This sh*t just got real

Here’s a fantasy. This is what I would wear if I owned a chic boutique in Paris and life was so perfect that cats and birds could hang out together without getting into an argument about Léos Carax’s latest film. In this fantasy, my outfit consists of a mesh hippie blouse from Shine by ZD and a wearable demo dress from Solita. There’s also fur from Bliss Couture, which is running a sale on fur and ruffles until December 16th. The cuffs Portia wears here come with a matching poncho.

Here’s a reality. I’ve just gone through the toughest four months of my life and things may get worse before they get better. I don’t actually cry on my knees under a table. I prefer to stand, bend over and hang upside down till the rush of blood to my head distracts me from the despair. (If I called it yoga you’d try it yourself instead of thinking I’m weird. Which I am.) When I look at the SL feeds, I occasionally come across a post from someone who has been suffering from depression, may have attempted suicide, and may feel terribly alone. One of the wonderful things about SL is the anonymity that allows us to acknowledge pain without the risks that come with real-life declarations. I keep this blog a secret from all but my closest friend, so it remains a place where I can be some of the things I am not allowed to be in my daily life. I can, for example, play with a pair of giant bübs. I can also be honest about emotional pain. I can’t claim to have caught every post SLers have written about depression and despair, but I want those who have written such posts to know that I’m grateful for your honesty. I wish you all the strength and support you need to get you through the dark periods of your lives.

Credits to creators
shine by [ZD], MESH BATWING BLOUSE Hippiestyle plum – M (ty Cecilia Blanchere!)
[solita] Fin de Semana Dress M
[UMEBOSHI] Pabu tights -Peach- (a pack available at TGGS for a couple more days; ty Keiba!)
! Bliss Fur ! Lecker Fur Sleeves (50% off)
Schadenfreude, Amargosa Boots (Nov. Collabor88)
Yummy, Boho Rings – Maroon (Nov. Collabor88)
((JUNWAVE))MIKAKO*APRICOT-BROWN*hair
Glam Affair -Renee- Sinless 02 D (at the Arcade Gacha event)
PIDIDDLE – My Special Treasures – Some Teeth I Found (at the Arcade Gacha event; ty Brutus Martinek!)
The first pose is by dfo! from the Gala fundraiser pack and the location is Cupcake. The second pose is part of the Falln furniture and the location is Contraption.

Bank robbery not required

I couldn’t find New Mexico on the grid, so I decided the wild west would have to work with the irresistible palette and creations of the Santa Fe collection at Collabor88. Last month, it seemed to me that too many items were priced at 188L and higher. This month felt more like the orgies I remember from the past because the loveliest items are priced at 88L. A girl can take home a handful of the fab furs from (fd) and a big bag of bodysuits from The Sea Hole without going broke.

Allegory Malaprop of Schadenfreude is fast becoming my fave footwear designer. This month, the lucky Collabor88 shopper—female or male—can take home the multi-part colour-change version of the new Amargosa boot for only 488L.

Credits to creators
at Collabor88
The Sea Hole – Painted Desert Bodysuit – Chamomile
The Sea Hole – Painted Desert skirt (MESH) XS – Dove
(fd) Hobo Fur – Midnight (Large)
Schadenfreude, Amargosa Boots MESH
LaGyo_Santa Fe necklace gold (colour change)
LaGyo_Santa Fe ring gold (colour change)

elsewhere
.::Mother Goose’s::.Abbey-1L
~Mynerva~GG Eyeliner, Shadow
.::Mother Goose’s::.(br)eyeline
IT GIRLS- Daph Eyeshadow -Guchi
:[P]:- Ataciara Makeups- Smudgy Shadow.
:: DUTCH TOUCH ::SjOrS:: Eyelashes Duo – Blue tips
[e] Interrupt – Brown 08 (discounted!)
WD, Steampunk Pirate Gun (old hunt gift)
Maitreya Allure Tights – Midnight
pose one: PDA
pose two: !bang (old 50L Fri gift)

location: Black Diamond Ghost Town
Hello, my name is Portia and I’m a GIMPaholic.

Stock up

Lately, Schadenfreude and Silent Sparrow have been knocking mine off. Socks, that is. Their whimsical knit stockings have been the highlight of my spring. Here, Portia wears the Summer version of Schadenfreude’s Bawdy Socks, which come in a pack of four pairs colour-keyed to the seasons. Her hair is Timeless Glamour, from Clawtooth, where the half-price sale, continuing until the 25th of April, has forced me to make some tough choices. (For instance, what time of day I will visit the shop or where I will try on the demos.) Timeless Glamour includes the black-feathered colour-change hat and black veil Portia wears here.

Silent Sparrow’s cleverly designed Starbunny Knitty Socks were the perfect Easter hunt prize. If the bunny is too cutesy for you, check out their Animal Crackers line. The exquisite lavender boots are a subscribo gift from G Field. Having looked in vain for an elegant Victorian boot, I can say with certainty that these are a godsend, not least because they are sculpted in one piece. I don’t often cam in for closeups on clothing, but these boots had me perving with the best of them.

Portia wears

stockings: Schadenfreude, Bawdy Socks in Summer and Silent Sparrow, Starbunny Knitty Socks in Iris (Starlust giant Easter egg hunt gift)

hair: Clawtooth, Timeless Glamour in Bombshell Blonde and Salty

hairpiece in pic 2: Adore & Abhor, I’m in the Will Hairpiece

boots: G Field, Short Lace-Up Boots in Lavender (subscribo gift)

skin: Belleza, Elle BL Pale Group Gift (250L join fee)

bodysuit and jacket: Je*Republic, Misty in Black (sale item)

shot in the photosphere at Markus Coen’s photo mall