Golden Years [Ivalde/L'Abel Day Post 3/4]

It has been amazing watching Neferia Abel's skill and range grow over the two plus years that I have known her. She has gone from making reproductions, to branching out and making "inspired" looks. She looks at the fashion of a particular era, seems to be able to distill the flavor of that time period down, and then make a look that is not only classic and familiar, but also timeless and unique. This ~~Ivalde~~ Ranka Gold Dress is a perfect example. It has the flavor of the sixties, but is also incredibly trendy and fresh. I adore that Nef includes stocking with so many of her looks, as she does with this look. The details are also spectacular, look closely at the tiny round buttons on the back of the collar, things that she could have easily skipped and would have gone unnoticed, but her inclusion of them just makes the outfit all the more perfect.



I pulled in some adorable ETD boots, and a bag from [gisele] to round out the look. Accessories includes a great Bangle from [Armidi Gisaci] and a ring from (Caroline's). Hair is by TRUTH, with skin by -AnaLu-. I just think this look is perfection, great for any party occasion, or a day of shopping in the city.

This look makes me smile, largely because it makes me see Nef's talents in a new way. These are truly her golden years, she is now producing on a whole new creative level. She has gone beyond mere reproductions and has become an entirely different sort of content creator, creating what is new and innovative, catering to her customer base, and making herself happy in the process. Nef has always struck me as a wonder woman of sorts. She is a mother of six, a devoted wife to her amazing husband Brumm, her RL work has been in a caring and often selfless vocation, and she is unfailingly generous with her time and talents. I have seen so many pictures of her family, including her dog, that I have lost count. I have spoken to her about the pressures of owning a SIM and managing a SL business, and we have shared our love stories. We live in entirely opposite time zones, so we rarely got a chance to get together, but when we did catch each other, our conversations would go on for upwards of an hour, and cover all manner of topics, always ending with hugs and kisses and "I love you". She calls me her "Ketzmin", and she is my Nefmin, my dear Nef.

Shopping Details:
Dress - ~~Ivalde~~, Ranka Gold Dress
Shoes - ETD, Kristin Booties (Natural)
Bag - [gisele], bag/maman ecru (front)
Bangle - [Armidi Gisaci], (Left) Healing Giraffe Bangle - Brown
Ring - (Caroline's), Natural Gold Bead Ring
Hair - TRUTH, Linda - Black & Whites (Night)
Skin - -AnaLu-, *InRainbows* NAT13 .brownish.
Lashes - MMS (Now LeLutka), Thora Lashes
Eye - Miriel, Standard Eyes - Sunlit Tree

If You Want To Be Happy For The Rest Of Your Life... [Ivalde/L'Abel Day Post 2/4]

What is ~~Ivalde~~ the brand best known for? Capturing Vintage and Retro looks and making them appealing, fun, and oh so feminine. I knew I wanted to blog at least one of my hundreds of ~~Ivalde~~ retro looks today, and so I decided that the one that best captured Neferia's attention to detail was the Kassandra Blue Dress. It includes the adorable rubber gloves and the apron. This dress makes me smile for so many reasons, not all entirely innocent. I wore it to a "Dysfunctional Family Dinner" event at PIN UPS, I wore the blue dress alone for a date night on Retrology with Draco, and I did one of my first Photo Shoots for my own pleasure with this look, doing a "50s' Demo Kitchen" look. That was before I even started blogging. I even wore just the apron and gloves with heels to make some very sexy pictures for Draco's birthday that year.



I love Nef's attention to detail, going so far as to make colour and fabric choices that suit the era of the design, combining both hand painted and photo-sourced elements seamlessly, and always making it almost impossible to choose any outfit in just ONE colour. I decided to go Stepford Wife and added in this fabulous feather duster from BLONDE, stockings from 1-800-Bettie's, and shoes from Maitreya. Jewelry includes the perfect pearl necklace from Decollage, and opal earrings from (Yummy). Skin is from Celestial Studios and hair is from Retro-rific Ingenue.

So, as the Jimmy Soul song says "If you want to be happy for the rest of your life, never make a pretty woman your wife, Go for my personal point of view
Get an ugly girl to marry you". Well, I think there are going to be a lot of unhappy husbands, because any woman wearing ~~Ivalde~~ is simply beautiful. Thanks Nef, for making my retro dreams come true.

Shopping Details:
Dress - ~~Ivalde~~, Kassandra Blue Dress [Includes Apron & Gloves]
Stockings - 1-800-Bettie's, Stocking By Bettie's (Taupe)
Shoes - Maitreya, Antie's Enchants (Black)
Necklace - Decollage, Bubblegum Pearls [Tintable]
Earrings - (Yummy), Opal Studs [from Opals & Pearls Set]
Duster - BLONDE, Feather Duster [Spring Launch Preview Gift]
Hair - Ingenue, Lamour (Blue Black)
Skin - Celestial Studios, Charmed Skin (Tone 20, Blue-Sea)
Eyes - Miriel, Hazel Eyes (Big)
Lashes - MMS (Now LeLutka), Thora Lashes

Love At First Sight [Ivalde/L'Abel Day Post 1/4]

When trying to decide how to tell my story of my love for Neferia Abel and her work, I decided I needed to start at the beginning, with the very first gown I purchased. According to my inventory, I purchased this in March of 2007, and I must say I had never seen anything like ~~Ivalde~~ when I first set eyes on the shop.

I was busy working at PIN UPS nightclub, then only two months in business, and we were looking for vendors for the upper gallery of the club. As always seems to be the case, it was my sister Anessa who grabbed me the moment I logged that day saying, "You have to come here and see this store, OMG you won't believe these clothes, all vintage!". I jumped on her TP and discovered myself in the midst of a large wooden shop, with huge panels covered in vendors, on a Norweigan SIM with a fishing village outside the door. I think the next twenty minutes were a blur, as I purchased at least ten outfits that day. But I remember my first, as most women do, and it is still so very special to me. This is the Janette Orchid Dress by then brand ~~Embla~~.



Within the week, Anessa had managed to get Nef to take a spot in our club, and so began a love affair that involved a lot of me shopping while DJing as my tips rolled in (I kid you not). When I really first met and spoke to Neferia, there was a joy and mutual respect instantly, a common love of fashion and things from the past. She is a most astonishing woman, and I have said to her more then once, "Do you sleep?". This dress holds a particularly special place in my heart, as I wore it on one of my first dates with Draco, when we went to Phat Cats and danced the night away, this is also the exact Celestial Studios skin and ETD hair that I wore that night. The Lya shoes and the stunning *KessKreations* jewelry are new, but looks perfect with this dress. A girl never forgets her first true love.

Shopping Details:
Gown - ~~Embla~~ (Now IVALDE), Janette Orchid Dress [Purchased March 2007]
Shoes - Lya, Nichelle Pumps (Pearl)
Jewelry Set - *KessKreations*, AnnMarie White Pearl Jewelry Set
Hair - ETD, Couture Collection, The Unique (Maroon)
Skin - Celestial Studios, Charmed Line (Tone 20, Earth 4)
Lashes - MMS (Now LeLutka), Thora Lashes
Eyes - Miriel, Standard Eyes - Sunlit Tree

Oh Happy Day!

Sometimes, the stars align and things just click. We often are only aware of the meaning things hold in our lives when we suddenly find ourselves without them. It may be a person, a place, a treasured item, or a simple belief that gets taken from us, and it can be devastating. When I heard that Neferia Abel was closing down all her ~~Ivalde~~ and -L'Abel- shops, including her SIM, while she recuperated from illness, moved house, and was without internet connection for at least a month, I suddenly realized how complacent we can get. How we can take things for granted, and how we assume those iconic content creators will always be there for us in SL. Fellow blogger Achariya echoed these sentiments in her post today. Nef is more then fashion designer to me, she is a dear friend, so this was a very emotional realization. But with a very large amount of luck, timing, and help from friends all over SL, we managed to get Nef to leave a shop open on Retrology during her absence, and I could not be more thrilled. You can read more about the story of how it came to be on the Retrology Blog. Neferia, being who she is, could not go without leaving a special gift for her beloved customers, and this Lime Sigrid Dress from her -L'Abel- line is that gift, available to everyone in the new store on the table in the lounge area.



The -L'Abel- Sigrid dress is a stunningly feminine floral treat, the sculpted fluttery capped sleeves are delicious, and it can be worn in short or long versions. I wanted a relaxed look, and pulled in my amazing new Rock Candy Watch from (Caroline's), available right across from the new ~~Ivalde~~ location on Retrology. On the other wrist, another treat from a Retrology vendor, the ~*Fresh Baked Goods~ Gem Jelly Donut Bangle in Silver, colour script changed to match the dress. The Yellow Rose Hair Flower is created by an equally dear friend and Retrology veteran, /artilleri/'s Antonia Marat. The perfect girly shoes to match this lovely look are from (Shiny Things), the amazing Belles, here in the Acid colour.



The lovely long messy hair is from Mirai Style, the wig is called .+*Nacy*+., and I think it is very sexy. This skin was a gift from my sister Anessa, very different from my usual look, the *REDGRAVE* Emma 2 Tan Skin in Smoky1 is definitely a big change for me, but I do like it, particularly the full glossy lips. These eyes are new to me from Miriel, picked up on my last trip over before she closes shop, they are her Standard Eyes in Sunlit Tree, a stunning yellow green hazel eye. Bedroom Lashes are from Cake.

Today, I am happy beyond words, and am looking forward to Monday, June 8th/09, when the Blogger Challenge for ~~Ivalde~~/-L'Abel- starts. A day for everyone to show off their favorite looks by Neferia Abel, and talk about their memories, experiences, or feelings about her work. I am part of the team spreading the word about the challenge, so please feel free to contact me or leave a comment here for more details. We would love to have you join in a day to celebrate a very special woman and content creator. Hope you find ways to appreciate the ones you hold dear today, you never know what tomorrow will bring.

~ Ketsy

Shopping Details:
Dress - -L'Abel-, Sigrid Dress Gift From Nef, Lime [$1L Gift Available Now!]
Shoes - (Shiny Things), Belles (Acid)
Watch - (Caroline's), Rock Candy Watch
Bracelet - ~*FBG*~, Gem Jelly Donut Bangle (Silver, L)
Hair Flower - /artilleri/, Rose Hair Flower (Yellow)
Hair - Mirai Style, .+*Nacy*+. (Black)
Skin - *REDGRAVE*, Tan Skin -Emma 2- (10 Emma2 Tan Skin *smoky 1)
Eyes - Miriel, Standard Eyes (Sunlit Tree)
Lashes - Cake, Bedroom Lashes

Om Shanti Om

There is little doubt about my absolute favorite event to DJ at PIN UPS, it is the Bollywood Night Event. We had one recently, and I get so excited just getting dressed for the event, I have to try to contain myself. I almost always wear a new costume for each event, with my inventory now filling up with all manner of Saree, Salwar Kameez, Cholie and Lengha, Dupatta, and Bangles. This time, I was doubly lucky, as the day before the event, both Maitreya and Zaara: and new co-release, including this exquisite wig by Maitreya, called Amber, which worked perfectly with some of the hair jewelry I already owned from Zaara:, including in the Suvarna Set, here in White. The hair is parted particularly smoothly, which lets the forehead gems show off to best effect, and also works with the nose piercing, the necklace, bangles, and anklets. This is a good time to remind all of you that Zaara: is having a big sale right now, so get there before June 1st to take advantage of the sale prices, I may just see you there!



The costume is also from Zaara:, it is an absolutely stunning Choli and Lengha, in a Nude, almost gold, colour. The Frawla set comes with two versions of the top, on short and one longer version. The longer version that I am wearing has the deliciously sexy ties in up the back, it is just amazingly well textured, and wearing it feels so much like stepping into the leading role of a Bollywood film. The skirt is lovely layers of silks and lace, I adore Zaara:'s handpainted details. The wrap around the upper arms is part prim and part system layer, entirely ingenious, so it really feels like it is wrapping the body and move beautifully when dancing. I need to purchase some new Henna, but this set was on hand, a gift from the Halloween "Ghost Busters" Hunt from Sari's, the Aubergine Henna, it is a nice compliment to this lovely skin tone. I am also wearing a Pearl Ring from Caroline's Jewelry.



The skin was another free gift, received many months ago via the Bianca F. Subscribe-O-Matic Group. The QS Skin, in the appropriately named Darjeeling skin tone, is by Rachel Delgado, and I own several of her skins. Hazel Eyes are by Miriel, and Thora Lashes are from MMS (now LeLutka).

I will be heading over to the Zaara: sale shortly, in search of more amazing costumes and accessories to wear to future Bollywood Night Events. I always play a cool mix of Bollywood hits, modern Hindi and Punjabi tunes, some Bhangra remixes, and other surprises that get the crowd going. It always makes me giddy hearing the music, dancing, and sharing my love of Indian culture with friends old and new. All the hot kids put your hands up and sing Om Shanti Om! Hope to see you there!

Shopping Details:
Costume - Zarra:, Frawla (Nude)
Jewelry - Zaara:, Suvarna Set (White)
Ring - Caroline's Jewelry, Pearl Ring
Tattoo - Sari's, Aubergine Henna (Hands & Feet)[Grid Wide Ghost Hunt]
Hair - Maitreya, Amber: Blacks Pack (Pitch)
Skin - QS Skin, Darjeeling - Acceso (additional make-up, Freebie)[Past Group Gift from Bianca F.]
Eyes - Miriel, Hazel Eyes (Big)
Lashes - MMS (now LeLutka), Thora Lashes

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)