Category: Second Life Fashion Editorial

Kitty’s Getting Ready For Shoetopia-ARE YOU?

Kitty’s Getting Ready For Shoetopia-ARE YOU?

by Lisa Millar ♥ 3 Comments

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You know, I was never really a shoe-girl.

In real life you’ll find me trudging around in a pair of Crocs (yes, I know I’ve committed a supposed fashion-crime by wearing them, let alone loving them, but I do so there!) or my battered red Converse.  I have some fabulous  Catwoman Converse, too, and some Hello Kitty Vans.  Oh, and I have a pair of flat pumps in a burgundy leopard-print for work/going out, and a nice pair of clumpy faux-fur boots that I adore. But that’s it;  hardly a collection, let alone a fashion statement!

To be honest in real-life I’ve never understood how women could go all ‘Hello Lover’ at a pair of heels so cripplingly high that they would give you a nose bleed and bunions as soon as you dared to put your toe into them.   As if that wasn’t enough, the price of the ruddy things is completely beyond me. I don’t care if Manolo Blahnik himself made them, if you can’t guarantee that by wearing those shoes I’ll win an arse-kicking contest with a porcupine then I am just not interested.  In my eyes if you see nothing wrong with spending the equivalent of a mortgage repayment on a pair of heels then there’s something very wrong with you.

To begin with in Second Life I wasn’t much of a shoe fetishist. For a long time my go-to heels for my posher virtual outfits were an old pair (well I guess you’d call them vintage now) of TESLA heels. They were a gift many years ago from the ever-amazing Codebastard Redgrave, and I still wear them.  Tesla Miles made brilliant shoes; I do miss that brand!

But this year I’ve started to get wise to the wicked ways of the (virtual) shoe.

It’s the GOS BOUTIQUE shoes that started my transformation from footwear luddite to convert; Gospel Voom’s  fantastic brand of heels and boots that are nothing short of pornographic.  I swear to god, the Angelina peep-toe heels in ‘Black Python’ are the virtual equivalent of making  mad, passionate love to Ms. Jolie herself. They are ASTONISHING.

ILO’s workboot collection for THE ARCADE spoke to me in a way no other boots ever  have in-world, and I became obsessed by them.  As a result, I’ve barely taken them off, and most of the time you’ll find me trudging around the grid in a pair of my gacha-won treasures. They were created and textured so perfectly  how could I not love them? Oh, and don’t even get me started on Siddean Munro and her amazing SLink feet and footwear..GAHHH!

As you can see, my conversion once it started came on suddenly , and I would now consider myself well on the way to becoming a Second Life Shoe Addict. 

And there isn’t a cure, in fact, my addiction is going to fully reveal itself come November 15th (Friday folks, FRIDAY!!) when SHOETOPIA 2013 opens to the public.

Now, I did a VERY SILLY thing by not entering the photo contest to be an official blogger (Damn you real life!!!)but no matter because some of the very best bloggers that Second Life have to offer will be covering the event for you. And what an event it promises to be!   Readers, there are OVER FIFTY (gulp) footwear designers contributing to the show.

There are Gachas too (because we’re all addicted to those, right?) and all of this will take place across two sims that have a ‘Shoe Heaven’ theme. (Check out the fabulous photo on Moka’s Way-isn’t it breathtaking?!)

The event will last from November 15- November 30 2013, a total of 14 days, which is good because I imagine it will packed solid when it opens and will prove very difficult to get into.

But the very best thing, apart from all those beautiful, fabulous shoes, is that the event supports the charity SOLES 4 SOULS.  The fact that it’s supporting such an amazing charity is reason enough to go and splurge all your Lindens, but  Soles4Souls have committed at least 200,000 new pairs of shoes to the rescue, recovery, and rebuilding lives effort in the Philippines following this weekend’s dreadful typhoon disaster. 

You can see a few of the treats in store by visiting the official Flickr group, and of course I’ll be showing you my lovely purchases once I’ve managed to get in!

This is one event that you really won’t want to miss; I’m considering camping on the sim border for the opening.  Sell a virtual kidney, pawn all your virtual jewellery!

Fabulous shoes + Money for charity = WIN!!! 

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Kitty Loves: The Keira Shirt From ERRATIC

Kitty Loves: The Keira Shirt From ERRATIC

by Lisa Millar ♥ 7 Comments

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Today was threatening to be a very stinky day in Second Life for me because I’ve tried a number of times to get into C88 without any success. It’s been a nightmare, made worse by the fact that when I do manage to get in my Linden balance suddenly disappears.  Yes, the old L$1- bug has returned with a vengeance.

So instead I’ve decided to tell you about this rather fabulous shirt that I’m wearing. This is the ‘Keira’ shirt from ERRATIC, and I’m completely in love with it.  It fits perfectly and looks absolutely outstanding, as I hope my picture adequately displays.  The shirt is casually styled; tucked in at the front and hanging loose at the back with the most authentic looking creasing I’ve seen in a while. The shading (best seen on the lighter shirts) nails it.  I know I harp on about the importance of textures in practically every post that I write,  but the shape is of course  just as important, and this shirt is probably the best of its type that I’ve encountered in-world.  It’s available in a selection of plains and prints and offers tons of potential for mixing with your favourite separates and  accessories. It’s an essential purchase in my book.

Alas, quality does NOT come cheap, and at L$375 a shirt you may think twice before buying, but I assure you that once you’ve demoed this beauty you will have to own one! Never have I been more tempted by a ‘Buy Everything’ button, but alas, my avatar needs to eat, and I do plan on getting into C88 at some point this month..<shakes fist at screen>

I must also very quickly mention this fabulous hairstyle that I am wearing too.   I must’ve missed the memo that said that MAGIKA had released new hair; so it’s a ruddy good job I was perusing blogs earlier, and I happened across this gorgeous style featured upon Heidi Volare’s ‘The Fashionable Heart’ blog (looking absolutely amazing too I might add!).  This long bob is called ‘Sudden’ and is practically perfect in every way. In fact it’s almost as good as ‘Plenty’, another Sabina Gully style that has totally rocked my world in 2013.  I love the strands of hair at the front of ‘Sudden’ that frame the face perfectly. It’s an incredibly simple style but can be dressed up or down with ease, and I think I’ll be getting a lot of wear out of it.

Right, time to try my luck at C88 again.  Have a lovely Sunday!

Kitty Wears:

  • Shape: Kitty’s Own.
  • Skin: GLAM AFFAIR ‘Vera’ (Jamaica, 10H)
  • Make-Up: MONS – Black Eyeliner, series 3
  • Lashes: MC ‘Falsies’
  • Eyes: IKON ‘Destiny – Maya’ (ML)
  • Necklace: ANE ‘Sexy’ Necklace
  • Hair : Magika ‘Sudden’
Kitty Picks Four: SWEATERS

Kitty Picks Four: SWEATERS

by Lisa Millar ♥ 1 Comment

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Make no mistake, the seasons have changed, and it’s cold out there folks.

In RL I’ve been battling an especially nasty cold/flu/plague, and have taken to wearing as many layers as possible all at once. Along with scarf, Slanket and hot water bottle too!

But in many ways I don’t mind the cold really because I really love wrapping up warm with lots of scrummy, woolly layers, scarves, gloves and hats. In fact, as I write this I have a jumper, hoody and a scarf on, but I am full of germs, aacchhoo!

I just cannot live without a blooming good jumper, and there are plenty to be found at various locations across the grid.  What defines a good sweater in Second Life? In my opinion shape is everything; a jumper has to look bulky in all the right places, with creasing and gathering adding depth to the texture. If it’s a cable-knit, look at the way the pattern has been applied to the template; open weaves can look messy on closer-inspection if the texture hasn’t been carefully added. Just like in RL, you get what you pay for when it comes to Second Life winter fashion.

I’m always on the lookout for a winter woolly, and here are four of my favourites…

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I  LOVE the colour of this sweater.  This is my favourite colour in real life,  and I was delighted to find this jumper in SL courtesy of ISON.   This is the ‘Angora Sweater’ in Plum. It fits like an absolute dream, and the texture really does make you feel like you’re wearing a very fluffy sweater. Remember what I said about shape and shading? This is a great example of how to do it well, even when you’re adding a really tricky texture. It’s adorable, and even more so when punked up with statement jewellery and eyeliner.  It’s an essential for your winter wardrobe, and perfect for layering. Even better there are 8 different colours available at a mere L$165 a pop, with a fat-pack at L$995.  I’ve *never* had a duff purchase from ISON, and it’s once of those stores that once you discover it you’ll wonder how you managed without!

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Another cat sweater, this time a knit that is fun and funky and yup, I’d wear this in real life too! This is from FRANKIE (formerly known as IMBUE)  and I really like it. The texture looks good up close, and the cat pattern is pretty funny. (It carries over onto the back of the sweater too.)  I added shorts and hooped-earrings for a casual, street wise look. The sweater is available in four shades at L$95 a pop. There are a few other cat-themed items in the store as well, and I really enjoyed my visit there. The store is well-styled and there’s a great ambiance to it.  My only issue is that a few things I’ve purchased from the store haven’t fit as well as I would have liked, but I had no problems with this sweater at all.  Oh, and be warned;  I couldn’t stop singing ‘Frankie’ by Sister Sledge once I’d visited, and trust me, that didn’t do my cold symptoms any good at all.

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The ‘Simple Long Rope Sweater’ from U.F.O. is anything but.  This is a cable-knit jumper and a half, and looks incredibly warm and snug. What I really like about this is the detailing on the sleeves; open loops of wool that add depth and ‘bite’ to the surface of this creation. The texture is satisfying to look at too; zoom in and the details are in all the right places, just as you would expect from this brand which has a lot of fans in-world. And rightfully so, it’s a great label, successfully combining  fresh Japanese styling with classic shapes and patterns.  There are eleven different styles of this jumper in store; some featuring solid colour like the one I am wearing, and others with patterns applied.  There are also shorter versions too; but I like my big baggy bum-covering jumpers in-world and out! The sweater costs L$260 making it a bit pricey, but it’s very well made so worth every Linden.

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Last but not least, I had to include this Viking Cat sweater that I’ve had lurking in my inventory for an age. I added some ‘specs-appeal’ and geeked this look up a little, but unfortunately I cannot find this sweater on sale anymore. But I like it so you’ll just have to gaze longingly at me dressed in it..ahem! (Note to self, check product availability BEFORE you take photos for blog post..)

So readers, time to get your woolly on! Why not share with us your favourite places to find jumpers, sweaters and all things snuggly in the comments below? Looking forward to seeing your suggestions so I can add to my collection!

 

 

 

Horrorfest 2013: Spooky Fashions That Work All Year Round..

Horrorfest 2013: Spooky Fashions That Work All Year Round..

by Lisa Millar ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

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Halloween may be over, but  Horrorfest 2013 is still going strong and raising lots of lovely cash for The Epilepsy Therapy Project.  The event doesn’t finish until November 8th, and I urge you to go if you haven’t visited yet.

Of course, now that the Samhain season has passed, you may be feeling that the time for buying the spooky wares on display has ended, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth.  Many of the items have lasting appeal and can be adapted to suit different looks and outfits. Here is a couple of examples to get you going. In the picture above I’m sporting the FRI.DAY ‘Raven’ hood while I enjoy an Autumnal jaunt in the woods. I’ve slipped it over the COQUET ‘Miranda’ frock that I picked up at this round of FAMESHED, but you can add it to a variety of outfits and it remains really effective. Of course, you can wear it as part of a role-play set-up too; add a quiver of arrows, and you’re well on your way to evoking the spirit of a famous woodland outlaw.

Here’s another example; I added my DRD ‘Skeletonhands’ necklace to a jumper by ERRATIC and some leggings from NYLON OUTFITTERS to conjure up a spooky everyday look that works whatever the season.

Snapshot_004What I’m trying to get across here is that even though the theme may be Horror, it doesn’t have to be restricted to October and the darker months of the year; in Second Life anything goes after all!

Taxi to Horrorfest 2013? Here you go..