MBA: The BEST khakis in SL!

MBA: The BEST khakis in SL!

In this post, you can see me wearing my new favourite trousers. Now, I very rarely wear trousers in-world, probably because I live in them in real-life, BUT I think that’s about to change because of these amazing ‘Shinoda’ khakis! They’re from the very well regarded in-world brand, VINYL, and you’ll find them at the MESH BODY ADDICTS BI-MONTHLY. I’ll tell you why I like them so much; for a start, the way that they’ve been ‘cut’ and shaped makes them look excellent. Creases in all the right places along with just the right amount of ‘slouch’ make for a realistic looking pant. I mean, just look at them, can’t you imagine lounging around in these, or grabbing your car keys and going out to shop in them? I know I can.  I want them in real life!Snapshot_003 They’re also available in an absolute plethora of colours too, and  I’ve no doubt you’ll see me wearing the majority of those a lot in-world, and on these pages. It’s not very often that I recommend fat-packing something (because it’s not often that I do that myself) but I genuinely recommend that you do that with these ‘Shinoda’ khakis because I guarantee they’ll go with anything and everything in your wardrobe! Hurray for my new favourite pants!Snapshot_002I’m wearing mine with a subtly-sexy vest and bra combo from VALENTINA E, along with some great flats that I acquired earlier today from KUSTOM 9 via the MOMENTO gacha machine. To finish I’ve opted for long and luscious locks, courtesy of this fabulous SPELLBOUND release from WHORE COUTURE FAIR 5. SPELLBOUND really are a magical (excuse the pun!) hair brand, and this style is no exception. I’m absolutely loving the waves that tumble over the front of the right shoulder, and the subtle plaits that tidy the hair to each side. It’s a very easy to wear style and works incredibly well with my CATWA ‘Gwen’ Mesh head without too many worries about fitting (the style is rigged) BUT in my opinion, you do need to wear a hair base with this style for best effect, so I am! My accessories are simple, a pair of tortoiseshell glasses from ISON and a necklace from YUMMY and I’m all set for a Kitty adventure with Jez in his new pad this weekend, how exciting! Look, I’ve packed a suitcase and everything! (LOVING this pose set from FROZEN poses at COSMOPOLITAN, it’s called ‘Luggage’ and you can have a LOT of fun with it creating scenes like this one!) Snapshot_008KITTY WEARS:

BODY: Maitreya ‘Lara’ V3.5

HEAD: Catwa ‘Gwen’

SKIN: Amara Beauty  Beige Maitreya Lara applier SKIN FAIR 2016 (Sim 2, booth 10)

HEAD APPLIER: Amara Beauty:’ ‘Kat’ (Beige) Catwa Applier  SKIN FAIR 2016 (As above) (Worn with Kat lipstick palette, shade is from the ‘Petal’ trio) 

EYES: IKON  ‘Sovereign’ Eyes– ‘Field’

HAIR: Spellbound ‘Your Ghost’ (Chapter I- Earth Tones) WCF 5

TOP: Valentina E Gwen Tank & Peekaboo Bra MAITREYAFIT Khaki

TROUSERS: Vinyl – Shinoda Khakis Lara in Orange – MESH BODY ADDICTS BI-MONTHLY

SHOES: Momento – Ballet flats (maitreya wine) KUSTOM 9

NECKLACE: Yummy Repurposed Charms Necklace – Eclectic – (Old N21 Exclusive)

GLASSES: Ison ‘Pegley’ glasses (Tortoise)

If it’s vintage then it’s definitely cool!

If it’s vintage then it’s definitely cool!

If it's Vintage, it's definitely coolIs it me or has August been crazy?  There’s been an absolute deluge of must-have items flooding the grid in a tsunami-like manner since the beginning of the month and it’s been a nightmare, albeit a wonderful one, with so many incredible items on sale that I’ve no doubt purchased and promptly forgotten, or even worse I’ve bought them twice!

Anyway, another awesome event has launched this weekend and this time it’s the turn of the VINTAGE & COOL FAIR to make a massive hole in your Linden balance. I’ve been looking forward to this event with a serious amount of anticipation and on the whole it does exactly what it says on the tin by showcasing numerous styles and furnishings from times past.There’s some absolutely cracking stuff on sale but there are also some very jarring submissions too that are way too modern to include (unless you count things from the middle of last week, which I don’t).  I’m not naming names but you will see items at this event which will make you laugh out loud at the absurdity of the inclusion. We’re seeing that a lot at recent events too, and that’s something that I’m writing about in a bigger post that I hope to feature on these pages when I am brave enough to publish it!

What I am sure of though is that organising events cannot be an easy task, and if a creator turns up last minute with contributions that don’t meet the brief, what do you do? Refund them and have an eyesore of an empty store or let them participate and hope nobody notices?  The latter option is where the problem arises.  In common parlance vintage tends to be used when referring to the ‘Golden Years’ of the 1940s, 50s, 60s and 70s.  It’s only recently that the 1980’s and even the 1990’s have started to be included into that category. With so much source material to choose from it almost feels like there’s been laziness on the part of some creators who have added some very bizarre items into the event bucket.

Fortunately there are plenty of nice things to buy at VINTAGE & COOL that more than meet the bill and rest assured that you will be impressed by the extraordinary effort from all the parties concerned. It’s an easy to navigate event with some seriously satisfying shopping to be enjoyed, just try not to laugh too hard as you walk by the stores which clearly thought they were coming to something else entirely!I really enjoyed having a wander around and spied some classic retro styling from the 1950’s with plenty of voluminous skirts and neckerchiefs and lots of polka dots too.  There are also some great mini-skirts and dresses from the 1960’s and some cracking flares if 1970’s is more your thing, and has been an incredibly popular influence on fashion this year.  I wasn’t really shopping for anything clothes-wise in particular so left myself pretty open to all the choices that are available, but I did have one thing I had to have above anything else..vintage_002

 

There’s been a huge amount of buzz around this beehive hairstyle because it went  ‘SLviral’ on Flickr and Plurk a few days before event release which  of course drove the shopaholics into a frenzy. It’s not surprising  because it’s  beautifully made and really evokes the inspiration behind the name (which, if you don’t know, is of course Audrey Hepburn).  It’s a nice, weighty style which suggests that it would be heavy on the neck, and has acres of volume on the crown.  The back is neatly finished into what was called a ‘DA’ in the late 50’s/early 60’s.  That stands for ‘Ducks Arse’, and it was a particular favourite of teddy boys who created the style with brylcreme and a fine comb.  (Alex Turner from Arctic Monkeys has been doing similar recently too).   I find Ombres the most versatile of shades for my needs I opted for the pack filled with a selection of them and I’m incredibly pleased with my purchase.  I will have to venture back to the event once it’s calmed down a bit though; there’s a free hairband that can be worn with this style in the booth and I don’t want to miss out on that. (Which would of course make this style perfect wedding hair..let’s not go there, OK?)I’m still wearing the astonishing GLAM AFFAIR ‘Katra’ skin that I picked up during last week’s FIFTY LINDEN FRIDAY.  Like I wrote last week, it really does serve as an exceptional base for make-up layers and now that we have the facility to apply SIXTY wonderful layers of nonsense on our bodies you’d better believe I’m all about the eyeliner and the lipstick and all that jazz.  Fortunately there are some brilliant cosmetic brands at this event, and I’m incredibly impressed by a new-to-me brand, LA BOHEME. The make-ups were heavily discounted. Would they be any good? Well, the evidence speaks for itself; as soon as I put them on I knew I was, to coin a Charlie Sheen phrase, ‘Winning’. They’re excellent.  Totally un-touched picture above peeps, and my make up looks ruddy fantastic doesn’t it?  This shot is of me in my bedroom testing out my hairstyle and make-up layers and as you can see this LA BOHEME  Glamour Eyes ‘Hecate’ eyeshadow is simply nothing less than sublime.  Isn’t it a treat? I bought a few packs and I will enjoy using them in forthcoming posts I think (I’m ALL about the eyeliner, I really am) but I tell you what I really like about this eyeliner in particular; it’s quite sharp. Oftentimes the lines look quite smudged and shading can be a tad off, but this is practically perfect and that really pushes all my kitty-buttons.  Turns out LA BOHEME is a brand that is more than happy to supply amazing make-ups at a fraction of the cost that is usually charged in-world.   In fact, the brand has been around since *gulp* 2004!  I actually took a quick trip over to the main store too for a quick nosey; and I’m inclined to think that the store owner is a bit witchy due to the naming conventions applied to her wares..(touches nose in a knowing fashion).  Needless to say once the event has calmed down a bit I’m heading back to her booth and buying everything in the store, it would be rude not too!

Of course I haven’t removed my MANDALA ‘Steking’ Version 5 ears at all yet, and I’m loving the options that they come with too.  You can’t go wrong with a jam-packed HUD crammed with lovely tattoos and pretty jewel colours can you? I’m even wearing the Pixie style rather than my normal human lobes, but how could I not try them when they’re shaped so beautifully? (They almost hint at my feline persuasions..) They really are an incredible product and I’m determined to get the very best out of them.Something else that I haven’t removed recently are my PXL SWEET LIPS.  In fact, I find myself wondering if it’s worth moving on to the newest version? These are the originals and they serve me incredibly well,  and I much prefer them to any of the other virtual gobs out there on the market, but still I do wonder if it’s worth upgrading? ANYWAY, enough of that because I invested in some Sweet Lips-specific lip colours at VINTAGE & COOL too from a brand called ARISE.

Like my LA BOHEME purchases I was so impressed that I treated myself to a number of packs.  Here I’m wearuing a lovely red from the ‘Jenn’ red pack and it is divine. There are 6 different shades of red in the collection and I have no doubt I’ll be wearing all of them pretty frequently.  ARISE is a brand I am often tempted by and I always find their products to be very professional indeed; I think I’m going to splurge out on them a lot more and of course I’ll share my results here with you.  I have no doubt I’ll look virtually fabulous of course!

To finish then, I’m wearing a favourite shirt from my inventory, along with some old LEAGUE bracelets and a recently acquired necklace from the KIBITZ Gacha at Kustom 9. This isn’t really a ‘Look Of The Day’ post, more of a kitty mess-about but here’s an extensive shopping list just in case you fancy any items that I shared today!

Kitty Wears:

Basic look:

BODY: Maitreya ‘Lara’ V3.4

SKIN: Glam Affair ‘Katra’ (Polar) August NB

EYEBROWS: Just Magnetized – Diva Brows – Brunette02

EYES: Nar Mattaru ‘Just The Basics’ Green

LASHES: Hush ‘Flirt’

EYELINER: La Boheme Glamour Eyes ‘Hecate’ S4 -10  – VINTAGE & COOL FAIR

LIPS: PXL Sweet Lips

LIPSTICK: Arise ‘Jenn’ Reds 6 pack – VINTAGE & COOL FAIR

EARS: Mandala ‘Steking’ Series 5 (Pixie)

Clothes:

SHIRT/DRESS: Erm..this is embarrassing! I’ve forgotten what it was called! I’ll name it here when I find it again…

Accessories:

NECKLACE:  Kibitz ‘Cat Charm’ (Gacha) No 3  KUSTOM9

SEPTUM RING:  Cae ‘Septum Piercing’ COSMOPOLITAN SALES ROOM

LOTD: Marsala Mondays

LOTD: Marsala Mondays

Saturday_002

Sometimes Fifty Linden Friday throws up an absolute blinder of an item.  Over the years I’ve seen all kinds of absolutely brilliant bargains featured every week, and this Friday past was no exception when I TP’d into GLAM AFFAIR and purchased their latest offering at the bargain fifty linden price. ‘Katra’, as she is called, is an absolutely cracking skin, but not because of any particular make-up style or enhancements.  She’s actually pretty plain and almost boring really, but POW! does she make a cracking canvas to add colour to, as I hope the photographs featured with this post prove; ‘Katra’ is an absolutely beautiful skin.  There’s a reason AIDA EWING is one of the most popular skin designers in-world, and this skin serves as a firm reminder  of that fact.  ‘Katra’ was available  in the ‘Polar’ tone (which is about as pale as I’ll go when it comes to skins) and it doesn’t feature much facially other than a hint of blush swept across the cheekbones and some very simple shading to the eye.  However, once I threw my PXL Sweet Lips into the mix in a gorgeous shade of Crimson, and added some eye-liner then ‘Katra’ really seemed to come alive.   The base tone (when viewed in CalWL) has an almost translucent quality to it, and it looks beautiful across the entire body, not just the face.  This is a skin that wears very well indeed. I decided to adorn myself in the No Brow version of the skin which meant I could add my NAR MATTARU ‘Nova’ brows into the mix.  I’m really into changing the way my skins look by way of eyebrows and hairbases at the moment,  and these ‘Nova’ brows are an excellent addition to any inventory, offering a lovely sculpted shape that I would absolutely kill for in real life.  Thank goodness for Second Life, eh?

I’m still wearing my absolutely sensational ‘Emily’ hair from ACTION INKUBATOR at the moment too, and it will take nothing short of a miracle for me to wear a different style at the moment because  I’m way too in love with this style.  so instead of new hair, I added some new ears,  (Only in Second Life can you write a sentence like that!) with my chosen tabs being the latest version of the popular STEKING ears from MANDALA.

Mandala’s original STEKING ears were my very first mesh-ear purchase in-world and I recall at the time wondering if they would be worth it.  Many blog posts later I can confirm that yes, they were indeed worth every single linden because they were, and still remain, absolutely brilliant ears to sport in-world and just add that extra element of authenticity into the mix.  I have a number of pairs of mesh ears in my virtual box of delights nowadays and I really don’t feel virtually dressed without them.Snapshot_006

What’s different about this  latest STEKING release are the options that are included; you have the choice of human, pixie or full blown elf-ears along with piercings and best-of-all, tattoos.  Not just your common or garden tattoos either; these are full-colour and are either positioned along the main part of the ear, along the cartilage or at the very tip. It’s the tattoos at the tip that are particularly attractive and make these ears so striking however you choose to wear them.  In fact, if you’re a regular FLICKR viewer here’s a challenge for you – count how many store ads and modelling shots you see these featured in.  That’s how I discovered them myself.  (They are pretty ubiquitous at the moment  BUT please don’t let that put you off purchasing them. There’s often a reason something becomes so popular in Second Life that everyone you see seems to own it and that’s because said item is so well-made that you’d be foolish not to indulge!)

So onto my actual outfit which  this rather adorable dress from MUKA.  It’s incredibly simple but well-shaped and *just* qualifies as a dress (although you can add a denim skirt/shorts underneath with ease).  You know, I’m turning into my mother, I really am, because when I first saw this I was convinced it was a top, rather than a dress.   (Another example? OK well there’s a cracking denim skirt at this round of KUSTOM 9 but my first instinct when I saw it was to scoff “Skirt? SKIRT? Bloody belt more like!” I’m blaming such a reaction on age…) Anyway, top or dress it doesn’t really matter because it fits well (I used the bespoke Maitreya fit included in the pack) and looks very pretty too.

I raided my inventory jewellery box for something that would work with my look in a relaxed manner, and found the ‘Savannah’ bracelets from the ever-amazing MAXI GOSSAMER were just the ticket.   Around my neck I’ve added this absolutely outstanding ‘Spirit Animal’ necklace from ATOMIC at COLLABOR88.  I’m wearing the owl design because cats for some mad reason aren’t included but fortunately for me owls are my other favourite animals (Great Greys in particular, I love their massive moon-like faces) after my feline obsessions.

To finish I elected to add some body art and to that end I’m sporting an astonishingly awesome leg tattoo that would surely make even Cheryl Cole wince.  This absolute beauty of a body art piece is from RECKLESS and is actually an old group member gift. I love it when brands offer their group members treats such as this one; it really makes joining a group worthwhile and definitely makes you feel that as a customer you’re held in high regard…
shoes_001
..which is evidently what Gospel Voom must think judging by the absolute stormer of a group gift he’s bestowed upon us this month.    His ‘Skull Chain Sandals’ have proved to be a real hit in-world and it’s not hard to see why; they’re beautifully crafted and absolutely worth your time zooming in and out in a shoe-loving frenzy.  They’re so bloody pretty!  Like all of Gos’s footwear releases  these  shoes look so real that it feels like you could reach into your monitor and pick them up.  They’re beautifully styled and the small skull is incredibly well detailed for its size.  And just when you think it couldn’t be any better these shoes are gifted to us in the sensational ‘Marsala’ shade, which is the Pantone colour of 2015, don’tcha know. (If you follow that link it will take you to a page that displays colour pairings for the Marsala shade-handy when you’re looking to match something fantastic with these shoes, and trust me they deserve nothing less!)

I love it when a look comes together, and I do think this one is rather special.  What do you think Kitty Readers?

Basic Look:

Skin: GLAM AFFAIR – Katra – Polar – August NB

Eyeliner: NAR MATTARU Zoe Makeups (Eyes) Liner

Brows: NAR MATTARU Nova Brows (High) Black

Hair Base: GAJA X Celebribase – Fran

Ears: MANDALA ‘Steking-Season 5’

Eyes: NAR MATTARU Just The Basics : Green

Lashes: HUSH Lashes – Flirt (bottom)

Lips: [PXL] Sweet Lips  v1.4

Mesh Body, hands and feet: MAITREYA ‘Lara’ V 3.4

Outfit:

Hairstyle: ACTION INKUBATOR ‘Emily’

Dress:  MUKA Sophia – Peach – M

Shoes:  GOS Skull Chain Sandals – Marsala – [Maitreya]

Accessories:

Nose Ring: MONS  – Dreamer Septum Ring (style-4) black COLLABOR88

Bracelets: MAXI GOSSAMER – ‘Savannah’

Tattoo: RECKLESS – Joon II (Group Gift)

Necklace: ATOMIC ‘Spirit Animal’ – Owl COLLABOR88

Vintage & Cool

Vintage & Cool

Denim Jacket Kitty

The Vintage & Cool Fair doesn’t end until Friday 24th October, so you have plenty of time to visit this event.  

I’ve popped back to it a number of times over the past few days, it’s one of those types of events that stands up well to repeat visits, particularly because of the layout.  I also really like that there are some great photo opportunities featuring vintage cars dotted around the place. As always with events I’ve discovered many new content creators, and I’m particularly impressed by the poses of offer from DYER MAKER.  Guys, my inventory is fit to burst with all the poses in there.I really don’t need anymore; yet I decided to splurge on the ‘Against the Wall’ and the ‘Pin Up Poses’ that were available at the event.  Then I just had to go and visit the main-store to pick up a few more. Curses!

So anyway, here’s another look I’ve put together in a retro style. The Tattoo is a new release from JOLI, and the fab skull and heart necklace is a gift from MAXI GOSSAMER. If you’re in the group get your tag on and go and collect it from the main-store, but hurry, it’s being replaced next week…Phew!  There are so many events and so many new releases on the grid at the moment, have you spotted anything amazing that you’d care to share in the comments?

PicMonkey Collage