Contest Updates - October

Well, all the contest results are in for this month, including the grueling selection for the EarthStones All Hallows Eve contest (what a fabulous pool of entries).  Yours truly managed a runner up slot in the Agnes Finney My Precious Queen contest though I didn't make the top three - still, pretty pleased considering it was a first time entry.  Congratulations to all the winners!  Photos are from the Styling Forward Semi-Finals as promised in an earlier post, theme was Black & White Anything Goes, credits at the end. :)

EarthStones 3rd Annual All Hallows Eve Photo Contest Winners
EarthStones Flickr Group

Agnes Finney My Precious Queen (October - Winter Theme) Winners

Angel Dessous Angel of the Month (November) Winners
Angel Dessous Angel of Angel Dessous 2010 Flickr Group

Couture Avenue Look 2011 Finalist
Couture Avenue Look 2011 Semi-Finalists

Photo Credits:

Hair:
booN - QPT129 (Black)

Outfit:
LeeZu! - Mia Corset (Black )
*COCO* - BalloonPants (Black)
*Linc* - Half Fishnet Stockings (Black)
House of Beningborough - Vivaldi Short Jacket (Harlequin)

Accessories:
Stiletto Moody - Bare Olivia (Black)
Mandala - Takara Nail (Black Bright)
Mandala - Mikoto Belt (Black/Silver)
Chapeau tres Mignon - Golightly Hat (Black)

Blogger Goes To Modeling School

Like a lot of bloggers, I'm a fashion consumer and, as such, I go to the shows, read the magazines, am a member of the groups and always kind of wondered exactly what the whole modeling thing was about.  When a notice came through that the MVW Academy was taking students, I figured it would be something fun and different and I'd have that peek behind the scenes so I sent in my headshot and signed up.  The course was divided into five classes, 101-105, covering pretty much all the bases in increasing depth.  I took all five, though graduates of other academies and working models can skip the first two and move to 103.  I learned something new in every class, picked up some great tips, met some terrific people and snagged a bunch of useful notes, recommendations and landmarks along the way.

The first four classes were from 2-3 hours in length and covered posing, photography, styling, walking, shapes, prim editing, dos and don'ts and involved a lot of instructor interaction with the students.  I had Miaa Rebane, Mimmi Boa, Mui Mukerji and Kay Fairey for these - the classes are offered at various times with various instructors to accommodate timezones.  The last "class" spanned three days over a weekend with Frolic Mills.  The first class was lecture and discussion of styling and color selection, the second was a closed runway exercise and critique and the third was the open graduation runway walk "final exam" - pass or fail.

The theme for the 105 exercise and graduation was "Red Carpet" and my Saturday night outfit just wasn't right - not because of any of the individual pieces, but because I didn't style correctly for the theme and the color wasn't right for my skin.  I should have been thinking Oscar and I went Grammy.  For the Sunday graduation, I kept the bracelets and skin but pretty much changed the rest.  Luckily for me, the changes worked, I didn't fall off the runway, freeze, crash or miss my poses and passed the exercise to become an official graduate.  Whew!

Credits:
Dress (Top): Lady Mor Ginevra
Hair (Top): Truth Cyndi (Crow)
Shoes (Top): Stiletto Moody Bare Katherine (Black Diamante)
Dress (Bottom): Miamai Gretha
Hair (Bottom): BooN QPT129 (Black - Hair Fair)
Jewelry (Both): Rozoregalia Hydra Earrings & Bracelets
Clutch (Bottom): Septem Essentia Manhattan Evening Bag (Black)
Poses by Manifeste

...we are pulse of pteron...

One of the the sims that everyone should be required to visit in Second Life is the beautiful, mystical and utterly entrancing Pteron.  As you enter, you have a choice of going to several different sattelite locations on the sim, each a world unto itself.  It does not do the build justice to call it a floating city, though that will be a visitor's first impression.  Make sure that your sound is on and prepare to be amazed (and to spend an incredible amount of time exploring).  I took a futuristic look at the sim, courtesy of Hugo's Design, Emo-tion, Mandala and Stiletto Moody, but for a different approach, be sure to see the impressions of a Steam Wyrmling and a Neko Princess as they travel through Pteron.

Location:  Pteron, Pteron

Credits:

Hair: Emo-tions Stormy (Black)

Catsuit: Hugo's Design Solar Cat (Black)

Jewelry: Mandala Takara Bangles, Takayama Necklace, Monica Earrings (Silver/Black)

Shoes: Stiletto Moody Lucille (Black)

Face Tattoo: Miamai LesMakeups (Masked 04)

Featured SLURLs:

Hugo's Design Mainstore

Mandala Mainstore

Emo-tions Mainstore

Stiletto Moody Mainstore

Miamai 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

Contest Entry - Angel of Angel Dessous

I don't enter many contests anymore, but while wandering around Caledon Glengarry I saw this terrific stained glass in The Red Dragon tavern and, later that day, was in Angel Dessous and saw both the Glamour lingerie and the contest board.  I dusted off my flickr account, took a few shots and figured what the heck.  My entry (which I don't expect to win or even place, but enjoyed taking) is below, followed by the contest notecard information and credits after the cut.

Location:  The Red Dragon Tavern, Caledon Glengarry

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

C-Beams Glitter

Science Innovation Company is a Blade Runner themed sim - perfect for your cybertech wardrobe and, in this case, the perfect setting for my newest latex cybersuit from Graves. Replicants and humans alike can enjoy the noir atmosphere of the Philip K. Dick and Ridley Scott inspired Los Angeles streets of the distant (or perhaps not so distant) future.

Location: Science Innovation Company (SIC)

Top Photo:

Outfit: Graves Escape (Steel)

Hair: Bishwear TossMeAround (Raven)

Shoes: Stiletto Moody Bare Lucille (Black)

Skin: Dutch Touch Jolie (Olive - Dark)

Nails: Love Soul Colors (Black)

Insolence - Flore Lingerie

I can't believe that I've had this set in my inventory for so long and haven't blogged it, but I missed the original release notice and by the time I'd raced over to Insolence and picked up a set, I had stacks of posts in the works. That said, the best way to handle an oversight is to admit it and fix it, so that's what I'm doing here before I return to skulls, roses, wire and bones tomorrow. The Flore Lingerie Ensembles by Insolence are light, delicate, airy sets with lots of optional details and combinations, the perfect offset to the heavier fall colors and fabrics.

The set has several different looks included with both a balcony bra and a triangle bra as well as traditional and string panties. You can add optional tiny ties and lacy underbra ruffle to tailor the look to any mood or preference. This set is available only in light colors of Cream, Lavender, Peach, Green, Pink and White - sorry red and black fans, but darker colors would overwhelm the delicate textures. As always the ensemble is flexible with tattoos, coming in all layers except jacket. This set does not come with stockings, but any of you Insolence fans like myself know that you can easily grab any other Insolence piece and it will work, though this outfit is very sweet and innocent without and at L$290 per color it has more than enough options to be a smart purchase.

Slip into something where a little less is definitely more at the Insolence Main Store.

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Credits:

Lingerie - Flore Lingerie Ensemble (Cream) by Insolence

Hair - BON75 by booN

Earrings - Wire Wrapped Crystal (Labradorite) by EarthStones

Shoes - Silver Studsides Pumps by Stiletto Moody

Bangles - Silver Bangles by Spork

Photos taken at Fross Maruti's Free Photography Studio

Silks of the Siren - Darkness in Torment

I haven't blogged a lot of silks in general, but sometimes I run across one that just begs to be written up - Darkness in Torment by Silks of the Siren is one of those. This is not a huge store with a massive line, but the detail of each piece shows the time that has gone into it, making for a small but stellar selection of silks. A flowing combination of lace cutout panels and beautifully textured prims, Darkness in Torment moves smooth and sinuously, following all but the most extreme AOs flawlessly.

While many of the outfits at Silks of the Siren come in a selection of colors, this particular silk is only available in black - appropriately enough, given the name. I am always concerned about prim adjustment with silks as I'm not SL's best editor - these fit me nearly perfectly straight out of the box with only minimal shifting required. The set is made up of a shirt, glove and pant layer (very tattoo friendly arrangement) with both a PG and X-rated pant included, as well as a prim cape, skirt, chest and arm pieces. The asymmetrical design adds interest to the outfit as does the crosshatching pattern supporting the sheer insets. The set will cost you L$500, but well worth it for the right occasion. Yes, your nipples will be partially exposed in this ensemble, but, really now - you *are* wearing a silk, aren't you? ;)

Drape yourself in sensual fabrics at the Silks of the Siren Main Store.

Both Photographs:
Hair - BON75 by booN
Skin - Sunkissed V1 (Smokey 02, DB) by [KA] Skins
Outfit - Darkness in Torment by Silks of the Siren
Tattoo - My Summer Calls by iNFLiCT
Earrings - Wrapped Crystal Earrings (Labradorite) by EarthStones
Lip Ring - Bali Bead Lip Ring (Labradorite) by EarthStones
Shoes - Gladiator Boot (Black Patent) by Stiletto Moody

Discord - EN-GI Set

Back during the Linden birthday celebrations, I attended quite a few fashion shows, one of which featured several very talented Japanese designers from Cubic Effect, Discord and Azul. I've always been a fan of the clean lines, lush fabrics and texture contrasts found in much of the Japanese clothing in SL and the incredible attention to detail in the accessories, so I was looking forward to seeing more from each of them. Two outfits in particular moved so well they caught my eye and had me scribbling notes so I could teleport in for the buy after the show - both of them by Orange Meili of Discord.

Once you teleport in, be warned - it's a very visually intense sim and store, a little confusing to get through and it is packed with outfits when you arrive at the clothing - be prepared to spend some time - but not a lot of Lindens. The EN-GI Sets come in Purple, Red, Blue and Black with complementary trim and embroidery over a brocade fabric - there isn't a fat pack available, but each color is a budget conscious L$99. Oh and it moves beautifully with the leg revealing fan panel skirt.The outfit has 8 pieces - shirt, pants, prim skirt and obi. There are two part prim sleeves, both tied upper and dramatic tulip lower arm. For all you gifters, all the outfits I purchased were no mod, no copy but transferable and with a very broad range of styles.

Slam your hands down on the keyboard (no, not your computer, LOL) and visit the Discord Main Store at Nightmare City.

Both pictures:
Hair - BON75 by booN
Skin - Tasha 11 Portrait (Tan) by Laqroki
Eyes - Transparency Shine (Clear Gray) by Glanz
Jewelry - Jaded Dreams Earrings & Necklace (Black) by Purple Rose
Outfit - EN-GI Black Set by Discord,
Shoes - Silver StudSides Pump (Black) by Stiletto Moody

FAB.PONY - Paint Crop T

One of the really neat things about blogging is that, every now and then, you will hear from a new or relatively new designer and discover something you wouldn't have otherwise. When I heard from Tatianna Faulkes of FAB.PONY, we chatted for a while and then I headed over to take a look at her store (open since February), which is nicely laid out, well lit and filled with 80's inspired casual dresses, separates and accessories.

Several things caught my eye immediately - don't miss the Denim RahRah skirt with its wonderfully detailed ruffles or the gauzy animal print Silk Shaza blouse (which looks great with the Wild Pumps in Zebra). When I started taking pictures, though, the Paint Crop T was just screaming to be the center of attention. It comes in both black and white versions, with the black splashed with neon greens, yellows and blues (perfect with those bright shiny belts and accessories) and the white splattered with pastels for a lighter look. Each color is L$120 (no fatpack) shirt layer, but that still works under jackets and over tattoos, so not a big deal at all. With jeans or flirty skirts, alone or paired with a jacket, this is a terrific casual look that will get you noticed.

Indulge your retro soul at the FAB.PONY Main Store.

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Top left:

Hair - BON75 by booN
Earrings - Bali Hoop (Malachite) by EarthStones
Top - Paint Crop T (Black) by FAB.PONY
Jeans - Boyfriend Jean (True Blue) by FAB.PONY
Tattoo - What is the Matrix by iNFLiCT
Belt - Lilith (Midnight) by Dark Eden
Shoes - Silver Studsides Pumps (Black) by Stiletto Moody

Bottom Right:

Hair - BON75 by booN
Earrings - Bali Hoop (Malachite) by EarthStones
Top - Paint Crop T (Black) by FAB.PONY
Belt - Garbage (Neon Blue) by Cachet
Flirt (Black) by Kiki's Closet (now PERTURB/ation)

Shoes - Thetis (Midnight) by Dark Eden

Update - Contest Round-Up

Yesterday was filled with lots of contest notices, from the sublime to the absurd (no, I didn't win anything - though still in the running for some). A friend encouraged me to enter my first contest (the JCNY Model'Fest) back in June and had a blast (I got selected to be a Showcase Model), so I picked a few others here and there and entered to see what the contest thing was all about. I have to say it's been a mixed bag. I submitted entries for a variety of contest types - voting contests, panel selection contests, fashion specific and general photo contests.

The most annoying (and challenging) contests to prepare for are the in-world snapshot only. I did two of these and it took forever (and a stack of Lindens) to get the perfect shot. Of those, one sent me an IM that the contest had ended already (there was no date on the notecard) - but the store was great, so that all worked out. The other was the Dark Eden Girl contest - neither July nor August finalists have been announced for that one, so I don't know if it is suspended or not. We'll see - that one is a (free) popular vote contest between four finalists selected by panel and the picture concepts have been really great in past months.
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I only entered one "Vote with Lindens" contest, which appeared to be plagued by SL issues. The location and rules changed several times and then the contest suddenly ended with different rules for the upcoming month. What I discovered from that is that I dislike harassing my friends (OK, so I sent a notecard) as much as I hate prom queen popularity contests.
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In summary, the JCNY Model'Fest is run very well and very professionally - and can be a lot of fun. The only pure photo contest I did was for the Lucky Fortunes Contest and that was a blast - a concept shoot for a swami/fortune teller look. At the moment, I've got entries in for the JCNY August contest, the Dark Eden contest (assuming it resumes) and the Miss SL Universe contest and I'm pretty happy with those in that I had fun doing the pictures, I'm more comfortable with their voting/judging process and the rule cards were clear as to the requirements and entry information - and that, I've discovered, is rare.
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Credits are going to be a bit different for this one. Since I've blogged many of the outfits and contests already, I'm going to link to those and only provide the ones not seen yet.

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Top left (left to right):
Picture One - Entry for Miss SL Universe
Picture Two - JCNY Model'Fest Entry Aug '08
Dress - J. Pollock Dripping Colors by Lady Thera
Picture Three - Entry for Doll of the Month
Background - Miss SL Universe contestant wall

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Middle right:

Dark Eden Girl Entry Aug '08

Hair - Sparkle (Black) by Detour

Skin - Tasha 04 Portrait (Cocoa) by Laqroki

Outfit -Oshun Mega Set (Midnight) by Dark Eden

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Bottom left:

Background photo: JCNY Model'Fest Entry June '08

Foreground photo: JCNY Model'Fest Entry July '08

Dress - Quiet Voice by Baiastice

Shoes - Elegant Slingback (Black Dazzle) by Stiletto Moody

Jewelry - Precious Seas Earrings and Necklace by JCNY

Tasha 11 Portrait Skin (Tan) by Laqroki

Spork - Silver Bangles

Yes, Spork - as in those hybrid eating utensils distributed by KFC to meet the needs of both the spooner and the forker. Make what you will of the name (there is a spork on display at the store), Spork has put together a small line of very nice and reasonably priced casual separates, eyes and jewelry that deserve a look or three. I was originally playing around with the Victoria camisole-style top and a variety of jeans, skirts (long and short) and pants when I ran across my lingerie folder, remembered the new chaise prop at Fross Maruti's Free Photography Studio and we were off and playing.
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The Silver Bangles are reasonably priced at L$75 - both left and right arm included (I was wearing both quite a bit lately) and work well with any casual or dinner outfit as well as (obviously) lingerie. They are an attractive mix of textures and I found I liked them best with the grey scale but they also set off any strong color nicely. The Victoria top was (based on the store ad) intended as a casual top, but I couldn't resist pairing it with stockings and heels - proving its versatility and giving me a chance to play with the studio poses. There is a lot of detail in the corset texture and I found that it worked nicely with almost any metal tones as a result and was tattoo friendly in all three layers. Would love to see this in grey on black and red on black as well - so many possibilities...
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Whether you are a spooner or a forker, pay tribute to the hybrid at the Spork Main Store.

Top left:
Bangles - Silver Bangles by Spork
Earrings - Jaded Dreams (Black) by Purple Rose
Lingerie - Flore (White) by Insolence
Sweater - Knitted Cardi (Black) by Fuel
Belt - Song Bird Belt (Black) by Cubic Effect
Jeans - Sexy Ripped by Naima

Bottom Right:

Top - Victoria by Spork

Bangles - Silver Bangles by Spork

Panty and Stockings - Melanie (Black) by Insolence

Shoes - Silver Studsides Pump (Black) by Stiletto Moody

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

Naima - NY Leather Jacket

No surprise given my base wardrobe, I'm always on the lookout for great leather jackets and, even more difficult to find, leather skirts. I fell in love with the Naima NY Leather Jacket the first time I saw it and was thrilled to discover a matching set of leather skirts alongside it. The jacket comes with a plethora of prim parts to raise or lower the hood, open or close the collar, various degrees of body shading - enough options to cause your head to spin. Luckily, the jacket includes a detailed sizing information card as well as a link to a fitting video, so all the combinations start to make sense.

There is also a demo available for the jacket - be sure and try it before you buy it. I can imagine it might require more fitting than some avatars are willing to suffer for perfection - but I can promise the reward is very worth the effort. There is a jacket Fat Pack available for L$3000 that includes a bonus Beige. Individual jacket colors are L$380 and come in Black Pearl, Blue Black, Blue, Red, White, Azure, Pink, Bordeaux and Gray.

The matching skirt is available individually for L$250 per color in Bordeaux, Beige, Black, Blue, Red, White, Pink, Blue Black and Azure. There is also a studded jeans skirt available and a Fat Pack of skirts (does not include the jeans skirt) for L$2000. There is simply an amazing level of detail on both these pieces that is not to be missed - the only thing more I could have asked for would be a long sleeved version.

Lovely leathers at Naima Main Store at Lagoon.

On the left:

Jacket - NY Jacket (Black Pearl) by Naima

Skirt - Black Lace Skirt by Canimal

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

On the right:

Jacket - NY Jacket (Black Pearl) by Naima

Jeans - Hell and Back (Dk Blue) by The Abyss

Shoes - O Wedge (Black) by Stiletto Moody

addiXion - Flower Lust Tattoo

I've been doing a lot of tattoo shopping lately and figured it was high time I did an article on one of the gorgeous pieces by addiXion. From florals to tribals and everything in between, addiXion simply has great ink. My most recent purchase and current favorite with short skirts and low backs is the new Flower Lust tattoo.

As always, the set comes in full body upper and lower layers with high, medium and low tan versions of each. There are also high and medium tan lower body versions in stockings, though none for the low tan option. The tattoo itself is a full floral down one side of the back from shoulder to thigh, wrapping slightly through the hips. The sweep of the tattoo's motion is clear enough that the pattern continuation is obvious even if separated by a skirt or shorts.

The design is a little pricey, even for a full body set, at L$690 - but I expect to get a lot of wearings out of it, so worth it in the long run. Certainly the sheer number of options in tone and layer make the extra flexibility worth the extra lindens.

For some of the best in body art - addiXion Main Store at addiXion.

On the left:
Skin - S5 Medium Diva by ::Tuli::
Tattoo - Flower Lust by addiXion

On the right:

Lingerie - Melanie (Black) by Insolence

Tattoo - Flower Lust by addiXion
Shoes - Tie Me Up (Black) by Stiletto Moody

addiXion Main Store at addiXion.

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

Insolence - Misty Line

After a "rather longer than I would have liked" absence while I was on the road, I arrive back only to find a fabulous batch of review copies from Camilla Yosuke of Insolence. Now, I adore Insolence and I love latex, so I'm breaking several unspoken rules - I'm not picking one piece and I'm not mixing it with any other designers beyond skin, tats and shoes. The Misty line is that great. It was the absolute best way to come back home to SL and a natural for my first return blog article.
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I tried out 6 different styles within the line and thought they were all not only terrific but they all mixed back and forth beautifully. The Dionne is a latex catsuit including stockings, gloves, top, bottom (in both open and closed) and panties in a very tattoo friendly combination of layers. I have to say I thought the catsuit top was amazingly textured. The Grace style is an open cup, open pant ensemble sure to get far more than just a second glance.
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I loved the open cup corset style of the Sally paired with ever so sexy garters, stockings, panties and gloves. Tracey is a classic bra and panty combination, while Wanda is a fetish edge open bra and panties. In the final judgement, I loved the Dawn style best of all, but not by much - the laced side bodysuit and zippered back panty were so perfect with my shape they looked made for it.
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Yes, I'm a latex fan and I have some wonderful pieces from some of SL's (IMHO) best latex designers. With this line, Insolence has moved straight to the top. The textures and details are incredibly realistic, the line comes in a plethora of styles to suit any shape, taste or extracurricular activity.
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Outfits are all in black and range from L$290 to L$490 with gloves, stockings, garters and panties also sold separately in the L$90 to L$120 range. As with most of Insolence's lingerie, the majority of outfits are tattoo friendly in a variety of layer combinations. Short version of all this? You *need* at least one outfit from Insolence's new Misty Line.
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Slide into some amazing latex at the Insolence Main Store.

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On the top left:
Bodysuit: Dawn by Insolence (Misty Line)
Boots: Bitch Booties (Deer/Black) by Stiletto Moody

In the center right:

Catsuit: Dionne by Insolence (Misty Line)

Boots: Bitch Booties (Deer/Black) by Stiletto Moody

On the bottom left:
Lingerie: Sally by Insolence (Misty Line)
Boots: Bitch Booties (Black/Black) by Stiletto Moody

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

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