Back To Black

Today is one of the hardest days I have had in so very long. Heartbreak is never easy, and no one seems to be able to escape the feelings of loss, anger, sadness, loneliness, and hurt that comes with risking your heart. I risked my heart, after being destroyed by a relationship in the past, and after two years of what I though was the best thing in my life, I am alone again. I can't deny the feelings in my heart, I don't know how long I will feel this way, but I am so very lost. It's hard when you still are in love with someone, someone who was your best friend and who you knew was your soul mate, and see them move in another direction, whatever the reason. Today I am mourning the loss of what could have been, for I had let myself dream of the future, and all those dreams are now dead. I wore this dress this past weekend, when I acted as a fill in DJ for a UVogue Fashion Show featuring Stiletto Moody shoes and LeeZu fashion designs, among others.



This dress was in my inventory, and I threw it on for the event, the LeeZu Betty Flexi Dress in Black is a very sexy number indeed, more so then I anticipated, so I slipped a lovely Black Sheer Desire camisole from **Battered Boudoir** on underneath to make it more modest for a daytime event. The shoes are Stiletto Moody Pinup Pumps in the Patent Color Set, with colour change versatility that I always find helps when pulling together a look in a hurry.

As I was DJing, I didn't need a handbag, so I went with some great jewelry looks. Starting with a simple pair of Claris Black Pearl Earrings from ~Muse~. The necklace is also in Black Pearls, from *kraftika, No.129, as is the Black Pearl Bauble Flower Ring from Caroline's Jewelry. I also grabbed a pair of spectacular Jujubes Gem Antique Silver Bangles from ~*Freah Baked Goods*~, with colour scripted gems set to Black Onyx.



Hair is a simple loose pulled back look from ETD, the beautifully sculpted Yvette style in Black, one of Elika's newer styles, and so nicely textured. The skin is -AnaLu- *inRainbows*, natural complexion, and a neutral toned make-up with subdued .greyish. shadow. Hazel Eyes are from Miriel, and Thora Lashes are from MMS (now LeLutka).

I know I will be OK, eventually, right now all I know is I need time. I have dear friends, I have close family, and I know that time heals all wounds. I have to get over the anger, the disappointment, the hurt of a broken heart, but I know that there is no other path for me. I simply have to move on and come back to being OK with myself, find my strength, and find my way out of the very dark place I now find myself in.

Shopping Details:
Dress - LeeZu, Betty Flexi Dress/Black
Camisole - Battered Boudoir, Sheer Desire Black Top
Shoes - Stiletto Moody, Pinup Pump (Patent Color Set)
Necklace - *kraftika, No.129, Black Pearls
Earrings - ~Muse~, Claris Black Pearl Earrings in Silver
Bracelets - ~*Fresh Baked Goods*~, Jujubes Gem Antique Silver Bangle
Ring - Caroline's Jewelry, Black Pearl Bauble Flower Ring
Hair - ETD, Yvette - Naturals I Pack (Black)
Skin - -AnaLu-, *InRainbows* NAT08 .greyish.
Lashes - MMS (now LeLutka), Thora Lashes
Eyes - Miriel, Hazel Eyes (Big)

Getting It Down On Paper

I knew that once Paper Couture released a new collection, it would be all over the feeds in minutes, and I also knew I would be there to check it out withing hours of it's release. It's the way things seem to go on the feeds, everyone wants to show off the latest and greatest, and it's great to see the clothes on avatars, it gives us a much better idea of how they look then an image on a rack. I think the new collection is far more wearable then the last, and the jewelry is spectacular. As an avid collector of purses, I await their release, hopefully soon. Last collection, I snapped up a lot of the releases, and sadly they still sit in my inventory, unworn. This time I was really careful with my selections, as money grows tight and I am more realistic about what I can actually get around to wearing. I purchased one dress, one pantsuit, and about five pieces of jewelry. I wanted items I loved, but I wanted items I could work as separates too, and the Nightingale outfit was my first choice. I love this Silk Top, a long camisole that comes as part of the set. I think the hand painted ruffle down the front is great, so I opted to wear it apart from the rest of the outfit this time.



I knew that wearing the Silk Top alone would look to bare for this time of year, so I went looking for a Bolero, and came up with this one from Ibizarre, part of the Soroya Jumpsuit set. A really nice texture on it, and the wrap look lends itself well to a brooch closure. This (Dahlinks) Classic Diamond Studded Bow Brooch in Silver is a lovely piece, really incredibly well made, and so very like ones in my mother's jewelry box. I think the brooch is one piece of jewelry we see little of in-world, and I love finding them, they are such a versatile accessory. I wanted to wear a classic pair of slacks, and these Blaze* Highwaist Jeans in Charcoal are a great option.



I pulled on a favorite pair of suede Nichelle Pumps in Black from Lya, absolutely love the shape of these shoes. I also pulled in a nicely textured Black Velour Clutch from *Muism*. I went with silver and black earrings from *kraftika, the No. 127 Earrings in Silver. (Caroline's) Gimcrack Diamond Solitaire Ring is always a favorite stunner.

Hair is the new Yvette style from ETD, a nice casual up-do with exposed ears, so it works nicely with earrings. This is one of the new Mia skins from [RockBerry], I really love the full lips on these skins. Hazel Eyes are from Miriel, and Love Lashes are from [Detour].

One thing that makes Paper Couture really desirable is that they do retire styles, which is not usual in-world. Most people sell the same things year after year, season after season. It lends an air of urgency to shopping at Paper Couture, get it before it disappears. Instead of a bigger build to house all the designs from past seasons, they maintain a boutique feel, while still offering reasonably priced and imaginative high-concept collections. The clothes are like collectible pieces of art, season after season, and worth a look even if there is nothing that tickles your fancy.

Shopping Details:
Bolero Sweater - Ibizarre, from Soraya Jumpsuit (Black)
Silk Camisole - Paper Couture, from Nightengale Outfit (Silk Top)
Slacks - Blaze*, Highwaist Jeans (Charcoal)
Shoes - Lya, Nichelle Pumps (Black)
Bag - *Muism*, Clutch, Black Velour (Right Hand)
Brooch - (Dahlinks), Classic Diamond Studded Bow Broock (Silver)
Ring - (Caroline's), Gimcrack Diamond Solitaire Ring
Earrings - *kraftika, No. 127 Earrings (Silver)
Hair - ETD, Yvette (Black)
Skin - [RockBerry], Mia F Light
Eyes - Miriel, Hazel Eyes (Big)
Lashes - [Detour], Love Lashes

Hi Top Hell Bop

Forgive me blogger, and it's been 9 days since my last blog post. Yikes, I have more guilt than any one is entitled to, but I am glad to be getting back on track. The Retrology Trick or Treat Pumpkin Hunt has had me super busy, but that's no excuse. This look is another that pulls in two of my favorite colours to work together, pink and grey just work for me. It started with these great Hi Top Pants from Hell Bop Clothing by Floatie Hock, something I nabbed on my last trip around Retrology. I love high waited cigarette pants, and these are a great pair, with the great buttons in front and great textures waist panel. The Pink sweater is from Aleri Darkes, the Brita Top is great, and comes on the shirt layer so that you can wear it with your high-waited pants. I can't stress enough how great it is when designers offer their fashions on all available layers. Yes it takes a lot of time, but it makes me that much more likely to buy and wear it, and I am willing to pay a bit more for that luxury. I really like the texturing on the top, the deep v-neck, that is still modest and yet sexy.



With simple system pieces in the look, I was able to pile on some great accessories, starting with some of my favorite shoes from Lya, the Nichelle Pumps in this lovely Pearl shade, a opalescent pink suede texture. The purse is one of the amazing bags from Bare Rose Tokyo, found in the Bare Rose Couture Boutique. They are insanely inexpensive, and come with a number of shape or style options, as well as holds in each box. This Freja Bag comes in this rounded shape, as well as a more square option, and I like the opalescent texture here as well. After my trip to the Jewelry Expo, I came away with armloads of goodies, including this great *kraftika No. 129 Necklace, strands of spaced out black pearls on a thin wire, amazing prim work here. I also bough this great Tahitian Pearl Ring from The Body Politik, with it's many scripted options, it is truly amazing, and a really lovely ring. I adore Tahitian Pearls in RL, it's great to have them in my virtual wardrobe too. I have had this great White Classic Tank Watch from ~Muse~ for some time, I always forget to wear my watches in-world, it might have something to do with that little clock up in the corner of the viewer. I pulled on a favorite bangle from *PERSONA*, the Crack Metal Large Bangle in Gold is a perfect example of the great work that Myllie Writer is doing on her Jewelry these days. With this great up-do, I was able to pull on some great Vintage Black Pearl Earrings from Paper Couture, part of a set.



This lovely Sally Hair wig is from Panache ZF, and I am not certain I own very much of their hair, but I so want to now. I picked this one up at the Hair Fair, and love this Marshmallow shade. My all time favorite skin always feels like home to me somehow, the Celestial Studios Charmed Line is my favorite in general, but specifically this Earth 4 Make-up. Lashes are also from Celestial Studios, these big and romantic Classic 10 Lashes are favorites too. Delta Eyes in Hazel are from [Detour]. Ok, now that I have slapped my own hand for not blogging in so many days, I can get down to business, I have an awful lot of fall weather wear to show off in the next few days.

Shopping Details:
Top – *AD*, Britta Top (Pink)
Pants – Hell Bop, Hi Top Pants (Black)
Shoes – Lya, Nichelle Pumps (Pearl)
Bag - :::B@R:::, Freja RD White (Hand)
Necklace - *kraftika, No. 129 Necklace (Black Pearls) [Jewelry Expo]
Ring - .::TBP::., Tahitian Pearl Ring
Watch - ~Muse~, Classic Tank Watch in White/Silver (Silver Face)
Bangle - *PERSONA*, Crack Metal Large Bangle (Gold)
Earrings – Paper Couture, P.C., Black Pearl Set (Vintage Black Earrings)
Hair – Panache ZF, Sally Hair – Frosts (Marshmallow)
Skin – Celestial Studios, Charmed Line (Tone 20, Earth 4)
Lashes – Celestial Studios, (CS) Prim Lashes – Classic 10
Eyes – [Detour], Delta Eyes (Hazel)

Watching The Detectives

Another new viewer, another batch of issues, in this case getting used to having freedom from camera constraints and therefore a whole lot of fiddling to get sizing right. Ah well, what are we if not pawns in the game of LL. In any case, it is that time of year again, October brings us Octoberville 2008, one of my favorite activities ever. If you are looking for some really great Halloween fun, without collecting a pile of orange and black everything, and something you can do with groups of friends at once, check it out. It always makes me gear up for fall, you can't get your Detective on to hunt for the clues to a murder in a T-Shirt, so I started with a great coat I have been saving up since last year, the Penny Plaid from *fuse in this smokey Purple Rain colour. I grabbed the first pair of pants in my **NEW** folder, and it happened to be this great scrunched cuff pair of Monocrom Pants in Black from Sweetest Good-bye. Being out in the fall weather calls for layering, so I played around by adding this fabulous Aubergine Knitted Vest from Twosome, which is spectacular on it's own, and with so many layer options, gave me the opportunity to wear it tucked in. A basic Zee Tank Top! from /artilleri/ in White the I tinted to an olive green is a nice muted colour addition.



I wanted to pull on some gloves, since I may be handling evidence in Octoberville, so I opted for these delicious Davenport Weathered Velvet Gloves in Plum from Argyle. Some great black leather boots from Jaywalk get me ready to roam the town. I opted for the foot bases here in the Liah Onyx pair. Every detective needs a bag to hold all her sleuth gear, and this Fleur Heiress Handbag should do the trick. A *Muism* Crinkle Scarf keeps my throat warm in case I need to call for back-up in the form of my partner in crime-solving Draco, actually it's more like scream, there are some mighty creepy thing going on in Octoberville. At the Jewelry Expo, I picked up this great pair of No. 127 Earrings from *karftika, I am always stunned by great prim-twisting, and these earrings are really classic.



A good detective needs a Fedora, and I adore this Fedorable Loveless Hair/Hat combination from *Torrid Wear* that I discovered at the Hair Fair. The side knotted ponytail is a nice touch with scarves, collars and necklaces, lets them be seen without hair poking through the prims. I love the vibrant yet subtle purple shadow on this Canimal Essence Skin, this is the Ether Skin in the Grace tone. Separated Lashes are from Cake, and Freak Fantasia is the place for these great Glassy Mustard Green Eyes, a must for searching out the clues. Maybe I will see you on the trail of the murderer at Octoberville.

Shopping Details:
Coat - *fuse, Penny Plaid (Purple Rain)
Pants – Sweetest Good-bye, Monocrom –Black/Pants (Woman)
Vest – Twosome, Aubergine Knitted Vest
Tank Top - /artilleri/, Zee Tank Top! Short (ushirt layer, White) [Tinted]
Gloves - Argyle, Davenport Weathered Velvet Gloves (Plum)
Boots – LC Covet (Now Jaywalk): Liah – Onyx
Bag - *TaP* (Now Fleur), Heiress Handbag
Scarf - *Muism*, Crinkle Scarf/White_Small [Tinted]
Earrings - *kraftika, No. 127 Earrings
Hair - *Torrid Wear*, Fedorable Loveless (Raven) Black Pack [Hair Fair]
Skin – Canimal, Essence (Grace)… of Ether
Lashes – Cake, Separated Lashes
Eyes – Freak Fantasia, Glassy Mustard Green Eyes