THE CIRCUS

I'm still working on my sideshow act with my kitties. They're a little crazy, but enthusiastic. And they say that cats are impossible to train!



I'm ready to perform!



Teacup Headband: Quirky "Steamer Headband" (at the Kawaii Project)
Corset: Tentacio "Clown Corset black" (TAG Gacha)
Boots: Lassitude and Ennui "Hellebore" (at We Love Roleplay)
Neck Ruffle: Nefarious Inventions "peculiar.frills.dark.common" (TAG Gacha)
Kitties: Miamai "Catz" (TAG Gacha)
Shirt: by DCNY (vintage unavailable)
Bodysuit: Whippet and Buck "Lola"
Tights: by Sugar Heart (vintage unavailable)
Hair: Lamb "Miss Mabel v2" (TAG Gacha)
Skin: Essences "Imogen"
Eyes: Ikon "Ardent"
Lashes: by LeLutka
Hands: by SLink (animal print appliers by Bamboo Nails)
Poses: by Dare and Long Awkward Pose (vintage unavailable)

Love,
Serene

A MOONLIT HOLIDAY

Even in this time of year with the longest nights your Holiday can sparkle! This dark gown from The White Armory has all the sparkle of night-time ice. The fabric has a lovely subtle shine and glitter. You can find it at Gothmas by Gaslight.



With some elven hairsticks to hold up your updo. They come in a rainbow of colors but the violet is my favorite. Perfect for any snow Queen!



Gown: The White Armory "Gothmas Swagger Gown" (at Gothmas by Gaslight)
Hairsticks: ISD "Winter's Dream Hairsticks" (at Gothmas by Gaslight)
Hair: Exile "L.A." (gacha)
Skin: Essences "Loulou"
Eyes: Ikon "Ardent"
Ears: by Aitui
Hands: by SLink
Lashes: by LeLutka
Eyeshadow: Miamai "Decoshadows" (vintage gift)
Poses: by Del May and Diesel Works

Love,
Serene

LAVENDER DREAM

The lovely jewel tones of Fall don't have to restrict you to wearing rusty oranges and reds. I am still loving this purple gown all the way through to the first snowfall.



The drapery of this Miamai gown is amazing isn't it? I love its natural asymmetry and flowing fabrics! So elegant.



The choker is an unconventional pairing, with its mix of arty scrollwork and industrial coggishness. It is available right now over at the Clockwork Spiral fundraiser, if you haven't visited yet!

Gown: Miamai "Shae"
Necklace: Lassitude and Ennui "Wayfinder" (texture-change to five colors)
Ring: Krystal "Marquess" (gacha)
Hair: Little Bones "Baptism" (texture-change HUDs)
Skin: Essences "Galadriel"
Eyes: Ikon "Ardent"
Lipstick: Mock Cosmetics "Inocente Lipcolor - Jacarta"(recent group gift)
Lashes: Pink Acid "Long Diva Alpha Top Eyelashes"
Hands: by SLink
Poses: by Don't Freak Out and Elymode

Love,
Serene

URBAN FRAME OF MIND

You know how they say in New York City there is only one color? Black isn't really a color, even though I love wearing it. So I added a patterned monochrome dress underneath. The coat is understated but the collar shape is lovely.



I wanted a pop of color and No. 7 has this nice glossy red lipstick out just now. It's serendipity.



These fabulous heels are a hint that there might be something hot hidden underneath the monochrome coat. The chain and heel ornaments are so delicate, but at the same time as tough as steel. Try them on and take a close look at the details. Wow.

Coat: LIV-Glam "K Collection - Angel in the Snow Coat"
Dress: LIV-Glam "Even Cowgirls Gets the Blues"
Heels: Miamai "Xanadu Chain Stiletto" (at Shoetopia)
Lipstick: No. 7 "Kissing Lipstick"
Hair: Lamb "Stay Don't Go" (at Collabor88)
Skin: Essences "Olyvia" (50L Friday but similar skins available)
Eyes: Ikon "Ardent"
Eyeliner: by Essences
Lashes: LeLutka "Photoshoot II"
Hands and Feet: by SLink
Poses: by Diesel Works and Epiphany
Love,
Serene

THE JUNK TRUNK

Somehow, this fantastic set of leathers (that I bought months ago!) has been sitting overlooked in my closet. I recently decided I should try harder to catch up on showing you the things I've been buying and I've been unpacking boxes and bags. I had to stay up late and get out my camera. 

... May I draw your attention to the junk in my trunk! I have not yet seen any other pants that give me quite this round, juicy bum. I dare you to go demo these. They are quilted leather, good for bikers and goths and vampires and what all, or just anyone who wants an extra-sexy rear end.



Another thing I am loving today, I found at Drift. These rigged mesh turtleneck collars are fabulous for adding more dimension to system shirts, layering with jackets and sweaters. They come in large multicolor packs, different sizes, different fabrics. This one was in a fine-grained leather.



I managed to combine the mesh pants with the non-mesh boots, by making the boots a little bit larger. I hope more clothing designers will continue to make system clothes and non-rigged mesh, to make it possible to layer and combine outfits.

Collar: Drift "Chic Leather Collar"
Shirt: Aoharu "BT Turtleneck"
Necklace: Violet Voltaire "Love in a Void"
Pants: Lapointe and Bastchild "S'Wear Mesh (W) Leather Pants"
Boots: Lapointe and Bastchild "Elise Ankle Boots"
Hair: Truth "Portia"
Skin: Illusory "Love Milk"
Eyes: Ikon "Horizon"
Eyeliner: Miamai "DecoShadows 01" (old group gift)
Lashes: LeLutka "Photoshoot II"
Poses: by Del May and Penny Dreadful Arcade

Love,
Serene

SUEDE

All the suede of this Hucci outfit feels so decadent to me! ... True story, this year I was groaning as I passed by all the suede shoes at one of my favorite shops. I love suede, but let's face it, it doesn't last long enough. Hard to clean, chafed spots show wear too quickly, and before you know it, you are throwing away your favorite shoes. In this regard, Second Life is obviously superior, your nice things never wear out, although the inventory monster might munch on a few of them occasionally ...



I know you've seen this stuff from Collabor88 already, it's all fabulous. I think the coordinated palette is wonderful and working together must be so much more fun for the designers. The Schadenfreude boots are delicious and HUD-driven to control the leatherwork details. Amazed.



Dress: Hucci "Soure" (mesh)(at Collabor88)
Leggings: The Secret Store "Blue Wool Tights"
Boots: Schadenfreude "Amargosa Boots" (mesh)(at Collabor88)
Rings: Yummy "Boho Rings" (at Collabor88)
Earrings and Necklace: LaGyo "Titiana"
Hair: Ink Hair "Natum" (this color was exclusive at Hair Fair)
Skin: Atomic "Grace"
Eyes: MADesigns "Eyes Nature Ocean Deep" (okay these are really old!)
Eyeshadow: by Miamai
Poses: by Label Motion and oOo Studio

Love,
Serene

DRAGON A L'ORANGE

As always when October comes around, our favorite designers get in the spirit of things and put out Halloween editions of some of their lovelies, some of them so inexpensive or even free that anyone on a tiny budget can join the rest of us prancing around in costume!

For example, this outfit includes a strapped outfit I picked up at the Plastik, a store well worth your time to go to anytime. She already puts out regular dollarbies and group lucky boards, but this month you need to go see the Halloween treat tables and bob for apples. Over the suit I am wearing a new NV mesh corset that is a gift at the Womenstuff Lounge. There is also a beautiful group gift available in the group history for a couple more days, in a lighter orange, more of a quilted creamsicle.



Pink Fuel has also set out a couple of beautiful presents, I won't spoil all the surprises, but they include this Halloween-edition skin with Orange metallic eyeshadow. I added these riveting orange eyes by Insufferable Dastard that I picked up at the Arcade Gacha venue.



And I thought Epic's legwarmers and hoofies would work with the Dragon set from Tokushi Avatars. The hooves are a VIP group gift. Joining the group is not free, but the gifts are frequent and I think worth the fee if you like fae, furry or kawaii things. The Dragon set was full price but fab, including ears, horns, unscripted wings and a very dangerous-looking tail. (Potterheads, think Hungarian Horntail.) Do you have your Halloween Costume yet?

Dragon Parts: Tokushi Avatars "Dragon Mod Set"
Corset: NV "Halloween Latex Mesh Corset" (gift)
Strappy Suit: Plastik "Samhain Strappysuit"
Legwarmers/Hooves: Epic "VIP Slouchie Digi Warmers" (VIP gift)
Hair: Lelutka "Rykiel"
Skin: Pink Fuel "Elly - Pumpkin Makeup" (gift)
Eyes: Insufferable Dastard "Orange Flare / The Arcade" (gacha)
Lashes: Miamai "Catwalk Lashes"
Poses: by Miamai

Love,
Serene

MESSY EATER

Don't worry. I'm not hungry.



*urp*  ... I need to go clean up.



Corset: NV "Seraphim" (not mesh but built-in pose keeps waist straight)
Shirt: PixelDolls "Elizabeth" (unavailable)
Skirt: Snatch "Nightmare"
Earrings: PixelDolla "Bathory" (mesh)(unavailable)
Hair: Ploom "Long Day Dipped" (mesh)(texture change HUD)
Skin: Fashionably Dead "Vampire Skin" (Monster Beach Party @ Twomoons Island)
Eyes: MiaSnow "Ebil Blood" (Monster Beach Party @ Twomoons Island)
Lashes: MiaSnow "Fantasy Curls"
Eyeshadow: Miamai "DecoShadows" (unavailable)
Mausoleum: by Pravda
Poses: by Bang

Love,
Serene

HUNTING BENTHAM

The best thing a hunter can learn is to master the ability to hold perfectly still and listen. If they don't hear you, the other inhabitants of the woods will go quietly about their business. But maybe not quietly enough.



But sometimes something dangerous might be hunting you. Time to go!



Aaaah! ... just a bird. *whew*

(Even though these pants from the Essencial shop are a plain rendition of a full perm kit, I still rather like them for roleplay purposes. The full perm mesh kit for these harem pants are over here on Meli Imako's Marketplace shop if you would like to take a look.)

Headscarf: Lelutka "Faith" (Hair Fair Benefit Bandanna)
Jacket: Gisaci "Primavera"
Pants: Essencial "Baggy Pants" (mesh)
Boots: Coco "Suede Boots" (group gift)
Necklace: Sey "Edokin" (from their freebie room)
Gloves: Celoe "Mery" (mesh)
Bow: Harbinger and Stormie "Hunter's Bow"
Skin: Curio ":GP: Bean Frex [Dark] Fall"
Eyes: Ikon "Horizon"
Facelight: NLight Free 2.0 (free on SL Marketplace)
Poses: by Olive Juice (unavailable) and Miamai
Location: Bentham Woods

Love,
Serene

CHINOISERIE

Since the seventeenth century, Chinoiserie in art and architecture has reflected the influence of oriental textiles and ornament. From there it went to fashion ... and never really left. And I'm so glad! The fabrics in this tote and slacks make me happy. I picked the blue shirt because it reminds me of Wedgwood blue, and makes this skin look like porcelain.

I added some cosmetics that I think are a little remeniscent of Geisha makeups. Just a little bit.

Altogether I think a modern casual redo of a classic idea. Most pieces shown available at the Culture Shock charity fundraiser. :D

Top: TokiDoki "Spring Top" (mesh)
Pants: Miamai "Mahvi Vintage Red" (mesh)(Culture Shock benefit item)
Purse: Miamai "Traveler Bag Sakura" (at Culture Shock)(includes poses)
Ring: La Gyo "Cube Ring" (Culture Shock benefit item)(texture change)
Shoes: Your Skin and Your Shape "Brera" (at Culture Shock)
Hair: Exile "Violetta" (at The Dressing Room)
Skin: Kooqla "Ojen"
Eye Cosmetic: la Petite Morte "Diffused Makeup" (Culture Shock Benefit item)
Lipstick: Redbird "Pinup Lips" (Culture Shock benefit item)
Eyes: Ikon "Horizon"
Lashes: Glow Studio "Innocent. eyelashes - pure"
Poses: by Miamai (incl. with purse) and Long Awkward Pose

Love,
Serene

IN THE WILD

Fierce. Confident. Proud. And maybe dangerous, like this Medusa Mask by Aliza Karu.

I wouldn't want this place to be just like real life. What would be the point of that? I love the quirky, bizarre, unconventional opportunities.

Mask: AD Creations "Medusa" (Mix and Mesh Fair Gift)
Jacket: Bliss "McCullough Fur"
Pants: Abyss "Chaos Leather Pants" (cuffs not shown)
Shoes: Pixel Mode "Luna Leopard"
Hairbase: Aitui "Standard Hairbase 005"
Skin: Illusory "Paige Cocoa"
Makeup: La Malvada Mujer "Bi#3" (at Epoch Legend)
Eyes: Repulse "Rotten"
Lashes: Miamai "Catwalk Lashes Burst" (group gift)
Teeth: PXL "Mouth_open_Addon" (prim teeth)
Poses: by ImpEle and Long Awkward Pose

Love,
Serene

THE DARKENED ROSE

This I why I still like to go on Hunts:

If I hadn't gone on the Twisted Hunt, I would never have found this new (new-to-me?) shop. I expect the next time I have money, I'll go back to RokumaikaN. The garments in their shop look so delicious!

A stunner. *grins*

Outfit: RokumaikaN “Chain and Rose” Suit and Hat (Twisted Hunt Prize)
Ring: Alchemy Immortalis “Foy Porter”
Boots: Lassitude and Ennui “Overknee Boots” (mesh viewer required)
Hair: booN “KED937”
Hairbase: booN “Gathered Lower Hairbase”
Skin: Cutio “:GP: Airhead”
Eyes: The Attic “Unseelie Eyes” (Twisted Hunt Prize)
Eye Makeup: Miamai “DecoShadows 01” (group gift)
Eyelashes: by Exodi and Glow Studio
Poses: by Long Awkward Pose

Love,
Serene