NEVERMORE

Gothic isn't always dressed down. It can also have all the sophistication of this marbled-fabric gown, embellished with fur, feathers, and jewels. (It doesn't show in these photos, but there is also a feathered fan on my tush.) I am perfectly gowned for some dark ballroom among the unseelie or the vampire clans.



And I can't tell you how impressed I am with this necklace from the Bliensen and Maitai shop. at first glance it just seems a shiny black, but under advanced lighting there is this eerie green sheen. I can't stop staring ...



Dress: Pale Empress "Nevermore" (at World Goth Fair)
Necklace: Bliensen and Maitai "Mano" (at World Goth Fair)
Wristlets: The Dark Fae "Say It With Bones" (at World Goth Fair)
Shoes: ZOZ "Storm Silver" (for SLink High Feet)(at World Goth Fair)
Eyes: Pin Me Down "Mori" (at World Goth Fair)
Hair: Taketomi "Eulalia"
Skin: Essences "Inogen"
Lipstick: Pink Acid "Gothic Lipgloss"
Hands and Feet: by SLink
Ears: by Aitui
Lashes: by LeLutka
Poses: by Del May and Diesel Works

Love,
Serene

SNOWBERRIES

A few more of my favorite things from Gothmas by Gaslight. Just because it's gothy doesn't mean it can't be festive! I could get the pieces of the outfit to match the red in the dress because the wreath, jewels and tattoo are modifiable. I feel like Briar Rose all dressed and ready for a midnight ball.



Gown: Senzafine "Isadora" (Gothmas by Gaslight)
Jewels: Eclectica "Gothic Pearls" (texture change)(Gothmas by Gaslight)
Tattoo: Fallen Gods "Brier" (tintable)(Gothmas by Gaslight)
Wreath: Le Poppycock "Cardinal Love" (modifiable)(gift at the Chapter Four)
Hair: D!va "Giz"
Skin: Essences "Loulou"
Eyes: Ikon "Horizon"
Lipstick: Pink Acid "Overly Transparent Lip Gloss"
Ears: by Aitui
Hands: by SLink

Love,
Serene

THE INEFFABLE EFFIE

I put on this lovely gown and felt inspired to style it as a young Miss Effie Trinket. (If you haven't read the Hunger Games books, you should. They are a perfectly apropos observation/warning about our times, its fashions, thinking and politics. Not really books for children at all.) Here these photos capture the young capitol socialite before she allowed herself to be lured into the role of stylist. Food for thought.



Jewels: Finesmith "Iris" (texture change options)
Gown: Junbug "Helena" (group gift)
Hair: booN "XFE275" (vintage)
Skin: Essences "Ingrid" (this version with colored eyebrows was at Candy Fair)
Eyes: Ikon "Ardent"
Lashes: Miasnow "Fantasy Curls" (unavailable)
Lipstick: Pink Acid "Overly Done Light Gloss"
Hands: by SLink
Poses: by Marukin

Love,
Serene

MIRANDA

A quick dark look inspired by a little necklace I pulled from Nylon Outfitters' entry in the Tag Gacha event. I had great fun doing the road-rally style gacha fest. If you miss the old Creators Stamp Rally that they used to have over at the Mont Saint Michel sim, this should be right up your alley.



This "Miranda" cameo is from a set of stunning hand-drawn portraits that remind me of Edward Gorey and the Addams Family. Perfect for this time of year. Miranda obviously loves her kitty so I posed with another one of mine. The Sugar Garden has these kittens ... aw!!



Read more about the Tag! Gacha event at their web page.

Necklace: Nylon Outfitters "Spooky Girl Portrait - Miranda" (at Tag Gacha)
Kitten: The Sugar Garden "Persian Kitten - Black Boots" (at Tag Gacha)
Collar: Junbug "Freyja's Collar" (gacha)
Shoes: Ane "Strappy Heels"
Dress: Color Me HOF "Liv Dress"
Hair: Spellbound "Velvet" (at Tag Gacha)
Skin: Essences "Ingrid - Uber"(at Uber)
Lipstick: Pink Acid "Overly Transparent Lip Gloss" (at Cosmetic Fair)
Eyes: Dead Apples "Shattered - Silver"
Lashes: by LeLutka
Hands and Feet: by SLink
Nail Polish Appliers: by Adore and Abhor

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

I LOVE RUDY

This outfit is a little dark so I woke it up with some red. Rudy the Reindeer is today's Fifty Linden Friday special over at Silentsparrow, so you have only a couple more hours to go get it at that price! Offered in regular and transferrable gift-giving versions.



This sweet furred jacket from LIV-Glam came with some eighties-retro baggy pants that I couldn't bring myself to wear because no matter how totally rad they are, I already lived in the eighties once. LOL. That's okay, I adore the jacket's side zipper, leather trim and structured shoulders. And this Furry hat and hair by Lamb is an instant fave cause it includes a HUD to retexture the hat to a bunch of cute fabrics.



Hat and Hair: Lamb "Desire Lines" (at Collabor88)
Plushie: Silentsparrow "(Rudy) Holding Deer-ee" (for Fifty Linden Friday)
Jacket: LIV-Glam "Love on Top" (outfit also includes pants)
Leggings: Maitreya "Couture Leggings"
Boots: Moda "Lady's Work Boots"
Skin: Essences "Dyana"
Blush: by Essences
Lipstick: Pink Acid "Dolly Lip Smack"
Teeth: by Dead Apples
Eyes: Ikon "Ardent"
Lashes: LeLutka "Photoshoot II"
Hands: by SLink
Nailpolish HUD: by Adore and Abhor
Poses: by Body Language and Label Motion

Love,
Serene

DARK NOEL

Perhaps this dark gothic dress is not what you imagined for your Holidays, but you can't deny its beauty. I adore the inky poinsettias and the sweetly seductive Fascinator. Another lovely find at the Christmas Expo!



Outfit: Fosca de los Encantades "Lilith Onyx" (at Christmas Expo)
Shoes: Lassitude and Ennui "Jolenta"
Hair: LeLutka "Vent"
Skin: by Essences (doesn't show clearly in this photo due to lighting)
Eyes: Ikon "Horizon"
Eyeshadow: La Malvada Mujer "Theater of You"
Lipgloss: Pink Acid "Gothic Lip Gloss"
Lashes: by LeLutka
Hands: by SLink
Poses: by Don't Freak Out! and LAP (unavailable)

Love,
Serene

CORALINE

I would love to be at Shoetopia right now, but I guess I will wait a couple of days instead of tearing my hair out while I wait for all the awesome shoe magic to download. While I wait why don't I show you this week's outfit from LIV-Glam? Not just the cute little dress, also some new shoes. I could be wrong, but I think these are their first shoes for SLink feet. They are some fairly unassuming pumps with a bit of flare on the heel and opalescent-looking finish. What makes them a sweet wardrobe staple is that each pair of shoes comes with a HUD that changes the shoes to Forty-two different colors! There are four HUDs color-themed for the Elements: Earth, Air, Fire and Water.



Shoes: LIV-Glam "Anejo Pump Elementals" ( texture change HUD)
Dress: LIV-Glam "Linger" (only L$49 for now at the Mainstore)
( ... though this dress was for last Secret Wednesday, it was still at this price as of today)
Leggings: Tee*fy "Black Shine Leggings"
Hair: Exile "Tempest"
Skin: Essences "Song Goth 02 (at the Dressing Room)
Lipstick: Pink Acid "Sticky Bun Lip Gloss"
Eyes: Ikon "Horizon"
Lashes: LeLutka "Photoshoot II" and Essences "Eyelashes 01" (tattoo)
Hands and Feet: by SLink
Poses: oopsie I forgot.

Love,
Serene

WAITING ALL NIGHT

Have I mentioned I love purple? Well I do, so this little dress made me happy today. It comes with a texture change HUD that changes the colors from purple and gold, to red and green, or to grayscale. Just a quickie today!



Dress: LIV-Glam "Waiting All Night" (discounted at Fi*Fridays, or here on SL Marketplace)
Shoes: Pink Acid "Scorpion Boots"
Stockings: Insolence "Kiss Me" (vintage)
Jewelry: Finesmith "Saturday"
Hair: Exile "Celebrity Skin"
Skin: Essences "Amaterasu"
Eyes: Ikon "Horizon"
Eyeliner: Mock "Mile High Eyeliner"
Lashes: LeLutka "Photoshoot II"
Pose: by Adorkable

Love,
Serene

MISS MATCHED

I remember when I was a little kid, the way I would feel an instant attraction to certain things. I was unafraid to follow my magpie heart, so I could walk around in rainbow socks and a ballet tutu, with my pockets stuffed full of pebbles for my rock collection, an off-center ponytail tied with a couple of those bright hair-ties made of yarn. I shoved those plastic jewels on my fingers and pilfered my grandmother's fuchsia lipstick. I never worried once about whether anything matched or how I looked to anyone else.



I miss that. As much as I love a carefully chosen outfit, I have been feeling some restlessness and dissatisfaction in my Second Life, I think because I have not been feeding myself with enough creativity. As much positive feedback as I get from "normal" outfits, I think it's time I put more whimsy back in the mix. I need more whimsy. In both lives.



Shirt: Sassy "Cali Cutie Top - faded blue"
Shirt: Fishy Strawberry "Jeweled Cashmere Sweater" (vintage)
Skirt: LIV Glam "Edwige Salsa" (part of Outfit)
Leggings: Leezu "Glitter Tights"
Socks: Schadenfreude "Cloud Kneehigh Socks"
Shoes: 2Real "E-Wings" (w/ texture change HUD)
Necklace: Katatonik "(Big Alice) Wonderland Pendant" (the Arcade Gacha)
Parasol: Schadenfreude "Cloud Into the Woods"
Hair: Exile "Liv" and "Laya Braid Attachment" (vintage)
Skin: Essences "Opera Summertime"
Lipstick: Pink Acid "Glitter Gloss 02 - Magenta"
Eyes: May Girl "Deep Pink (Lighten)" (vintage)
Lashes: LeLutka "Photoshoot II"
Poses: by Epiphany

Love,
Serene

FOR SOPHIE

We all know what it feels like to feel out of place, but rarely does anyone lose their life for not fitting the common mold. After Sophie Lancaster and her boyfriend were killed simply for looking different, her mother founded the Sophie Lancaster Foundation to educate people not to practice hatred or intolerance of people who like to dress outside the mainstream. World Goth Fair in Second Life raises funds for this charity. If you like anything gothy, alternative, or are a fan of black and red, this fair is a Win-Win-Win!



Each shop at the Fair has at least one charity benefit item. I am wearing this dark confection from Evie's Closet, and Lassitude and Ennui's delicious bony jewels. It also made me smile that many of the vendors are also giving out little gifts for those of us who have a limited wallet; for instance these cute shoes at The Little Bat, and a nice dramatic eye shadow by Beautiful Freak. Evie Miles also put back out an old gift, the lovely black and red Halloween Fable gown, for those of you who haven't seen it already.



Read more at the World Goth Fair website!

Gown: Evie's Closet "Morrow" (charity benefit item)
Jewels: Lassitude and Ennui "Macabre" (charity benefit item)
Shoes: The Little Bat "Sophie Pumps" (fair gift)
Hair: LaViere "Ambush"
Skin: Essences "Wednesday Living Dead"
Eyes: Dead Apples "Shattered - Silver"
Lashes: LeLutka "Photoshoot II"
Lip Gloss: Pink Acid "Witches Gloss and Teeth 04"
Eye Shadow: Beautiful Freak "Flamina" (from fair gift pack)
Poses: by Flowey, Juxtapose and Ma Vie

Love,
Serene

RESISTANCE IS FUTILE

I was trying on this latex corset and vinyl pants, and thinking how incredibly uncomfortable they would be in real life, how hot and sticky, and I realized there was a perfect solution.



The cybernetic don't need to worry about body heat or perspiration. So here's my Borg. Cyber, not Swedish. Resistance is Futile!!



(click photos to see more detail)

Corset: NV Corsetry "White Latex Mesh Corset" (new)
Pants: Sassy! "Bite Me Vinyl Pants" (new)
Cyber Shirts: from Bare Rose "Dame Noir" Outfit
Star Trek Uniform: Unavailable
Shoes: Maitreya "Soho Boots" (only the foot part)
Skin: Glam Affair "Hybrid Christmas Skin" (old gift)
Lipstick: Pink Acid "Glitter Gloss 02 - Silver Small"
Hair: Discord Designs "Nethead-5e"
Eyes: Dead Apples "Shattered - Silver"
Lashes: LeLutka "Photoshoot II"
Poses: by Adorkable (50% off Closing Sale on Now!)

Love,
Serene

CIRQUE DU COSMETIQUE part two

More options from the lovely Cosmetic Fair, in town until April 30!



Ladies and Gentlemen, please give your attention to the ladies high in the tent! They will risk terrible injury by performing without a net!  (Pink Acid "2Much Eyeshadow" in twelve colors, Lipglosses from left to right: Cupcake, Deja, and Silk in six, five and eight colors respectively.)



Madame Zelinsky can see your past and your future after you cross her palm with silver. (Paperbag "Vibrant" eyeshadows; I am showing all six colors! Freakishly of course.)



The Snow maiden of the Plains, the only albino known in her tribe, will demonstrate her deadly accuracy with bow and arrow, all from Horseback!  (Nuuna's v13 Makeups Pack includes 14 variations, all tintable.)



And the infamous hirsute Owens sisters! Voluptuous yet ... unusual. Need I say more?  (The Mons "Amazon" eyeshadows are available in ten colors.)

The Cosmetics Fair is located HERE. If you would like to see more pictures, here's a LINK to their Flickr page.

Love,
Serene

PASSIONFLOWER

LIV-Glam's Rocha Outfit includes both this dress and the belt that goes with it. I love the contrasting moods between the traditional floral print and the edgy studded belt! The dress comes with a HUD that gives you any size dress you want, and changes the print to six different color variants.



I liked the feel of the metal studs so much that I added the Pink Acid boots. The shape of these boots are so fashion forward, and each color boot comes with either silver or gold studs. They rock!



Dress/Belt Outfit: LIV-Glam "Rocha Pencil Dress"
Shoes: Pink Acid "Mesh Scorpion Boots"
Hair: Truth "Portia"
Skin: Essences "Clover Cold Sunkissed"
Eyes: Ikon "Ardent"
Lashes: LeLutka "Photoshoot II"
Poses: by Adorkable and Label Motion

Love,
Serene