmodus myself (the bats are just too wonderful) in black steel and silver, red jasper and moonstone - so that I would have a few combinations to play with. Then I pulled out a variety of outfits and hairstyles and started posing, turning, playing with lighting and desperately trying to get a perfect shot. 104 photos. All over the sim. With and without bats, in church, in the graveyard, near the wrought iron gates. Black. Red. White. Lace and no lace. Updos and down, long and short. Heck, I finished a pot of coffee before I ever got to the first crop.
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Finally, though, after twisting and turning and zooming and moving - some shots I thought were about the jewelry and the goth horror atmosphere and not me or the outfit. I tucked the SiniStyle Design sim landmark in my "Great Settings" folder and you should consider doing the same (and don't forget to check out the store as well - it's haunted!).
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For all the Wednesdays in the world, feel at home at the SiniStyle Design Main Store Sim.

Top left:
Hair - Jasmyn (Black) by Analog Dog
Skin - Sunkissed V1 (Smokey 02) by [KA] Skins
Eyes - Transparency Shine (Clear Grey) by Glanz
Top - Knit Jacket (Black) by CE Cubic Effect
Jewelry - Desmodus (Gold/Opal) by EarthStones

Bottom right:

Hair - Coral (Black) by House of Heart

Jewelry - Desmodus (Silver/Red Jasper) by Earthstones

Dress - Scheherazade (Bloodstone) by DG Innovations

AIR - Lace & Arabesque Glasses

Sometimes really amazing things come in small packages. Air is a small store with a fabulous line of very sexy reading glasses. Yes, you read that correctly. Reading glasses. Beautifully detailed glasses. You will fake a vision problem just to have an excuse to wear them. Don't buy all the demos - they will just make you want every single pair. And I can guarantee from the comments I got while wearing these that guys definitely make passes at girls in these glasses.

My pictures don't do justice to the amazing level of detail in these - lacy frames with drop chains and jewels that look as good with an evening dress as they do with a sweater and jeans. There are multiple styles for all face shapes and preferences, but not all styles come in all metals or colors. The first pair I fell in love with was the Arabesque which only comes in Antique Copper and sells for L$600. I couldn't show them all, but the Lace Glasses can be bought individually for L$500 or in a Fat Pack of gold, copper and silver for L$1000.
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See everything more clearly at the AIR Main Store.

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Top left:
Hair - Writer (Night) by Detour
Eyes - Transparency Shine (Clear Grey) by Glanz
Glasses - Lace Glasses (Silver) by AIR
Skin - S5 Tan Natural 1 (Freckles) by ::Tuli::
Top - Full Sculpted Knit Jacket (Black) by Cubic Effect

Bottom right:

Hair - Writer (Night) by Detour

Eyes - Transparency Shine (Clear Grey) by Glanz

Glasses - Arabesque Glasses (Antique Copper) by AIR

Skin - S5 Medium Classic 1 by ::Tuli::

Top - Full Sculpted Knit Jacket (Black) by Cubic Effect

Paper Couture - Silk Gypsy Dress

At Paper Couture, black is the new black and hopefully always will be. Honestly, no one does black quite the way Paper Couture does - warm and liquid and flowing. I've never had a dress from there that there weren't parts that could be used in all kinds of outfits and Silk Gypsy is no exception. If the full prim sleeves and deep v-neck of the blouse don't convince you, combined with the waist enhancing corset this outfit is worth well more than its weight in Lindens. Which isn't a lot - this dress is a bargain. At L$250, there's no reason that Silk Gypsy shouldn't be in every gal's inventory.

A single color offering like the rest of Paper Couture's line, Silk Gypsy comes with a blouse (shirt), corset (jacket), prim sleeves and three skirts, both scripted and unscripted (perfect for pictures) as well as a mesh layer (skirt) and glitch pants (pants). Obviously the top can be worn with many combinations of skirts, so I paired it with a comfy old pair of ragged jeans and soft boots and had a terrific, soft casual look - perfect for a relaxed evening out with friends (new or old). I was planning to change shoes when I switched to the full dress shot, but the first pose I hit looked perfect with the boots and gave it a more period look, so I kept them - though I can assure you the dress looks spectacular with just about any heel height and shoe style.

Discover why I hope nothing will ever replace black at the Paper Couture Main Store.

Top left:
Hair - BooN75 by BooN
Eyes - Transparency Shine Eyes (Clear Grey) by Glanz
Skin - Tasha 11 Portrait Skin (Tan) by Laqroki
Glasses - Arabesque by AIR
Top - Silk Gypsy by Paper Couture
Tattoo - Eternity Awaits by iNFLiCT
Nails - Deep Dream Collection by bijou
Belt - Song Bird Belt (Black) by Cubic Effect
Jeans - Sexy Ripped Jeans by Naima
Boots - Bot's Black by Storm Schmooz

Bottom right:

Hair - BooN75 by BooN
Eyes - Transparency Shine Eyes (Clear Grey) by Glanz
Skin - Tasha 11 Portrait Skin (Tan) by Laqroki
Tattoo - Eternity Awaits by iNFLiCT

Outfit - Silk Gypsy by Paper Couture
Boots - Bot's Black by Storm Schmooz

Gisaci - Buone Vacanze Blouse

I rediscovered this outfit when I was digging around looking for a red blouse and am I glad that I did. The blouse is amazingly detailed and fitted, the shorts are perfectly detailed and understated, making for a fabulous summer look. No sooner had I put on the outfit than I started having ideas to mix and match with the blouse and belt. Both look wonderful with both fitted and unstructured separates, long, short and in between lengths and a variety of accessories including stone, lacquer and gems.

The outfit comes in a blinding array of choices, colors and combinations with white, black, tan, blue and creme shorts paired with blouses in Purple, Pink, Fusain, Gold, Rosso, Giallo, Crema, Navy, Silver, Tarnished Gold, Blue, Aqua, Red, Mirtilli, Verde, Porpora, Nero, Bianco, Blu, Divinti, Yioli and Bianco. 24 combinations in all at L$325 each, no fat packs available. Both the blouse and shorts come in multiple layers with prim cuffs and sleeves. The short cuffs required a bit of adjusting on the legs to work with my standing poses, but most will probably not have an issue. All in all, the Buone Vacanze outfit is a classic summer look with a lot of wardrobe versatility.

I am giving a direct link to the Gisaci Store, but be sure and visit the other sim stores while you are there.

On the left:
Top - Buone Vacanze (Mirtilli) Blouse by Gisaci
Pants - Sarrouel Pants (Black) by Ce Cubic Effect
Tattoo - What is the Matrix by iNFLiCT
Jewelry - Yin Yang Earrings (Red Jasper) & Drama Bracelet by Earthstones
Shoes - Verve Pumps (Red) by Maitreya

On the right:
Top - Buone Vacanze (Mirtilli) Blouse by Gisaci
Tattoo- What is the Matrix by iNFLiCT
Jewelry - Yin Yang Earrings (Red Jasper) & Drama Bracelet by Earthstones
Shoes - Verve Pumps (Red) by Maitreya

Cubic Effect - Song Bird Belt

Well, I spent the weekend at various fashion shows - it seemed that every time I turned around another group was sending an invitation. One of the shows yesterday featured various Japanese designers - Orange Meili of Discord, Mami Jewell of Azul and Mirai Jun of Ce Cubic Effect. Since there is a good chance that I own more Cubic Effect clothes than any other designer (or at least close) and I had just recently been to pick up my must have copy of Song Bird - the blog post was inevitable.
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Like all of Cubic Effect's clothing, Song Bird has a soft draping feel and texture that makes you want to reach out and run your hands over it. The skirt is built with a combination of clothing and prims, there are two included top styles to extend versatility. Each set comes in a primary color with a secondary trim and there are 10 combinations - Black\white, Pink\white, Black\red, Green\brown, Beige\brown, Grey\white, Red\brown, Yellow\blue, Grey\green, and White\black. Each color combination is L$420, unfortunately no Fat Pack is available.
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Now, as for the belt, it is sold separately from the outfits, though I have to admit that I think it is a pretty critical component to make the dress look "done". That said, it's a minimal expense at L$120 each and it comes in black, brown and white so you can change the look of the outfit depending on the base colors. I picked up both the black and the brown and have found a variety of clothes to wear them with - the soft suede crinkle and understated buckle make the Song Bird belt a nearly perfect accessory.

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Take the time to visit the Ce Cubic Effect Main Store in its new location at Chantilly.

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On the left:
Outfit - Denim Cotton Jumpsuit (Black) by Armidi Limited
Belt - Song Bird Suede Belt (Black) by Cubic Effect
Shoes - Verve Pumps (Black) by Maitreya
Earrings - Stone Donut (Black, Labradorite) by EarthStones

On the right:

Outfit - Song Bird (Green/brown) by Cubic Effect

Belt - Song Bird Suede Belt (Brown) by Cubic Effect

Shoes - Verve Pumps (Black) by Maitreya

Earrings - Stone Donut (Black, Labradorite) by EarthStones

JCNY Model'Fest - Showcase Model Week

So, 'round about Tuesday I log in to see the message that I've been invited to join the JCNY Fashion District Vendors group. Figuring it has something to do with the contest, I agonize for a bit, drop a group (What? You have less than 25? Pffft.) and join. I look up and see that my title is now "JCNY Showcase Model". Cool. That's gotta be good, right? I mean, if I had a clue what it was, that is. Back I go to the contest note card which says that each week, "Showcase Models" will be selected to take the runway at JCNY. It goes on to say:

SHOWCASE MODELS - What is a SHOWCASE Model? After entering your photos you will be up for 'Showcase Modeling' during the month. A Collection of 15 models are up for showcase during each week of the contest. These models are hand selected by the judges to take the runway at the JCNY Flagship Store. SL Newspapers, Fashion Photographers, Model Agencies will all be randomly present to view the showcase models. If you are selected as a showcase model you will receive a group tag from JD Hansen of JCNY. You will be paid 15L an hr for being part of the showcase during the festival. **The models who are showcased are considered to be the featured models of the current week's entries and are not in any specific order of placement in the runnings.
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Allrighty then. Apparently, I need to get dressed and go to the Farrah Island runway and do... something. I rummage through the closet, settle on something black (shocking, eh?) and teleport over to find a cluster of posing people perched precariously on a platform. Go alliteration! I walk around, try and figure out what I'm supposed to do, give up and ask. After a few IMs, I head up on the runway, clock in (nope, never seen a time clock before, either - I'm learning tons!) and start posing.
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Tomorrow, more about the JCNY Model'Fest experience, meanwhile, come visit at Farrah Island - I'm the grey blob trying not to fall in the moat.

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On the left (worn Friday):
Dress - Mara (Ruby) RFL Limited Edition by Nicky Ree

On the right (worn Thursday):

Shirt - H3 Shirt (Black) by Cubic Effect

Pants - Sarrouel Pants (Black) by Cubic Effect

Shoes - ChiChi Pumps (Black) by Maitreya

Baiastice - Pink Fantasy Dress

Spring is supposed to be springing and clothing all over SL belies the evidence of RL, so I went shopping for suitably spring-like outfits to brighten up the winter darks. Not being a pastel person, this presented a bit of a problem. I actually went to Baiastice while wandering through my "folder of links I need to visit" and when I saw this dress, I knew I had a spring post outfit. It also gave me the chance to try out several different hairstyles from Zero Style that I had bought and neglected.

Since the goal is to be able to take one outfit and go several places without a change of wardrobe, I started out with the straight party dress look, pairing the bright spring colors with a pair of black stilettos to match the retro black detailing. A quick change of hair, a short jacket and soft boots and it's an entirely different look. The dress itself is only L$250, required virtually no adjustment and simply looks terrific - especially for gals like me with a ton of black accessories.

For a taste of spring, retro style, head over to the Baiastice Main Store.

On the left:
Outfit - Pink Fantasy by Baiastice
Shoes - Tie Me Up (Black/Black) by Stiletto Moody
Hair - Pompadour (Black) by Zero Style

On the right:

Outfit - Pink Fantasy by Baiastice

Jacket - Short Leather Jacket (Black) by Cubic Effect

Boots - Bloom (Black) by Maitreya

Hair - Mike (Black) by Zero Style

Tattoo - Liseron (Upper and Lower) by addiXion

Casa del Shai - Dakota Blouse

This is one of those posts where I'm tempted to throw up the pictures, step back and say "Just look!". Talk about fantastic texturing - the shirt on the Dakota Pantsuit just makes me want to reach out and touch it. You can feel the time and thought that goes into each piece and every color combination. The overall effect is feminine without being fluffy, sexy without being obvious - just a perfect combination. I also adore the high waisted pants (you can leave off the jacket layer and go with a regular waist height if you prefer) which are just as versatile as the blouse. A few changes of shoe or accessories and you can go just about anywhere in SL.

The pantsuit comes in 5 colors including Gold, Sea, Rose, Lilac and Sky, with the different names referring to the shirt colors. Rather than a single pant included with all the different shirts, the colors of the associated pants are coordinated to the shirt color, so while Sea comes with blue, the Lilac shirt is paired with a rich chocolate pant. Very nice detail there which will probably have me back in the future for a few more colors. At L$400, I expect to get a lot of wear and combinations out of both the outfit and the separate pieces to make it a great addition to my closet.

Wrap yourself in fabulous textures at Casa Del Shai - and watch for more great clothes from Shai Delacroix when I visit Africa later this week.

On the left:
Outfit - Dakota Pantsuit (Sea) by Casa del Shai
Boots - Dune (Teal) by Maitreya

On the right:

Blouse - Dakota Pantsuit (Sea) by Casa del Shai

Pants - Sarrouel Pants (Black) by Cubic Effect

Shoes - Bitch Booties (Black/black) by Stiletto Moody

Cubic Effect - Short Leather Jacket

For the last week or so I've found myself reaching for my Cubic Effect folder regularly. Their separates are simply classic wardrobe basics that can transform or complete an outfit effortlessly. I really wish they had fatpacks, because several items would be well worth saving up for a bundle. The colors are rich, the textures are soft and flowing and the details are terrific. If I was required to come up with a negative, it would be that I inevitably wind up doing a bit of prim adjustment, but I think that's a function of my shape and well worth the time for the result.

The Short Leather Jacket is exactly that - with short prim sleeves and collar and an open style that lends it to topping a myriad of outfits. The jacket comes in 6 colors - Blue, Brown, Red, Bright Grey, Grey and Black - and match perfectly to coordinate with the majority of the other Cubic Effect separates. I bought this to wear over my burgeoning shirt collection, but quickly found myself putting it on with short skirts, long skirts, shorts, you name it. The jacket sells for $380 per color, but don't expect to teleport in and out with that being your only purchase.

Super separates in classic colors at the Cubic Effect Main Store.

On the left:

Jacket - Short Leather Jacket (Black) by Cubic Effect

Top - Rainy Day Dress (Gold) by Gisaci

Skirt - Black Lace Skirt - Canimal

Boots - Bloom (Black) by Maitreya

Necklace - Wire Wrapped Crystal Necklace (Labradorite) by Earthstones

On the right:

Jacket - Short Leather Jacket (Black) by Cubic Effect

Bra - Aufiori Chambre Sheer (Black) by Intimizzio

Belt - Lilith (Midnight) by Dark Eden

Jeans - Hell and Back Light by The Abyss

Boots - Bloom (Black) by Maitreya

Necklace - Wire Wrapped Crystal Necklace (Labradorite) by Earthstones

Intimizzio - Aufiori Chambre Sheer Set

Just falling out of bed on a lazy Sunday afternoon? Staying in bed on a Sunday morning? Maybe heading out for a bit of light shopping? Well, it's the weekly lingerie post to help you build the perfect day from the skin up. I noticed when I did my last post that, while I have a good sized lingerie collection, it was very heavy on corsets and low on bras - a situation that was fixed at Intimizzio - Armidi's lingerie and intimates store. I have to admit, however, that I just can't give up my garters, which limited my choices. For those of you with less persnickity tastes, you will find a great selection of intimates for both men and women.

The Aufiori Chambre Sheer Set consists of a lacy sheer bra, garter, and panties in two layers each (tattoo friendly) and two different stockings in an opaque and complementary sheer. There are 11 colors to choose from - black, chocolate, gold, eggplant, dove, persian rose, sangria, teal, seagrass, prussian purple and white. I picked out the black (big surprise) and the gold to feature here, but there are shades for every taste and skin tone. Each color is L$295 and sports exquisite detailing on both the lace and the accents.

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I'm technically cheating here by showing the set peeking out from underneath a light sweater and jeans over a pair of skyscraping platforms, but when I got dressed after shooting the lingerie pics, I liked the look so much I decided to include it. One of the really nice things about this set is that all pieces can be worn (or removed) independently, including the stockings, and that the accents on the various colors will allow you to mix and match pieces from various color sets. One of my reasons for choosing the black and gold was the gold lacing across the garter belt on the black set and the black lace detailing on the gold made for a myriad of possible combinations. These go nicely with stilettos, platforms or ankle boots but are a bit too delicate looking to work well with higher boots and they are understated enough to be worn visible under many different outfits, both casual and formal, so that you are always "dressed from the skin up".

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As with my earlier Gisaci post, this is a direct teleport to Intimizzio, but be sure to look around at the other Armidi shops in the sim.

Left Top:

Lingerie - Aufiori Chambre Sheer Set (Black) by Intimizzio

Shoes - Bitch Booties (Deerskin/Black) by Stiletto Moody

Right Center:

Lingerie - Aufiori Chambre Sheer Set - (Black) by Intimizzio

Top - Full Sculpted Knit Jacket (Black) by Cubic Effect

Jeans - Hell and Back (Light) by The Abyss

Shoes - O Wedge (Black) by Stiletto Moody

Left Bottom:

Lingerie - Aufiori Chambre Sheer Set (Gold) by Intimizzio

Shoes - Bitch Booties (Deerskin/Black) by Stiletto Moody

AnnaH - Paris Shorts

I read the notice about the sale ending at AnnaH and decided to wander over and see what my slim Lindens could purchase. Always on the hunt for a black pant with that "something" that sets it apart from all the other black pants, I knew I was buying them the second I saw the Paris Shorts. I love the mid-knee length and the prim bell shaped cuffs combined with a detailed double side button waist. It must be a sign of spring that I'm finding myself drawn to shorter length pants and skirts lately - even if they are black.

The shorts look terrific with heels or ankle boots, though they are a bit awkward with a knee boot, due to the length (a pair of dark tights would probably fix this right up). The texture and tone are very soft, so it sets off almost any top perfectly, with the shape being the focal point. I picked up mine for L$50 at the sale, regularly priced at L$75 - but these would still be a deal for double the price.

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For a pair of black pants that don't fade into the background, take a trip to AnnaH Couture.

On the Left:

Shirt - Shirt H3 (Blue) by Cubic Effect

Shorts - Paris Shorts by AnnaH

Shoes - Bitch Booties (black/black) by Stiletto Moody

On the Right:

Shirt - Red Sweater Set by DE Designs

Shorts - Paris Shorts by AnnaH

Shoes - Succubus Pumps (Dark Cherry) by ::69::

Bare Rose Tokyo - Tietop Boro Bolero Shirt

First, my apologies for being waaay behind on posts - the flu hammered me hard and I've spent days in an incoherent stupor. That said, what better way to come out of a stupor than to a fabulous and flexible new release from Bare Rose? The Tietop Boro Bolero set is just so much for the Lindens you won't believe it. 43 pieces (yep, you read that right) in black, blue, brown, green, orange, white, purple and orange - spread throughout scarves, shirts, skirts and hats. All for an incredible L$170, no less. It's actually kind of odd that I'm blogging new pieces from Bare Rose as they are a substantial part of my wardrobe and I have quite a few other items I could have featured - but somehow the idea of completing my pirate look was calling me... (still looking for a good leather eyepatch, BTW)

Options, almost too many options here. 5 jackets, 4 scarves (which include a matching necklace), 3 skirts, 3 shirts, 2 hats - yikes! You can mix and match among the outfit's various colors and separates or pull out any combination to add in with other clothes in your closet. I personally couldn't wait to put the white top over my leather pants and barbed wire boots, but controlled myself and played around with the outfit for a while first. The prim sleeves are in two separate layers with the upper providing the puffy sleeves at the top and the bottom being a cascade of ruffles.

Mix and match until you get confused at the Bare Rose Tokyo Main Store.

On the left
Shirt - Tietop Boro Bolero (Blue) by Bare Rose Tokyo
Pants - Sarrouel Pants (Black) by Cubic Effect
Shoes - ChiChi Pumps (black w/ blue) by Maitreya

On the right:

Shirt - Tietop Boro Bolero (White) by Bare Rose Tokyo
Belt - Aoife Belt by HUSKY GFX
Pants - Aoife Leather Pants by HUSKY GFX
Boots - Orenns Barbed Wire Boot by Sentou Yousei

Bobbysocks - Thigh High Straps

In a metaverse where anything is possible, my search for the perfect thigh high boots seemed incredibly long. Not that there aren't a lot of great thigh highs out there, but I wanted something that would go equally well with latex, leather or a plain ol' pair of jeans. It was also a challenge looking for something that wasn't either very plain or very ornate - simply because I wanted a lot of versatility and options (I just don't have a need for multiple pairs of thigh highs.) Enter the Thigh High Straps by Bobbysocks. Wow. Just wow. Exactly what I was looking for - subtle detailing but with plenty of oomph. (And, again, my apologies, my graphics card does not do either the boots or the clothing justice.)

Now, when you go to pick yours up - get the Bobbysocks boot fitting information card before you buy your boots. It gives approximate leg sizes for avatars, including a second set of measurements for petites (which is a good thing, since that was me). It also explains their custom fitting policy which is free for the first fitting on the majority of avatars. I was a little worried about the fitting process, but a quick IM and a little bit of instruction (to me, LOL!) and my boots had gone there and back and were on my legs - completely painless. At L$575, they aren't cheap, but considering the level of service and the fact that I just sigh happily when I put them on, they are well worth it.

If you are looking for some thigh loving leather, head to the Bobbysocks Main Store.

On the right:

Outfit - Nienor by Husky GFX

Boots - Thigh High Straps by Bobbysocks

On the left:

Shirt - Shirt H3 (Blue) by Cubic Effect

Belt - Lilith by Dark Eden

Pants - Nienor by Husky GFX

Boots - Thigh High Straps by Bobbysocks

Cubic Effect - Shirt H3

If you don't own this shirt, you need it like yesterday. Not only is it spectacular when dressed up, but it is equally gorgeous dressed down with a pair of jeans for a casual look. It looks soft and buttery on, clings in all the right places, is soft at the neckline and manages to look just right in any situation.

It comes in 9 colors - white, pink, beige, light green, brown, red, blue, grey and black. $L180, mod, no copy, transfer - sadly, no Fat Pack or I would have been all over that puppy. Several of the colors match the equally fabulous Sarrouel pants (also by Cubic Effect). I tried it with a variety of belts and, while they looked quite nice, I honestly felt they were a bit distracting, though definitely still an option. Just buy this shirt - you won't regret it for a moment. Edit - succumbing to a moment of weakness, I bought this in the blue tonight and it looks great paired with the Lilith belt from Dark Eden, so I'll have to take back the distracting statement.

Pick it up at Cubic Effect's Main Store

On the left:
Jeans - Dahlia by Last Call
Boots - Thetis by Dark Eden

On the right:

Pants - Sarrouel by Cubic Effect

Shoes - ChiChi Pumps by Maitreya