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)

Back To School...

Last night, I was positively crackling with anxiety and hope, watching the US Presidential Election returns. I am not American, but as a Canadian, a part of a country that is the largest trading partner with the US, and an allied country, this election was as important to me as any that I have known in my own country. I am proud of the energy and hope that I saw in the Democratic process south of the border, and I am inspired. There is no doubt that the battle has just begun for the US and the world, rebuilding financial stability and looking for peaceful resolutions to our differences. We all need to go back to the books, to learn lessons from the past and find hope for the future as we begin to tackle the challenges in our collective path. Saving the environment, ending war, and bringing health and stability into the lives of the most vulnerable in society. I know that my views may not be popular with everyone, there is a healthy dose of socialism in our Canadian Constitution, and I am not ashamed of it (though my father heartily disagrees). I respect the rights of others to differ in their beliefs and values, but we are, after all, in this together. So I am hopeful that the future will bring new ideas and new solutions, and though there will be setbacks, I feel that the tide has turned for the first time in my adult life. Clearly, I am no speech maker, and should stick to the pretty pixels I blog day in and day out, but I just felt the need to express myself, I hope you will afford me this luxury.



Back to the business of stroking my addiction to virtual fashion, this was the look I put together while anxiously awaiting last nights results. I wanted to be comfortable, ready for action, and ready to learn what might be. I went for casual and grunge, my personal favorite way to dress day-to-day. The look started with the great .:Naive:. Rebel Condition Pants that have a very cool burnt out look to them. I pulled in one of the great tops to be found at the new shop *Sprawl*, this wicked Hearts and Guitars Tee, which comes on all layers as always with Pushbutton Skolnick's work, and is one of the most appreciated features. I love being able to wear tucked in tops and work with layers. The Pink Leather Jacket from ::DUTCH TOUCH:: worked really well here with the colour of the stripes in the pants, I love open jackets that let you see the details of the items underneath. The slacks extend to mid-calf, so I pulled on these great Maitreya **Boot-alicious** Ash boots with a leg-warmer like calf portion, they worked really nicely here. I love to wear my WRONG Braces, or suspenders, when I remember to. This Checkerboard set is my favorite, and comes with a non-prim jacket layer set as well as this great prim set that works with dozens of pairs of jeans and pants.



I pulled in a great Tote Bag from Gritty Kitty, it is scripted to change to one of several brilliant textures with just a click. love the little hanging key chain and the buttons on the bag, so I decided to pull in a few more pins with this Eclectic Accessories Kitten and Skull Badge set. The chunky Double Bangle is one of a huge and inexpensive fatpack from ::MEZZO::, with about a dozen colour variations in the pack. I am really embracing the hat and hair combos lately, and this is one of the best yet, the Panache ZF and Kari collaboration produced this great Girls School Hair, also available in a men's version. The cute little braids sticking out from underneath the side of the hat are really sweet. A favorite skin from Celestial Studios, eyes from Miriel, and lashes from [Detour] complete the essentials.

Shopping Details:
Jacket - ::DUTCH TOUCH::, Pink Leather Jacket
Top - *Sprawl*, Hearts & Guitars Tee
Pants - .:Naive:., Rebel Condition Pants (Grey)
Suspenders - WRONG, Braces (Checker Board, Prim)
Boots - Maitreya, **Boot-alicious**, Ash Leather (Grey-Black Socks)
Bag - Gritty Kitty, Tote Bag (B)
Bangle - ::MEZZO::, M-Double Bangle Rameacryl*Silvergray
Buttons - E!, Eclectic Accessories, Kitten and Skull Badge
Hair/Hat - Panache ZF & Kari, Girls School Hair
Skin - Celestial Studios, Charmed Line (Tone 20, Gloss-Red)
Lashes - [Detour], Love Lashes
Eyes - Miriel, Hazel Eyes (Big)

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)