Being.There.

Mila_anniversary

I love milestones. It creates the little reasons for celebrations amidst a life of drudgery. It’s the pat on the back that a job was well done. I especially love milestones when they are not mine, but belong to the people I love. Those who have followed my blog for a while know about year and a half ago, the quiet and solitary wanderer (and wonderer) Cao, was adopted by a rather loudly boisterous, rather large and kindly loving Italian “gypsy” family. In typical fashion they not only stole my quiet solitude, they stole my heart. I love each and every member of my gypsy family, they have taken my 8-bit colored Second Life and made it the entire technicolor visual feast that it is today.

But I digress, (as usual), early in December Mila silently had one of these milestones. My busily scurrying, always creating seamstress of dreams celebrated the 2nd anniversary of her passion, the *SoliDea FoliEs* line of apparel. One year in the cutthroat SL design industry is amazing in itself. Two years? That is a feat worthy of probably just a few dozen SL businesses. Congratulations my sister, my friend, my Mila. I am so proud of you!

Take froms? yep, there always is one. In true Mila’s giving heart fashion, she wants to celebrate this day now, after the making of so many MVW dresses, after the week of 2lei, after the construction of a brand new mainstore at Salimar, after the confetti has been swept away by BOSL’s Miss Virtual World contest. The birthday celebration is now. But whats a party unless it is a celebration surrounded by family and friends? Won’t you please come celebrate this joyous occasion with us? Won’t you come so we can thank you, our patrons, our friends, our family, for all of your support in these two wonderful years, because without you, there would be no true celebration. Come, be with us December 20th at noon (12:00PM SLT) for our grand-opening, runway show and party. I can’t wait to see you there! Won’t you stop by? See? I’m so nice, I even included the caravan for you: Taxi:

Fashion.Can.Be.Bought.Style.One.Must.Possess. ~Edna Chase

handverk bolo and cake chandelier boon pkj 371 ison one button blazer bliss saline L’Accessoire’s Earring: Handverk, Cake Chandelier Earring. Hat: Bliss Couture, Saline. Other elements: Hairs: Boon PKJ371, Blazer: Ison, One button blazer. Necklace: Handverk, Bolo

The quote is so sad, and yet so true. I think style is something in ones genetic makeup, you either have it or you do not. It is noted in a person who just has a natural knack for colors, materials, and the positive way of mixing them together but, in others, they just never seem to “get it right” or, at the least, like me, have to dig deep, and work harder to get there. I think in its base sense it is controlled by whether you are prone to thinking with the left or the right side of the brain. The wonderful thing about the brain though is the fact that you DO indeed have both sides. And you can use the influence of either side with practice.

lassitude and ennui dreamer tiara miamai carmen savage peqe snake leggins shi circular tank lelutka rykiel zibska delmay hof L’Accessoire’s, Crown: Lassitude and Ennui, Dreamer Tiara. Shoos: Miamai, Carmen Savage. Other elements: Pants: Peqe, Snake Leggins,Top: .Shi, Circular Tank, Hairs: Lelutka, Rykiel, Makeup: Zibska, Pose: DelMay, Ring: HOF

I wasn’t going to say anything, but I’ve been told a couple of times, I need to offer more guidance to beginning models, so I will. I recently judged something with the theme of “Cubism” and though I know it is a difficult to interpret subject, I went away more than a little disappointed. Cubism at the most basic is to take a natural form and fragment it into something abstract. Period. How do I know? I researched it, I researched the words, I researched images. Took maybe 5 minutes to figure where I would have gone with this theme.

gizza biker azoury animal rozoregalia gemma madesigns raven L’Accessoire’s, Head piece: Azoury, Animal, Other Elements: Hairs: Madesigns, Raven. Necklace: Rozoregalia, Gemma. Jacket: Gizza: Biker jacket

You get out of your Second Life Modeling career, exactly what you put into it. So if what you strive to do is lead, and create something bigger than yourself, in a virtual sense, the first step is always, stop and think. Where do I want to end up, how do I get there? period. Start with a concept, build the steps to how to succeed. It’s not like these “themes” happen every day, so when you DO have them, take a little time to get it right. I’m not talking about the pics of a blog, sure, like my pics here, the stylings need to be simple, because you are bringing a set item(s) to the attention of the viewer. I am only speaking of the mix and match theme projects we get asked to do for mags, or contests, or, like in the above “cubism”, a casting or class graduation.

Drift l bow va sunday kind of love gizza lola blouse L’Accessoires Necklace: Drift, L’Bow. Other elements: Hairs: Vanity Hair, Sunday Kind of Love. Blouse: Gizza: Lola

As an example, the winter elf from yesterday. I created a look, and sent a pic to Skip, so he would know what was coming. I hate to show it, but here it is: Link: But then, I sat back, thought, what a load of crap. So I did it right, where do I want to end up, what do I want this winter elf to look like? How do I get there? And then went about putting the elements together, in what I hope was a more pleasing way. And yes, sometimes, it takes time. But why bother, if you aren’t going to give it your best? Jumps off Soap Box.

solidea stella cometa cherry georgia collar L’Accessoires, Collar: [Cherry], Georgia Collar. Eye Piece: SoliDea FoliEs, Stella Cometa. Other elements: Hairs: Boon

YAY! And the take from, there always is one. Don’t be a hater because someone always seems to be styled perfect all the time, they actually can’t help the way they are anymore than you can, its genetics. Use their styles to learn, network and learn from them WHY they put certain aspects of their styles together that way. And really, there is no penalty for researching the style you want to create, especially on theme based castings. Sometimes, even when I don’t have a theme to style, I research and pull from the Internet pics I like, styles I like, items that catch the eye, or “things to try” and pull them aside. Just ask Skip, sometimes I send him four or five pics with a “do you want to do any of these?” before I style. It’s okay to borrow imagination, just add your own flourish to it.

bsd design studio minimalism amd his place va sunday kind of love L’Accessoires, Boots: BDS Designs Studio, Minimalism Boot. Other elements. Hairs: Vanity Hair, Sunday Kind of Love. Shirt: Apple May Design, His Place

I know, this is a long one. I hope you read parts of it and took out what you wanted. If its all rubbish, then I am sorry to have wasted your time, but I hope, for at least a few of you, it was a help. I just want to leave you with the words of Coco Chanel. “In order to be irreplaceable, one must always be different.” For a taxi to L’Accessoire’s just click on their logo found on the right side of the page. See? right side rather creatively has made it easier for you to get there from here.

Hardwear.Softwear.

Hardwear.Softwear.

I think one of the most eye catching ideas in fashion is playing with texture. Recently while perusing a Vogue magazine, I stumbled across a picture of a model in a spiked jacket and a romantically ruffled skirt and I fell in love. It’s amazing the nuances, the visual dimensions you can create by doing the unexpected with what you have on. It would have been okay to wear a soft top with this soft “Aviary tutu” skirt from Ladies Who Lunch, in fact it comes with a feathered top, but why keep so much sameness? To me the look was just itching for the Gizza “biker” jacket in black leather. The easy crowning piece for the ruffly rumped tutu is, of course, MaDesigns Aria hair in Club colors, this style is perfect for making a scene or being seen, whether on the runway or hanging at your fave rave.

I’ve had fun exploring with this, try mixing and matching your favorite textures yourself and let me know how you do and whether you like it or not. I’d love to hear from you all!

Outfit One:
Hairs: MaDesigns, Aria
Earrings: Rozoregalia,Gemma
Jacket: Gizza, Biker
Skirt: [LWL], Aviary Tutu
Cuff: Zaara, Prata
Leggings: CK (Curious Kitties), Fishnets
Shoos: [LWL], Trooper

Dock.Of.The.Bay.

It seems Second Life is a lot emptier these days. Everyone is off celebrating holidays and things, enjoying the weather, having fun. I miss my facebook, flickr friends and blog friends the most, I think. Inworld most people ignore me and let me go about my hermit ways, but here, and on Facebook and flickr, people keep up with me a little bit more, make me accountable for my where abouts, so when friends wander off from these places, I truly miss them. I’ve always wondered if the inhabitants of the southern hemisphere celebrate their “summer” in winter so they can be gone when we are, or do they celebrate it the normal way, in their weathers-pheric summer? I’d love to know! So with the summer half over, I think of poor Otis Redding, “sitting on a dock of the bay” just wasting time. I presume he watched a few sunsets over there in California, wishing someone, would buy his album, would enjoy his dream. A Georgia boy on the cusp of making it big, but tragically, he died in a plane crash before showing his full potential. And as I ramble on, (oh wait, I will save Led Zepplin for another day) I think the point is, in life, sadly, we all have deadlines. And for those sitting on some dock on some bay, wasting time, the third round of the The Couturier’s Dock will close July 15th, so if you haven’t yet purchased your half off limited quantity items, you better. Quite a few are already closed, but some remain.

Dock.Of.The.Bay.

As I read my most recent Vogue magazine I was surprised they were giving a “sneak peek” of the Fall styles, but I suppose Fall is just around the corner for most of us. At this rounds Couturier’s Dock, [[LD]] Major has also chosen to give us a sneaky peek of their Fall line and it is, frankly sublime. I purchased the “Stingray Chic” item and I was amazed when I unboxed the item, it not only includes the “nubby” black jacket with white accents, it includes the matching purse and pumps. By adding the Mon Tissu “westbury” skirt, Mandala jewelry, Hair from Tuty’s and a flower I found in inventory and colored red, I am thinking I am looking forward to Fall this year! It truly is a gorgeous jacket; I’d hate to see anyone miss out on this deal, because the piece is very multi-functional and dresses up or down but is fitted which always adds elegance.

Dock.of.the.Bay.

My second outfit is Angels and Demons Creations (AD Creations) “Belly Mask.” I just love the originality and creativeness of Aliza Karu’s outfits! And for all you styling mavens out there, *Big Hint*, outfits like the ones from Aliza are excellent for using parts of for intense styling challenges between multiple designers. They always tend to work and play well with others and are definitely “outside the box” styling forward. I can think of at least five uses each for just the top, collar and head piece, so if you have looming challenges ahead, i.e. MVW competition, it might be a good time to create what I have labeled in inventory as a “really cool stuff” folder containing these outfits. All that was added to this look was the [GOS] boots and a couple of bracelets from Rozoregalia.

So if you are “wasting time” might as well check out what’s left at The Couturier’s Dock because come Sunday, the sun will have set on this round. Have a peaceful day! Here’s a carpet ride to The Couturier’s Dock: Magic Carpet

Designer’s:

AD Creations
Blackliquid
Chantkare *Sold out*
Countdown
H.M.A.E.M.
Kooqla
[[LD]]
LibDescent Poses
LovelyMi
*LpD*
Purple Moon
*SoliDea FoliEs*
Treize
White Widow

Re-Create Yourself.

A little behind on the real life scene, so short but sweet. I am really pleased Djod Karu of *Diram* has created a new line and this one is as brash and sophisticated as her Lady Gaga inspired line “Gagalicious” from last season. Taxi: It will be out in a few days, so in the mean time, I will give you a sneaky peek!

diram brigitte shorts lady gaga judas chinese hat rozoregalia

This first outfit is the “Brigitte” shorts which I teamed with “Judas” from the Gagalicious line. Sexy chic mesh and perfect for those days you walk on the naughty style. I simply added the “Chinese” hat, also new, to add a bit of mystery.
diram brigitte short bolero diana belt sf faces headpiece

In the second style I am wearing the “Brigitte” shorts with this “Brigitte Bolero,” a clean simple look that oozes rich elegance. I threw on the *Diram* “Diana” belt to break up space and draw the eye. Such a simple way to make your wardrobe glam. Mark your calendar to sneak over to *Diram* this weekend and check out all the items included in the new line!

Outfit One:
Short: *Diram*, Brigitte *Soon to be Released*
Top: *Diram*, Lady Gaga Judas, in stores now
Hat: *Diram*, Chinese *Soon to be Released*
necklace/”belt” Rozoregalia, in store now

Outfit Two:
Short: *Diram*, Brigitte *Soon to be Released*
Top: *Diram*, Brigitte Bolero, *Soon to be Released*
Belt: *Diram*, Diana, in stores now
Hat: *SoliDea FoliEs*, Face head piece, in stores now
Hairs: Tuty’s
Nails: [Mandala]