Same Damn Thing?

I didn't think I would do it, I had heard about the "Same Damn Thing" Blogger challenge, and I am not really a blogger of any consequence, so I figured no one would notice if I participated or not. That, coupled with the fact that I was certain I didn't actually own the shirt in question, the {Gisaci} Cambridge Shirt, and I am still on my 'no shopping' debt reduction diet, I figured I was going to be sitting this one out. But when I logged tonight, I decided for the heck of it, search my inventory for "Cambridge", and lo and behold, there it was. I had forgotten buying it, I last visited Armidi with my sister Anessa when she stuffed a wad of bills in my hands and said, "buy something, it'll make you happy!". And so I did, so she would stop pestering me with teleports to Armidi.



What was intriguing to me about this challenge is that what it all comes down to is diversity. We can all blog the same thing, and we can all make it look like it is our own. I am not saying that people want to see every fashion blog on the feed displaying the same item, but rather even if it happens by coincidence that several people can wear the same item and make it look fresh and different. I am no stylist, I have no training other then years of reading fashion magazines and at best an eye for putting a look together for myself. This is how I felt like wearing my shirt, and I think it is pretty in line with any other look I have crafted over time.



I guess I am now waiting for the SL Secret over on Shopping Cart Disco taking a stab at those of us who participated in Achariya's challenge, and I am prepared to take the hit. When I started blogging, it was not for an audience, I didn't even know the feed existed till weeks later, and I wasn't on the feed for a few months after that. It was a journal about my own virtual wardrobe, and it was frankly a way to justify the massive amount of money I was spending building my inventory into the monster it now is. That doesn't mean I am not fully aware that people read my blog on occasion, or that I don't feel a certain sense of responsibility for representing things honestly and accurately. It means that even though my blog may be consumed by a few other individuals, it does not mean I have given over the right to decide how I use it, what I use it for, and it does not excuse me from owning the content I post. I have opened myself up a bit by allowing people into my hectic life, I share things about myself, and that is the risk you take when you put yourself out there for others to see. But it does not give other people the right to be cruel or rude, or dictate how I spend my time. And so if I choose to blog entirely discontinued items, or previously blogged freebies, or items that are considered out of fashion, then I will be the one to take responsibility for the way I am perceived thereafter.



I guess the only "Same Damn Thing" I will see on the feeds from this point on is a lot of individuals, using their own time to do something that gives them pleasure in a manner that does not infringe upon the rights of others in any way. A worthwhile lesson I hope everyone has the good sense, humility, decency, and humanity to accept.

Shopping Details:
Shirt - {Gisaci}, Cambridge Cuffed Shirt - Aufren Black
Belt - caLLie cLine, fat belt - blood red 1
Pants - :: DUTCH TOUCH ::, Jeans Low Waist Skinny Light
Boots - - TESLA -, Hylda Boot *Scarlet*
Necklace - Cat's Eye, Beads Necklace [Freebie]
Cuff - ETD, Leather Ring Wristband (Crimson)
Ring - Caroline's Jewelry, Gimcrack Diamond Solitaire Ring
Hair - PE, Pyxis Jet Black
Skin - /artilleri/, Emi skin - Soft Sunkiss - Masumi
Lashes - Cake, Separated Lashes - Tintable
Eyes - Freak Fantasia, Glassy Mustard Green

Happy 2nd Birthday PIN UPS!

Well it looks like the Bunny Blogger fun continues, and since I am still deciding what to wear to PIN UPS 2 Year Anniversary Event tonight, I figured it was time for some Retro Bunneh! I am having a blast with my *DP*yumyum* Story of a Bunny avatar. Greatly inspired by Achariya, I decided to go Retro this time.



I picked out some of my favorites for my Retro bunny, going with the Peek-A-Boo Cha Cha Cha Dress in Red from Ingenue, such a fabulous bright and fun frock. The wig is also from Ingenue, the first I ever purchased from Betty Doyle when she had a little booth in the upper gallery of PIN UPS early on. The Grable is just such a classic style, the blue black sheen and texture are perfection. I paired it all with my absolute favorite pumps, the Maitreya Enchants in Antie's Black, named for the queen of Rockabilly Fashion in-world, the amazing Antonia Marat of /artilleri/.



I hope to see you all out in your Retro best at PIN UPS Night Club tonight from 7-10PM SLT. It is going to be quite a bash. DJ Draco Tatsu and myself will be spinning a set that takes us through the best of Rockabilly, 50s', 60s', 70s', Disco, and 80s'. We are having a best with a Retro costume contest which means you can wear any Era you dare and party with us. A minimum of $1000 LaLas go to best guy, gal, and staffer in costume. With big sploders, some trivia, great music, and a relaxed attitude, you can't help but have a great time! See you there!



Shopping Details:
Hair - Ingenue, The Grable (Black)
Dress - Ingenue, Peek-A-Boo! Cha Cha Cha Style - Red
Shoes - Maitreya, Enchant Antie's - Black
Bunny Avatar: CSR Winter 2008, CSR:DP*yumyum*stoory of a bunny:gray(BOX)[CSR Winter 2008 Campaign Ended Jan. 18/09]

Gonna Be Some Bunny's Baby

Well it looks like it is Bunny Blogger Day today, so why not add a little more fur to the feeds. Rabbits tend to reproduce rapidly so I have heard. With my shopping diet well over two months in progress, I was generously gifted CSR cards by friends Dove Swanson and Ana Lutetia, and the very first gift I chose was the *DP*yumyum* Story of a Bunny avatar. It is just too adorable, and watching Achariya show it off so spectacularly over the last few weeks made it a must have. I wanted to have some fun in-world again, and there is nothing more giggle inducing then a silly avatar and a group of friends to laugh about it with.



But my bunny is doing a happy dance, and with very good reason. The Heart of Love fundraiser for Shir Dryke hit it's goal of $700,000 LaLas today, and there is nothing more wonderful and joy inspiring then knowing that a very special persons is going to get some much needed health care. But more then that, it speaks to just how much we as a community can accomplish in a really short time. I am overjoyed for Shir and her family and friends, and I am proud of each and every person who donated even a single LaLa to the fund.



I decided to dress my bunny in one of the adorable Heart Of Love t-shirts from Surf Co., one of the many items I picked up in my "off diet" binge for the charity. I got the fat-pack, and since we are having a Best in Yellow contest at PIN UPS tonight, it was the natural choice. I just felt my bunny needed a baggy pair of shorts, and I adore these Hot Pink Dongipani Shorts from Differ*nt, a shop that has unfortunately disappeared from the grid. I loved the idea of hi-top chucks on my bunny, so my MK Fashion Super Sneaks Platforms were the natural choice, they are cartoonish, and are amazingly versatile with a touch script to change the shoe colour in a flash. I added a cute touch with this *i-Candy* Strawberry Necklace in Blue, just for a touch of whimsy, and it is a sweet accessory to be sure. My only other added "Ketsy Bunny" touch was the wig, the Oxygen hair in Steel from The Abyss, which has always been one of my favorites in the sexy and cute variety.

Shopping Details:
Shirt: Surf Co., [SC] HoL Fundraiser Tee Top - Yellow
Shorts: D!FF =>, Hot Pink Dongipani Shorts [No Longer Available]
Necklace: *i-Candy*, Strawberry Necklace [Blue]
Shoes: MK Fashion, MK Super Sneaks Platform V1.1b
Hair: The Abyss, Oxygen (Steel)
Bunny Avatar: CSR Winter 2008, CSR:DP*yumyum*stoory of a bunny:gray(BOX)[CSR Winter 2008 Campaign Ended Jan. 18/09]

Come Together

We call ourselves a community, us bloggers and Plurkers and content creators and consumers who run in the same circles. We get caught up in silly drama, and get all worked up over things that no one else can understand. We are an insular group to some extent, those of us who consume the fashion feeds on a daily basis, looking for something that makes our hearts beat faster, and we love to create new heroes, and some might even enjoy pulling others from their pedestals. Sometimes we take ourselves too seriously, other times we laugh at ourselves, or we should. But every now and again, we remember that we have a power to reach out to others and make amazing things happen. This is one of those times when we as a community can make a huge difference in someone's life, not their second life, their first life, and I am hoping we can.



I didn't know Shir Dryke, or her shop Ornamental Life, until very recently. Over the holidays, I was sent some gift cards by friends, and off I went to discover new-to-me joy. I do love Shir's designs, and was happy to add some pieces to my wardrobe, but I have been out of the blogging habit lately and hadn't gotten a chance to show it all off. But I decided today I needed to help get the word out about how great a person Shir is, and how happy I am to be able to use my blog to do it. I really only met Shir through Plurk, a little habit we all have developed lately, it is a way to get to know people in a hurry and learn about them in ways you never imagined. Shir is funny, sweet, and talented, and she is a pleasure to know better. But Shir is also a pretty spectacular woman for the battle she has been fighting unbeknownst to most of us.

Shir has some serious health problems, and although I am not privy to all the details, nor feel the need to expose them, I do know that she is in a financial crisis and requires a heart transplant that may save just her life. For more details you can contact her friend Flutter Memel, who along with AnnaH Whitfield, Dove Swanson, and Annyka Bekkers have established a charity fundraiser campaign to help raise a very specific and relatively small amount of money to most of us, in order to help Shir afford the cost of this essential surgical procedure. Fellow blogger Dot Lane gives us all more information on her Blog. The Heart of Love fundraiser is running now and time is limited, so I urge you to stop by Ornamental Life and shop, give a donation, and make a difference that could literally keep Shir with us where she belongs.

Hart Larrson of PXL Creations has released a special skin that you can purchase with all proceeds going directly to the Heart of Love fund for Shir, and as you can see, it is really stunning. It comes in freckled and non-freckled versions, with three different brow colour options. I am also wearing tops from Ornamental Life, so you can see some of Shir's great work. The green halter top is called Proteus Machine in Watermelons, and the sexy sweater vest is Shir's Eve top in For You I Was a Flame. There will be more news on how you can get involved as a designer or content creator soon, and how you can shop with purpose if you are an addict like myself. Let's see what we can accomplish when we all come together!

Details:
Skin - [PXL], Linda_LT_DeepEyes_WineLips_BlackEB - Special Charity Edition
Sweater Vest - Ornamental Life, Eve (For You I Was A Flame)
Green Halter - Ornamental Life, Proteus Machine, Watermelons

Jeans - Total Betty, *College Bound* JEANS, Dark Blue
Shoes - ETD, Hampton Wedge (Lucky Green, St. Patrick's Day Freebie)
Ring - Caroline's Jewelry, Gimcrack Diamond Solitaire Ring
Hair - ETD, Eva II (White Burnt)
Eyes - Freak Fantasia, Glassy Mustard Green Eyes
Lashes - Cake, Bedroom Lashes

Girls Just Want To Have Fun

Colour inspires me, particularly certain combinations of colours. From my early school art classes, I remember that colour wheel, I remember that there are some colours which are complimentary, and then there are those that contrast. Yellow and purple are on opposite sides of the color wheel, therefore, they are supposed to clash. Lilyana Dryke of ::eLDee:: clearly knows these rules, and I love how she breaks them so spectacularly. For me, nothing makes a colour pop like putting it with a great contrast, and this Gold Viva dress from ::eLDee:: manages to make both the yellow and purple pop, while making a fun and girly statement. The Viva dress is a combination of puffy sculpted skirt, an interesting sheer neckline, a ribbon bow tied to the back, and a great floral print. But this is just one version of the dress which comes in at least half a dozen other great combinations, all lovely and interesting in their own way. I decided to run with the colour theme here and pull out all the purple and yellow I could, and creating a fun look that reminds me of an early 80s' music video diva.



I pulled in a favorite pair of tights from *Blaze, and was thrilled to rediscover a forgotten treasure in these brilliant (Shiny Things) Dare Pumps in Yellow. I could not have shopped for a more perfect pair of shoes for this look. I wanted to get a little punky, and decided that these Alpaca Knit Armwarmers from Argyle in a really well matched Purple were a great option. Wanting to go big on jewelry, I grabbed up the opportunity to wear these scripted M.R.M. Factory Color Wood Bangle *Trio* set, where each bangle is scripted to individually change coloured wood textures with a click, I found the yellow and purple selections matched really well. The double Beaded Necklace Set is from OPIUM Everyday, and the smaller strand set is tintable, making it a nice customizable accessory. The ring is from Luc Jewelry, another great simple accessory that has a scripted crystal that can be color changed on command.



Some of my favorite fun hair is from a little known shop called (JUNWAVE) that fellow blogger Ana Lutetia tipped me off to. This adorable ROCK GIRL wig was just one of the many I picked up on my first trip there, and the prices were so insanely low, I picked up most of the shop. Make sure you visit if you are a hair addict like myself. The skin is from Quelita Soon created by Rachele Delgado and available at bianca F. on the Velvet SIM. It is a really sweet faced skin, and I love the make-ups, really a fun look in this Disco 003 version. The eyes are some of Anju Enoch's latest releases from Petit Ange, some of the amazing colourful eyes she has available now. Love Lashes are from [Detour].

Shopping Details:
Dress - ::eLDee::, Viva (Gold)
Tights - Blaze*, Pantyhose/Tights Bundle (Purple)
Arm Warmers - Argyle, Alpaca Knit Armwarmers (Cool Pack, Purple)
Shoes - (Shiny Things), Dare Pumps (Yellow)
Bangles - M.R.M., Color Wood Bangle *Trio*
Necklace - OPIUM Everyday, Beaded Necklace Set
Ring - -EARTHTONES- (Now Luc Jewelry), Solitaire Ring (Multi/Silver)
Hair - (JUNWAVE), ROCK GIRL_BLACK&Silver_L
Skin - QS Skin, Milk - Disco 03
Eyes - Petit Ange *an*, cleareyes_ddark_Topaz_Bright
Lashes - [Detour], Love Lashes

I Turn My Camera On

Back on December 4th, 2008, when I took these photos, the feeds were all a buzz with this amazing .+*Fuka*+. hair and hat combination from Mirai Style. I decided to wait to make this post, knowing that in time, as with most things, eventually it would be less blogged and more interesting to people seeing it for the first time. And so I waited, and waited, and waited, and well, it is just not likely that love for this great wig is going to melt away before the snow does, so here I am. It is a great style, and the hat is just so sweet. It is scripted to not only give you several monotone colour options, but several patterned versions as well, and you can work it with so many cute looks. By now I think most people know where to find it, but if you have never been to Mirai Style to check out this and so many other great wigs, you really should take a trip.



I have been a fan of Pushbutton Skolnick's fashions for as long as I can remember, discovering PBI pretty early on into my virtual life. Her new brand of *Sprawl* is just a fabulous new incarnation of the type of grunge and hand painted styles that I have come to know and love. This Camera Shy Tee is a great basic top, but once again is so much more wearable because *Sprawl* offers clothing on all possible layers, including a tucked version. I am all for covered tummies in the winter time, and finding a long-sleeved tee that is not on Jacket layer but rather on a shirt and undies combo is like finding inventory gold when you want to layer up with a jacket. I really does sit at the top of my designer wish list, I love being able to play with layers. I tucked the too into a favorite pair of Cupcakes Side Button Jeans, a nice worn-in looking denim. One of the best parts of this look are the amazing AOHARU WALK Nostalgia Knit Boots in the Brown Bear version. The are simply adorable, look so cozy I want them on my RL feet, and just a great casual seasonal boot. I threw on a great basic Bucket Bag from (Shiny Things), a really nice bohemian touch, as well as a simple Chain Necklace with Woodstone Beads from Bonita's Jewelry, for a little more polish.



The skin is Celestial Studios Charmed Line, which remains a favorite almost 22 months after I first discovered them. I really am just such a fan of the eye-brows on this skin, as well as the fantastic eye and lip make-up selection, which is pretty extensive. This is Starley's older range, and her newer lines have more luminosity and realism, but I think I am just happy with the hand-painted look and they just fit with my personal aesthetic. I am kinda thrilled about the fact that I don't know anyone else that wears these skins on a regular basis, looking unique is something I am rather proud of. Love Lashes are from [Detour], and Glassy Mustard Green Eyes are from Freak Fantasia.

Shopping Details:
Shirt - *Sprawl*, Camera Shy Tee
Jeans - *Cupcakes, Side Button Jeans (Contrast)
Bag - (Shiny Things), Bucket Bag (Red)
Boots - AOHARU, AOHARU_WALK_Nostalgia Knit Boots_Brown Bear
Hat/Hair - Mirai Style, .+*Fuka*+. (Black)
Necklace - Bonita Popinjay, Chain Necklace w/ Woodstone Beads
Ring - Caroline's Jewelry, Gimcrack Diamond Solitaire Ring
Skin - Celestial Studios, Charmed Line (Tone 20, Earth-3)
Lashes - [Detour], Love Lashes
Eyes - Freak Fantasia, Glassy Mustard Green Eyes

Arabian Nights

I don't wear silks often, really they are just reserved for the events at PIN UPS, but I have to say that finding modest silks is a real challenge. They are not meant to cover very much, I realize this of course. I see so many sets of silks where they are all prim parts, and nothing is left to the imagination once someone starts dancing. It makes finding silks a whole challenge for me, because I want the coverage, for me it is a chance to dress up, not show off the goods. I have found a couple of great silks designers that are conscious of the fact that some women are looking for coverage, and I think that Solange/The Silk Raven is one of those places. I have many sets of silks from *TSR*, and they are relatively up there in price range, but the colour options, quality, and variations in each costume are well worth it.



One of my favorite sets is this amazing Kadin set by *TSR*. The Blue and Silver version was my choice, but it comes in a dozen great colours and has a gold accented version as well. All these looks come from the same purchase. It comes with a system top, a full pant or thong type bottom layer that actually covers your bits, and then 4 different 'skirt' styles. The four include the short and long hip scarf options, as well as the short and long prim skirts. The vest is optional, but the work on it is exceptional, I just love the look of the back of it, the texture is exceptional, and the seems line up so well, you really do get what you pay for in this set. It also includes the lovely face veil and the beaded circlet on the forehead. Really very sexy, and still covering me enough that I feel comfortable wearing them to an event at the club.



I opted to layer on the Jewelry here, going for the lavish harem girl look full throttle, and went with this adorable Pure Butterfly Bellyring and Necklace from Caithlin Carter Designs. The fine prim work is really well done, and they are lovely feminine pieces. Ephemeral Creations Jangle Bangles in Steel stacked up nicely on my wrists, some great thin stacks of bangles and they also come in so many great colour options. I pulled on some stunning rings, the Catherine Black Pearl Cocktail Ring in Platinum from ~Muse~ is a particular favorite, I am a sucker for dark Tahitian pearls in RL as well. Also wearing my Caroline's Jewelry Gimcrack Diamond Solitaire Ring.



This Tiana wig is one of Elika's newer releases from ETD, simply lovely and soft and feminine, I think it has to be one of my favorites. I thought it worked really well with the veil here, really a great romantic look. I played up my eyes, opting for [Detour]'s Delta Eyes in Blue which seem stunning here. The skin is a lovely Megan Skin from [Rockberry].

Just my take on how to do silks for the modest girls among us. I love to play dress up, and finding ways to bring fantasy looks like this into my wardrobe is what I love best about my virtual life. I think it can be said that the vest from this top would look stunning over a black blouse, and I can see it working in other looks as well, which is always a plus when you invest in one outfit as costume specific as most silks are.

Shopping Details:
Silks Costume - *TSR* Kadin in Blue/Silver
Jewelry Set - CCD (Caithlin Carter Designs), Pure - Butterfly (Bellyring, Necklace)
Bangles - Ephemeral Creations, Jangle Bangle (Steel)
Ring - Caroline's Jewelry, GImcrack Diamond Solitaire Ring
Ring - ~Muse~, Catherine Black Pearl Cocktail Ring, Platinum
Hair - ETD, Tiana (Black)
Skin - [RockBerry], Megan C Natural
Eyes - [Detour], Delta Eyes (Blue)

Vain Inc. Magazine - Issue 17 Released!

In this month's 'Look Of The Month' for Vain Inc. Magazine, I opted for 3 looks in one day, from morning to night. I got a bit brave and did a lingerie look to start my day, a street wear look for shopping, and then this great night out look too. It made for a lot more work, but I think it was well worth it. Full shopping details and credits for this look are in the issue.

Also announced in this month's issue are the Vain Readers Choice Awards, and I am so proud to see so many friends among the reader picks. Congratulations to all those nominated and chosen. Check out the issue in-world, or online HERE.

Happy New Year...

With 2008 securely behind us, I am ready to make some new resolutions of the practical sort. I want to say I will be a more consistent blogger once again, and will try to blog daily, but the fact is that I have learned a little something about balancing priorities in the last year, so I will not make promises I know cannot be kept. I want to promise to showcase things new and fabulous and undiscovered, but as I am still on my no-shopping diet, I can only promise to work with what I have and highlight new ways to interpret things already in my wardrobe. But what I do resolve is to be constant, to be fair, and to be honest. I have and will always blog the things I love and treasure, and find value in. I blog as a personal exercise that I am happy to share with anyone who might be interested.



Last night I DJd for a total of four hours, a marathon of two amazing back-to-back New Year's Eve parties at PIN UPS surrounded by my friends and the people I love. I wanted to wear something I could actually see myself stepping out in to a RL party in. Something elegant and comfortable, stylish and timeless, and something I already owned. I was thrilled to rediscover this amazing Paper Couture Silk Gypsy gown. It is from a previous season, and may no longer be available, but it is so amazingly well done. I love the puddle of the fishtail train, the corset style waist, and the billowy sleeves. There is nothing more classic then a great black gown. This one will stand the test of time, and is a treasured piece of my wardrobe.



I went with simple accessories, notably the ~*Fresh Baked Goods*~ Jujubes Gems Antique Silver Earring and Bangles that I am also wearing in this month's issue of Vain Inc. Magazine's Look Of The Month. I choose to wear the Onyx stones here, but they are scripted to offer a choice of twelve gem tones, and I love the chunky big gems that are really classic yet a real hot trend this season in particular. I am also wearing my Caroline's Jewelry Gimcrack Diamond Solitaire Ring, which of course most know is my engagement ring and I am rarely without it. The bag is a fabulous freebie from (Yummy), and if it hadn't been free I would have bought it in a heartbeat, I love the look of this amazing Vintage 1920's Black Bead Bag. I am a true handbag addict, and as I count the days till I will shop again, I have a growing list of purses I will be buying first. The shoes are the absolutely impeccable Maitreya Virtue in Patent Black that were a treasured find at the Shoe Fair this year. They are spectacular, stylish, and very chic.



This Glamour hair has been in my inventory for well over a year, and is an elegant favorite of mine. I hope it is still available at Panache, though when I purchased it the shop was called Hose Queen. It also comes with some jeweled combs that are really spectacular as well. Skin is my special occasion favorite from Celestial Studios, as are the amazing Lashes. Eyes are simply stunning Hazel Eyes from Miriel.

Wishing you all the very best in the coming year, in both your real and virtual lives. Most importantly, be true to yourselves, be honest about your opinions, and don't be afraid to step away from the herd. Dance to the beat of your own drummer, and do it like no one is watching. Oh, and one more resolution, I need to stop taking myself so darn seriously and have more fun! Happy 2009!

Shopping Details:
Gown - Paper Couture, p.c.; Silk Gypsy [Previous Season Release, Possibly No Longer Available]
Shoes - Maitreya, Virtue - Patent Black
Bag - Yummy, Vintage 1920's Black Bead Bag [Freebie]
Earrings - ~*Fresh Baked Goods*~, Jujubes Gems Antique Silver Earrings
Bracelets - ~*Fresh Baked Goods*~, Jujubes Gems Antique Silver Bangles
Ring - Caroline's Jewelry, Gimcrack Diamond Solitaire Ring
Hair - Hose Queen [Panache Island - Zyrra & HoseQueen], Glamour (Black)
Skin - Celestial Studios, Charmed Line (Tone 20, Silver 2 + Body Glitter)
Lashes - Celestial Studios, Prim Lashes, Club 1
Eyes - Miriel, Hazel Eyes (Big)