Vespertine – Kittywitchin'

You still have a few days left to get yourselves over to 6Republic and shop for goodies for your virtual abode, and if you don’t actually have an abode then may I make a suggestion? How about nabbing yourself one of the nicest, and most original, skyboxes that is currently available in Second Life? Let me back up a bit: this current round of 6Republic is a tale of two cities: London and New York to be precise. The furnishings and builds at the event have all been inspired by these locations; think prints with skyscrapers, fire hydrant fittings and industrial style furniture as well as union flags galore, but it’s the builds which really evoke the spirit of these great cities, and the latest mesh skybox from Ria Bazar is the Second life equivalent of having your very own London penthouse.First of all the exterior of this build is a real 3D treat- you actually have a London street featuring building facades and greenery. This is great scene setting; you can use this exterior to take pictures in, or just enjoy the view from your balcony window. The skybox sits within this street surround so you get a great view from all of your windows, and it really does make it feel just right. It’s perfect for pictures!The skybox interior is nicely textured with features like working windows and doors, along with radiators and UK plug sockets. The walls have been decorated to suggest a revamped apartment that has seen slightly better days, and there’s a bold Banksy inspired print adorning one of the walls to give a really modern edge to the environment. The build centrepiece is the lift (elevator). That’s right; rather than a staircase there’s a working lift to take you between floors, how classy is that?! The detail upon this is pretty dazzling and I urge you to have a gander! Check out the construction of the lift capsule itself, the rope pulleys and mechanised elements all look pretty dazzling and very unusual. There’s plenty of living space too for you to decorate and the textures that have been used here combine perfectly to evoke a modern space ripe for dressing. I particularly enjoyed the bathroom; it’s tiny but I used pieces from the Bazar ‘Floria’ Bathroom to fill it and make a space that I could imagine relaxing in at the end of a long, hot London day. I can just imagine lazing in the tub with the window open, listening to the sounds of the birds and the traffic from the street below…I love a good skybox; I love placing furniture in them and I love where they take your imagination to. This one definitely took me on a journey to the best city in the world, and I’m sure it will do the same for you. Be sure to check it out at 6REPUBLIC, and then the BAZAR main store!

BAZAR – skybox, 866L

London Skyhome, 46x46m, 86 LI, c/m/nt, demo via TP, 866L.

Some decorative pieces featured in this from APHORISM @ THE GACHA GARDEN, along with bathroom accessories by VESPERTINE and PILOT.

The Mens Dept is as good an opportunity as any to get Jez to go shopping. Getting laddo to update his look is always a challenge, which is why events like The Mens Dept. make it a whole lot easier, and tons of fun for both of us too.

It’s a funky mix of fresh fashion, skin, hair and adornments as well as decorative pieces and homewares, with all items costing between L$75-L$150. It’s a great way to get your hands on some quality pieces and acquaint yourself with designers old and new.

The fashion is really substantial. All the items have been carefully selected and are beautifully presented in this tidy, well-lit location, and there are contributions from an eclectic mix of creators, from established brands like CHEERNO to lesser well known contributors, such as SHEEP DOOR (who Jez fell in love with an TP’d straight to their store after the event!)

Jez was especially enamoured by the BLEAK ‘Wisdom’ Shirts, as you can see by the picture above. These are mesh and can be purchased in a number of options, but Jez wanted something bright so opted for the Aztec design. It fits like a dream and looks great, so was well worth L$135. The glasses from KUMAKI, with their fantastic range of textures, were also a must have at just L$150.

Another favourite in the collection is the Assymetric Shirt from 22769. This is also a mesh creation, and the style is obviously inspired by Japanese costume. Jez loves all things Japanese, so this was a must have and it fits extremely well. It’s a simple design enhanced by coloured trim on the edging, and looks perfect when worn with jeans and casual loafers. The outfit is enhanced even further by the leather bracelets, also from 22769. These are nice and chunky and are available in a variety of leather choices with different metal adornments. I really like bracelets and cuffs in Second Life, especially when taking pictures, because they hide those nasty lumps and bumps on an avatar’s hands nicely. The shirt costs an extremely reasonable L$90, and the bracelets are just L$80 per pair. You’ll also spy a fabulous suit, great Cargo pants and a very cheeky lounge-wear set from HAVOK.

As well as quality fashion you’ll also find stylish home items from a number of designers including MUDHONEY . Rayvn Hynes has created the fabulous ‘Ryan’ Club Chair for the event. It looks really comfy and features 8 sitting poses. You’ll also receive a magazine rack and a fantastic candle set for your L$150. If you don’t think candles are especially masculine then you need to check these out, they’re billiard balls and look brilliant!

When cruising the homewares make sure you check out the beautiful Animal prints from VESPERTINE and the glorious ‘It’s a mens world’dresser from KUSSHON which features a number of manly items like mini-TV, beer and a girly mag. There are also tattoos from VESTIGIUM, beautiful eyes from INSUFFERABLE DASTARD and a selection of fantastic piercings from PEKKA. Even if you’re not a chap this event is well worth a peek.

Jez’s favourite item from the event is of course the ‘Playing Games’ console from CHEEKY PEA. The boy is a total geek so was delighted to find this prop item. It looks very much like a console from his teenage years, so was a must purchase for our home and looks great next to our Ernst TV, also from Cheeky Pea. It’s a tad pricey at L$125, but it’s a beautifully created piece and really adds to our living space.

Check out all the items at The Mens Dept by clicking here to see the fantastic post by Braydon Thirdborn on Seraphim SL covering all the goodies, and click here to visit the event.