A Balancing Act:

The Beachwear and Lingerie Expo is in full swing at Vanity Universe. I stopped in this morning to have a look around and was fairly impressed with the selection of high quality fashions available…and I picked up a couple of gifts while I was there, also.

In the end, though, I looked at my overloaded inventory and realized that I had more swimwear than I need, so I decided to beef up my lingerie collection in an attempt to even things out.

Anyone who knows me, knows that I love love love a long, flowing bedroom jacket over my lingerie. (I offer my need to wear Digit Darkes’ Determined Coat almost daily as Exhibit A) So, when I walked into the Nicky Ree shop at the expo, there was no question as to whether or not to purchase the Vicky Lingerie Set. The textures are beautifully detailed from the embroidered lace on the edge of the jacket to the little ribbon tie on the brassiere. The set also comes with a lovely, satiny chemise for when you want a little more coverage, but still look sexy and chic.
It seems that each time I wear a babydoll anything, I’m greeted with the inevitable “Preggers?” question from Guy. I doubt he’d find anything remotely maternal about this stunning little bit of nothing from Casa Del Shai, though. The hand-drawn design is captivating and the modestly cut panties are demurely enticing. The sheer teddy skirt on the Malena Lingerie Set can also be removed exposing just the tiniest ruffle underneath the breasts.

For shoes, I made a mad dash to Stiletto Moody and picked up the Mary Jane Sandals in Johns Silver and the Gladiator Sandals in Tan-Brown. Though, I could kick myself now for not splurging on the color change option. Oh, well, the Shoe Expo is going on, so I’m sure I will find something worthy of my hard earned Lindens there…but that is another post for another day.
Some other details…I toned down my usual raspberry-hued lips and opted for a glossy, pale pink, but kept my signature cat-like eyeliner (I could kiss Roslin and CJ for this Vivant Feline skin from Fleur, it is indeed my very favorite and I’m rarely seen in any other). My nail color is Super Nova from Nevermore Studios. And for hair, the blonde wig I’m wearing is Lindsay by Dernier Cri, and the brunette is Eva II in Caramel by Maitreya.

That’s all for now. Be sure to visit the Swimwear and Lingerie Expo, it’s going on until July 26, 2008. As for me, I’m off to count my pennies and head back over to the SL Footwear Expo. Four sims of treats for my toes, all to benefit the ASPCA. Stay tuned for more info!

Oh My MichaMi!

I’m currently working on an SLNN article about blogger-turned-designer, Milla Michinaga. Her wildly popular blog, MichaMi, is probably responsible for my addiction to SL Fashion, and it was through her blog that I discovered many of my favorite designers (yes, Milla is to blame for my Digit Darkes addiction). So when I heard that she had begun selling her own designs, under the same name, of course, I had to rush right over and buy her entire debut release!

Today, though, when I logged in, I found that she had sent me a review copy of her her latest release, and I was on cloud nine! On top of that, I finally found Creamshop and these giant earrings I have been lusting over for ages! Don’t ask me why, but on the few other occasions I’ve tried to find this store, I’ve found myself in some really crazy shopping sim and not able to actually find the store and too rushed to spend enough time looking…yes, it appears I only have half a brain on occasion).
The texturing on the bustier is gorgeous, notice the delicate boning and seaming. Each article of clothing is available on all possible layers for easy layering. Milla also packs a photo of the outfit and includes a notecard listing her styling suggestions. I love this as one of the things I’ve always loved about Milla’s blog is her careful selection of accessories, so even though she is no longer blogging, she’s still giving us her fashion tips!
I love the giant Glam Earrings from Creamshop and couldn’t pass up the Cock? Swan? Necklace. It’s just too fantastic. I also found the Lily Bangle and thought it would work to add a little splash of color to the outfit. Add J’s Gladiator Sandals and I’m ready for a summer night out on the grid!

Be sure to visit Milla’s store, MichaMi, on Rue d’Antibes. You won’t be disappointed in her classic style and beautifully designed wardrobe staples. And check back often, as I know she is working on even more products as I write. Ciao!

Style Sheet:

Outfit: MichaMi Bustier and Shorts Suit in Coffee
Earrings: Creamshop Glam Earrings in Wood
Necklace: Creamshop Cock? Swan? Necklace
Bracelet: Creamshop Lily Bangle in Orange
Shoes: J’s Gladiator Sandals in Dark Brown
Eyes: Dramavatar Eyes Dark 12
Skin: Fleur Vivant Buff Feline/Rebelle (Custom)
Hair: ETD Lynne II in Blonde Burnt
Mani/Pedi: Nyterave Dark Sangria

Moonlight Serenade

In case you couldn’t tell by my last post regarding Chambre du Chocolat, I am quite the fan of Eshi Otawara’s designs. Having had the opportunity to spend some time with her lately, watching her transform a barren sim into a work of art (check back for my upcoming post on the opening of said sim, Rouge), I’ve become even more of a fangirl.

Her latest release, Moonlight is a vision in slinky sexiness. Beautifully textured with a to-the-knee plunging neckline, mermaid skirt and a sculpted hood draped down the back, the dress is perfect for an evening of dancing with that special someone. Eshi has also included a necklace and earrings that perfectly complete the ensemble. The dress is also available in red and teal.

Words alone cannot describe the refined elegance of this gown, so I will let the pictures speak for themselves and cut right to the style sheet.

Oh, but I will leave you with one, final thought…get thee to Chambre du Chocolat tout de suite and buy out the store! There is not a single uninteresting or less-than-stunning design to be found. You won’t be disappointed.

Style Sheet:
Dress, Gloves and Jewelry: Moonlight by Chambre du Chocolat in blue and in white
Shoes: Elegant Slingbacks by Stiletto Moody in Silver Twinkle
Skin: Fleur Vivant Bronze 3 Feline
Hair: Davina II in Black Faded by ETD
Lip Piercing: Monroe by Fuel
Ring: Black Sapphire by Redgrave
Poses by Torrid

Missing Communities

This isn’t going to be your usual post from me…don’t worry, I’ll be back later with some great summertime looks. But for now, I want to bring to your attention, dear readers, some new information about the SL5B Celebration. The official announcement reads, in part:

“Each year, on the date that Second Life came out of beta (June 23rd 2003), Residents and Lindens have gathered to celebrate the amazing world we’ve been creating. This June 23rd, our community marks its Fifth Birthday, and the volunteer Birthday Team (who has been planning this party since last year) picked a theme that will be hard to resist– “Celebrating the cultural diversity of Second Life”.”

However, this year, several cultural communities within SL will be left out of the festivities. The SL Children communities, as well as Gor and BDSM communities have been banned from participation. When the event was announced on the Second Life blog, it was made clear that this event would be created by and for the residents.

“This is a Resident-created, Linden Lab-sponsored event, which means that Linden Lab has donated the land and various basic resources, but the rest comes from you, the community.”

It appears this is no longer the case. You can read more about this travesty by visiting the blogs of those who are able to speak on this subject far more intelligently and eloquently than I. Writers such as Tateru Nino of Massively.com, Vint Falken, Dusan Writer, among others have added their voice to the cause. (Actually, Vint has an excellent list on her site).

I ask you to please vote for the Missing Cultures and Communities from SL5B Jira issue reported by Vint Falken.

Meetups and Openings and Shows…Oh My!

Saturday was a very busy day on the grid and I did my best to make the most of it! First up was the Twitter meetup where I had the opportunity to visit with all of my new twitter friends.*waves* I only wish I’d thought to take more pictures.::sigh::

(What? You don’t twitter? You simply must, darlings! Ha! I even talked Guy into it!)

Harper Beresford and CodeBastard Redgrave hold court at the Twitter Meetup.

While at the party, my new, fabulous friend, CodeBastard Redgrave, invited me to attend the opening of the Arthole gallery with her. I spent the rest of the afternoon wandering the exhibits in abject amazement and then dancing and laughing and taking part in general mischief making.

When you arrive at Arthole, you are given a notecard that reads, in part:

“Arthole is a new collaborative project between Arahan Claveau and Nebulosus Severine. Having successfully worked together for the first time in 2007 on the exhibition Salon Du Disruptif for the Heldscalla Foundation, they were eager to establish a permanent space for their work.

Split into three separate levels, the gallery has been very consciously conceived to be a continually evolving space, that will strive to challenge and surprise the visitor. The environment has been designed to encourage exploration at a more considered pace, and those that choose to do so will likely be rewarded with a much more immersive and satisfying experience.”

In fact, you will find several notecards as you study the individual works. Read them. They are full of information that will enhance your enjoyment of the exhibit.

Instead of regurgitating that information to you here, I’m going to leave you with some photos and captions and brief little snippets…and a direct command to visit the space for yourself. I promise that you will not be disappointed. Click on each photo for a larger view.

Located on the third level, which will be used for exhibits by visiting artists, this photo was taken in the space created by Arthole’s first guest, Ichibot Nishi. The installation is titled “λ.mnemonic” and there really are no words to describe it, you must see and experience for yourself. Codie took the above photo of the two of us inside the giant vagina. Please click this link to Codie’s Flickr page to view more of her photos from the opening…and then browse around to see ALL of her amazing work…DO NOT skip the Boudoir Rouge series.

Like so many of the exhibits, both Simulacrum v2 and Untitled v2 are scripted to provide a multi-dimensional display. Simulacrum v2 shows subtle changes in movement and texture that will mesmerize the viewer and Untitled v2 is comprised of a series of overlapping images creating an ever-evolving work of art.

Null will really draw you in. When you first teleport to the level, it appears to be simply a bright white room with pyramidical walls. Walk into the space, though, and you will notice that the walls follow you. Go ahead, fly around, they’ll keep up. Did I mention that you need to turn your sound up when visiting the gallery? No? How remiss of me! Please, do make sure your sounds are turned up, it will really enhance your experience here. Especially when you turn away from the Null space and enter the Fontana exhibit.

My favorite exihibit, though, is titled Fuck me/Shoot me. Each of the eight colored panels is comprised of tiny, repeating images of an anonymous, shirtless British soldier holding a gun. (The inset picture here, showing the detail, was taking from the notecard provided by the artist) As you walk or fly into the panels, the color will change on contact. The interactivity, and gravity, of the piece is awe-inspiring.

Oh, and I did mention the party, yes? Of course, I remembered the party! What a fabulous time! I must thank Codie again (and again and again and again) for inviting me…we danced up a storm, laughed hysterically and held a very *cough* serious *ahem* discussion as to the pros and cons of jiggly prim breasts.

Oh, but the busy day did not end there. Later that evening, Guy and I attended the eLDee Fashion Show featuring the designs of the uber talented Lilyana Dryke. Tune in Monday for pictures from the show.

Now get thee to Arthole tout de suite! Right after you open that twitter account, of course. *wink*

Come Sail…er, Speed…Away

Have I told you about my new home? Guy and I recently moved to Balboa Beach, where we share a sim with new friends Donal and Lorrie. It is a beautiful place with lots of lush landscaping, white sand beaches, and, because it is a part of the United Sailing Sims, wide open water for boating. So, of course, I am learning to sail. I have the sweetest little Pine Tako that Guy outfitted with new sails that depict the perfect sunset. It is just the thing for romantic jaunts across the USS or competitive races at Starboards Yacht Club.

Sometimes, though, a girl needs something a little racier. This new boat from MaxMarine and the new bikinis from Mimikri are just what the doctor ordered.

The new Swordfish 40 from MaxMarine owner and creator, Maxmilian Milosz, caught my eye the first time I laid eyes on it. And the fact that it was available in pink was just a bonus! I haven’t bought one yet (I think it will be a little present to myself once my inventory is under control…call it incentive), but that didn’t stop me from visiting it at the marina and taking some pictures of the new St. Tropez line from Mimikri.

The textures of the bikini are gorgeous, creating a subtle sparkle on the otherwise simple triangle top and the thong bottoms fit my avi very well. The optional skirt and top pack includes a maxi skirt (as shown below), a babydoll top and miniskirt. You can see more of the collection on Mimikri’s blog. My only complaints: there is no fat pack available (I want it in all colors!) and the bikini and skirt set are sold seperately. I’m trying to clean up my inventory, remember, so it would have been nice to have all of these items in the same folder without having to move them there myself. I can be lazy like that. Gee, maybe that is why my inventory is such a mess now, ya think? Ah well. It is what it is.

Here are some pictures of the St. Tropez bikini on its own and with the maxi skirt. And don’t you agree that my future pretty in pink love boat makes a great backdrop?

Skin: Fleur Vivant Bronze Feline 3… of course
Eyes: ~Glanz~ .::Eyes::.mid:FreshBlue
Hair: MMS-MessyHair – Natural Blond
Bikini and Skirt: Mimikri St. Tropez – Black
Shoes: *HUB* Venus Sandals in Sleek Noir
Jewelry: -Earthtones-Chakra Boho Beads Hoop Earrings and Necklace, Black/Gold
Hat: Cachet-TiffanyHATearth (retextured)
Handbag: Everyday Tote (Steel)
THE Boat: MaxMarine’s Swordfish 40 in Pink
Photographs taken at Max Marine

I’m Going On A Diet

Tuesday night I had some time to myself so I decided to hatch a drakelet or two and work on organizing my out of control inventory. It has reached situation critical and drastic measures must be taken.

Why drakelet hatching? I love the thrill of hunting for new hatching locations and the little drakes are just so cute! But most importantly, Drakelets take about 45 minutes to hatch, and during that time you have to stay in one spot…waiting. So, that is 45 minutes that I can set aside to work on my inventory without distraction. Also, building is allowed in most of the Grendel’s Children areas, so opening boxes is not an issue. But, I digress…

Follow the jump to read more about my plan to trim down and shape up.

I’m going on a diet. That’s right. Until my inventory has been returned to a manageable state, I will be cutting out the fat (read: deleting those items I know I’ll never actually wear or need) and only consuming new releases that I just can’t live without. I actually thought about not allowing myself to make ANY purchases until I was down to a manageable weight (read: item count), but then the “what ifs” took over. What if ETD puts out a new release of hair or shoes? What if Tres Jolie releases a new dress that I have to have? What if Muse introduces a new line of jewelry? No. I had to leave myself an out to take advantage of these possibilities.

For the time being though, I’ll be posting about items that I find in my inventory that I had completely forgotten about be they clothes or objects or landmarks. I hope you will enjoy all of the treasures that I have buried so deeply.

Style Sheet (Note: Aside from my skin and the boots, everything that I am wearing has been sitting in my inventory completely untouched for months)
Skin: Fleur Vivant Bronze 3 Feline
Boots: J’s Goth Belt Boots
Jacket: Last Call Damascus Urbane Jacket (slip)
Jeans: Armidi Limited A001 Jeans Black Industrial
Hair: Aveda Institutes at ETD Aveda Short Crop 2 – AVEDA Champagne
Watch: Muse Classic Tank Watch in Natural/Silver (dark face)
Location: Grendel’s Children – Avaria Kro – Waiting for my BloodSmog Drakelet to Hatch.

Of Excellence In Customer Service

Because I am, as you know, a confessed shopaholic, I have the opportunity to meet and interact with designers from all over the grid everyday…just as I am sure many of you do. I have my favorites, of course, but by and large the majority of content creators that I meet go out of their way to be exceedingly kind and helpful. The past couple of days have provided three illustrations of how customer service in Second Life should be and I wanted to share my experiences with you.

This past weekend, I became a Storm Schmooz fan…and until this week, I had never even slipped my size zero tootsies into a pair of his shoes. You see, while wandering the grid with Guy, he mentioned how he would like to find a new pair of shoes. I remembered seeing some great men’s dress shoes at Storm’s shop and tp’d us there. After hemming and hawing a bit, I finally sauntered over to the gift vendor and purchased a pair of Men’s Black High Gloss…which Guy, not knowing what I was up to, promptly declined. (Who declines shoes?!? Must be a man thing.) The following day, I sent a notecard to Storm, explained to him my dilemna…which, mind you, he had no obligation to fix, the product had been delivered properly, the recipient just didn’t accept it. Within moments, my Guy was wearing a brand new pair of Men’s Black High Gloss shoes. Storm could not have been more gracious, more understanding or more quick to fix my problem. So, right then and there, I vowed to snatch up some Storm Schmooz shoes of my own…and I’ve got the pictures to prove it.

One of these days I will learn to read the Official SL Blog before setting off to do some major damage to my Linden bank account. Alas, it seems I’m always a few steps behind. I made a quick stop at the Relay For Life Summer sim (more on RFL in an upcoming post) to pick up a couple of items that I knew I wanted right away. One of them was the Q-T Pie dress by Kiana Dulce. I donated the required amount, but the dress was not delivered. Eh, probably just the lag, so I wandered around a bit more, picked up another outfit and it was delivered, so I thought, “oh goodie, I’ll run back and get that dress at Kiana’s booth.” I donate the required amount (yes, I made a second donation, RFL is near and dear to me…I’ll make lots of donations during the event…whether there is an item attached or not), but again, the item is not delivered. I sent a notecard to Kiana, who accepted it as soon as she logged in and sent over the item right away…turns out there was a problem with the donation kiosk. She was kind and gracious and professional…I can’t wait to visit her booth, and her store, again.

Lastly, you all know I am a crazy about Iota Ultsch of Tres Jolie (see my previous post here). Her latest release, Chasm, really caught my eye, so I ran over to pick it up. Sigh, it also wasn’t delivered. I dropped a quick notecard to Iota, who tp’d me back to her store as soon as she logged on and a few moments later, I am wearing Chasm in Steel (and it is a fabulous!) In case I failed to mention, Iota is a ton of fun to chat with and is always filled with great information. Oh, and by the way…the smashing number at right is her latest release, Tigress. Absolutely stunning in person with a fabulous little brooche that settles right into the plunging neckline. Had to throw that one in just for fun.

So, what is the proper way to communicate a non-delivered item or problem with a transaction to a designer? (Hint: This is not it!) First, read their profile. Many designers will list their policies there or on their Picks tab. Find out how they want to be contacted and follow their instructions. Second, if there are not instructions or policies listed, put all of the pertinent information in a notecard. Content creators get alot of IMs and if they are offline, those IMs get capped. A notecard is the best way to communicate with them in a professional manner. What is the pertinent information? I have found that this format works best for me: Title the notecard with the Issue and Your Name, ie. Item Not Delivered – Gabby Panacek. List in the notecard your proof of purchase from your transaction history. This is important! It shows the designer that you did indeed pay for the item and that the $L were deducted from your account. Finally, be kind…it goes along way on the grid, and you will find that more people are willing to assist you if you approach them openly, honestly and politely.

Okay, that’s all for now…happy shopping. Look for more this week about Relay for Life, Long Awkward Pose, and much more!

What I’m Wearing:
Photo 1:
Blaze Boyfriend Buttondown
ETD Charley in Blonde
Storm Schmooz Bots Red
Shoes from Left to Right, all by Storm Schmooz: Kammykaze, Mimmi in Red, Suomi Suede in Naturel and Vampirelle
Blowpop Mellie 3 in Caramel – Sinner

Photo 2:
Q-T Pie by Kiana Dulce
ETD Elizabeth II in Platinum
Maitreya Slinky Slingbacks in White
Blowpop Mellie 3 in Caramel – Sinner

Photo 3:
Tres Jolie Chasm in Steel
Sheer Tights in Zebra
Stiletto Moody Bitch Bootie
ETD Luth in Smoke
Blowpop Mellie 3 in Caramel – Seether

Photo 4:
Tres Jolie Tigress
Storm Schmooz Kammykaze Slingbacks
Analog Dog Pom in Brown
Blowpop Mellie 3 in Caramel – Seether

Très Jolie…Très Fabuleux

As I mentioned earlier this week, I spent a good deal of time at the Stiletto Moody sale last weekend. While coming out of my post-shopping-frenzy stupor, I noticed the most striking Avi at the front of the store. I immediately had to inquire as to where she found the fabulous outfit she was wearing. As luck would have it, the Avi in question was, in fact, the designer of said fabulous outfit! Within minutes, I had a landmark and found myself chatting with Ms. Iota Ultsch of Tres Jolie and her delightful assistant, BritneyParis Underwood in their boutique.

What a treat! I always enjoy meeting designers in-world, it really gives you the opportunity to “see” their designs from their point of view. I appreciated the way Iota was able to look at my skin and my hair and make suggestions as to which of her designs would best compliment my features.

I immediately fell in love with the green hue of the outfit that first drew me to Iota and snapped up Le Singe en Vert with it’s faux fur empire waist, silk bow, cupro leggings and velvet top. We styled it with the Gold O Wedge from Stiletto Moody and some giant gold hoops that were a gift from Iota. Totally glam and completely fabulous! Of course, I couldn’t get away without picking up a hot little platinum sequin cocktail dress and a darling little black dress.

Guy made such a fuss over the sequin dress, that you know I had to drag him back there with me the very next night! He generously purchased the Aboriginal Lace Dress for me (yes, he spoils me and yes, I love it!) Again Iota was in the store, quick to offer guidance for adjusting the dress to just the right color for my skin tone and she made several suggestions for the shoes, hair and jewelry that would best suit the dress and my avi.

The designs offered by Iota Ultsch at her Tres Jolie Boutique are not inexpensive…nor are they unreasonably priced. And, quite possibly, they are not for everyone. But, what I can tell you is this…Ms. Ultsch is an artist. Each texture is hand drawn, each seam is finished flawlessly and each piece transitions beautifully into the next. One only has to look at the creations “in-avi” to recognize the hours of work and meticulous attention to detail required to create a final product as well-crafted as those offered at Tres Jolie. These are quality items created by a designer who puts a higher priority on artistic expression and design than the quantity of items sold.

So, am I going to tell you to run down there and snap up every outfit in the shop? No. But, do make the time to visit the boutique, chat a little with Iota and BritneyParis, and treat yourself to an outfit or two that makes you feel a little more glamourous, a little more sexy or even a little more exotic. I, for one, look forward to collecting these wearable masterpieces created by a true fashion artist.

I think this is as good a time as any to address content theft in SL. There are a number of designers for whom I have great respect. These artists toil tirelessly to make sure that our avis are stylishly dressed and accessorized, that we have beautiful homes and furniture for relaxing, and that our skin, shapes and hair are always perfectly styled…we have so many options for creating cyber versions of ourselves (or our alter-egos) thanks in large part to the creativity, drive and talent of these enterprising individuals. They deserve our respect and admiration, and they deserve to be compensated for their efforts.

Content thieves rob these designers of their intellectual property and compensation. So, whether you choose to spend 5L for a dress or 15ooL…make sure that you are purchasing from the original creator of that dress. Do not support those who make their SL living by stealing from others. And if you find something you think has been stolen and copied, contact the original creator right away.

Until next time, Happy Shopping! And I hope to see you at Tres Jolie!

For a larger view of each photo, please visit our flickr site.

What I’m Wearing (visit our In-World Locations page for slurs and teleporting):
Left Photo
Dress: Tres Jolie – Platinum Limited Edition
Shoes: Stiletto Moodie – Elegant Slingback in Silver Twinkle
Hair: ETD – Ashley in Blonde

Center Photo
Dress: Tres Jolie – Aboriginal Lace Dress
Boots: Maitreya – Dune Boots in Brown
Jewelry: Last Call by Ginny Talamasca – Wood, Metal and Opal Jewelry Set
Hair: Analog Dog – New Pom Dark in Brown

Right Photo
Outfit: Tres Jolie – Le Singe en Vert
Shoes: Stiletto Moody – O Wedge in Gold
Jewelry: Gift from Iota – Gold Hoops
Hair: ETD – Sofia in Black

Photos by Tucor Capalini – Visit his Flickr page or contact him in-world.