La Belle Soirée

http://La Belle Soiree

The minute I opened this box, I gasped. And once I put it on, I felt transported. I just couldn’t believe the detail… it looked like Rene had sat there painstakingly hand-sewing every bead to the bodice. It embodies elegance, but has enough transparency to the bodice to add a definite layer of sexuality.  This dress just needs the minimum touches of jewelry (my earrings didn’t photograph well, but they’re just simple pearl drops) and not too overpowering an updo.  And since it’s designed to be shape-hugging, when you slip it on over my Tonic curves, well, oooh la la… where else could I wear it but Paris? Special thanks here to  Zander Reeves, who helped me make my vision come true since I simply could not find the Paris I envisioned here on the grid, and was kind enough to edit it in for me after first trying to build it, and then bouncing around the grid with me a bit and sitting through my shoot.  On a side note, Champagne is just the first color of the fabulous Aria dress…  and it is EXCLUSIVELY available at the FitMesh Plaza & Event, it’s NOT at the main store. Other colors are to come, though personally, I don’t think any can possibly compare to this amazingly beautiful tone…

  • Body: Tonic – Curvy Beauty
  • Head: LAQ – Athena (Bento), available exclusively at Uber
  • Eyes: Avi-Glam – Lucent Eyes, Emerald
  • Skin:  7 Deadly S[k]ins – Junia, worn in Cashew, Browless
  • Brows:  LAQ – Brows 1
  • Makeup: LAQ– Smokey Eyes Applier7 Deadly S[k]ins – JUICY Omega Lipsticks for LAQ
  • Hair: D!va – Tessa in Garnet
  • Gown: Allure Couture – Aria Mermaid Dress in Champagne includes matching  Heels; in sizes for Tonic, Physique, Hourglass, Maitreya, TMP, Freya, Isis, Venus, Ebody, & Standard; EXCLUSIVELY at the September FitMesh Plaza & Event 
  • Jewelry: Cailyn Miller – Pearl Twist Earrings (long-gone designer); Chop Zuey – Bel Aire Gold Women’s Wedding Band
  • Pose:  GingerFish Poses – Moonlight and Martinis, #6
  • Location: Evans Country Club & Resort, with Paris edited in by Zander Reeves

The last summer evening

http://The last summer evening

Even if that hint of fall has not quite yet hit the air, it certainly has hit the calendar. I was actually stuck behind my first school bus yesterday lol! But I do love when the evenings get cool, and the jackets come out, and sometimes a little snuggling is necessary just to stay warm. And although summer is definitely hanging on, the new crop of fall clothes is definitely appearing both in the real world and here in Second Life. I just couldn’t resist either this one-buttoned open denim shirt with its stand-up little collar or these hip-hugging patterned denims (a whole bunch of different patterns, this is the only light one) that came through my “inbox”… sexy, but relaxed, perfect for the in-between change of seasons. At least here on the grid I don’t have to worry about getting my boxes down and moving my wardrobe all around! There’s always room for more!

  • Body: Tonic – Curvy Beauty
  • Head: LAQ – Athena (Bento), available exclusively at Uber
  • Eyes: Avi-Glam – Lucent Eyes, Emerald
  • Skin:  7 Deadly S[k]ins – Fionne, worn in Cashew, Browless
  • Brows:  LAQ – Brows 1
  • Makeup:  7 Deadly S[k]ins – JUICY Omega Lipsticks for LAQ
  • Tattoo: SHANA (Marketplace Only) – Sati Black (Omega)
  • Nails:  ZOZ – Bold Soft Polish
  • Hair: Navy & Copper – Latte (Gingers Hud)
  • Top: Dreams – Cati Shirt Denim w/ 14 Texture HUD; sized for Tonic, Ebody, Isis, Freya, Venus, Maitreya, Ocacin, Hourglass, Physique, & Standard Avatars; Marketplace Only
  • Pants:  ArisArisB&W – Alus61, Adoration Jeans w/ 20 texture HUD; sized for Tonic, TMP, Freya, Isis, Venus, Ebody, Maitreya, Hourglass & Physique
  • Shoes: Reign – Cery Wedges (with multi-option HUD not just for colors, but to make the bands solid or sheer lace)
  • Jewelry: Earthstones – Arron Set, Malachite; Chop Zuey – Bel Aire Gold Women’s Wedding Band
  • Pose: Le Poppycock – Feminine Weapon
  • Location: Mythical Serenity Photography Sim

Blowin’ in the Wind

http://Blowin' in the Wind

How many times have I thought “yes, this is it!”, the head I’ve waited for, the best skirt, the best hair designer, the best this, the best that. The answer is countless, and I’m sure it will continue to be so in the future. Because yes, I have once again, broken several promises to myself. I have (a) bought another head… and yes, once again, I feel that THIS IS THE ONE! I adored Sandy, but Athena takes my look two steps further, with eyes that are more slanted and lips that are fuller, both of which were on my wish list.  And although I promised myself to cut back on hair, there’s an amazing sale at Argrace, with every single hair on sale for 100L per color from Sept 1-10, so yes, I (b) splurged on quite a few photographic styles like this one.  As for my outfit, when it’s MOZ mix ‘n’ match, I always wonder how I’ve never put it together before quite like this, because how could I have missed out on this look!?! The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind, the answer is blowin’ in the wind… 😉

  • Body: Tonic – Curvy Beauty
  • Head: LAQ – Athena (Bento), available exclusively at Uber
  • Eyes: Avi-Glam – Lucent Eyes, Emerald
  • Skin:  7 Deadly S[k]ins – Merci, worn in Maple, Browless
  • Brows:  LAQ – Brows 1
  • Makeup:  7 Deadly S[k]ins – JUICY Omega Lipsticks for LAQ
  • Tattoo: SHANA (Marketplace Only) – Asha Brown (Omega)
  • Nails: Hello Dave – FabFree Autumn Skies
  • Hair: Argrace – Haruka (pre-renovation sale from Sept 1-10, with all hair priced at 100L per color, 380L per fatpack)
  • Top: MOZ Designs – Crop Camisole, sized for Tonic, Freya, Isis, eBody, Maitreya, Slink Original & Hourglass; available in 6 individual colors/patterns, 3 Fatpacks, and one Superpack
  • Skirt: MOZ Designs – “Moira” Belted Skirt in Brown Floral Denim, sized for Tonic, Freya, Isis, eBody, Eve, Maitreya, & Slink Hourglass; on sale for 50% OFF at the September FitMesh Plaza & 50% Discount Event 
  • Shoes: Reign – Spring Tassel Wedges (with multi-option HUD)
  • Jewelry: Maxi Gossamer – Katerina Necklace & Earrings; Chop Zuey – Bel Aire Gold Women’s Wedding Band
  • Pose: PO^Z – Gloria
  • Location: Mystic Timbers Photo

Daydreaming

http://Daydreaming

According to the calendar, the lazy hazy days of summer are ending… fall is on its way. Though where I live, it seems no one bothered to inform Mother Nature… it’s been brutally hot and humid. It’s nice to find whatever respite is available, some little corner of beauty for a private escape, where you can just let your mind drift along, carried away by the breeze, the music… before you know it, one thing leads to another, and you find yourself daydreaming your cares away. Where better than in a beautiful sim, on the banks of the Thames River, the wind in the trees, the swans in the water… wearing this kick-ass new outfit from Moz, with the slightly sheer skirt (just enough to see the bodysuit in the right light!) ruffling in the breeze… sighs… just a short break, and then back to work…

  • Body: Tonic – Curvy Beauty
  • Head: LAQ – Sandy (Bento)
  • Eyes: Avi-Glam – Lucent Eyes, Emerald
  • Skin:  7 Deadly S[k]ins – Merci, worn in Almond, Browless
  • Brows:  LAQ – Brows 1
  • Makeup:  7 Deadly S[k]ins – JUICY Omega Lipsticks for LAQ
  • Tattoo: Juna – Ines
  • Nails: Go Frock Yourself – Bronze Omega Nail Appliers
  • Hair: TRUTH – Daphne, available exclusively at Uber
  • Outfit: MOZ Designs – “Vanessa” Bodysuit & Skirt, BRAND NEW; available in 9 colorways of 1 solid bodysuit + 3 skirts, and 1 superpak of all colors (I’m wearing the black bodysuit with a cayenne skirt)
  •  Shoes: Reign – Lottie Wedges (with multi-option HUD), Fatpack available at COLLABOR88
  • Jewelry: RealEvil Industries – LUX Nia Earrings & Necklace (multi-option HUD); Chop Zuey – Bel Aire Gold Women’s Wedding Band
  • Location: Soul2SoulRiver – Thames River Valley

My perfect color!

http://My perfect color

Wow, is there a better color for a redhead than this? especially in this rich satin fabric? and at 50% off? I don’t think that “Wow” even begins to cover it! I even love the name… Cayenne! Wish I’d thought of it… Cayenne Laval would have had quite the spicy little ring to it, don’t you think? Wait, you’re not a redhead? You don’t like satin? Well, can’t say I understand your choices, but both the crop top and the thong — which has the most amazing back btw — come in plenty of other colors and fabrics… but no discounts ;-)…

Oh, one small note about this beautiful skin I’m in… I blogged this back on the 1st (see it here) in a dark tone with the included brows, using the Junia shape and the head it was designed for (Neve); now I’m wearing it in a light browless tone as part of my “normal” look with my unique shape, Sandy head and reddish LAQ brows… to me, the beauty of 7 skins is that they’re beautiful however you use them. Which is why I basically wear them all the time (though I constantly change both skin and tone)…

Red, red wine

http://Red, red wine

You know how sometimes I write how easily things fall into place? Well, this definitely wasn’t one of those times. Sometimes it’s exactly the opposite, and every single thing is a struggle. Unfortunately, that’s how it’s been the last few days since I got back from my vacation.

First off, I’m sick. Somehow, nothing seems worse than a summer cold. The sun is shining, and everyone is running around with summer activities, and here I am snuffling and sneezing and coughing and blowing my nose nonstop, and basically just feeling lousy. Second, I found the perfect hair demo in my inventory, and couldn’t figure out where I picked it up ANYWHERE. No response from the designer. On top of that, my computer is acting up… nothing specific, just sluggish, freezing more than usual, hanging on FlickR, crashing during SL transport a few times. After a really bad crash like that last night, I reverted… my hair, nails, feet, tattoo, etc. were all back the way they were the day before… not much fun for a fashionista. And then tonight, I finally get myself into the perfect camera angle with what I think is the perfect windlight and boom… not only do I crash, but Windows decides it needs to do an update… and then it has trouble restarting… for more than an hour.  Just what I have the patience to deal with when I’m not feeling well. Grrrrrrrr….. takes a deep breath… well, I managed to stay calm, and personally, I think the results show Sierra off to full advantage one last time while she’s still on her 50% off introduction at the MBA Fair, though I never was able to get quite that same perfect camera angle again… 🙁

  • Body: Tonic – Curvy Beauty
  • Head: Tonic – Sierra (Bento) available exclusively at the MBA Fair August 1-21 at HALF OFF during the fair; then she moves to the store full price
  • Eyes: Avi-Glam – Lucent Eyes, Emerald
  • Hair: Tameless – Candy
  • Skin:  7 Deadly S[k]ins – Fionne, worn in Cashew (browless)
  • Eyebrows: DS’Elles – Eyebrow Series 8 for Omega
  • Tattoo: Chameleon – Lalit
  • Nails: Encore – Shades of Blue Nail Appliers
  • Outfit: Cremosas Store – 133 Skirt & Top (12 color HUD for both the top & the skirt, can change the color of the top fringe separately); LOVE the detail on this one, it even looks amazing from the back!
  • Jewelry: LUMINESSE  – Kosazana Pacifica Gold Earrings & Necklace, at the August Swank Event
  • Pose: :LW: Poses – World Inside with Red Wine prop
  • Location: Mythical Serenity

When the only Uber is called Carl…

http://When there's no Uber

When you live in a city, being able to get an UBER is one of those things you take for granted. When you’re in the suburbs, you accept that it’s a bit more complicated… fewer drivers mean you may have to wait quite a bit longer and so on, but it’s still there. But as we just found out this weekend, when you hit the real rural communities, getting around late at night without pre-made arrangements can be downright tricky. As it was later explained to me — after my son was forced instead to use what he called “the shoelace express” and walked home alone several miles, in the dark, in the rain, along a dirt road using his iPhone as a flashlight, praying that the 5% left of his battery would hold up and that the bear we’d heard about was just a story to scare out-of-towners, trying to hitch a ride but failing, in dress shoes no less — “oh, yeah, we’ve got an Uber… but around here, it’s called Carl…”  (see, Mara and Eddie, I told you I’d use it lol!!!)

  • Body: Tonic – Curvy Beauty
  • Head: LAQ – Sandy (Bento)
  • Eyes: Avi-Glam – Lucent Eyes, Emerald
  • Skin:  7 Deadly S[k]ins – Fionne, worn in Cashew (browless)
  • Brows:  LAQ – Brows 1
  • Makeup:  7 Deadly S[k]ins – JUICY Omega Lipsticks for LAQ 
  • Tattoo: Juna – Zhoe, at White Nights @ The Avenue
  • Nails: Encore – Shades of Pink Nail Appliers
  • Hair: Argrace – Kokoro
  • Shorts: Sweet E’s – Luau Denim Beth Shorts w/HUD (6 patterns) now available for 50% OFF at the August Fitmesh Plaza & 50% Discount Event; sizes for Tonic, Venus, Freya, Isis, eBody, Maitreya, Hourglass & Physique; incredibly cute and sassy, cut very high in back, with adorable little cut-outs with ties at the outer thighs
  • Top:  Sweet E’s – Solid Color Lacy Halter (6 color Applier for Omega, Slink, Belleza & Maitreya)
  • Shoes: {kokoia} Exclusive Designs – Kelly Clogs (10 color HUD)
  • Jewelry: Maxi Gossamer – Parisienne Love Heart, Necklace & Earrings; Chop Zuey – Bel Aire Gold Women’s Wedding Band
  • Sunglasses: Mulloy – Ticola Glasses (HUD with 16 frame options + 4 lens choices)
  • Pose: Reve Obscura – Travel Bento Pose with Mesh Suitcase
  • Location: Soul2SoulRiver – Thames River Valley

Light my fire

http://Light my fire

So this will be my last post for a week due to the family wedding I mentioned in a previous wedding. Lots of stuff going on in Real Life; it’s all good,  which is great, but it’s all a bit stressful, too, so a short break is most welcome, although it’s definitely a form of stress in and of itself. Have a great time, in and off the grid!

  • Body: Tonic – Curvy Beauty
  • Head: LAQ – Sandy (Bento)
  • Eyes: Avi-Glam – Lucent Eyes, Emerald
  • Skin:  7 Deadly S[k]ins – Merci, worn in Maple browless
  • Makeup:  7 Deadly S[k]ins – JUICY Omega Lipsticks for LAQ 
  • Tattoo: Juna – Zhoe, at White Nights @ The Avenue
  • Hair: eXxEsS – Palma
  • Lingerie: Tonic – Jardin Satin & Lace Lingerie; HUD includes 16 solids & 8 patterns for both top, bottom, & robe (not shown) with optional sheer; ONLY for Tonic bodies. Available exclusively at the MBA Fair.
  • Jewelry:  Shiny Things – Glass Chunk Earrings (extinct vendor); Chop Zuey – Bel Aire Gold Women’s Wedding Band
  • Pose:  GingerFish Poses – Moonlight and Martinis
  • Location: Mystic Timbers Photo

The Elusive Bird of Romance

http://The Elusive Bird of Romance

I’m off to a family wedding in RL this week… don’t you just love it when romance is in the air? Although not in a wedding vein, I thought this was just such a lovely little romantic look… modern, yet somehow retro at the same time. The dress is short and sassy, with enough skin to tease the imagination but without really showing anything. And it includes matching heels! Paired with the soft tresses, layered braids and floral touches of this hair by TRUTH, it just whispers “Romance me” in soft seductive tones… I can’t decide if I hear a soft sigh in the background or the strains of a romantic ballad… hmmm, why choose? 😉

Ultimate Chicken Horse?

http://Ultimate Chicken Horse

I’m a city girl, born and bred, but that doesn’t mean I don’t sometimes hear the call of the country life.  Not only that, but I will admit to actually having decent skills on horseback thanks to all those many summers as a kid.  One of the many beauties of Second Life is that I can heed that call without actually traveling, getting dirty, or setting my allergies completely crazy… and I can do so looking absolutely amazing thanks to a bunch of western-influenced styles from Mo at Moz Designs.  Hmmm, maybe I even have time to saddle up and ride off into the sunset before I need to log… course, I first need to get this chicken out of here 😉

  • Body: Tonic – Curvy Beauty
  • Head: LAQ – Sandy (Bento)
  • Eyes: Avi-Glam – Lucent Eyes, Emerald
  • Skin:  7 Deadly S[k]ins – Fionne, worn in Cashew (browless)
  • Brows:  LAQ – Brows 1
  • Makeup:  7 Deadly S[k]ins – JUICY Omega Lipsticks for LAQ
  • Tattoo: Juna – Diana (Omega, Slink, TMP, Belleza, Maitreya, Eve, Signature, Altamura)
  • Hair: TRUTH – Montana
  • Top: MOZ Designs – Fringed Leather Vest, available in 8 individual leathers & 1 Fat Pack, all with changeable buttons; sized for Tonic, Freya, Isis, eBody, Eve, Maitreya, Slink Original & Hourglass
  • Skirt: MOZ Designs – “Renata” Skirt & Ranger Buckle Belt, available in 6 individual colors/patterns, 2 Fat Packs (1 Solids, 1 Patterns), & 1 Super Pack; in Fat Packs & the Super Pack, belt can also be changed via HUD; sized for Tonic, Slink, Maitreya, Belleza, & eBody
  • Boots: MOZ Designs – Sweetwater Bonita Western Boot
  • Jewelry: RealEvil Industries – Avva Earrings, Necklace, Bracelet (with HUD); Chop Zuey – Bel Aire Gold Women’s Wedding Band
  • Location: Mystic Timbers Photo