Blending in

I decided that I should do some work on accepting the inevitability of winter and snow. This involved dressing Anorak so that she blended into the beautiful landscape and cute cottage on the BCC sim. Please click on the tiny first pic to see one of the adorable new mesh capes from BCC. It’s a steal at 110L. (Even better, one of the capes is set for half price.) Portia’s dress belongs to the Rad avatar offered this past Lazy Sunday at The Plastik. In addition to the lavender and peach dress, the 75L set includes boots, arm-warmers, an elven skin and ears. Aikea Reiko often leaves her Lazy Sunday items out for a few days, so you might still be able to score this one. There’s also a set with a darker palette.

If you haven’t been hunting this month you can’t really call yourself an SL fashion fiend. Anorak’s VR jewellery set, a PMHH gift, is customizable via a comprehensive HUD. I really like the look of the extra-long necklace. Do note that the jewels glows in the dark, so they’re not ideal for nightlife.

Credits to creators
: ) BCC . bambino Cape Gray L (NEW)
:[Plastik]:- Aeris Dress [S]:// Rad (last Lazy Sunday)
VR Jewellery, Long Line02(L) necklace earrings and bracelets (Pimp My Hunters Hunt item)
:::LiNe::: FrillFrill/White (on sale for 49L)
MichaMi: Nina Capris in Steel
{K}Rea Sequined Leggings White (store is closed)
-LaViere- momo/White (free wearable demo)
-tb- Arctic Frost (blonde brows) with -tb- Dark Freckles (not available)
Cheap Makeup, Lashes (Babs) 8
pose one: The Muse Poses, from the Tyche pack (NEW; ty Audrey Cresci!)
location: BCC (thanks to Loco for showing off the sim)

Mod in orbit

Fashion is a cruel mistress. Space fashion is crueler still. Send your av into orbit to model Picnic’s suede outfit for DUnltd19, and the pale colors show all the vomit induced by Art Dummy’s fabulous pose-chair. (Good thing my free emoter was stuck on an appropriate expression.) The mod-in-space theme at DUnltd19 mines a style that I love, but it’s a “white” style on more than one level. So I picked up Tres Blah’s darkest skin to mess with the icon of the Nordic space-blonde. And then I figured the African-inspired shoes from Paper Couture would throw a matching wrench into the ensemble.

You might be wondering how I managed to swing all three swagtastic items on my limited budget. Last week, I broke open my Rupert Giles piggy bank. And then I broke into yours. I’m experimenting with having more money in my virtual pocket, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have to make choices, and it certainly doesn’t mean I don’t go into sticker shock. There are gobsmack stains all over my white catsuit, which is one more reason to always wear black.

Remember that DUnltd19 ends this Sunday.

Credits to creators
outfit: Picnic, 60′s Strawberry Star Perfect Set [helmet stretched to fit Portia's melonhead] (DUnltd19 item)
shoes: Paper Couture, Suede Platform Pumps Wrapped Jima
skin: Tres Blah, Dark Space Mod Dark Winged Brows (DUnltd19 item)
hair: eha, Rin Sienna
chair and window: Art Dummy, Propelled set
studio: Gauged, Photo Studio 1

Orange coda

It’s like I can’t help myself when it comes to orange. Or, it’s like this cracked doll skin from F’d Up fascinates me. And it’s like these exclusive-colour shoes, which I waited so long to win at G Field’s petit pas mall store, are perfect.

Credits to creators
leggings: Veneno, Jellyfish Tights Orange (promo copy)
top: Pig, part of Hortensia Bikini Quartz
skin: F’d Up, Lauren (Smashed) Broken (NSA Hunt gift)
makeup: Dutch Touch, Yri Caramel Metallic Copper Lips (part of VIP gift)
shoes: G Field, Sophie Autumn Leaf (petit pas LB only)
glasses: Adjunct, Marrakesh Glasses
hair: A.M.K.R, *R* Axel 02 Orange (old freebie)
eyes: Tres Blah, Arctic Eyes (nla)
socks: Sn@tch, Lolli Sock Ruffle Melon
pose: chicadabynilGiha, Metamorphos set (DUnltd19, at the Slow sim, only till the 26th)

Let’s talk about money

This morning Portia and I had an epic pout because she had nothing to wear. Even a quick peek at my inventory, which hit 20,000 items the other day, will reveal that there is plenty of great stuff in there to wear and to show off in this blog. I soon realized that what was actually bumming me out was having only $148L, not enough to buy something special, not, that is, until Friday when I get paid. Sigh thrash sigh thrash. I put myself on a tight budget for SL, $2,000L a week. Sometimes, incredibly, I have money left over. Other times, I buy a skin and a pair of nice shoes and then decide that my budget is so low that I can afford to buy another $1,000L to tide me over. But not today. Today I told myself Portia would have to lie on the bed I had made.

Compared to RL, in which I cannot afford a pair of shoes that even remotely approaches the beauty (or height) of SLink’s Aveela or Maitreya’s Allure, SL is dirt cheap. And chock full of delightful freebies from creators who are, I imagine, inspired to make and to share, but also required to participate in this type of promotion as the price of doing business. (/me sends out giant ball of awe and gratitude to creators.) For someone like me, who hates stuff and is genuinely alarmed by the amount of garbage human beings are generating, the possibility of owning beautiful things that don’t take up space and won’t litter the globe is a dream come true. So why do I limit myself to a weekly budget of about half the price of a movie ticket? And why do I do it when I live in a town that only shows movies so mainstream that I rarely see any? I don’t know the answer to these questions. I estimate that a hundred experiential and psychological factors play into my SL financial decisions. But the dominant feeling of not knowing how much is too much depends in part on the fact that players don’t talk openly about money. I remember that my real life was suddenly much easier to live when someone told me that I should spend a third of my income on rent, unless I wanted to live in a top city, which meant spending closer to half. Where’s that kind of wisdom in SL? And what will it cost me?

Credits to creators
outfit: Nomine, elements from Slip Gown Black (ZombiePopcorn Hunt #59)
necklace: HoD, Fallen Necklace (female and male versions worn)
hair: Kik, Kate03(black) (2000 members subo)
heels: SLink, Aveela Stiletto Herringbone (current TDR Blue item)
bag: LeLutka, No Heart Bag (old gg)
locations: Maven Haus for sulking and Sinners Heaven for skulking

Blurring

Today I wanted to shoot RunoRuno’s Blur freebies, which I haven’t seen in the feeds. It took me eons to find them on the ground next to her big bed, partly because it took me ages to find the bed, which is shrouded in a fog. I typed “white” into my inventory to accessorize, ultimately deciding that the big Govil necklace I’d seen around was a must-have. (I also typed in “silver” and “grey” so I could do more monochrome looks. You colour-lovers will simply have to endure.) I love the slight transparency of the RunoRuno bodysuit. That’s an indirect way of saying that Anorak’s bewbs look awesome in this slyly sexy silver unitard. For added texture, I overlayered the bodysuit with the matching asymmetric TeeTee that I picked up months ago at the creator’s shop.

Fearing that RunoRuno’s all-particle Blur Dress would make my computer cough up a hairball, I used just the sleeves to give the outfit a bit of couture whimsy. (Think Audrey Hepburn at the Louvre in Funny Face. And then think slacker.)  Again, I have to add the disclaimer that this is not an adequate representation of Blur. This is what my computer would let me have. The sim is magical because it is so so very very blurred into softness. My computer’s version is closer to Russian Constructivism summarily drained of colour.

Credits to creators
bodysuit: RunoRuno, Blur Body Suit (freebie at Blur)
overlayer and gloves: RunoRuno, part of TeeTee (freebie at shop)
particle sleeves: RunoRuno, Blur Dress (freebie at Blur)
necklace: Govil, Pearl Flower Necklace White (LB or 150L, comes with bracelet)
hair: Govil, Hair No5 Black Gift (gg)
skin: Tres Blah, Dashing Blur Makeup (exclusive to Blur)
socks: o*m, Socks-White (freebie 6 pack of colours)
shoes: fri.day, Basic Flats White (Sunny free.stuff) (freebie from Sunny sim cafe)
poses: SLC, ZHAO-II MB2.0.17 / la femme AO SLC(LE.Look)

Until somebody loses an eye

One can make a gothic romper, but can one make a goth romp? Although we can’t claim our study was scientific, we did discover that when dressed in Rotten Toe’s Old Rose Romper, Anorak Offtherack was in no way inclined to frisk about like a lamb. In fact, she was so put out by the suggestion that she have fun, that…

…she pulled out a box of tacks and tried to put out her own eye. Good thing she was wasted or she might have hit her target. “Oh yes, it’s all fun and games,” she shrieked, “until Pleisure loses a model!” For our part, we think that Anorak looks adorable, and that six weeks in rehab will have her romping like a pro.

Credits to creators
all-in-one: Rotten Toe, Old Rose Romper
skin: Tres Blah, Dashing Blur Makeup (500L only at Blur)
tattoo: Para Designs, Lush Medium (Addiction Hunt gift)
shape: BG by AE, Odette (Free*Style pay what you wish)
eyes: Glam Affair, Stella Eyes n4
hair: Eha, Opening Gift Black (old subo gg)
gloves: Viva Glam, Brody Gloves Deep Gray
shoes: Kookie, Powder Puff Cloud
socks: I Love 13, part of Pierrot Dress Stone
tacks: I Love 13, Nailed Eye (freebie)

Taking flight

Portia heard that I’m going to Berlin and thinks she’s meeting me there. Awkward.

The really annoying thing? She looks so much cooler than I ever will. Check out the Pleisure Flickr page for a closeup shot of Lamb’s new hair. The detail is delicious.

Pleisure will be back in a couple of weeks.

Credits to creators
jacket: Mimikri, part of Thrill Olive
top: Tres Blah, Romantic Chemise Beige (Tableau Summer Festival)
leggings: Tee*fy, Cirque Lemon (Tic Tac Toe Summer Festival)
hair: Lamb, Sleepyhead Mango (Tableau Summer Festival)
skin: Mango, Mango, Sileny’s 3rd Rezday Gift (subo)
shoes: Kookie, The Dressing Room Icecream City Wedges (TDR item)
transportation: Balloon (freebie at Tic Tac Toe Summer Festival)

Graphics

I am not a fan of slogan t-shirts (although I do like the one that says “I’m Not with Stupid Anymore,” because it’s a perfect reflection of the times we live in). But I had to have blacklisted’s Dyke shirt, which was part of Project Themeory’s 1950s edition. It’s a brilliant play on Ike, the guy everyone had to like. (Where else but SL, and isolated parts of San Francisco, can you walk around with the word dyke emblazoned across your chest without asking for a whole lot of trouble?) I am also not a fan of rubber booties, in SL especially, but this black-and-white pair—from L&H’s (Lucky Board) Moo outfit—is beautifully sculpted and sized, and, happily, looks more giraffey than cowish.

I am not a fan of the 3-D film craze. The last thing we need is another technological marvel (cum dumb invention) to distract us from bad story-telling and even worse ideology. But I do admire the wit and simplicity of mijn.t’s homage to 3-D, another Project Themeory item that came complete with oversize blue-and-red glasses. Just between you and me, I am also not a fan of Truth Hawks’ hair, and yet I like the asymmetric bob from the new library, perhaps because it is less hairy than most Truth styles.

I am a big fan of this pay-what-you-want shape, Little Miss Quirk, which Freestyle Adamski contributed to Free*Style. The body is beautifully proportioned, youthful but curvy, and the face is versatile, as you can see from the different skins worn below (Roja at left and Sayuri at right). A&A’s Ily t-shirt gives Miss. Q. a warm welcome to the blog: that little girl’s limbs go all the way around the tee in a big rubbery-armed hug. Usually, I am not a fan of sentimental or cutesy graphics, but…. /me shuts up now

Credits to creators

All photos
shape: Free*Style, Little Miss Quirk (pay what you want)
hair: Truth Hawks for the Linden library, Asymmetric Bob
eyes: Umedama Holic, Frozen Eye Gift 07-M-Type:B (Red Packet Hunt gift)
necklace: booN, Free Silver Necklace for Updates Group (on the wall in the store)

Look one
shirt: blacklisted, Rumble (slate) by TG Shirt/2a (old Project Themeory item)
shorts: pop*feel, Short Pants in Black (part of current group gift in store)
skin: Mother Goose, Roja skin 02 (Red Packet Hunt gift)
socks: Pig, Socks mit Suspenders in White
boots: L&H, part of Moo Outfit (Lucky Board)

Look two
dress: mijn.t, I’m Geek Chic (old Project Themeory item)
skin: Tuli, Sayuri tone 2 VIP group special (a)
socks: Pig, Socks mit Suspenders in White
shoes: Nardcotix, Curvy Ruby Slipper

Look three
shirt: Adore and Abhor, Ily Tee Pink Shirt Day (subscribo gift)
skirt and socks: Scribble, Iris outfit (old 50L Friday item)
skin: Tres Blah, Arctic Frost (no longer available)
shoes: Nardcotix, Curvy T-strap Mary Jane in Black

posebox: Diesel Works, PolyWall

Whiteblooded

A photo as artful as this one could only be the unanticipated consequence of the luck we call dumb. As with any successful cooking experiment, however, it helps to work with good ingredients. Here, Ghost’s White Blood outfit, which comes with three different smokey skirts, a collar, and smokey leggings, is our wild salmon.

Imabee’s Vivian Couldn’t Sleep skin and LeLutka’s Isha hair (in Almost Goth) could be a spice crust and lime-orange salsa.

The White Blood system skirt reminds me of a bed of spinach. Kookie’s Athena boots in Silver conjure up spicey cornbread.

Alternatively, we might see MyUglydorothy’s Ugly06 skin as a maple sauce and LeLutka’s Isha hair in Opal as wild rice.

Salmon in champagne sauce. I discovered it at a favourite restaurant in New York. Ghost’s third skirt could be that creamy frothy wonder, but less embarrassing to order.

Portia wears

outfit: Ghost, White Blood

boots: Kookie, Athena Boots in Silver

black leggings worn underneath: Sassy Kitty, Pinstripe Overall in Black (group gift)

hair: LeLutka, Isha in Almost Goth, Opal and Metal (fatpack group gift)

skins: Imabee, Vivian Couldn’t Sleep (group gift) in pics 1 and 2; MyUglydorothy, Ugly06 (Lucky Board) pics 3 and 4; Tres Blah, Arctic Frost (Melt exclusive no longer available) in pic 5

gloves: Glam Affair, gloves from Gwen dress in pics 3 and 4; Viva Glam, Brody Gloves in Deep Gray in pic 5

location: Photosphere at Markus Coen’s Photo Mall

Bunny vs. bunny

Anorak brings the cute to the Twelfth Annual Bunny Beauty Contest, pairing a leotard by Scribble with one of six pairs of socks from Silent Sparrow’s Starlust hunt gift. She tries to give her look an edge by adding Medley’s tattoo of a “hand gun” shooting hearts, but the French judge dismisses it as trashy.

Portia may have come into this contest too confident. Although the egg-adorned ears from Astraia show creativity, she needs to lighten up her makeup and her mood if she wants to shine as brightly as her Izzie’s bodysuit.

Loica takes a risk with her Xtreme Desires Playboy bunny outfit. But the judges are so impressed by her energy that they allow it. She does lose points, however, for the wardrobe malfunction that reveals the A&M Bunny Tape under her bustier.

Anorak wears

leotard: Scribble, Acrobat Leotard Falcon in White (old Stumblebum exclusive)

socks: Silent Sparrow, Starbunny Knitty Socks in Peony (Starlust giant Easter egg hunt item)

tattoo: Medley, Hand Gun—Hearts (Starlust giant Easter egg hunt item)

ears: Izzie’s, Bunny Ears in Pink (in-store hunt gift)

scut: Izzie’s, Bunny Scut (in-store hunt gift)

hair: Kik, Lyla in Coffee

skin: Tres Blah, Gotta Be Me Skin (last week’s Stumblebum exclusive)

Portia wears

lingerie: Izzie’s, Body Suit in White (in-store hunt gift)

stockings: Blacklace, Laced Obsession Black Satin and White Lace (part of subscribo join gift)

ears: Astraia, Easter Bunny Ears (Spring Bazaar freebie)

skin: Vive9, Carrot in Toffee / LiquidCherries

hair: DP yumyum, barberyumyum 17 in Black

Loica wears:

outfit: Xtreme Desires, Playboy Bunny outfit (old freebie)

ears: Izzie’s, Bunny Ears in Black (in-store hunt gift)

pasties: Acid & Mala, Easter Pasties Bunny Tape (group gift)

skin: Dutch Touch, Maan in Cocoa (Valentine’s day gift)

hair: Gurl6, Olivia in BlackSilver