…is bloody monumental.
Last night I spent absolutely AGES writing a spiffing review for you all to enjoy, and in a moment of what can only be described as utter stupidity on my part, I switched my PC off without saving it. GAH! Then bugger me, I’ve just taken the time to rewrite the piece for your perusal, and I blinking well pressed the wrong button and lost the chuffer all over again. Talk about a bad day! As you can imagine, the air has been an interesting shade of blue for the past twenty minutes but upon reflection, I figured that it was probably for the best. You see there are glowing reviews, and there are reviews that are so sickly sweet as to be vomit inducing, and in all honesty, I’d created the latter. Twice. So here we go, third time lucky, BUT, this being the old Kitty you all know and love in all probabliity I’m going to write the same sycophantic review all over again. I cares not one jot mind, because sometimes, just sometimes, a product comes along that is entirely deserving of such praise. So, settle down with your favourite sick bag to hand as I make you go all hyperactive with my prose and cause you to endure one helluva humungous virtual sugar-rush….
On to the good stuff then, and boy oh boy is this good!! ‘Redgrave‘ have got a new skin out, and dear readers it is a bobby dazzler of such gargantuan proportions that you really do need to beg, steal or borrow the Lindens required to own such a piece of virtual happy-pie. I know I’m going to have to, as I really cannot afford this wonder myself at the moment, and horror upon horror I’ve had to make do with the demo skin for my photos. It would have been ridiculous though to not share this one with you, so no matter that I’m photographing myself in the buff in a demo skin…anything for my faithful readers! In fact, this skin looks so good DESPITE being a demo that if anything these pictures just prove how utterly fantastic it really is!
It’s called ‘Vivian’ and comes in pale and tan versions. As you’ve probably noticed before I don’t usually bother with tan skins, although there have been notable exceptions to that rule (Calla and Artilleri) This time I had a feeling that this would work on me in a tan shade and I was right- it’s just divine. I’ve got prior Redgrave skin experience and that was similarly enjoyable, but this latest release has just got me goosebumpy all over. So, where to begin?
The facial shading, in particular the eyeshadow application, is just beautiful. If you zoom in really close, and if you have your graphics settings uber-high you can see speckles of colour across the eyelid that can only be described as sublime. For example, the gold variant features glitter particles that are scattered loosely over the eyelids and onto the cheekbones and it is genuinely astonishing! The combination of eyeshadows in each of the make-up palettes are all really flattering, well-conceived and executed. Framing the eyes are the lashes obviously, and here’s an interesting thing- they look as though you’ve used a tad too much mascara upon your wand when applying, but the overall definition they provide is excellent.They almost feel clumpy but manage to pull the look off surprisingly well and this is a huge benefit to me seeing as I’m beyond useless at applying prim lashes, despite owning oodles of pairs…it makes no odds though because this skin is just fine without those particular enhancements. Moving down onto the cheeks and there’s a subtle rosy glow on each palette offering lovely face shaping without any of that embarrassing Apache indian style blush that you find on lesser skins. It results in a beautiful healthy glow for your avatar, which looks even better if you use a facelight, and fortunately you can get a freebie one from Redgrave.
One of the most important features of a skin are the lips and teeth. In my experience they often get over-looked, with the eyes being viewed as the sole facial focus, but nothing could be farther from the truth. You need a substantial gob to balance out a skin, and upon first glance you may think that the lips on Vivienn are a tad on the large and juicy ‘Team Angelina’ side of lipness, rather than the moist girl-next-door ‘Team Aniston’;but take a minute and rethink because they’re perfect here. Obviously this depends upon your underlying shape, but the effect is subtle voluptuousness regardless of whatever lip-colour choice you select. For me the lips really set off the whole face on this skin and certainly raise it above the majority of skins out there. If you employ a smiling device you’ll be pleased to see your pearly whites are toned very well against the rest of your colouring;no garish ‘glow-in-the-dark’ gnashers here, and the teeth themselves aren’t humungous tomb-stone shaped toofypegs either. I think the combination actually provides one of the best smiles around in Second Life, so congratulations to Redgrave for taking the time to complete an oft-overlooked and under-worked area:) The mouth is finished off perfectly with superb lip-lining and gloss and a luscious texture that again requires you to zoom in to really reap the whole benefit. I have to confess that even though in real life and second I’m a red lipstick kind of girl I have to be honest and say that I love all the lip-colour options equally,with the choices here being so excellent that they practically drag you kicking and screaming and make you more adventurous with your make-up selections!
So the eyeshadows and the lip colours are winners guys, and the combos alone make this skin worthy of your investment. I wasn’t let down by any of them, and usually when you purchase a complete set of skin make-ups there’s always one or two that you know you’ll never use. That’s defo not the case here. I wasn’t let down by any of them, and usually when you purchase a complete set of skin make-ups there’s always one or two that you know you’ll never use. That’s defo not the case here. Facially the skin doesn’t disappoint at all, but wait, before you go rushing off to mug your virtual granny for dollars because we haven’t even discussed the body yet!
The texture deployed for the body is *stunning*. See through the tan colouration (which isn’t bold and brassy, nor even remotely orange) and you’ll be rewarded with freckles and blemishes that make this skin scarily authentic. Areas where highlights and definition are most required such as the collarbone, shoulder blades, breasts and buttocks are perfectly accentuated with tone and shading that is amongst some of the best you’ll see on the grid. The details don’t stop there either, there’s a cute belly button, nicely shaded ankles and knees and great hands. Alas, my only quibble is the hands, for I’d have loved to have seen some different manicure colours included with the make-ups rather than the plain french that is provided, but no matter..that’s a nice to have and what we are supplied with is absolutely fine. The feet aren’t as bad as some other Second Life feet either, which is a wonder, but there’s no ground breaking tootsie definition here. I don’t think that’s a biggy though because I’m sure your virtual toes will be crushed into some wonderful footwear as you stride confidently across the grid so you’ll rarely get to see them anyways. The lady-garden area ( fnarr fnarr) is very well ‘detailed’ and very tidily kept, and will look fine in ‘artistic’ shots, should that be your in-world hobby of choice. To be perfectly honest I don’t really pay that much attention to such areas, because cybering has never been on my list of priorities in world, but I know that it’s likely to be important to some readers here and I can assure you that if it is then you won’t be disappointed 😉
So as skins go we’re talking an absolute winner here folks, a fact that is proved beyond all doubt when you venture into the Redgrave store in-world. The skins are surrounded by scores of appreciative punters trying demos and buying. Redgrave certainly seem to have got the skin recipe just right, and I suggest that if you’re in the market for a new one that you head on over and give this one a whirl because it really is amongst the best I’ve ever seen. Besides, it’s Thanksgiving for my US readers and I can think of no better way for you to celebrate than to go and treat yourself to something extra special:)
A final note; I’ve photographed a variety of Vivian demos with a selection of Dutch Touch hair, notably the Phyllie design ( L$150 each) Again, I’ve used a demo but I shall be purchasing the whole lot when I get paid ( in RL) because it goes well with this Redgrave skin and the style is absolutely vital! I personally think that this is the best I’ve seen Kitty look for ages, and let’s face it, with teh skin costing L$2990 to look this good and turn virtual heads ain’t that much of a hardship really, is it? ( That’s all 15 make-ups!! BLOODY HELL!)
So empty your virtual sick-bag dear reader, wipe down your chin and remove the carrots, make yourself look presentable and bugger off over to Redgrave and indulge…your virtual-self *will* thank you for it!