I HAVE A QUESTION

Yesterday I was trying on older fashions that I still love. Sometimes I do this when I am cleaning out my closet; I eventually dispose old things whose style or construction is too dated.

And then there are the exceptions. For example, these pants. I so love these pants. I don't think I could ever throw them away ... But along comes mesh. And after seeing this picture of Achariya in Rebel Hope's new gown (in red!!) I am loving how the skirt has sculpted drapery that can fold with the avatar as she sits in her chair. It got me thinking.

So here is my question ... What older pieces of clothing would you like to see reworked in mesh to extend their life ? (In real life, I have had shoes repaired, and there was that fave skirt that I had a new waistband put on at the tailor's.) For me, I vote for the Trap Hakama pants. I would love for each leg to be one continuous piece, instead of breaking at the knee. Please please please pretty please? *begs Selos Dae shamelessly*

Jacket: Blue Blood "Suomi" (this color unavailable, includes tails not shown)
Shirt: Whippet and Buck "I'll be a Ghost" (unavailable)
Pants: Trap "Hakama"
Shoes: Lassitude and Ennui "Estampies"
Hat: Rapture "Cossack Hat"
Hair: Lamb "Teased Up" (gift)
Skin: Glam Affair "Layla Dark" (old from the Dressing Room)
Eyes: Fashism "Sunrise"
Lashes: by Exodi and Glow Studio
Eyeshadow: La Malvada Mujer "B.N. #2"
Lipstick: Glam Affair "Layla Lipstick - risque"

Love,
Serene

LOOKIE LOOKIE !

*rubs hands together gleefully*

Love,
Serene

LOOKIE !

See what I spotted when I was out and about? I'm really loving the theme. Here's looking forward to September!

Love,
Serene

LE FAY DANS LA NUIT

I'm inspired to go dark, dark, dark by the fabulous Glam Affair skin from the Platinum Hunt. I put together a quick Urban look with menswear from the Make Him Over Hunt. In particular I had a good laugh trying on the pants on my male avatar ... it comes with a sculpted "bulge" that is a little TOO anatomically correct. (Hell no I'm not modeling that thing LOL.)

Dusted off some yummy brown Hoorenbeek boots from my closet. You know how there are some things you buy that you still love a year later? Like that.

Jewels and nails, feminine and dangerous ...

... Okay one more, to give you a better look at the new cat's eyes from Poetic Colors. As well as several beautiful colors of irises, They come with light or dark eyewhites, and prim eye reflections. Just lovely.

Jacket: Mortality "Assassin Jacket" (MHOH6 Hunt Prize)
Shirt: Coded "Casual Male Sweater" (MHOH6 Hunt Prize)
Pants: Zipper "Classic Corduroy - Brown" (MHOH6 Hunt Prize)
Ring/Nails: Mandala "Milky Way Ring and Nails"
Necklace: Naith Smit "Rock 'n Rolla Pearl Necklace"
Boots: Hoorenbeek "Alberta Boots"
Skin: Glam Affair "Amelie Black Soul" (Platinum Hunt L$10)
Hair: Exile "Buffy" (Platinum Hunt L$10)
Horns: Illusions "Bite"
Ears: Trap "Beastie Drow Elfs"
Eyes: Poetic Color "cat-coal"

Love,
Serene

THE WANNABE VAMPYRE HUNTER

I'm gonna bag me a monster tonight.

I've been hangin' out in the cemetery all afternoon. But its getting close now.

With a fresh grave ready, there ought to be something bad stirring around.

But I sure hate the last half hour of waiting.

Just for laughs, today I am modeling a bare chested rockstar-wannabe vamp hunter. I laugh now, but I remember when I was a kid I was scared of things like vampires from watching the movies. But the monster hunters looked pretty stupid to me. Why didn't they just leave some donated IV bloodbags for the vampires? Why didn't they weld on steel collars that keep the vampire from biting their necks? Why did the women in these movies always trip over something when they were running away? Why do all the victims have to be so darn stupid all the time?!?

This outfit is mostly courtesy of the Make Him Over Hunt which is running through August 20. For more information, including a Teleport List and pictures of some of the Hunt Prizes, you may visit their website or join their inworld group. At the starting point you can also pick up a hint list.

Outfit: N1Co "VIC armor" (MHOH6 Hunt Prize)
Boots: Deco "Mud Boots" (not a hunt prize)
Glasses: Air "Stella" (MHOH6 Hunt Prize)
Hairbase: JOMO "etched hair 08a" (MHOH6 Hunt Prize)
Skin: Prodigal "Ale_MHOH6_special_bald" (MHOH6 Hunt Prize)
Dagger: Harbinger and Stormie "Dagger of Faith" (with combat HUD, not a hunt prize)
Poses: by Long Awkward Pose
Location: Transylvania

Love,
Serene

HAVE YOU SEEN MY QUILL?

Not all of the students at Hogwarts are good looking. Not all of us are Quidditch players. Some of us are shy. Some of us have second-hand togs. Some of us don't have a date for the Yule Ball.

Ravenclaw students are often the "nerds" of the wizard world. Smart or not, a lot of us don't really come into our own until after we have left school.

Have you seen my quill?

This is one bandwagon on which I am pleased to jump. There are plenty of Pottermaniacs hidden in closets around the metaverse, and with the rest of them I am looking forward to finding out if the rumour is true ... will there finally be a beautifully well-constructed Hogwarts in Second Life? I can't wait!! *swoons*

Sweater: Digital Girl Design “Ravenclaw Sweater”
Shirt: Schadenfreude “White Oxford”
Tie: Schadenfreude “You-Know-Who Necktie”
Skirt: TokiDoki “Le Frills Skirt” (tinted)
Shoes/Socks: Fashionably Dead “Tap Shoes”
Feather: Passion Moments “Feather”
Wand: Wicked Workshop “Gentleman’s Wand”
House Badge: Grackles Outfitters “Hogwarts House Patch” (free, texture change)
Glasses: Intrigue “Looney Specks”
Bag: Edelweiss “School Bag” (includes six poses)
Hair: Lelutka “Knotted Hair” (with hairbase)
Skin: Mother Goose’s “Yvonne Freckle” (dollarbie)

Love,
Serene

HOT HOT SUMMER

Ready to go for an ice cream cone?

Yeah, me too.

This summer’s Seasons Hunt is a sweet treat as usual, and of course I cannot show all the beautiful hunt prizes, which range from beautiful clothing, shoes and accessories for men and women, to carefully crafted house wares and a lovely beach house. For those who don’t choose to idealize the season, there are several sunburns and zinc treatments available in this hunt, and Miss Shippe even provided heat rash and mosquito bites. (A little too much reality for me.) Enjoy!

Shirt: Paper.doll “Aria” (SeasonsHunt)(removed the balloon skirt)
Undershirt: Nanuk “elov ripped tank blue striped” (Seasons Hunt)
Pants: Kyoot “Elbo Trousers” (Seasons Hunt)
Shoes: Sleepy Eddy “Boston Sandals” (Seasons Hunt)
Necklace: Caroline’s Jewelry “Sea Necklace” (Seasons Hunt)
Necklace and Bracelet: Duh! “Colors of Summer” (Seasons Hunt)
Hair: Shag “Hearts Flutter” (Seasons Hunt)
Skin: Curio “:GP: Moonbeam [Dark] Pout-Melancholy”
Sunburn Tattoo: Antebellum “Sun Lover’s Torment” (Seasons Hunt)
Eyes: Insufferable Dastard “Summertime Reflections” (Seasons Hunt)
Eyelashes: Glow Studio “Innocent.eyelashes – pure”
Scooter Pose Prop: pda “Ca plane pour moi”(Seasons Hunt)
Poses: included in Scooter and Long Awkward Pose

Love,
Serene

RIDICULOUSLY

Don't hate me just because I am ridiculously good looking. It is not without effort! Today I employ the fabulous hairstyling services of Gauze, my personal stylist ...

My own patented Look, I call it Mysterious Steel ...

A kilotonne of attitude ...

And of course I must always have dominating boots. You want to smell the leather now, don't you?

Collar: CheerNo “Lory”
Shirt: Plastik “Hale”
Pants: silentsparrow “Moonchild Suit Pants”
Boots: Lapointe and Bastchild “Laceup Platform Boots”
Hair: Gauze “Wisp”
Skin: Plastik “Vaelian”
Eyes: Fashism “Sunrise”
Eyeshadow: Aleida “Makeup 1” (old Skin Fair gift)

Love,
Serene *dies laughing*

PAPER BIRDS

I need to practice origami. It's been years and seeing this cute kimono brought it back: Sitting on the floor with an instruction book when I was eight or nine years old. Beautiful paper spread all around on the floor, from which I had chosen an intricate blue and silver printed tissue.

It was the gorgeous paper that drew me in. But after I made a little flock of colored paper cranes, I loved the little birds enough to keep folding them in pristine white sheets. Over later years of drawing and painting my taste expanded beyond beautiful glowing jewel tones, to include black and white, and all the subtle tones of gray in between.

... I fell in love the moment I saw this sim. When I studied Art in college, I had a major crush on mixed Charcoal and Ink Washes.

Kimono: Yumeji “yukata orizuru”
Hair: Ivanka Akina “Akina” (I tinted the flowers)(at Hair Fair)
Skin: Glam Affair “Sakura”
Eyes: Fashism “Sunrise”
Poses: by Long Awkward Pose
Location: China

Love,
Serene

BUBBLEGUM!

Just a quickie. Between all the new Hair I "had to have" from Hair Fair, and some new Curio skins, I don't have much money left for the rest of the month. But I picked up many gifts at Hair Fair too, and some of them are perfect for Gogo's Bubblegum Weekend!

I love the messy wisps on top and the crazy color on this LollipopZ hair. It comes in three parts, with two pieces that attach to the shoulders.

Now this cute little bob is by Lamb. It comes in a megapack in all her shop colors and was labeled "Colortesters" but I think they're adorable, and because each one is only four prims I think you're seeing my new Event and Fair hair. Four prims doesn't add that much to sim lag does it?

And I think I'll finish off with this truly bubblegum hair from BC322. I love candy!

Red: LollipopZ “Dolce” Gift ... with American Bazaar Lipgloss and Hairbase by booN
Purple: Lamb “Bob” Colortester Gift ... with Curio Lipstick (old gift)
Pink: BC322 “Dee-Dolly” Gift ... with Mynerva Lipstick

Also wearing Skin by Curio, Eyes by Fashism, and Shirt by Whippet and Buck

Love,
Serene

BLANCHE FRAICHE

I am so enjoying the Truth District opening … Lovely designers, beautiful scenery, and the buzz of good company. Standing room only.

Several of the designers timed the release of new creations to coincide with the District Opening; in particular Gala Phoenix released three new skins, with six makeups each. As soon as I saw the Curio sign, I knew I was in big big trouble. You know how am about her skin, don't you?

This soft, glowing, beautiful skin I am wearing is a gift. (I would have paid!) *happy sigh* I'm still trying to choose one or two more ...

Shirt: Whippet and Buck “Claven Lace” (opening group gift at Truth District, it is a bit transparent so I wore two layers)
Belt: Pacadi “Mairey Leather Belt” (unavailable)
Skirt: 5th and Oxford “Seaside Sweetie” (L$50 at Closing Sale)
Jewelry: Lassitude and Ennui “Bleeding Heart” (texture change HUD)
Shoes: Pixel Mode “Baby T’s”
Hair: Truth “Becky” (multicolor pack, opening group gift at Truth District)
Hairbase: by booN
Skin: Curio “:GP: Airhead-Truth District” (opening group gift at Truth District)
Eyes: Fashism “Sunrise”
Eyelashes: by Exodi and Glow Studio
Poses: by Diesel Works and Long Awkward Pose

Love,
Serene

IT'S TIME

The new Truth District shopping sim opened about half an hour ago. The sim is now fully loaded and for the next couple of days you will be seeing the sim opening gifts all over the feeds. Click, click, click go all the mouses of people trying to get lucky and TP in the moment someone leaves. My computer isn't really up for that so I was glad to be invited to visit before the crazy began. And I have to tell you, that place is dangerous. An alarming number of lovely stores spread themselves out before me, tempting me to empty out my wallet on the first day of the month. ;D Recommend joining the Truth District Update Group and running over there to look!

MY SECRET CRUSH

There were those boys in school that you could giggle about with your friends. And then there was that boy that you watched when no one was looking. He was nerdy, sweet and shy and mostly overlooked. That was just fine with me.

Because secretly I was a nerd myself.

Let out your inner nerd for the next couple of weeks on the Geekgasm Hunt. It doesn't have to be your secret anymore!

Shirt: TGIS “Nerd is the New Sexy” (Geekgasm Hunt Prize)
Shorts: The Sea Hole “DNA Summersuit Shorts” (Geekgasm Hunt Prize)
Socks: Pig “Argyle Sock Mit Suspender”
Gloves Pig “Gloves Mit Suspenders” (only at Fungus store)
Shoes: House of Curios “Sneaker Wedges”
Earrings: Undefined Lilies “Nerding You” (Geekgasm Hunt Prize)
Necklace: Yellow Berry “Lunatic Lanyards” (Geekgasm Hunt Prize)
Book: Boof “D&D Player Handbook” (Geekgasm Hunt Prize)
Tied Sweater: Beatnik “ShockedNerdSweater” (Geekgasm Hunt Prize)
Hair: LeLutka “Rykiel”
Skin: Natural Beauty “Tulip”
Eyes: Fashism “Sunrise”
Eyelashes: Glow Studio “Innocent.eyelashes – pure”
Poses: by Animazoo (altered by book animation)

Love,
Serene

SUMMERTIME

Summertime
Summertime

Sum-sum-summertime ... ooOOoo!

I'm loving the Berries "Headfreezer" Animation Override. For a long time I've mostly avoided very long hairstyles because many mocap poses and dances put my hair into my shoulders and clothes. The headfreezer fixes that! Thank you.

Top: The Sea Hole “Shiarra Tank”
Pants: The Secret Store “Embroidered Flared Pants”
Shoes: Treads “77 Loafers”
Hair: Exile “Lucia” (at the Dressing Room)
Skin: Your Skin and Your Shape “Penelope” (at the Dressing Room)
Eyes: Fashism “Sunrise”
Eyelashes: Glow Studio “Innocent.eyelashes – pure”
AO: Berries “Headfreezer”
Poses: by Don’t Freak Out

Love,
Serene

OUT OF UNIFORM

What a mess. Disarranged jacket, sloppy tie, whose shirt is that? ... And to top it off, a shiner.

A disgrace to the service.

Hat: Deco “Officer’s Cap”
Jacket: Lelutka “Charlie”
Tie: Aitui “Skinny Tie” (includes tucked and full neckbands)
Shirt: Indi Designs “Shirt Checked” (from the Dan outfit)
Leather Pants: The Abyss “Chaos Leather Pants” (also includes belt not shown)
Boots: Edge Grafica “31 Engineer Boots” (L$1 on Second Life Marketplace)
Hairbase: Aitui “Standard Hairbase – 004” (no sideburns)
Skin: Curio “:GP: Acorn [Dark] Battle Royale-Shiner 1”
Eyes: Fashism “Sunrise Eyes”
Eyelashes: Glow Studio “Innocent.eyelashes – pure”
Poses: by Long Awkward Pose

Love,
Serene

QUEEN OF THE UNDEAD

They bring the caught to be judged, and the weak to be eaten.

They come to worship, or to ask for favors.

They hope I am in a good mood.

Today's post was motivated by the lovely and macabre Succubus Skins that I purchased at Ugly Duck's Summer Sale. Several multipacks of skin marked down to L$250, including this horror themed skin, and several others more normal. Don't miss! After the sale ends these skins will be retired.

Outfit: Bare Rose “Ghol Lady”
Skin: Ugly Duck “Lilith – Succubus” (4-pack for L$250 at the Summer Sale)
Eyes: Ugly Duck “Lily Black”
Eyelashes: by Exodi
Facial Snarl: House of Curios “HOC – expresso HUD” (free)
Animations: by Long Awkward Pose
Location: Omega Point

Love,
Serene

TRUE COLORS

I wanted to do another post inspired by the 1980s. Perhaps I should apologize in advance?

... nah, it could be worse. The hair is bleached blonde with colored streaks a la Cyndi Lauper, and pretty big on top, but not too big. Yes the jewel-toned collar is turned up, and the shoulder padding is quite large. My earrings dangle and my bangles jangle. Large brightly colored lips in honor of Kelly LeBrock. (If you never heard of her, she was the one with the pillowy lips when Angelina Jolie and Liv Tyler were in diapers.)

But I could be wearing an izod polo, a plaid shirt with gold threads in it, or an aerobics outfit with a headband, belt, stirrup leggings and striped knit legwarmers, a la Jane Fonda. I could have a giant spiral perm. Or ... hammerpants *shiver*

Even the deities of fashion know better than to recycle old fashion fads without alteration. They are modified and toned down to make them more palatable. Still, I cringed the other day when I saw the cork and hemp wedge heels at the shoe store. I can tolerate a lot of things in Second Life that I can't stand in real life.

Jacket: The Secret Store “Mrs. Jones’ Jacket”
Leggings: Leaks “Zombie Got Me” (unavailable I think)
Earring: Je Suis “Africain Earhoops” (Texture Change)(Accessories Fair)
Bracelets: Erratic “Twisted Bracelets” (Texture Change)(Accessories Fair)
Shoes: Purrfect 10 “Serenity Lazy Sunday Rose”
Hair: Exile “Voodoo” (Texture Change Streaks)(Chic Birthday Event)
Skin: Glam Affair “Layla” (Zombie Popcorn Hunt Prize)
Lipstick: Glam Affair “Layla Lipstick – risque” (a zillion colors available L$50 each)
Eyeshadow: Natural Beauty “Makeup Set 14 – makeup 5”
Eyelashes: by Exodi
Eyes: Fashism “Sunrise”
Nail Polish: Tres Blah “Nail Color (Eggplant)” (from multipack)
Poses: Dismorph and ImpEle

Love,
Serene

PIU TRISTE

I must, must show you this lovely mask from La Gyo's Mademoiselle collection. For some reason I was especially loving the one orange flower, so I wore burnt golden orange.

Believe it or not, this delicious mask is La Gyo's gift on the Zombie Popcorn Hunt. It's amazing. And ladies, I bet you can't go there without buying other pieces from this collection. I bought another floral headpiece and some pretty shoes, that I'll show you as soon as I can find just the right dress to wear with them.

Mask: La Gyo “Floral blind mask”
Bolero: G Field “Ruffle Bolero”
Lace Collar: PixelDolls “Bella.Gold.Lace Collar”
Hairpiece: booN “DARE82”
Hairbase: booN “gathered raised hairbase”
Skin: Natural Beauty “Monica”

Love,
Serene