Category: second life fashion

Kitty Plays ‘Catch-Up’

Kitty Plays ‘Catch-Up’

by Lisa Millar ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

As I’m sure regular readers know I work in real life (Shh! I know we don’t like to talk about that!) so my time in-world is often limited.  This means I have to play ‘catch-up’ when I finally come back in, and I have to say that at the moment Second Life is really overwhelming me due to the amount of events that are currently running on the grid. I shouldn’t complain too much though, it’s a good time to be an avatar, especially if you want to be a super-stylish one too!

Problem for me as a blogger is that there are so many events in-world that I know I can’t possibly do justice to them all on these pages. You have to appreciate that these kinds of occasions take weeks of planning and organising so it’s only fair that when they begin they receive the quality coverage they deserve.

Perhaps one of my issues is that when I attend an event I like to take my time and wander around them, and then I  get distracted, go back to stores repeatedly and have another look, and then forget where I saw things that really caught my eye in the first place. I do actually have a notebook that I use to remind me of locations and places where I’ve seen fabulous items, but of course, that only works if you remember to write in it….DOH!

In a situation like this when I feel that there’s just so much going on that i don’t know where to start, I find a good visual aide to be invaluable.  It saves me time if I can see what an event is offering by checking out a dedicated web-site,or checking out the feeds to see what other bloggers are covering.

Fortunately we are blessed with resources like Serpahim which seems to cover the majority of sales and events on the grid. To be honest, I’d be lost without that blog; it’s become my go-to on a daily basis to find out what’s happening and where, and a quick nosy at their snapshots always help me plan my spends ahead.  I’m also  finding myself glued (or should that be pinned?) to Elysium Hyne’s Pinterest selections for event reportage too. Here’s a huge thank you to Elysium and all the team at Seraphim for their hard work!

Anyway, let’s get on to the good stuff. I have managed to treat myself to a few lovely things this week, so I’ll do a quick post about a few things I’ve spotted at a couple of events before I scurry off to check out some more!

First up, The Liaison Collaborative has gifted us with ‘The Boutique’, which features a superb selection of fashion, accessories and poses. The theme is ‘Fresh’, and they aren’t joking, featuring zesty contributions from Baiastice, !Bang, Belleza, Bilo, Cae, CNS Emotion, E! Apparel, Earthstones, Elikatira, Essences, Flowey, Glam Affair, Gos Boutique, Half-Deer, Haste, Hopscotch, Ikon, Inside Lab, Ispachi, Izzie’s, Just Designs, La Petite Morte, Lassitude & Ennui, Lavallie, Leezu, Noodles, NYU, Olive, Rebel Hope, Valentina E. and Vanity Poses. Phew!   I always enjoy these events; they’re not so large as to leave you feeling bewildered, and the selection of designers that contribute are all well-established, quality brands. There’s a real feeling of finesse to this event and I always get the impression that there’s been a lot of care taken by the planners behind the scenes to ensure that they have curated the very best goodies for the event. That’s why you find brands like Belleza showcasing skins, and how I wish they wouldn’t.

</me Kitty shakes fist angrily!>

Because yet again Belleza have adorned their sublime Mya skin with some utterly glorious make-ups and naturally I couldn’t avoid them. As I’ve said before, I love make-ups and it would take some serious coaxing to get me out of my Izzie’s skin and into another, but Ava proved way too hard to resist, with her winged eyeshadow perfection in a variety of colours. It would be just plain rude to not indulge. So I did.

And I look fabulous, see? 

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Don’t even get me started on the totally delicious array of IKON eyes at the event either; I had to walk away lest I spent my rent. Suffice to say that IKON are my favourite brand of eyes in world (I am wearing them in the picture above of course, but these are an existing pair from my collection) and seeing new ones made me all teary and misty-eyed. So to avoid further distress I swiftly departed on to my next destination, The 100 Block.  

This is a ‘Depraved Nation‘ event and it features over 100 participating designers and artists. That’s way too many to list in this post, so if you click HERE you can go visit the official blog and review the selection yourself, but suffice to say I found it very satisfying indeed.  I’ve been zooming all round the, erm, block, most of the morning  with gay abandon and totally relishing the fabulous fashion on display.

There are some really special mesh items on sale and it’s nice to see that there are some goodies for the chaps as well as the ladies, and there’s also hair, piercings and tattoos.

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I discovered a new brand of hair whilst I was at the event.  In the shot above I’m wearing ‘Toffsy’ (Maroon) by Adoness and I really love it. It’s an unusual combination of bob shape with added oomph and curl, and I think that it makes for a winning combination.

But what’s also rather special is this fantastic frock that I discovered at the event.  I’m all about Leopard print in Second Life, well, I am called Kitty after all, and I was really blown away by this stylish gown that I found hanging on the rack at Ellemeno.

I’ve blogged CarrieAnn Lemon’s label before and it’s a relatively new yet well-produced brand that is especially focused upon the mesh boobs market, but don’t let that dissuade you from investigating their goodies because you don’t have to sport mesh boobs to look sensational in them. I was going to wear my Lola’s for this shot, but in the end I thought I looked fabulous enough without.

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Taking a traditional gown shape and bringing it bang up to date with Leopard print is a brave move, yet it works beautifully. Now I wear a LOT of leopard print and there’s one thing I’ve noticed, especially with mesh items. If the textures aren’t carefully applied, and to be frank if a decent Leopard print texture isn’t used in the first place, the result can be a bit..well, rubbish.  But there’s no such worries here with this gown; the print really looks the part and the shape of this dress is nothing short of perfect.

I wish I could wear this in real life, but alas, I’d look like Bella Emberg channelling Bet Lynch.  

But at least in Second Life I can look divine, eh?

So anyway, because I’m still playing catch-up I thought I’d share a small list of events that I really do think you will enjoy checking out, and to make things even more fun for you, I’ve included links (to either Seraphim or Elysium’s posts) so that you can have a peek at the good stuff before checking them out in-world.

Who knows, I may even bump into you at one of these!(You’ll recognise me, a bewildered looking idiot) Be sure to say ‘Hello’ if you do see me!

Happy Shopping! Oh and a thought, if you find something nice why not tell us about it in the comments below? Toodles!

Kitty Adores The ‘Sansa’ Neck Corset From Lark, And Thinks You Will Too!

Kitty Adores The ‘Sansa’ Neck Corset From Lark, And Thinks You Will Too!

by Lisa Millar ♥ 1 Comment

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Here’s a thing.

Sometimes you have to try something that you normally wouldn’t to realise that not only will it work, but it will be bloody brilliant.  Kinda like snail porridge, if you’re Heston Blumenthal.

“Don’t knock it until you try it, “ so the saying goes.  Never have truer words been spoken.  

Not that I knocked the amazing ‘Sansa’  Neck Corsets by Lark.

No, dear reader, I admired them, because they are stunning creations indeed from the ever-so- talented Second Life designer,  Sienia Trevellion.  Trust me when I say that she’s a ruddy expert when it comes to beautiful clothing and furnishings. One of those designers who make you glad to be in Second Life.

Sienia bestowed a pack of these beautiful neck corsets upon me for which I was incredibly grateful, but I have to admit, they were somewhat out of my comfort zone.

Don’t get me wrong.  I could see that they were fabulous creations, but I had no idea if they would work for me.  They’re certainly not something that I would normally choose to wear; I’ve never been one for collars and the idea of wearing such a full one made me shudder if I’m honest. The flower decoration I had no issue with,  but I just didn’t know how I would wear these, and even more importantly, could I pull the look off?

Far be it for me to be ungrateful however.  If Sienia thought these would look good on me, then who was I to doubt her? I unboxed them carefully and slipped one around my neck…

..and my concerns soon buggered off out of the window (last seen flying past Skegness, it is a bit blustery outside after all!) because when I tried them on I fell in love. 

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In fact, why I ever fretted about wearing these I have no idea, because as you can plainly see they look sodding brilliant even if I say so myself.  (JUST LOOK AT ME!! WHOOP! *Ahem*)

The corset-collar shape is perfectly balanced with just enough luxurious leather between neck and shoulder. The scalloped edge lends a refined touch, and the contrast flower embellishment completes the look to utter perfection. I feel like a glamorous vision wearing these! (In fact this is the most glam I’ve felt in an age!)

As well as fitting like a dream, there’s an accompanying HUD included as part of your ‘Sansa Neck Corset’ package which enables you to change colour of both the flower and the string (there are 8 fabulous options to select from)  meaning that you can create a multitude of looks to compliment any outfit.  Not only that, but Sienia has thoughtfully provided rigged and un-rigged sizes in the packs to enable you to find your perfect fit.

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It’s strange isn’t it to think that I thought these wouldn’t work on my avatar because I think the look above is one of my strongest in Second Life yet, but both varieties, Blanc and Noir, offer the wearer some seriously mouth-watering outfit potential.

I’m going to stick my corset-sporting neck out and say I’m  pretty sure you’ll get oodles of wear out of these. 

For a start, the ‘Noir’ version has a certain dramatic feel that means it will work beautifully with your little black dress.  It will also coordinate just as well with a formal skirt ensemble, or a less formal frock.  Heck, I think you could even wear this with a camisole and jeans and still look a million dollars!

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The ‘Blanc’ version, worn above, is more summery, yet also offers tons of possibilities.  It would make a perfect accompaniment to slip-on sandals and frock for a start, and it also struck me that if you’re getting wed in Second Life, why not consider this as the ultimate finishing touch to a Bridesmaid’s ensemble?   Add a plain white shift and heels et voila! A contemporary look for your occasion without breaking the bank. YAY!

Looking at these corsets you’d be inclined to think that because of the detail and finish these would be pricey pieces, but here’s the bonkers mad part..guys they cost just FIFTY lindens each.

Yup, L$50. No I’m NOT joking!

You can find both of the Sansa Neck Corsets at ‘The Retreat‘, a small recurring 2-week shopping event. The demos at this event include fully functioning HUD’s so every combination can be tested. Demos for every size (rigged and non-rigged) are also included, although to be honest for L$50 I’m almost inclined to say sod the demo and just buy both of them!

So there you have it, the Sansa Neck Corset from Lark. I thought I’d look a pigs-ear in these, not a reflection on them at all, but a total reflection on me. Instead, I think they’ve totally transformed my look into something very special indeed. In fact I’d go so far as to say they’ve made me feel alluring, stylish and super-windswept and interesting I’ve already had IM’s asking me where they’re from and I’ve only been sporting them a day!

In fact here’s my Kitty recommendation; buy both of them and be assured that not only have you purchased an utter bargain but an absolutely beautiful one to boot. 

I’m  so delighted to have these in my inventory, and plan on getting a LOT of wear out of them, and I’m sure you will too.

Click HERE to go to ‘The Retreat’ and pick up yours today!

A crush with eyeliner..

A crush with eyeliner..

by Lisa Millar ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

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So far my virtual 2013 has been all about two things: tattoo-layer cosmetics and mesh legwarmers ( more on those another time!)

My look has really changed in recent months (for the better I hope) and I attribute this to a number of things, but I think the main influences upon my recent style have been the continued emergence of quality mesh clothing and the development of excellent  tattoo layer and mesh cosmetics.

We all know that uber- quality skins are not cheap. Nor should they be; they take a lot of hard work to create.  Of course, there is huge discrepancy on skin-pricing across the grid, and when you find your perfect skin  forking out for a fat-pack that includes all the make-ups can be an eye-watering prospect.  Fortunately, tattoo-layer cosmetics can help.

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Recently I’ve become somewhat obsessed with eyeliner. I don’t know why I like it so much. As a child I was a little bit besotted with Siouxsie Sioux and Toyah, so it’s probably a throwback to those days. Problem is you need to be expert at applying it in real life to pull it off, and I’m just useless at it.  My attempts at cat-eye/ winged liner in real life tend towards a spidery scrawl, and I can never get the darned flourishes  at the edge of the eyelid to match. Thank goodness the same doesn’t apply to Second Life!

For a relatively small outlay you can spice up your base skin and become the best looking avatar on the grid bar none.  It’s like having your very own virtual Girl’s World; it is so much fun trying out different combinations of skins and tattoo layers and eventually you could end up with a look that is totally unique to you.  Save your creations as outfits and you’ll have a legion of glorious looks to quickly change in and out of. (Plus in real life heavy eyeliner is a pisser to get right, and when it comes to taking it off you need industrial cleanser and a rainforest of tissue before you’ve even penetrated the ruddy stuff.  No mess Second Life wins again!)

The Cosmetics Fair 2013 finishes soon (April 30th) and it’s definitely worth a visit if you haven’t dropped by yet. It’s not a huge event by comparison to other recent occasions but it’s as equally rewarding and I’m confident you’ll spend more than a few happy hours lusting after the products on display. Ekilim Melodie, the event organiser, has brought together some of the very best cosmetic creators that the grid has to offer and you’ll find everything you could possibly need .

The event is sponsored by Action, BOOM, Glam Affair, *LpD*, PIDIDDLE and Pink Acid and features orgasmic creations from the sponsors and guests. Cam around the location and you’ll spy fabulous eye make-up, luscious lipsticks and glosses, natty nails and even some make-ups exclusively for the chaps.  From the avant-garde to the more mundane, it’s all available here.  There’s just so much to enjoy! Discover amazing patterns to adorn lips and lids, as well as practical devices such as a bum-cleavage  layer that hides your  builders bum crack, cheek definition and nose contour. It’s a must-visit.

You can demo a lot of items and I strongly suggest that you do just that before you buy.  Tattoo-layer cosmetics are cheaper than skins, but they can still be pricey items, so you must ensure you’re happy with your prospective purchases before you indulge.

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So what can you do with them I hear you cry? Well, for the picture above I wanted to wear a strong eye-make up to compliment the One Bad Pixel Cheongsam that I’m wearing. (Note: this is a complete fib because there isn’t a single bad pixel on this dress, it’s outstanding.)  At the moment I’m completely besotted with Izzie’s Asia skinline.   The skin I’m wearing in this shot is a medium tone from that range with dark brows.  Izzie  Button really is a talented wee minx, and is also incredibly obliging because she already includes excellent eyeliners, lipsticks and eyeshadows as part of her range, but I wanted something that would really stand out from the crowd. Thank goodness for the ability to layer then. I wore my regular skin, with Izzie’s own  green eye-shadow  and raspberry lipstick to which I then added my first purchase from the Cosmetic Fair, the Blacklace Beauty Exotica V.2 shadows and liners. These are an absolute bargain at L$99 for the package, which includes 11 sensational colourways. Once that layer was applied I was close to achieving the look I wanted, and finished by adding prim lashes and stunning Ikon eyes.

The finished look is a bit of a corker isn’t it?

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Here’s a second demonstration of how fabulous tattoo-layers can be. I’m still wearing the dress, but fancied a change of hair and make up. This time I’ve switched to the Izzie’s Rose lipstick, and I’ve complimented it with eye make-up from Shakeup! Cosmetics. This is the Danielle range, and you get 8 colours in the range for L$150. I like the sparkle on this, and how the water-line of the eye is coloured too.  Scrumptious don’t you think?

So what really got me excited at the show? Well if you’re looking for eye designs you’d be foolish to neglect Mons.  For me, Mons really leads the way when it comes to tattoo-layer make-up, because  they’re consistently brilliant and always look divine.   The alternative-styled  avatars out there will find extremely precise, gothic liners and brows at Nuuna, and if you’re looking for killer lips check out Pink Acid for the glossiest gob on the grid.  Every vendor is a winner and you’re sure to find yourself laden with goodies when you leave the sim.

Before I close this post I must mention Mons again, and insist that you check out the eyeliner I discovered from them at this month’s Zodiac event.  It’s called ‘Burning Eyeshadow’  and it is a total winner. I’m wearing it with a dress that I spied there too from Valentina E,  called ‘Le Matadora’ and  by heck it’s good. I knew I had to have it as soon as I laid eyes upon it! The name of the dress immediately identifies with Taurus, the subject of Zodiac this month, and it’s a beautiful mesh frock with a fabulous pattern and matching scarf.  This is a really elegant couture number that’s available in a selection of colours and is exclusive to the event. I detest bull-fighting but I’m completely in love with this!

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Kitty wears:

Shape: Kitty’s own.

Hair – First picture) Eep. (Second Picture) Magika

Skin – Izzie’s (Medium)

Make-up layers – As described in post (Cosmetics Fair 2013)

Clothing – Cheongsam from One Bad Pixel

‘Le Matadore’ dress from Valentina E (Zodiac)

Another SL Meme: Pet Peeves

Another SL Meme: Pet Peeves

by Lisa Millar ♥ 2 Comments

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Darn you Strawberry Singh and your epic Second Life memes! I jest of course, but Berry’s latest meme asks a very valid point, what really winds you up about the virtual world we call home?

I have to be honest, this wasn’t an easy meme to respond to.

I was worried I’d put a few noses out of joint, so I have tried to be gentle. I’ve also not included all of my peeves, as some need to be kept closer to home. But it certainly got me thinking, so thanks again Berry! (I wonder what she’ll come up with next?!)

  1. RUDENESS.  Yes I get Second Life is a virtual environment, but that doesn’t mean that you leave your manners at the loading screen. If you’re ill-mannered in real life I’ll think you’re an asshole. If you’re ill-mannered in Second Life I’ll think you’re a special kind of asshole. It takes a certain kind of individual to sit behind their keyboard and type something mean or just plain-rude to someone in a virtual environment.
  2. ANTLERS. I’ve had just about enough of seeing antlers everywhere in Second Life.  Don’t get me wrong, I have seen some absolutely amazing clothing featuring deer motifs, and I’ve also seen some equally amazing jewellery featuring it too. I’ve also seen some fabulous antler chairs, antler light fittings, in fact antler home furnishings galore! I mean, what’s next, an antler toilet brush? It’s like a never-ending weekend at Ted Nugent’s house!  If you’re role-playing, I get the need for antlers. If not, just please cease and desist before you drive me into full-on Fenton mode.  Before you know it we’ll all be going moustache mad, how ludicrous would that be?  Oh, wait, that’s already happened..
  3. GROUP NOTICES:if you send them, PLEASE for the love of all-that-is-holy, SPELL CHECK them and if English isn’t your best language then please get someone who speaks it to proof-read for you before you send out. I do actually pay attention to group notices, and they often  tempt me to go and investigate offers and items. But if you issue them exclaiming things like; ‘Plz check this now!’ without a LM, or something like ‘Hurry! This price won’t last forever’ I will just delete. Pro-tip: Notices should stand out, because they need to attract customers. They require a punchy yet informative title to draw your customer in to opening them and reading them. Therefore be original, be witty, be playful but most of all be bothered to actually tell me what you’re sending the notice out about!  Sell me the product that you’re advertising and include a picture or I just won’t bother to read any further.  So many people out there must make wonderful creations that I never get to see because their notices are written so shabbily, so just don’t. If you’ve taken care over your creation, take care over your advertising too!
  4. SOCIALISM. Well, actually no, that’s not the pet peeve, but THIS is:

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There are so many furniture builds featuring this particular set of books that you would think we’re all political nerds in Second Life. Obviously the majority of us aren’t,  but I bet we all have these books on our shelves! I bet if you search your inventory you’ll find furniture featuring them. It’s not just the lesser known creators that have used these either, some of the uber-established furniture making names have featured them on multiple occasions and it just drives me to utter distraction. I’ve seen carefully constructed furniture utterly ruined by adding these bloody books.  If you’ve taken the time and care to develop and build a fantastic, original item then why ruin it by including something that can be seen a myriad of other places on the grid?! The mind boggles. Please stop!

5. BAD DESIGN: OK, this is quite a broad-ranging response, so let me try and clarify it a little bit.  I’m talking about ugly, cheap textures deployed upon builds. Build shapes that look dated and six years past their prime. Skins with no depth or shading upon them, and the worst thing, clothing, especially gowns and skirts, made with those cone-shaped prims that  legs tend to stick out of in a manner worse than Angelina Jolie at an awards ceremony. Please don’t misunderstand;  I don’t want to come over holier than thou on this and I realise that taste is a very personal thing, but I find it hard to believe that with so much design inspiration to be found on the grid people still create what is, quite frankly utter garbage. What boggles the mind even more is that occasionally they expect to sell it….WTF?!

Peeved Kitty wears: