Shiny Things

Going Out with a Bang

I came up with this style as I was searching for a look for a bonfire party. I know it's not November yet, but I like an excuse to start burning things early in the year.

O'Lantern is a recent Lookr release that's simply fun to wear. Whether it's in the run up to Halloween or long after, this oddly expressive character tshirt is a great addition to your wardrobe. It sits nicely beneath this open shirt from a Barerose set; the plaid texture makes this fairly traditional, easy wear and the wide roll-up cuffs add a little extra flare. The prims are a bit of an odd fit, but with some stretching, twisting and turning you can achieve a reasonable result.

The jeans are from Aitui, very low-rise with forced creases on the thighs and a bronzed zipper on the right side. The inside of the legs have a double-line of stitched seaming and you'll find the maker's label above the back pockets.

The belt has a sharper detailing than the rest of the outfit, drawing the eye slightly. Still, I like the quality you find from Kalnins, and this simple and classic style is one that would work equally well in a more formal setting. To give you a bit more for your money, it's scripted to colour change (and the shades are very nice) and there's even a shine option if you want a bit more bling on your hips.

The trainers by SOREAL are very high res: Adam tells me they're made at a higher res than SL actually allows on clothing textures. Prim textures tend to look best when blurred to match the rest of the mesh, but you really can't knock SOREAL for good textures. If the shine isn't enough to persuade you, be swayed by the fact that these are completely sculpted and very well put together. You can't really go wrong if you're looking for current casual shoes.

Accessories come by way of scarf and cuff. You can take pretty much anything from your Summer wardrobe and prep it for Autumn with a scarf, and there is such a range on the grid at the moment that you'll find yourself spoilt for choice. Aitui's contribution is this lightly patterned muffler which wraps once around the neck, with thick, tasseled ends resting to the front. If you want a scarf that doesn't envelop the rest of your outfit, this is the perfect choice: short and snug.

The cuff from Shiny Things is festooned with hand-painted beads, strings and rings. It has an ethnic feel to it, an artistic piece to adorn your wrist with on those days where you'd rather not be tied to your watch.

To finish, I'd like to credit the hair. There's something about a messy style that I can't resist, and this medium length wig from Junwave is just the ticket. I love the deliberate arrangement: the hair is a good length all over, spiking out to the sides and back. A section has been swept over to the top, with a barely parted fringe to the front leaving these piercing blue eyes from MADesigns to shine through.

Outfit:

Scarf: Aitui, Double Wrap Muffler Scarf, Plain - Pea
Overshirt: BareRose, Naoya - Black
Tshirt: Lookr, O'Lantern - Black
Belt: Kalnins, Belt - Elegance
Jeans: Aitui, Tokyo Jeans, Ultra Low Rise - Medium Wash
Shoes: Soreal, City Steps Sneakers (SSN001) - Black
Cuff: Shiny Things, Belou Cuff - Black

Body:

Hair: Junwave, Masaki - Brown
Eyes: MADesigns, Eyes Exposed - Love
Skin: Belleza, Ewan - Med 7
Pose: Cns Poses, Male Model s1 - Standing 006b

Comments: 0

Tagged: Aitui, BareRose, Belleza, CnS, For your Second Life, Lookr, MADesigns, Mens Fashion, Shiny Things, SOREAL

Contemplating Autumn

Do you ever fall in love with pieces and cling on to their memory, desperate to find a means of justifying the purchase?

Happens to me all the time.

The first time I saw this hair, I took a demo and waited, hoping to find a look that would work with it. It's not that the hair's expensive, but there are only a few colour choices and it's not the kind of style that will go with everything. When I fashioned an outfit that suited both colour and style, I wasted no time in making my purchase and am extremely happy with the results.

This flyaway do is so light and fluffy it has to be kept in check by a colour change band across the top. In contrast to the wild volume elsewhere, a softly sloping fringe works down to cover the eyes, bringing a skewed sense of order to the style.

The outfit starts with a tunic from Kurotsubaki. It comes as part of a set and has a couple of length options, as well as matching shorts. Kurotsubaki also stock a number of pretty skirts, and when I saw the colours of this one I really couldn't resist. I love the patchwork feel, with different tones and textures mingling together to produce shifting patterns with every movement.

Safari by Lookr is the lower layer I'm wearing. The print is partcularly eyecatching, and even when part of the design is hidden away, it definitely adds to the outfit where a plain camisole may have fallen flat.

The necklace is an old favourite from Shiny Things. Fallingwater Cellardoor offers some lovely trinkets in addition to her shoes, from simple pieces like this to far more intricate designs. This double line of beads and metal rings lies close to the neck without too much drop, making it an understated piece just perfect for accessorising all number of casual outfits.

I added bangles from Boon and Uzuri. The Boon style is chunky wooden rings, from a set that offers a few textures and colour change script to give you a lot of options for just a few Lindens. Uzuri offers a more delicate bangle, slices of gold-wired wood linked around the wrist. They contrast quite nicely with one another.

The boots are an old favourite from Maitreya. I can't remember when these first came out, but it was a good while ago - despite this they still look great and are easily comparable to many new release styles. The mid-calf height is great for skirts like the one I'm wearing, but these also sit well over or under trousers. The suede texturing and side buckle are nice details, although these are really made unique by the the stiff ruffle on the calf.

I shouldn't neglect to mention the skin from Iki Ikarus's FoResT line. I went with the red smoked eyeshadow and bold liner. The face is very pretty, softly done with shimmering, slighly parted lips. The detail on the body isn't overpowering, but there's enough there to make the right suggestions with regards to a well toned figure. While I've had to crop them from the close up in favour of showing the face, one of my favourite features is actually the fingernails. They're so nicely done that it removes the need for applying manicures if you're happy with a bright-tipped french polish. Since that's usually my preference, this sits just right with me.

Finally I'd like to credit the pose from ImpEle. While the store isn't vast, there are a range of poses available, from the unusual prop-related stills to standard fashion fare at a price you'll be hard-pressed to beat. Sai Pennell also offers freebie AOs packed with simple poses. Her store is a great place to shop for yourself and to point out to newbies and poverty-stricken alts.

Outfit:

Vest: Kurotsubaki, Asian Tunic - Brown
Top: Lookr, Safari - White
Skirt: Kurotsubaki, Boro Skirt - Long
Boots: Maitreya, Bloom Boots - Brown
Necklace: Shiny Things, Tuesday Necklace - Brown
Bangles: Boon, Round Bangle - Woody (L), Uzuri, Porini Bracelet (R)

Body:

Hair: Hair Oh, Oh My Ramen - B
Eyes: SLB, July'09 - Hazel c
Eyelashes: Beauty Avatar, Regina Eyelashes 03
Skin: Dutch Touch, FoResT - Powder, Rust
Pose: ImpEle, Allure - 12

Comments: 0

Tagged: Beauty Avatar, Boon, Dutch Touch, For your Second Life, Hair Oh, ImpEle, Kurotsubaki, Lookr, Maitreya, Shiny Things, SLB, Uzuri, Womens Fashion

Why, wouldn't you?

This jacket from Grasp demanded blogging, and while it's available for both men and women, Adam beat me to it this time. I have to say that my personal preference for coats is that they use the jacket layer and then prims to detail: this one doesn't disappoint, offering some very well made sculpted parts. The prims fit neatly without the need for editing, and there are plenty of sculpted embellishments. "Nothing a texture wouldn't sort," Adam said when inspecting the many sculpties used to create a button, "but kudos for the effort". Close examination shows that even the zips on the arms have their own sculpties, and while it seems there is quite a lot of photosourcing, there are some nice details like the hand stitching on the neck. A lot of effort went into this one.

The tshirt is iSpy from Lookr. I'll admit my designs are eclectic, but I often run with an animal theme. This one was inspired by our dog making eyes at me when I refused to share a snack with her. I think I managed to capture something of that woeful longing in her eye: wear it enough and you may find people start to pass you gifts out of some unplaceable sense of guilt.

A trip to LikeA produced these grungy jeans, which really won Adam over. They have an interesting colouration at the top that's seldom seen in SL. Using it here makes the jeans more unique, and a worthy addition to your wardrobe even if you already own your fair share of denim. The cuffs have a good slouch to them and are scripted for easy resizing. The only downside with that is the cuffs are no-modify so tinting is impossible. With most standard sky settings they render fine, but unusual lighting may give a sharper contrast.

The neckchain is also from Grasp and shows the same level of care and thought as the jacket. Because the tags are done in the same style as the jacket buttons, there's a certain amount of harmony in this outfit's design, which rounds the whole thing off nicely.

Belleza came up trumps with this skin. I can't resist the handsome smile, the perfectly hewn body, and that fine sprinkling of stubble that somehow jellifies my feeble female form. Rest assured that my love of the Belleza's ladies lines is completely irrelevant here. Notice how I didn't even mention the fact that I can shop in the opposite room while my better half peruses the latest in manly tans? I hope you noticed. I wouldn't want you to have me down as a self-centred skinaholic.

Moving swiftly on to the finale, this hair is another great style by MADesign. The sculpts give their dos an edge and charm that's easy to appreciate, proving to the sceptics that while there is generally a lot less choice in men's hair on the grid, there are some fantastic designers out there doing it for the boys.

Outfit:

Jacket: Grasp, Leather Biker Jacket - Brown (Mens)
Tshirt: Lookr, iSpy - White (M)
Trousers: LikeA : DP#01 - Black
Jewellery: Grasp, Dog Tag (Mens)
Shoes: Shiny Things, Old Boots - Hard Black

Body:

Hair: MADesigns, Jeremy - DB II
Eyes: MADesigns, Eyes Exposed - Love
Skin: Belleza, Ewan - Med 7
Pose: Cns Poses, Male Model s1 - Standing 001b

Comments: 0

Tagged: Belleza, CnS, For your Second Life, Grasp, LikeA, MADesigns, Mens Fashion, Shiny Things

Urban Princess

It's not usual for a pair of eyes to give me an idea for a styling, but these beauties from Curio did just that. The tragic eyes do have a certain melancholy about them and are exceptionally realistic, even in the larger sizes. These bewitching eyes come in over 30 colours with the option to go prim or normal, with shine and no shine versions. With so many to choose from, you're pretty darn likely to find the perfect pair for your avie.

This skin from Lion suited perfectly. The pale complexion is smattered with freckles, styled with dramatic eyeliner and just the right amount of flush across the cheeks. I am also a big fan of Cana's perfectly preened eyebrows, here in a slightly ruddy tone which would work well with a range of hair colours. The detailing on the body is minimal compared to some other skins on the market, but if you prefer the subtleties or are more interested in the face than how you look naked, Cana is a good option.

I'm wearing a skirt from Oyakin, which comes from a pack of four, each with a slightly different colouration. I was very impressed with the sheer effect of the texture, which does feel very floaty, and in this colour gave me a Cinderella appeal. The prims are quite flappy and do fly to the back when you walk, but the prim pants will at least protect your modesty.

I also put on Lookr's Blooded strappy in white, which gives a plain base with a splash of colour, largely concealed by this over-shoulder cardi from Coco. I don't know why we don't see more "clothes to wear as accessories", but I adore them and would love to see more. Effortless chic that can be dressed up or down to suit: what could be better? This took almost no fitting and doesn't cut through the body when walking, making it an immediate favourite in my wardrobe.

As I needed a tiara, I was in no doubt that the accessories should come from Alienbear Deisgns. The Costa Rica Set I'm wearing is one of Alienbear's older pieces, but even if you go back a while her primwork is no less impressive. Lavishly set with teardrop gemstones, everything from the criss-cross chain down to the end of each pendant is crafted with the greatest care and attention.

As a final note, the shoes are Plainers from Shiny Things. These heeled mules are very minimal, detailed with a front strap that provides a cutout section on either side for some added interest. The simplicity provides great versatility, making these the kind of shoes you can slip on whether you're dressing up or down.

Outfit:

Top: Lookr, Blooded - White (F)
Skirt: Oyakin, Chifon Skirt - White 1
Shoes: Shiny Things, Plainers - Silver
Cardigan: Coco, Cardigan on Shoulder - White (Tinted)
Jewellery: Alienbear Design, Miss SL Costa Rica Set - Volcano

Body:

Hair: ETD, Marisella 2 - Tawny Black
Eyes: Curio, Tragic Eyes - Dark Brown, Shine (Small)
Nails: Candy Nail, PO37 Shine Silver
Skin: Lion Skins, Cana Special 1
Pose: s2cool, Pose34-40

Comments: 0

Tagged: Alienbear Design, Candy Nail, Coco, Curio, ETD, For your Second Life, Lion Skins, Oyakin, Shiny Things, Womens Fashion

Feeling Zen

I found an extra room at Zaara that I had somehow completely missed before. I am fairly sure it's because I'm usually on some mission or other when I'm shopping, blinkering me to a select few objects to acquire. I find these missions are imperative to financial stability, to ensure I don't arrive back home with a credit card receipt long enough to mummify a small elephant.

In any case, it was something of a revelation to discover that one can also buy mens clothing at Zaara (although possibly not to some other fashionistas in Second Life). Keen to absolve my oversight, I teleported Adam directly and we soon returned home to inspect the relative newness.

The open shirt is very nicely done, loosely tailored with patterned blocks all over. Toggles are sewn to the left front, while the right side is piped with a chevron pattern. Of interest, the flare on the shirt is achieved by a flexi prim rather than a sculptie, which gives it some extra flow when moving.

Lookr's Pagoda tshirt went nicely here, tucking into the top of the chinos, also from Zaara. Adam commented that he would have liked a longer option for the trousers too, but as they are the prims are well-textured and blend beautifully, creating a rolled up, by the water feel.

While we all love our clothing, I think it's fair to say that a skin makes the avatar, and this one from Belleza is a particular favourite. Tricky Boucher is one of the few people who have stuck to just one area, but as a result he excels in his creations, offering skins you either want to wear or be held up against. Adam tells me there are plenty of options with all the mens lines, this one including the all important hairbase in each pack.

Despite our British heritage, we carefully refrained from using socks in this photoshoot. Shiny Things' striped Oxfords provided a nice alternative to sandals: they're a versatile shoe that work with a range of styles, including this more casual feel.

Hair is from MADesigns. This mid-length style is centre-parted with hair at various lengths to create a layered appearance. MADesigns tend to focus on shorter dos as a rule, but despite that established preference, you should definitely consider some of the longer styles which are well-constructed and fully modifiable if you did want to made some small changes.

Outfit:

Jacket: Zaara, Nalin Summer Shirts - Brown
Tshirt: Lookr, Pagoda - White (M)
Trousers: Zaara : Chinos - Espresso
Shoes: Shiny Things, Striped Oxfords - Brown

Body:

Hair: MADesigns, Mark - DB II
Eyes: Avalon Design, Unique - Deep-Blue
Skin: Belleza, Ewan - Med 7
Pose: Vista Animations, VAMM18A

Comments: 0

Tagged: Avalon Design, Belleza, Casual, For your Second Life, MADesigns, Mens Fashion, Shiny Things, Vista Animations, Zaara