The Hat Shop - Bogart Fedora

I love hats. I mean I seriously love hats. Which is why it is strange that this is my first hat feature. I've blogged quite a few outfits with hats and I was recently horribly depressed when an adorable 1920's style outfit I bought came with everything but the hat. (Worse, the hat wasn't anywhere to be found in the shop.) And yes, I have a folder of "hat hair" pre-modded just for tossing on a jaunty cap before heading out for the evening. So, with great enthusiasm for a great piece from a classic era, I present my first featured hat - the Bogart Fedora from The Hat Shop.


The Hat Shop has a variety of hats, including several fedora styles if you are more Godfather than Bogart, but I'm pure Bogie and Bacall and I adore this hat. It comes in 6 colors at L$150 per color or a L$400 fat pack that contains them all - cream, white, toffee, grey and black. With it's wide band and slightly crumpled feel, this hat is the perfect finishing touch for a wide range of outfits. From fitted dresses to menswear, topping your look with this detailed fedora will let you stroll into the smoke filled corners of the dimmest jazz clubs with style.
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So, play it again and again at The Hat Shop.

Top left:
Hat - Bogart Fedora (Black) by The Hat Shop
Hair - Writer (Night) by Detour
Shirt - Oversized Shirt (Red) by Muism
Tattoo - Eternity Awaits by iNFLiCT
Earrings - Precious Seas by JCNY

Bottom Right:

Hat - Bogart Fedora (Black) by The Hat Shop

Hair - Writer (Night) by Detour

Shirt - Runway Collection 09 by Digit Darkes

Belt & Bracelets - Runway Collection 09 by Digit Darkes

Pants -Denim Cotton Jumpsuit (Black) by Armidi Gisaci

Shoes - Verve Pumps (Black) by Maitreya

Designs of Darkness - Gears Tattoo

Inspired by Da Vinci's sketches, this tattoo caught my eye immediately and has become a staple in my ink collection. The only thing I really really wish is that it was a full body suit - I can just see the thigh gears in my mind. Still, it's hard not to be drawn to the beautifully inked gears, delicate lines, artistry and balance of this tattoo. A very clothing friendly tattoo, Gears comes in undershirt, shirt and jacket layers included for L$250 - a bargain for body art of this quality.

Initially I was skeptical about the fully inked left breast, but when I put on the tattoo I realized that it was sufficient "coverage" to be able to wear several "lifted" tops that had been languishing in the closet. The back design looks wonderful with either low backed dresses or midriff tops, and the sleeves alone are interesting enough to carry a look. I was very happy to find this shop - and to have the chance to chat with new designer Rezit Sideways. As well as tattoos, you will find quite an assortment of well done wings, pasties, stockings and a personal favorite - the Barbed Wire and Roses Tiara.

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Tattoos and much more at Designs of Darkness (D.o.D.) Main Store at Bay City.
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Outfits:

Top - Lifted Black Floral Tank by WWI

Shorts - Booty Shorts (Spattered) by League

Boots - Desert Boots (Beige) by Maitreya

Tattoo - Gears by D.o.D (Designs of Darkness)

Bijou - Grandene Furs

A few weeks ago I was cruising all the Linden birthday events, including several fashion shows. One of the great things about Second Life is that things you wouldn't or couldn't have in RL are available and the Grandene fur and leather dresses from Bijou are among those. The instant I saw them I knew I was going to be teleporting to the store.

Available in 5 different furs including Black, Red and Silver Fox as well as Tiger and Mink for L$550 each, I freely admit that I screwed up once again. I absolutely should have bought the fat pack for L$1375, but instead I have the Black Fox and broke down and went back for the Tiger version. These dresses are absolute soft, fuzzy textured perfection. Made up of 17 pieces, the base dress is shirt, pants, skirt and jacket with optional underwear layers. Add to this prim attachments for the neck, trim and 2 arm options (muff or gloves) and you have several different looks available in the same outfit.

The cinched corset waist gives the outfit an edgy tailored element while the prim fur pieces soften and emphasize the face and legs - an absolutely perfect look for fashionable events where you want something that can go almost anywhere but makes you stand out from the crowd.

Don't be penny-wise and fur foolish like yours truly. Buy the Fat Pack at the Bijou Main Store at Takaraduka.

On the left:
Outfit - Grandene (Black Fox) by Bijou
Glasses - Danielle (Black) by Insolence
Boots - Lizziey Black Myla Boots by Whittenton's

On the right:

Outfit - Grandene (Tiger) by Bijou

Shoes - Virtue (Patent Black) by Maitreya

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 - Epilogue (For Now)

Wow! What a blast! One solid week of the runway at JCNY, planning outfits, practicing poses, smiling and greeting. I can honestly say that the other Showcase Models for the week made the time go by far quicker, as did the parade of friends who were kind enough to show up and offer support and, in some cases (you know who you are, LOL!) heckling. =)

So, what was the week like and what did I learn? Well, I learned a lot about posing - far more than studio work. I decided that I had two jobs during the week - being memorable and making the clothes look good. And I quickly discovered how important the right poses are to the second goal - the right pose makes a great outfit spectacular, the wrong pose and the best clothes in SL look downright odd. I admit that after the first day, I was at Animah buying pose packs and testing my poses with the outfits before hitting the runway - yes, it is harder than it looks and requires more preparation than I had thought.

The week is paid, but the real point is exposure and the opportunity to meet people involved in the fashion industry in SL. I chatted with so many people from all over the world in RL and with all sorts of interests in SL that it would be well worth the time even if not one of them had anything to do with fashion. That said, quite a few did and I thoroughly enjoyed talking and asking questions - both with the other models and the folks that came by.

The stars of the show, however, were the clothes. And the shoes, don't forget the shoes. The range of styles and designers was broad and some of the outfits were just amazing. As for me, I got to pull out some of my favorite outfits that don't get nearly enough wear. I tried to dress in clothes from a lot of different creators in a variety of styles, though formal wear was definitely in the majority as the JCNY jewelry went perfectly with my more... ahem... elaborate gowns.

Would I do it again? Absolutely. If you've ever wondered what the modeling thing is all about, polish your shoes, comb your hair and go take some pictures.

On the left (worn Saturday):
Dress - Red Rum Gown by Haute Style
Shoes - Bitch Booties (Black/Black) by Stiletto Moody

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On the right (worn Monday):

Dress - Three Woodpeckers by Chambre du Chocolate

Shoes - Verve Pumps (Black) by Maitreya

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

DeLa - Jill Tank Top

I was in the mood for red the other day and happened by DeLa to see the Jill tank top in the new releases. In an array of rich colors, this is a perfect summer top, paired with everything from jeans to skirts and you will find yourself pulling out the included belt over and over. Together with almost any skirt or pants, this top makes for a sleek, pulled together look that can be paired with pumps or boots equally.
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Each top is a base color with three patent leather strips down the front center line in two colors, black and a complementary shade of the base. It comes in Purple, Red, Sky, Turquoize, White, Moss, Gray, Golden Olive, Brown, Bitter Brown and Black for L$380 per color (no Fat Pack at this point). If you travel a bit into the store you will find the Sherry leggings in 21 colors as well - which match perfectly with the Jill shirts (and so much more).
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The included belt comes in three sizes to fit just about every avatar and is not only a perfect match for the shirt, but easily versatile enough to be worn with other outfits. The shirt comes in both color combinations (black and complementary accent) in all three layers to be tattoo friendly (this is a great shirt for those sleeves you have in inventory). The shirt bottom comes in underwear only, so for some combinations you may need to leave it off.
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Indulge in a bit of versatile summer casual wear at the DeLa Main Store.

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On the left:

Top - Jill Tank Top (Red) by DeLa

Pants - Cotton Capris (Black) by Nevermore

Shoes - Court X Shoes (Black) by AW Design

Jewelry - Yin Yang Earrings (Red Jasper) by Earthstones

On the right:

Top - Jill Tank Top (Red) by DeLa

Skirt - Black Lace Skirt by Canimal

Shoes - Verve Pumps (Red) by Maitreya

League - Spattered Booty Shorts

Well, summer is here and it's time for shorts. Really short shorts. OK, booty shorts. But, like anything else, there are booty shorts and there are booty shorts. I came across the League Spattered Booty Shorts while I was cruising around on a Steampunk binge and landed at the League main store at Steam Forge. I've been regularly pulling them out of my inventory ever since - somehow they just seem right for wandering around exploring. Not up for a hike in the woods? Throw on a t-shirt, add some footwear with attitude and a killer pair of stockings for a completely different look.

The shorts are available in 6 colors - Spattered, Purple, Light Blue, Dirty, Dark Blue and Black at L$120 each. There is a fat pack of all colors available for L$500 and if you lean towards casual in your daily dress, it's well worth it. The shorts are wonderfully detailed with paint splatters, pockets that hang below the "cutoff" and terrific textures that make these "faded favorites". I should also mention that each short comes in both the underwear and pant layers for versatility with tattoos and multilayer tops.
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Paint the town spattered at the League Mainstore @ Steam Forge.

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On the left:
Shirt - Open Shirt (Red) by E. Watkins
Shorts - Booty Shorts by League
Hair - Beloved (Night) by Detour
Boots - Desert Boots (Beige) by Maitreya
Tattoo - Cherry Blossoms Tattoo by Garden of Ku
Bracelet - Stone Donut Bracelet (Labradorite) by EarthStones

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On the right:
Shirt - Talkin' T "Ubergeek" Cropped by Civvies
Shorts - Booty Shorts by League
Hair - Luna (Night) by Detour
Shoes - Natural Born Goth by The Padded Room
Tattoo - What is the Matrix by iNFLiCT
Earthstones Crystal Charm Earring - Creativity

A Piece of Candy - Birdie

Ever see something that just screams "Fun! You must own me!"? Well, the Birdie outfit by A Piece of Candy had me at the first look. Houndstooth! How often do you see houndstooth - especially in pedal pushers? And the matching black midriff sweater with prim shoulders to accentuate the sleekness of the look.

The pants are a lower waist with a jacket layer high waisted version you can layer on. The sweater can be worn with almost anything - I tried it with jeans, skirts and shorts as well as a variety of other pants and was very happy with the results. This outfit is an absolute bargain at L$ 175 - full of retro Jackie O. summer fun - all you need is the perfect sunglasses.

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Take a trip back in time to a classic at A Piece of Candy.

On the left:
Outfit: Birdie by A Piece of Candy
Shoes: Verve Pumps (Black) by Maitreya
Necklace: Wire Wrapped Crystal Necklace (Labradorite) by Earthstones

Haute Style & Co. - HSC Emee Top

I picked up two outfits from Haute Style & Co. at the Relay for Life Clothing Fair and have been remiss in not blogging at least one of them since then - especially since I just stood and drooled over even more clothes from HSC today. The HSC Emee Gown is comprised of the grey, high neck, sleeveless top that is the centerpiece of this article, sleek black pants, prim skirt and collar and stockings to dress you to the toes.

The prim skirt is a confection of netting, layering out and floating, balanced by the net prim collar. Take both off, add a belt, change shoes, pants, or even add a different skirt and you have a whole new look for a more casual venue where chic still counts. The whole ensemble sells for L$480, only in the color shown. With the majority of pieces being perfect separates (especially for those of us with overwhelming amounts of black, grey and red in our closets) virtually the entire thing can do double duty for the price.

While you are at the Haute Style & Co. Main Store, be sure and look around - I bet you leave with more than one thing. I always do.

Top left:
Outfit - HSC Emee Gown by Haute Style & Co.
Shoes - Verve Pumps (Black) by Maitreya

Bottom right:

Oufit - HSC Emee Gown by Haute Style & Co.

Shoes - Verve Pumps (Black) by Maitreya

Belt - Courtney Buckled Belt Leather (Black) by Armidi Gisaci

The Basics - Redux

It's been a few months and some things have changed. While I still love my Fleur skins and pull them out all the time for outfits, my day to day look has switched to ::Tuli:: S5 (S6 coming soon) skins. Most often I'm in either the medium or the tan tone - natural, diva, classic or glam makeups. Tattoos still lean heavily to addiXion and iNFLiCT, though the Gecko design from Muisim is getting a lot of play time.

My favorite hair and the one I return to over and over is The Poynter by Armidi, but I recently discovered the Detour textured flexi hairs and am madly in lust, so we'll see. Writer is about all I've worn since buying it (in two colors, no less). I've looked at a lot of eyes and lashes in different colors and styles and I really don't think they are going to ever be changing - I stumbled across Glanz eyes early on and I simply love them. Along with the ::Tuli:: makeups, they are just perfect for me.

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I suppose since folks have started asking me where my hair, skin, etc. came from, I should throw out a little advice to the "even newer than I" residents. If I had to pick just one tip to hand out it would be to invest in a good skin and shape. Pick up every demo you can find and keep trying combinations until one "fits". Don't hesitate to delete the ones that aren't perfect - the right one will come along and you won't be sifting through the maybes to find it when you have the L$ to buy it. And speaking of buying it - skin and shape are not the place to save Lindens, trust me.

All Photos:

Hair - Writer (Night) by Detour

Skin - S5 Medium Diva by ::Tuli::

Eyes - Transparency Shine Eyes (Fresh Blue) by Glanz

Top left:

Tattoo - What is the Matrix by iNFLiCT

Blouse - Buone Vacanze Blouse (Mirtilli) by Gisaci

Earrings - Moon & Tide (Silver) by Miriel

Right and center:

Tattoo - Gecko by Muisim

Blouse - Dress Shirt (Blueblack) by Naima

Skirt - Leather Skirt (Black) by Naima

Shoes - Verve Pumps (Black) by Maitreya

A Perfect Day at the Beach

Tis the season for bathing suits and beaches and SL is full of terrific outfits to see and be seen in. I pulled a few out as summer starters to get myself in the mood for warmer weather. Recently I've been wearing (and blogging) a lot of clothes from Casa Del Shai and this is no exception - I adore the Zambia Safari Swimsuit (L$380). Shown here without the prim ruffles (which really make it two suits in one), the soft top and beautifully textured bottom come in all layers except jacket (very tattoo friendly). You would be hard pressed to find a pool or beach where you won't turn heads in this suit.

Chaospire is probably better known for flowing gowns and edgy fantasy outfits, but the Naiad swimsuits shouldn't be overlooked. Sold separately in blue, green and red for L$350, each set comes in a regular and sheer version in pants and shirt layers. There is also a Fat Pack that includes all three colors plus a tintable white (again, regular and sheer versions of all) for only $L800.
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Finally, for the more resort and continental beach look, Cachet's Golddigger can either be worn alone or as a cover up for another suit. With both top and bottom in all layers, this outfit's wet open textures work with just about any combination of tattoo, suit or even jeans. It comes with matching earrings and a wide cuff bracelet to finish the look, so just add a strappy pair of sandals and you are off for a day in the sun.

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Before you hit the beach, be sure and stop by Chaospire, Cachet and Casa Del Shai.
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Top left:

Swimsuit - Zambia Safari Swimsuit by Casa Del Shai

Shoes - April Sandals (Black) by Insolence

Middle right:

Swimsuit - Naiad (Blue) by Chaospire

Shoes - Verve Pumps (Black) by Maitreya

Bottom left:

Swimsuit - Golddigger by Cachet

Shoes - April Sandals (Gold) by Insolence

Maitreya - Desert Boots

I was perusing my shoes the other night and realized that I didn't own any casual shoes at all - nothing appropriate for hiking a trail or wandering in the woods. Having just picked up a few outfits that really *needed* something more rugged and less precarious than a pair of stilettos or sandals, I went searching. As I have so many times before, when I saw Maitreya's Desert Boots, I bought them immediately.

The boots come in green, brown, beige, mud and black and, for L$400 per color, you get both the laced and unlaced versions. Matching socks with prim cuffs come with each and, for the gal who spends a lot of time outdoors (or who just loves the look of these rugged boots), there is a Fat Pack of all colors available for L$1500.

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Fun is an understatement and you will love the detail and the texture of the Desert Boots. Slightly scuffed, whether you choose to lace them up for serious hiking or slide them on and leave them unlaced for a casual look, you can wear these with skirts, pants or shorts.

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For an afternoon of birdwatching (or people watching), pick up the Desert Boots at the Maitreya Main Store at Glam World.

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Both pictures:
The Birdwatcher Safari Suit (Khaki) by Casa del Shai
Desert Boots (Beige) by Maitreya

A Perfect Color - Red

I've read across several different blogs that simply picking a color and searching on it can inspire some great outfits. Since that matches my "mix and match" philosophy on Second Life fashion and I was also in a serious RED (yep, all caps) mood, it seemed like a great idea. I decided to do at least one casual look, at least one evening look and then the third could be whatever the pieces leant themselves to merging into. I also eliminated outfits that had been blogged about recently.

I had a great time pulling together a few outfits and playing around with the studio controls and came up with three "ready to go" outfits. The first outfit I happened to have acquired earlier today - Cachet's Garbage Dress, which comes with 5 different belt colors including - neon red. I love the slim upper body combined with the puffy bubble skirt and bright cinch belt. Certainly evening wear with an edge. Maitreya's Verve Pumps (red) are a perfect match for the belt. I also have to say that this was my favorite picture of the bunch.

The second outfit is pure casual with Maitreya's Dune Boots (red), X2 Gothica's Dress Shirt (red) with the Hell and Back Light jeans from The Abyss. In retrospect, I should have tried black jeans or leather pants as well since the jewelry is Earthstones Yin Yang Red Jasper/Onyx, but I liked the final look anyway. Finally, I dug into the Canimal folder and pulled out the Rocker Jacket (stripey red) and one of my favorites, the Black Lace skirt. I tried several pairs of shoe and boots and they all looked terrific with this, but when I put on the ::69:: Succubus Pumps (Dark Cherry) I knew I had the perfect pair for the picture.

So, there you have it - red, red and more red. Which is what I have - tons more red. This might be a post idea that I need to revisit on a semi regular basis, just to keep things fresh.
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Top left:
Outfit - Garbage by Cachet
Shoes - Verve Pumps (red) by Maitreya

Center right:
Shirt -Dress Shirt (Red) by X2 Gothica
Jeans - Hell and Back Jeans Light by The Abyss
Boots - Dune Boots (red) by Maitreya

Bottom left:
Top - Rocker Jacket (stripey red) by Canimal
Skirt - Black Lace Skirt by Canimal
Shoes - Succubus Pumps (Dark Cherry) by ::69::

All pictures:
Jewelry - Yin Yang Set (Red Jasper/Onyx) by EarthStones
Skin - S5 Medium Diva by Tuli
Tattoo - Gecko Tattoo by *Mu Mei Do*
Hair - The Poynter by Armidi

Paper Couture - Italian Black Jacket

I suppose that after more than 4 months, I should be more sophisticated and knowledgeable, but I'm still learning and finding things every day. Paper Couture has been on my "places to go shop" list forever and yet I'd never been until today. What a mistake on my part! As soon as I saw it, I knew that the Italian Black outfit was going to be amazing and it didn't disappoint.

With all the distinguishing features of a little black dress - you know, the ability to go anywhere and change gears with an accessory or pair of shoes - Italian Black deserves a place in every wardrobe. The outfit is composed of a three piece prim jacket that drapes across the shoulders and dips to reveal the burgundy bodice beneath. Subtle belting cinches the waistline and finishes with a burnished gold buckle above the beautifully textured mid thigh skirt. I'm not normally a fan of gloves, but the matching burgundy opera gloves absolutely finish this dress to perfection.

Fun and sexy enough for a night of clubbing, it is also a classic look for a night of dining and dancing. This is a standalone item, so only available in the black and burgundy combination, but the burgundy is such a perfect complement for the deep steely greys and blacks that the outfit will be a the top of your list for "clothes that always look just right". There don't appear to be any limitations with shoes so you can switch up the tone easily with footwear, though I preferred classic pumps and ankle boots - I can say that the black stockings that are included will get a lot of wear on their own because of the subtle shading. With the jacket making the neckline so eye-catching, limited the jewelry to earrings, which seemed to work quite well.

All in all, Italian Black would be a bargain at L$400 even if I hadn't thought to pair the three prim jacket with the Digit Darkes Relay for Life Twilight gown for a very formal evening look. The gown was a RFL Clothing Fair exclusive, but the jacket looks equally spectacular on many of my evening gowns and little black dresses that are still available - definitely experiment here.

Don't wait as long as I did, definitely visit Paper Couture at Barcola today.

Top left:
Outfit - Italian Black by Paper Couture
Shoes - Bitch Booties (Black/Black) by Stiletto Moody
Earrings - Floating Circles (Diamonds/Gold) by Earthstones

Center right:
Outfit - Italian Black by Paper Couture
Shoes - Verve (Black 2) by Maitreya
Earrings - Yin Yang (Red Jasper/Onyx) by Earthstones

Bottom left:
Gown - Twilight (RFL Exclusive) by Digit Darkes
Jacket - Italian Black by Paper Couture
Shoes - Verve (Black 2) by Maitreya
Earrings - Yin Yang (RFL Amethyst/Onyx) by Earthstones

Frozen Turquoise Valentine - Garden Drama

I spent part of the afternoon at the FTV (Frozen Turquoise Valentine) fashion show, taking notes and mentally spending money. When I got the show notice, I knew I had to go since I had just spent the morning shopping - mostly at FTV. I picked up two outfits, one of which, Coco, was featured on the runway - the classic black, white and grey power dress with a dramatic ruffled shoulder and opera gloves to add the final touch. My other purchase prior to the show was the outfit featured here - Garden Drama.

Garden Drama has a sleek silhouette with a hint of cutting edge in the high prim collar and a touch of the feminine in the soft fabric flares on the hip. The outfit consists of four pieces, slim pants, jacket layer top (good for tattoos), optional prim collar and prim side skirt. A very flexible outfit that can be mixed and matched with almost anything in your wardrobe, Garden Drama is only available in black and priced at $L400. Personally, I love the outfit and think it is well worth the Lindens given the myriad of options available for the individual pieces.

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Take a long afternoon and wander through the rooms at the Frozen Turquoise Valentine Main Store.

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Both pictures:

Outfit: Garden Drama by FTV

Shoes: Verve Pumps (Black 2) by Maitreya

Tattoo (left): What is the Matrix by iNFLiCT

Necklace (right): Stone Donut Leather Necklace - Labradorite/Black by Earthstones

LBD - LaCasa Flexi Dress

I admit it, I'm a junkie for LBD Ready to Wear. I almost tripped over myself getting over to the store after receiving the group announcement about the LeCasa Flexi Dress new release. Translucent but interesting is so hard to accomplish and LeeZu Baxter simply makes it look easy. The dress is a rich blend of hues from cream to deep chocolate with a light airy sheer prim skirt topped with a form fitting honeycomb patterned top accented with circular cutouts.

The set includes both a micro-mini and above the knee length skirt as well as an upper skirt attachment that raises the waistline to an empire. An obvious winner with a chocolate pump, I was thrilled to find that it works with both ankle and knee length boots beautifully. It's a hard match to anything at the neck, but definitely an outfit that calls for a pair of edgy earrings or an armful of bangles. I didn't hesitate to pick this up at L$350 and neither should you.

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Pick up the set at LeeZu Baxter Designs Main Store at To the Nines.

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On the left:

Outfit - LaCasa Flexi Dress by LBD

Boots - Bloom (Brown) by Maitreya

Skin - Vivant Feline (Bronze) by Fleur

Hair - Pompadour (Black) by Zero Style

On the right:

Outfit - LaCasa Flexi Dress by LBD

Shoes - Mishima Dawn (Ruff Leather Brown) by Maitreya

Skin - Vivant Feline (Bronze) by Fleur

Hair - The Poynter (True Black) by Armidi

Adam 'n' Eve - Snakeskin Dress

Adam 'n' Eve's Catwalk collection has some absolutely fabulous designs in gorgeous colors and textures. The one I fell in love with immediately was the Snakeskin Dress and I was thrilled to discover two different skirts included for my mix and match needs. All the colors are deep and rich and the snakeskin texture is clear and detailed - as a result it is easy to pair it with a variety of separates and shoes.

The outfit consists of a top, shorts (underskirt) and both a slim prim mini and a flexi mini. I had a bit of trouble adjusting the prim mini, but I always do - probably why I prefer flexis with my shape. That said, most folks won't have the problems that I did. The dress comes in 6 colors to satisfy any preference - red, green, silver, white, blue and gold - and a fatpack for those who just can't decide. Each color is L$300 purchased separately or in the "Brat Pack" containing all colors for L$1200.

See the entire Catwalk Collection at Adam 'n' Eve's Genesis Drive Boutique.

On the left:
Sweater - Woolpulli (Black) by LeeZu Baxter Designs
Skirt - Snakeskin (Red) by Adam 'n' Eve
Boots - Dune (Red) by Maitreya
Stockings - Pink Tartan Sheer Stockings by LaPointe Designs

On the right:

Outfit - Snakeskin (Red) by Adam 'n' Eve
Shoes - O Wedge (Black) by Stiletto Moody
Hair - Pompadour (Black) by Zero Style (both shots)
Tattoo - Gecko by Mu Mei Do (Muisim) (both shots)

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