In Bourbon's Boudoir

LOOK Elite Presents Alge’s Designs

2010-10-20T19:36:00.000-07:00

There is a designer who describes her style as simple, elegant, and some sexy spicy. I would add that her clothes are really fun to wear! Who is this designer? Algezares Magic!

On Tuesday, 26 October, 13.30 SLT, LOOK Elite Models will present a showing of Alge’s Designs, including her new releases, as well as some classics. In all, more than 20 outfits will be shown. Some of Alge’s outfits include jewelry. For example, Sammy Mini Dress (pictured above) includes the matching bracelets.

The show will be presented at LOOK Elite’s Mayflower Catwalk.

By the way, Alge has also recently released a line of makeup; in the picture I am shown wearing E+L Black-Red.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

2010-10-07T04:58:00.000-07:00

Dear readers,

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Please remember your self-exams / mammograms, and manage environmental factors such as nutrition.

Live long, live well.

Permalink Leave a C

"Helena 03" by Tuli

2010-09-23T20:33:00.000-07:00

Helena. What a pretty, pretty skin! That warm skin tone with the light freckles sets the canvas on which Tuli paints the loveliest makeup. With Helena 03, Tuli combines rich pink lips with soft lavender eye shadow. Helena 03 is released for The Dressing Room. It will be available for 2 weeks, after which it will be retired. This is really a phenomenal skin, on sale for L$65.

Location: The Dressing Room This Way/32/153/21

“Helena 02″ by Tuli

2010-09-10T19:52:00.001-07:00

Every two weeks, Tuli releases a new skin for The Dressing Room. This week we haveHelena 02, a fair skin tone, lightly freckled. Helena 02 has delicious red lips and soft charcoal eye shadow, a versatile makeup for daytime or evening. Helena has all of the quality definition that you expect from Tuli’s main skins, but is priced at only L$65. Helena 02 will be available at TDR for two weeks only, after which time it will be discontinued.

Location: The Dressing Room This Way/32/153/21

"Helena 01" by Tuli

2010-08-29T18:31:00.001-07:00

Tuli has released a new skin line for The Dressing Room! The line is called “Helena.” The first makeup in the line features a delicate pink lip gloss and lavender eye shadow, very well paired colors. If you have picked up any of the Gina skins at TDR, you will find Helena to be somewhat lighter. Helena 01 will be available for two weeks, after which 01 will be retired. Price: L$65.

Location: The Dressing Room This Way/32/153/21

“Audrey” by Tuli

2010-08-17T20:09:00.001-07:00

Tuli Asturias has been busy working on something exciting. Well, a new skin from Tuli is always exciting, but this one is a little extra. Audrey comes with tattoo layers for lip color! So let me first express my admiration and appreciation for the skin designers such as Tuli, who have given us wonderful makeups on a single skin layer. At the same time, getting just the right combination of lip color, eye shadow, blush, and so forth, that works best with your eyes, hair color and facial features requires some flexibility. So when Viewer 2 gave us the tattoo layer, suddenly all kinds of possibilities opened up. And Tuli’sAudrey? Well worth the wait!

Audrey is available in four skin tones; each skin includes brown and copper eyebrows and freckle / no freckle versions. Cleavages are included as undershirt layers and tattoo layers. Tattoo layers? For cleavage? Yup. Lashes, too. Viewer 2.1 and higher supports multiple tattoo and clothing layers. Imagine that: no more choosing between hair base and makeup! So, yes, you can wear cleavage, lips, and hair base, all as tattoo layers. I think I counted 12 lip colors (each in gloss and matte) to wear on top of those amazing Tuli lips. The lips on the base skin are a nice natural color, and look well on their own. So now you can wear your sexiest lip color with your favorite eye makeup!

Store location: Journey/124/173/22/

"Gina05" by Tuli

2010-07-30T11:45:00.001-07:00

It’s always fun to log in and find a delivery from Tuli waiting:) Tuli has a new release for The Dressing Room. ”Gina05″ has a nice summer tan skin tone, with exquisite eye shadow and those perfect Tuli lips. The lips are a natural color with just a hint of pink. The eye shadow blends from pink to blue, suggesting lavender above the irises, with just enough glitter to make your eyes sparkle. ”Gina” has all the quality of Tuli’s top skin lines, and is priced at only L$65. What a great opportunity to pick up a fabulous skin at a bargain price!

(Also shown, Tuli’s “Jade” eyes in Fawn.)

Location: The Dressing Room This Way/32/153/21

Model Class begins at LOOK Elite Models

2010-07-13T06:00:00.000-07:00

A new Model Styling class is starting at LOOK Elite Models on Wednesday, 14 July, 12 PM SLT. Nemi McCoy will be the instructor, and class will meet for approximately six weeks. Cost is L$2,000

Location: Peraut/47/87/801/

“Black Carpet” by MEB

2010-06-30T21:05:00.002-07:00

If you haven’t seen MEB’s summer collection yet, you are in for a treat. Let me introduce you to MariaElena Barbossa’s summer formal, “Black Carpet.” Not to be confused with “Red Carpet” which is available in several colors, “Black Carpet” is an entirely new release. ”Black Carpet” is a strapless bicolor gown, with an open skirt. The white and charcoal colors create a dramatic contrast. ”Black Carpet” wraps you in rich satin, with a dark sheer shell draping over the skirt. It’s summer now, and on a hot July night, one might find the usual full-length skirt to be a little much. So Maria has given us a daring open skirt for a cooler, more laid back feeling. MEB’s black vernish stilettos are included with the gown. ”Black Carpet” is available for L$650. So let your hair down, show off those nicely tanned legs, and turn heads wherever you go.

Also note that MEB is celebrating their new main store in KLIO with free L$100 giftcards. You can pick one up in the main hall.

Location: KLIO 109/199/23

“Jade” Deck Exclusive by Tuli

2010-06-30T21:05:00.001-07:00

A quick note here. Tuli has released a new makeup for her “Jade” line, to be sold exclusively at her satellite store at the Deck. The Deck Exclusive has a light summery feel, with peachy-pink lips and a glowing pink and yellow eye makeup. For a full review of Tuli’s Jade line, see my post, “Jade” by Tuli. The Deck Exclusive is available in all 5 of the Jade skin tones (skin tone 3 shown). Each skin tone sells for L$1,000, and includes 3 eyebrow and 3 cleavage options.

Location: Tuli @ The Deck , The Deck/184/180/22/

La Luna di Carta

2010-06-27T19:33:00.001-07:00

A few months ago, I previewed “Orange Juice,” a fun little bit of summer beach wear by Giulia Janus. Giulia is a talented Italian designer who was soon to debut in the SL fashion scene. Giulia has been around SL for a while, as an established photographer and having done a little building. But touring Giulia’s studio, this fashionista quickly recognized that some exciting new clothing was about to be released. Since then, Giulia has opened her store, and today Laura18 Streeter and I paid a visit to Giulia and her store.

At La Luna di Carta (Paper Moon), you will find a very nice selection of clothing ranging from swimwear to formal. Everything in the store reflects Giulia’s great sense of style. I instantly fell in love with a semi-formal, “Blackstar,” pictured above. ”Blackstar” wraps you in deep black velvet all the way down to the flowing bell bottoms. Peeking out from the lace draped from the hat, you will have that seductive, mysterious look. And the lace is adorned with what else? Stars and crescent moons. The same lace pattern shrouds your shoulders, and adorns a small skirt and the trimmings on the pants and ribbons. A bold black choker dresses up the throat, and black stilettos with dark red heels is included with the set. I love everything about “Blackstar!” The price is amazing, just L$299.

There are a couple totally cute gifts at the store, and while you are there, treat yourself to your favorite of Giulia’s outfits.

Store location: Gyul 147/102/24

“Gina” by Tuli

2010-06-05T18:20:00.000-07:00

Here’s some exciting news, dear readers. Tuli has been invited to join The Dressing Room team! Her first contribution is this exquisite skin, “Gina.” A neutral lip color brings attention to the eyes, and oh, what eyes! A lovely lavender eye shadow highlights the dramatic eyeliner. ”Gina” is everything you expect from Tuli: lovely makeup, attention to detail, and a perfectly natural look. A limited edition skin from a top-rated designer for only L$65! It is available beginning today (Saturday 5 June) and continuing for two weeks.

Location: The Dressing Room This Way/35/169/2502/

Modeling Class at LOOK Elite!

2010-05-08T19:00:00.001-07:00

If you love fashion, and simply MUST be a part of that scene, then you will want in on the new Model Styling class offered at LOOK Elite Models, beginning Saturday, May 15, at 10 AM SLT. LOOK is one of the oldest modeling agencies in SL, offering one of the most respected model training programs in the industry. You can view the course overview athttp://lookelitemodels.wordpress.com/look-elite-classes-overview/ Classes will be offered at the LOOK Academy classroom (Peraut/47/87/801).

“Sayuri” by Tuli

2010-04-18T15:50:00.000-07:00

I have a little secret to tell! This afternoon I received a preview pack from Tuli Asturias. I’m always anxious to see what Tuli has been doing, and when I unpacked the box, I was in for a real treat.

Tuli has created a Japanese skin, named Sayuri. It’s always exciting for me to see a talented designer branch out into new areas. Beyond developing a new ethnic skin line, Tuli has has created a graceful skin with amazing realism. The features are soft and dainty, rendering a face of perfect beauty. Pictured above are two of the makeups with stronger lip colors; some of the other makeups have lighter lip colors. You won’t want to wear prim lashes over these delicate eyes. No worries, the eye lashes are painted on.

Sayuri is available in two skin tones, as shown above, 10 makeups in each skin tone. Each skin comes with natural and push-up cleavage. Freckled versions of each skin are available. All skins are shaved, and tintable pubic hair is available for free at the store. Release is scheduled for April 22.

Store: Journey/124/173/22/

Permissions: copy / no mod / no transfer

"Miuccia" by MEB

2010-04-16T19:49:00.000-07:00

MEB’s release of the month for April is the classic leather jacket Miuccia, available now in antracite and red. (It is still available in the original natural brown.) Miuccia was one of the first MEBs I bought, way back in 2008. As I was trying on the new colors, something remarkable struck me. Take a look at the definition of the leather texture; or the accents, such as the pockets and the buttons on the sleeves. These are characteristics you would expect to see in the work of a seasoned designer. But Maria had only been designing clothes for 3 months when she first released Miuccia! Where am I going with this? Miuccia is still a breathtaking, fresh piece that will show the world that you know how to dress with style and class. Miuccia is versatile, as well. The stylists at MEB suggest that for a sophisticated look, pair the jacket with a longer skirt. For a more hip style, it looks terrific with a little mini. Really, you should get together with a few of the girls and make your way to MEB before the end of the month.

Store location: CZESTATE Kuai Nui (71, 42, 22)

Price: Individual colors (anthracite and red) L$290 ea; fat pack (both colors) L$190

Permissions: transfer

"Orange Juice" by Giulia Janus

2010-04-07T19:44:00.000-07:00

What better way to start the day, than with a glass of fresh orange juice? (Yea, ok, a good strong cup of coffee. But work with me on this.) For those who love Italian fashion, and I think that would be all of us, I have some exciting news. Giulia Janus, who has established herself as a photographer in SL, will be launching a line of women's clothing. I got to have a sneak preview of her new store, and let me tell you, this is something to keep your eyes on. Giulia gave me a preview copy of one of her outfits, Orange Juice (pictured). Orange Juice comprises a cute top, a fun skirt, and adorable shoes. Does life get any better than this? With the contrast of bright orange and snow white fabrics, this little outfit really jumps out at you! A bit of assymetry adds to the interest of the short tank, along with its nicely detailed texture. The skirt is open on the sides, tied at the top of each hip with long strings. You will slip your feet into adorable ribbed ballets. The outfit is completely accessorized with a matching bead necklace and a delicate anklet.

Orange Juice nicely represents the clothing I saw in Giulia's store. Fresh, creative, fun to wear. Expect to see me around this spring and summer: a Bourbon in Orange Juice! (Yes, there really is such a drink; it's called a "Bourbonella." I looked it up on the internet, so it must be true.) Keep and eye on this blog; I will let you know when Giulia plans to open her store.

Final days of closing sale at Spork

2010-02-12T17:41:00.000-08:00

As a reminder, Spork will be closing forever in two days. You can find some great values, as each item in the store is available for L$50 or less.

As this will be my last post for Spork, I wish to thank the awesome people at Spork: GM and Barb, and all the team, as well as our fantastic customers. Spork has been a truly wonderful part of my life.

Peace, out.

Farewell to Spork

2010-01-25T21:08:00.001-08:00

“The elegance of a young woman making her first formal appearance in society is a fitting image for Spork’s newest gown.” This was the lead-in for the description of “Debutante,” which was released Saturday. As it turns out, Debutante is Spork’s final release. I guess that’s irony, eh?

As I went to bed that night, after GM told me he was considering closing Spork, I had that heavy feeling in my tummy, like you get when saying good bye to a dear friend. For sure GM and Barb are not going anywhere, but Spork has been part of my life for a year and a half. GM entrusted me to inspect each release to find the smallest imperfection, so he could make it right before final release. I wrote many of the outfit descriptions that appeared in the Spork blog, and I was privileged to model in a number of store posters. Spork has been a rich and rewarding part of my SL experience, and I will miss it, I will miss the interactions. From the bottom of my heart, I thank the whole Spork team for the great ride.

On the bright side, GM is planning to get back into photography. Without a doubt, GM is one of the most brilliantly creative photographers in SL, so we can look forward to seeing more of that side of his talent.

In the meantime, between now and Feb 15, everything in the store is on sale for L$50 or less each item. There are some amazing clothes down there (for example the Ashbury skirt and tube top pictured above), so be sure to drop by.

"Debutante" by Spork

2010-01-24T11:20:00.000-08:00

The elegance of a young woman making her first formal appearance in society is a fitting image for Spork's newest gown. “Debutante” is a delicate, graceful gown of soft lace and satin. The colors of the skirt shimmer as they dissolve from a deep hue to pure whites. Over this lies a layer of gossamer-like lace, which gives an understated aura to the gown. The bodice itself is bejeweled satin, fit for a princess. and opera gloves with lace cuffs accent the gown. Bestowing the finishing touch, a lace train flows away from a jeweled wrap, tied in back with a lovely bow.

The skirt comes in two flavors. For occasions where only the most formal attire will do, you can wear the full floor-length skirt. But at Spork they know how to be fun, and flirty, too. So Debutante comes with a second option. Change out the glitch pants for lace leggings, wear the open skirt, and suddenly you have a daring, sassy look! These two flavors may be as different as night and day, but you will experience the same plush sensations in either one.

Debutante is available in white, blue, mint, and pink, priced at L$400 for each color, available at the main the store.

Can I Be a Model?

2010-01-17T17:15:00.001-08:00

Sometimes an acquaintance asks me, or sometimes someone sees my "LOOK Academy Director" tag and asks me. "Do you think I can be a model?" "Is it difficult become a model?" Well, let's look at that.

Modeling is a labor of love; it requires a great deal of time and effort, as well as determination. You will put some money into it before you start to see a return. And there are no guarantees of success. But it is possibly the most rewarding experience you can have in SL. So if you are still interested, read on.

First of all, it doesn't matter what you look like right now. In Second Life of course, we can have just about any look we want. But the students who go through my classes don't undergo radical makeovers; rather, they work on fine-tuning and finessing their looks. So don't let doubts about your look hold you back.

Modeling is time-intensive. It starts with your training. Some programs can get you through in a few weeks; if you take my full course at LOOK Elite Models, you will be in for five months (yes, that's months) of nearly weekly training. And during your training you should start entering contests and castings. Graduating from a training program frees up your time for more contests, castings, and hopefully shows and shoots. You need to get your face out there. The more of these types of activities you can participate in, the more you will come to be known.

So here might be a good place to bring up the subject of determination. There are many, many beautiful models out there, and you will be competing against the best. As you get your modeling career underway, you will experience more let downs than successes. You need the type of personality that allows you to pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and get back in the game.

And speaking of let downs... You might run across agencies that promise you steady work once you complete their programs. Let's just say, do your research.

A model's attitude is so important. You can find successful models who are divas, and successful models who are humble. Perhaps my take on the matter is best summarized from a line in my profile box: "I seek to achieve success by collaborating with my peers, rather than their failure."

What about money? Well, you have already probably spent a small fortune on quality skins and hair. Then there is the cost of training. Training programs can cost L$5,000 to L$15,000. Compared to what you will eventually spend in modeling, that 5 - 15K will be a drop in the bucket. So rather than shopping cost, look at what the program offers, does it match your needs, and are you comfortable with the staff. Buying clothes, accessories, and so on for all the contests and castings will not be trivial. I don't think it's necessary to spend hundreds of dollars each month on these things (I certainly never did). But the fact is, you will have to spend money on your modeling career. And fewer and fewer agencies now pay their models. I suppose that is because so many models are desperate enough that they settle for no pay. My feeling, however, is that a trained, experienced model should be treated professionally, and that includes pay. If you are fortunate, you may someday see a positive cash flow from modeling.

Have I scared you off now? I hope not. I just want you to go into this with your eyes open, and not be disillusioned down the road. There are so many compelling reasons to become involved in modeling. The designers are awesome, and I always look forward to meeting them. It is a privilege to show the fruits of their creativity on the runway or in a studio. Hard to describe that feeling. I have met my closest friends through modeling, and that is the richest experience of all. So, if you can go into it with this attitude, well, maybe you can be a model, and a happy one.

Envy Boots by Magnifico Exclusive

2010-01-07T21:54:00.001-08:00

One of the things I love best about working in fashion is meeting designers. Last Saturday, Melusina Parkin introduced me to Magnifico Miggins, the creative talent behind Magnifico Exclusive. Magnifico, or “Mag” as she goes by, has a fabulous sense of humor and a sharp wit, and is great fun to hang with.

She also makes shoes to die for! The picture above shows her “Envy” boots in grey. I believed I had found nirvana when I wore these boots. The design is avante-garde and soooo sexy, and the realism is stunning. It just doesn’t get better than that. Envy boots are available in nine colors, hard to pass up at L$700 each.

Mag apparently sensed my weakness for animal prints, because I left her store wearing leopard print heels with prim feet. She has a lot of fun shoes at her store, including tennies, pumps, and ankle boots. Next time you are in the mood to feed your shoe fetish, you ought to stop by Magnifico Exclusive!

Melu Deco

2010-01-04T18:48:00.001-08:00

Sometimes in Second Life, someone who has has been hiding her talents will at last reveal them, like a flower blossoming in the spring. And so I would like to tell you about Melusina Parkin, who began the new year by opening her store, Melu Deco.

Melu Deco is an adorable little store tucked away in Bayou Noir, and it is the realization of Melu's passion for art, furniture, and fashion of the period. Here, Melu has on display the art deco furniture and household accessories she has lovingly crafted these last months. In her store, you will find several tables and chairs, table and wall lamps, framed artwork, and a credenza, which I consider to be her pièce de résistance. Melu has selected lovely wood textures for her furniture, including redwood burl for a lamp base. You can also find rugs for sale, so finely textured that you can make out the nap on the surface. All of Melu's pieces are very reasonably priced.

Bring a friend along with you, because after you have immersed yourself in Melu's store, you will want to relax at one of the patio tables outside the store. Bayou Noir, despite its foreboding name, is a charming little New Orleans themed shopping district. So set aside a little time; a visit to Melu Deco is an outing you will want to savor.

"Zooey" by Spork

2010-01-02T18:35:00.001-08:00

Fur and lace. What comes to mind when you use those two words in the same sentence? Sexy elegance! And sexy elegance is what you will feel when you try on Spork's new release, "Zooey."

When the occasion calls for you to be queen of the cocktail party, you can strut into the room wearing Zooey as a dress. The fur collar, large lace pattern finished with opera gloves might at first blush seem overdressed for the occasion. But the unexpected pairing of those pieces with that oh, so short poofy bubble skirt makes the look utterly eye-popping! The bubble skirt attaches at three points, so, as short as it is, there is no worry about exposing anything as you dance away.

For more casual occasions, you can take the velvet gloves off and substitute long pants for the bubble skirt. The pants are low-rise, with a flattering waistband. Prim cuffs on the pants give a nice finish, and can be worn either with pumps, boots, or flats.

Zooey is available in six colors: black, gold, magenta, purple, red, and teal, priced at L$450 for each color.

L&B Black Label Productions

2009-12-17T21:21:00.001-08:00

Yes, the rumors you've heard are true! Second Life supermodel Laura18 Streeter and socialite and top model Bourbon Zenovka are opening their own photo studio.

We have a cute little shop in the French Quarter, on Bourbon Street. We photograph portfolios, fashion shows, and custom products, such as tees with you and/or your sweetie's pictures, and dressing screens with your silhouette.

Our open house is this Saturday, Dec 19, starting at 12 PM SLT. We have a free giftie for the first 25 guests, so be sure to come by!

Kakaue Kreations GoGo Boots

2009-12-14T21:33:00.000-08:00

"Where have you been all my life?" is the question I asked kakaue Yoshikawa, as she was giving a few of us a tour of her store last Sunday. She replied, "You just never came to me in nearly 3 years in shoe biz ^^." Point well taken.

What prompted my question were the palpitations in my heart as I was taking in her amazing array of boots. As everyone knows, a girl can't have too many boots. And I admit to owning an enviable assortment of dress boots with stiletto heels. But there are occasions or moods that sometimes call for other styles. And if you are wondering where to start looking, your first stop ought to be Kakaue Kreations. Casual, cowboy, club, fantasy, trekker - you're likely to find something at her store. She even has boots that can be changed into shoes using a menu-driven HUD.

Although it was her boots that first caught my eye, boots are only one of her product lines. She carries a variety of dressy and casual shoes, sunglasses, outfits, and products for designers and shop owners.

It may have taken me three years to discover Kakaue Kreations, but now that I have put you on to it, you have no excuse!

"For Your Eyes" and "For Your Lips" from Tuli

2009-12-07T20:04:00.000-08:00

This morning Tuli Asturias sent a few additions to her "Bella" line: "For Your Eyes Only," and "For Your Lips Only." In each of these packs you will find four makeups. As you might imagine, "For Your Eyes" emphasizes strong eye shadows with natural lip colors, while "For Your Lips" applies delicious lip colors, and keeps the eye shadow light. I'm shown here wearing F.Y.L.O pink.

In the Lip series, the lip colors are suitable for both daytime and evening. The Eye series is oriented more toward evening, although I am looking forward to wearing "Dusk" as a casual daytime makeup, as well.

"Bella" is a nicely balanced freckled skin; the freckles are clearly visible, but not overdone. Pale, fair, sunkissed, tanned, and dark tan skin tones are available. Each skin comes with three options for shading around the breasts, for a variety of cleavage effects. Each pack of 4 makeups sells for L$2,000, quite a bargain as far as I'm concerned.

"Bella" is pretty. I mean, take a look at that picture. Need I say more?

"Julia" by MEB

2009-12-07T19:46:00.000-08:00

Some exciting news from MEB! This morning I was treated to a sneak preview of something totally new from MariaElena Barbosa: a hat with hair. As far as I know, this is Maria's first venture into either piece, and she has blended them beautifully. The hat will be available in a variety of patterns; here I am shown wearing "Blue Crossy." The hair is totally awesome. A few naughty wisps of hair escape from the hat and fall across the face. In the back is a nice thick braid. The braid is off the back enough that it won't disappear into your shoulder each time you turn your head. Maria doesn't settle for a simple scrunchy, either; the braid is tied with a pony tail holder, which sports a gorgeous onyx stone set in silver. Pure class! Julia should be available soon.

Also shown, I'm wearing the Audrey coat in red, and the grey squared flade front scarf, both from MEB.

Beauty Shop of Horrors

2009-12-01T21:05:00.001-08:00

Last Sunday, Laura18 Streeter and I hosted a murder mystery party. It was "Beauty Shop of Horrors" from Host-Party.com. The theme was that one of the local girls was to reopen her grandmother's beauty shop after many years. However, just before the grand opening, she was... MURDERED!!! And one of the guests invited to the opening was the murderess.

In case you have never been to a murder-mystery party, each guest assumes a role of one of the characters. Guests are given clues to either reveal or conceal throughout the party, and let me tell you, lively discussions ensue. Oh, my, the accusations fly! In the end, we each make a guess as to who committed the crime, following which, the solution is finally revealed. This was the second time I have hosted one of these parties in Second Life, and we have all had the most fun imaginable! In the picture, left to right and top to bottom are Julia Brand, Nataly Tiponi, and BlackDahlia Rodenberger; Jud Carter, Bety Dudek, Melusina Parkin, Madeleine Dollinger, and BlackBarbie Bravin; Bourbon Zenovka, and Laura18 Streeter.

In Second Life, you can pretty much do whatever you like. So Laura and I had a lot of fun setting up a beauty shop and creating the crime scene. It really adds to the fun to have a realistic set like that, together with all the props. To have a look at the fun, you can view Laura's slide show, or my flickr set.

"Foggy" by MEB

2009-11-28T20:40:00.000-08:00

MEB's winter catalog features some very cozy warm ensembles. Last Sunday I attended a show which debuted these lovely releases. There is "Aspen," with the cuddly white turtle neck, a short-sleeve wool jacket and skirt; "Club 55" (which I saw Laura18 Streeter wearing last evening) with it's terribly sexy leather jacket; and the alluring "Salsa" dress, just to name a few. Oh, and let's not forget that MariaElena Barbosa released "Red Carpet" in grey! It is well worth picking up the winter catalog, or dropping by the store to see the collection.

But what is really warming my heart right now is a new coat from MEB called "Foggy." The blue and white fabric is both eye-catching and classy, and the length of the coat gives just the right cute-sexy look. Although I'm shown wearing pantyhose from Insolence, "Foggy" would also look great with bare legs or over a pair of jeans or black dress pants. But what really makes the outfit are the matching boots and belt. Those ivory boots with the knit tops are just too adorable for words. I don't think I'm going to be able to take them off anytime soon! And the matching belt with the gold buckle and black stone tie the whole ensemble together. Score another one for MEB.

I don't know if Melusina Parkin had in mind the chilly fog rolling in through the Golden Gate when she gave "Foggy" to this California girl. But whether I'm bundled up for winter, or wrapped up against the legendary summer fog of San Francisco, I'll be in top style, wearing MEB's "Foggy!"

"Red Carpet" by MEB

2009-11-09T19:44:00.000-08:00

I fell in love with MariaElena Barbosa's designs the first time I walked into her store, about a year ago. I was taken with her creative use of colors - quite an eye-opener for me, the girl who tends toward simple combinations that give dramatic effects. Maria's eye popping designs get your attention, but wait until you get your clothes home and try them on. That's when you see the amazing detail and realism of what you just purchased.

Maria's clothes run from urban grunge to dressy casual. (She even has a few pieces that make for chic business wear.) As one of her fans, I have wistfully wondered what she could produce if she ever turned her creative energy to formal wear. Well, now I know.

Melusina Parkin sent me "Red Carpet," and let me tell you, it is everything I dreamed of, and more! I can best describe this deep passionate red gown (Rouge) as rich, plush, and elegant. When you wrap this stunning gown around yourself, you are just going to melt with pleasure. The bodice leaves you with a bare left shoulder, and the back, with its asymmetric cut, will make you stop and take a second look. The detail of the folds of the silk skirt, both front and back, will set your little heart to pattering! Melusina tells me that the gown will be available in grey with the winter releases.

"Red Carpet" is available for L$990. Treat yourself to a trip to the MEB main store!

"Bourbon" by Spork

2009-10-27T19:34:00.000-07:00

Spork has released a lovely new dress, "Bourbon." I mean, look at it! It's brilliant.

Usually when I write a post for Spork's blog, I upload a copy here, too. Well, you can follow this link to the Spork blog and read about "Bourbon" there. This time I'm going to take a different tack.

GM Nikolaidis and his fabulous wife Barbara Nicholls are among my oldest friends here. There are a handful of people who have had an enormous influence on my modeling career, and I owe so much to GM. GM was one of my trainers way back at CC (temp) Academy. I first learned about print modeling from him, and in fact, what he taught me became the groundwork for the photography unit that I now teach at LOOK Elite Models. GM shot my first portfolio; how exciting that was for me! He shot the winning photo in the Adam n Eve Model pinup contest last year. Yes, I was a fledgling model once, and anyone who has passed that way knows what a struggle it is for young models to start their careers. When I felt discouraged, GM's respect gave me the self-confidence to continue.

Last fall, GM launched his clothing label, "Spork." He sent me this delightful little tank, "Blue Summer," and asked for my critical evaluation. I have since inspected every release for defects (a search that has become altogether fruitless), and I can guarantee that every item in the store is flawless. More than that, I mean, wear something from Spork and take a close look. It is a small club of designers who can equal the quality. The attention to detail, the originality of design, the emotion that wearing these clothes evokes, inspire you keep an eye open for each new release. Early this year I was privileged, with Laura18 Streeter, to co-produce Spork's first two fashion shows (at which we debuted Spork's formal gown, "Grace"). I do the occasional photoshoot for Spork, and I get to write the blog posts for new releases. I have had a happy and fulfilling relationship with Spork, and feel blessed to be part of the Spork family.

So I can't describe the emotion I felt when Freedom Parx sent me a folder named "[spork] Bourbon - preview." To say I was overwhelmed, or flattered, would seem trite. The feeling runs much deeper.

Well, let me conclude with something I didn't write in the official Spork post. It's happened before that GM sends me a preview, I try it on, and think, "Well, this is it. I guess he'll hang it up, now. He's never going to top this one." And then the next one comes out *grins*. So, as breathtaking as "Bourbon" is, I'm quite sure that GM has a few more rabbits to pull out of his hat. GM, Barb, all the Spork team, you guys ROCK!!!

“GoGo” from Spork

2009-10-18T18:45:00.000-07:00

Do you ever have the itch to get into a 60’s discotheque groove? Well, pull on the white boots, spin the Jimi Hendrix and slip into “GoGo” for a little travel back in time. Spork’s latest hot release is reminiscent of the disco club scene of the late 60’s to early 70’s. “GoGo” features a skin-tight, sinfully short skirt and a bicolor bodice. The cutout across the tummy lets you offer a tantalizing peek, but without giving anything away. And you will be winking over the shoulder at your dance partner as he takes in a long, slow look at your bare back. Topping it off, the shoulder lace adds that extra little touch of femininity. Indulge your craving for your favorite color; “GoGo” is available in amethyst, chartreuse, emerald, fuchsia, ochre, and tangerine. These color selections will brighten up your autumn outings. “GoGo” is priced at L$300 for individual colors, or L$1500 for the fatpack of 6. Spork’s main store is in the Malt shopping district. You can go home, wriggle into your sexy new dress, and get ready for one hot night out on the town!

"Tiffany" by MEB

2009-09-11T18:56:00.001-07:00

Black and white. Sounds simple, right? Not after MariaElena Barbosa finishes with it. Maria can turn black and white into ebony and ivory (to borrow from Stevie Wonder and Paul McCartney).

Continuing with the color theme of her fall collection, Maria's textures on "Tiffany" call to mind a black crushed velvet jacket with white silk lining, and an ivory linen skirt. Talk about chic! If I had this in my rl closet, I would be wearing it to tea at the country club. Wearing the jacket alone is deliciously revealing, but if you want to dress it up a little, you could shop around for a pastel blouse. The silhouette flatters almost any shape. The deep V of the neckline and the flare of the jacket, along with the full skirt, will show off your luscious curves. This is really fun to accessorize, too. The black and white, being simple neutrals, leave the door wide open for almost any color you want to bring in. In the picture at left, I added a little bit of pizazz with MEB's red sunglasses.

The set comes with an attractive pair of black stilettos, but there is so much you can do with this look. I'm shown in the picture wearing Kalnin's "Empress" shoes; I can also see wearing dark red or bronze boots. An ivory skirt and black jacket are a must for any fall wardrobe. Catch a ride to MEB's main store.

"Chelsea" by MEB

2009-09-07T17:40:00.000-07:00

MariaElena Barbosa has been exercising her creative talents again. Last Saturday, at her Glance show, Maria debuted a few items from her fall collection. And let me tell, you, her new releases have me ready to pack away my summer dresses.

Melusina Parkin sent me two selections from the fall catalog. In the photo at left, I am modeling "Chelsea." This is one of those pieces which made me chant "must have... must have..." when Melusina first previewed it for me. I love the clean, elongating lines and the chic, sophisticated style. The taupe is a warm fall color, and the definition of the texture is just breathtaking. "Chelsea" is verstatile; here I wear it with Bax "Prestige" boots, appropriate as stylish business wear. But the set is sold with a lovely pair of dark red pumps for when you desire a more casual look. Melusina dropped me the scarf (which I believe is a free gift at MEB) to wear with the black boots, but a necklace or a bare throat also looks fantastic.

Well, I could go on and on about "Chelsea," but words cannot do justice. There is just one thing for it; take the taxi to the MEB mainstore, and see for yourself.

"Willow" from Spork

2009-09-05T21:48:00.000-07:00

What girl doesn't need a little black dress? Or, wait... Maybe a long black dress? Not to worry! Spork's latest release, "Willow," comes with both mid- and full-length skirts. "Willow" is Spork's first formal since "Grace" was released last winter. And in the mid-length version, "Willow" is a stunning cocktail dress. Savor a close look. The skirt is slit up the left side, giving you a nice, long leg line. A small swath of delicate black lace runs down that slit, inviting a little peek at your leg. (Oh, you will be such a tease!) And the cherry on the cake? Those beautiful black rosettes that join the lace to your hip. But that just describes the skirt. As your eyes follow the line up from the waist, you can see the seductive way the bodice laces up to just below the bustline. From behind, you show a generous amount of shoulder, and in front, the asymmetric neckline will let you wear anything from a choker to a nice string of pearls. "Willow" comes packaged with both the mid- and full-length skirts for L$320. Time to come visit the Spork mainstore at Malt and indulge yourself with a little black dress. Or wait... Maybe a long black dress, at the same time?

Tuli Hope Ivory

2009-09-02T06:00:00.000-07:00

Tuli Asturias has been busy of late. Last week, she sent me the new Gothic line of her Hope skin, and now she has released the Ivory line of Hope. “Ivory” is a beautiful off-white skin tone, lighter than “Goth,” but still with a little color on the cheeks. The definition of Hope skins is wonderful; you can download the full size version of this picture for a closer look. Tuli has 10 makeups available. They range from neutral lips and eyes through various shades of lip color and eye shadow. There is one makeup with runny mascara, and another, shown at left, in which I seem to have had an overzealous feeding. Whichever makeup you fancy, the skins come with and without push-up breast shading (push-up shown here).

I’ve been having a lot of fun with Hope’s Goth and Ivory skins. You might enjoy a trip to Tuli to treat yourself to a new skin. You can play with a whole new look!

Tuli Hope Gothic

2009-08-26T06:09:00.001-07:00

As my friends know (or as you can see from my flickr pics), since Tuli Asturias released her "Hope" line of skins earlier this year, that is pretty much the only skin I wear. "Hope" has everything I look for in a skin: good definition, realistic details, proper shading, and a lovely selection of makeup choices. And I can't ever get over the compliments I receive on "Hope." Now Tuli has released "Hope" in a gothic line. And her gothic skins are every bit as amazing as the original line. Starting with a bloodless skin tone, the lip colors are striking, with just the right amount of gloss. The detailed eyebrows are black, and eye shadow may range from light to strong. Each makeup comes either with or without cleavage (in this picture I am wearing the version with cleavage shading).

Even if you don't normally wear a gothic skin, don't we all, from time to time, find ourselves in one of those "moods?" And as I tell my students at LOOK Elite Models, you never know when you will be at a casting and the fashion director asks to see your gothic look. All good reasons to pay a visit to Tuli and have a look at "Hope (Gothic)"

Best of Italian Style "Mystical Bride" Show

2009-06-28T19:42:00.000-07:00

Today at Best of Italian Style, we had a fabulous show, the "Mystical Bride" show. We had an amazing line up of designers: Orage Creations, Son!a, V-Fashion, Azul, Bliss, Addoro, Anubis Style, Jador, Petal Meg, Preciosity of Style, B! Fashion, Styles of Edo, Sartoria, and Gold in the Night. (That's me, in V-Fashion's "Isabella.") Agtaope Carter produced the show. If you were there, you were treated to some breathtaking fashions!

Algezares Designs - Fest

2009-06-25T21:11:00.000-07:00

I recently had the pleasure of meeting Algezares Magic, the creative talent behind Algezares Designs. When I was at Alge's store, I picked up this darling dress called “Fest” in blue (pictured left). This is just the cutest little dress, and at L$120, you can't pass it up. The colors are fun and summery – a light lavender geometric pattern on the skirt, with white and royal blue complementary patterns on the bodice. And then to top it off, Alge includes a delightful lightweight scarf. When I put on “Fest” in the morning, I feel ready to go out and play!

Shortly after I purchased “Fest,” Alge contacted me to make sure I was happy with my purchase. We talked for a bit, and she sent me another little outfit, shown below. This sexy little skirt and top combo is so versatile! Pair it with some strappy platforms, and you're ready for a night out on the town. Wear it with boots and your favorite dark stockings and you have a more sophisticated look. The sheer stars are enticing, yet they cover everything important. Alge has a number of such tops in her store; at L$60 each, you can put together several outfits without spending your whole clothing allowance for the week.

In addition to the main store, you can visit Algezares Designs at Best of Italian.

Serengeti!

2009-06-14T14:24:00.000-07:00

rrrAAWWrrr!!! Spork is introducing its first swimsuit, “Serengeti.” Actually, make that two firsts – this is also their first animal print, as well! “Serengeti” is a stylish two-piece swimsuit. With the tanga bottom and bandeau top, you are sexy, and at the same time tasteful; you show exactly what you want. The brown tiger print has finely detailed gatherings, and rich texture within the fabric. A fabulous bonus is the matching tank included with the set. All this for L$100! Whether you are in your two-piece sunning yourself on the deck or splashing around in the pool with friends, or in your tank in the gazebo relaxing with a good book, you will be the tigress du jour.

Tuli's "Hope" skin

2009-06-07T17:02:00.001-07:00

In my last post I described Tuli's new skin, "Hope." She had sent the natural makeup versions to her group, and by the way, the natural is a great daytime casual look! Then last week Tuli sent me the full makeup line. And oh, are they beautiful! Of course, Hope has all the definition you would expect from Tuli's skins. But that only starts to tell the story. The casual makeups such as "blush" (shown at left) and "gig" are subtle, but still compelling. The evening makeups have rich colorations that are dramatic without being overdone; just a perfect balance! All the makeups have the loveliest highlight on the apples of the cheeks, and a very discrete use of freckles from the neck down.

Since I have been wearing "Hope," I have received many compliments on it. I was so taken with Hope, that I wore the "vivid" makeup when I was MC for our United Forces Against Cancer RFL team fashion show on June 6. (Our team has topped L$700,000. Way to go, team!) "Vivid" was perfect with Elettra Gausman's (ORAGE Creations) "Wonderful Life" gown, in the special RFL pink edition.

Anyway, I had decided that my look was a bit harsh for a sweet girl like me, so since about the first of the year, I have looked at countless skins. So many beautiful, well-crafted skins out there. But I think I have finally found the one.

Hope is available in five skin tones, each with four eyebrow colors. Individual skins sell for L$1,000 each, and the fatpack (10 makeups) is L$4,950 for each skin tone.

Eyes are from Spork "Eclipse" silver blue (night); hair is Truth "Jasmine;" earrings are EarthStones "Peace."

Sam's Secret and Tuli

2009-05-28T20:39:00.001-07:00

This week, Samsara Nishi of Sam's Secret Boutique sent me her Satin Lingerie set, and Tuli Asturias sent the Tuli Update Group the natural makeup versions of her Hope skin. Skin and lingerie? What a perfect combination for a blog post!

Don't I look like quite the temptress in Purple Satin Lingerie from Sam's? The black cups and drawstrings are a prominent offset against the rich purple of the satin. Those inviting strings lace across the back, as well. Wouldn't you look irresistible in Sam's Satin Lingerie?

Tuli's Hope skin was released in five skin tones, from pale to dark tan, and with four eyebrow colors. Hope has just the right touch of blush and lip gloss, with lovely definition. Oh, yes, I think I could get used to being seen in Hope!

A Blogger's Appreciation

2009-05-20T21:14:00.000-07:00

Last week had been declared Bloggers Appreciation Week by caLLie cLine. It was an opportunity for designers to thank those of us who blog fashion by showering us with piles upon piles of gifts. To come in every evening and find my inbox stuffed with so many beautiful, thoughtful, kind gifts was simply overwhelming. And the care that went into each of them was so touching.

Of course, I thank each and every last designer for making this such a special week. We blog because we get so excited about your creations that we just have to tell the whole world. So your kindness this week, as I said, so overwhelming, was just the cherry on the cake.

And this all was the brainchild of Callie Cline, one of the major movers and shakers in SL fashion. (Arguably in SL. Period.) This group seems likely to continue on as a network for designers and bloggers; one of those things that you never knew you needed until you got one. Callie, what can I say? You rock!

Ayiki’s Ling, Pink Makeup

2009-04-26T21:33:00.001-07:00

This morning I was at Ayiki Takakura’s store in Tel Aviv Yaffo, admiring the lovely skins in her store. I inquired with her about the “Ling” line of skins, and Ayiki was kind enough to send me the pink makeup version of Ling. The skin tone itself is lightly tanned with the loveliest blush on the apples of the cheeks. The lipstick is a sensuous deep pink with the perfect touch of gloss. Just the right depth of eyeliner is accented by eyeshadow that picks up the hue of the lipstick. However, the eyeshadow runs to a darker shade, giving a mysterious, exotic look to the eyes. There are eight makeups for Ling ranging from day to goth to evening. A very luscious line of skins!

Necklace is Mila by JCNY and lingerie is Decadence by Hollee.

MEB Strawberry Blouse

2009-04-23T20:52:00.000-07:00

Here in California it's springtime! The hills have turned that green color, the poppies are in bloom, and white puffy clouds drift across bright blue skies. Needless to say, I'm in the mood for some cool, light clothes. I have these lovely white pants, and I decided that a red blouse would be the perfect match for them. But, hmm, I didn't have one. Nor did I recall seeing any in the stores recently. However, I couldn't get out of my mind MEB's "Jennyfer," with that royal blue silk blouse. And I thought to myself, "That blouse in red would be just what I'm looking for!"
So I happened to see MariaElena Barbosa online. I asked Maria, "Have you ever thought about making that blouse in red?"

"Hmm," she replied.

Well later that night, she invited me to her studio, and asked if this was what I had in mind. All I can say is that it was perfect. The color is a crisp strawberry red, the uses of light and shading are what I've come to expect from Maria, and the embellishments are just delightful. The blouse is untucked and has rolled-up sleeves, and the fabric gives it a dressy casual look. That too cool bracelet attaches with the right sleeve. This is such a fun addition to my spring wardrobe. Way to go, Maria!

2009-04-17T21:18:00.000-07:00

"Madison" is the latest addition to Spork's spring collection. True to the Spork moniker, Madison is brimming with versatility. The set comes with a flirty little short skirt that you can wear either for a casual day outing or a night at the cocktail party, and it becomes a formal gown when worn with the long, full skirt! No matter if you are wearing the shortie or the formal skirt, all eyes in the room will be drawn to you as they follow the swirl of the bodice. It wraps up from the small of the back, around the front and then back, tastefully revealing just the skin you want to expose. If the occasion calls for a short skirt, Madison's fun frills will showcase your gorgeous legs. For more formal occasions, a sheer shell over the log skirt renders a softly feminine touch. Madison is available in blue, red, charcoal, and champagne. The L$390 price for an individual color or L$1,250 for the fatpack of all four colors includes both the short and long skirts. Whether you're in the mood to get down and boogie or waltz across the ballroom floor, you will do it with a flair in Madison.

"Music" by Spork

2009-03-20T09:07:00.001-07:00

Music Hyun, pictured at left, totally rocks Spork’s latest offering. “Music” combines a low-rise paisley skirt with a complementing tank for a look that’s loose and light. The tank has well-defined ribbing, with an elongating deep-V neckline. The skirt is loose fitting, for a cool, casual feel. The skirt comprises three prims, so not much worry about your legs breaking through. The skirt rides low on the hips, showing a little midriff. Maybe it will catch the eye of that special someone? The outfit comes accessorized with the coolest set of bangles for both left and right forearms, a necklace with onyx stones on your choice of a gold, silver, or copper chain (the set includes all three metals), and my favorite, a sexy beaded belly chain, also in three metals. (Belly chains sometimes don’t fit much better than hula hoops, but GM has carefully contoured this one to the shape of a woman’s hips.) The tank and skirt are available in blue, green, red, teal, and umber. Just in time for you to waltz into spring, with that adorable skirt swaying from your hips!

Jenny by MEB

2008-12-28T13:38:00.000-08:00

If you're a fan of Italian designers, you may have heard about MariaElena Barbosa of MEB. Laura18 Streeter interviewed her in the November issue of BeStyle. If you haven't heard of her, you're in for a treat. If I may highlight a few points from Laura's interview, her goal is to bring real style into second clothes. Her textures are true to RL. She creates clothes that make you feel sexy, glamorous, and attractive - clothes that you would want in your RL closet.
On Christmas day she put everything in her store on sale, so I went and bought myself a few Christmas presents! Pictured above, I'm wearing the "Jenny" outfit. The lavender of the blouse and the rust of the skirt are both bold colors, and putting them together like that shows MariaElena's genius. The outfit also includes cute thigh-high stockings and pumps, but being the kind of girl that I am, I couldn't resist wearing my bronze leather Redgrave boots. Sunglasses are from Suite17, and the amethyst necklace is from Elexor Matador Jewelry.
I had the opportunity to briefly visit with MariaElena in her store last night. Not only a talented designer, but a very sweet lady. And very customer oriented. Go ahead, take yourself out to her store and see all the other irresistible clothes!

SySy Chapman on Fabulous Fashion TV!!!

2008-11-17T16:10:00.000-08:00

Tonight is a very exciting event for SySy Chapman. She will be appearing with Angie Mornington on Fabulous Fashion TV! This is a well-deserved recognition for a very talented designer. I have already had the privilege of modeling for SySy, at a show produced by LOOK Elite Models. Not only do I admire her creative talent, she is one of the most delightful persons I could ever hope to meet.

So, not only a big night for SySy, but for yours truly as well, since I will be modeling one of her outfits. It's always a fun suprise to receive a box from a designer, and you don't know what will be inside. I almost feel like a little kid at Christmas, when I rez the box and open the contents! This time I scored her "Indiana Boho" set, seen at left. Perfect for these autumnal days in the northern hemisphere, the pants have a warm, waffle-like fabric. There is a subtle blending of colors, from golds through warm reds and spicy greens, into a few patches of black. These rich colors form a floral pattern, keeping the pants deliciously feminine. The pants are finished with a nicely detailed belt, complete with the most adorable buckle.

The sweater is sexy short, with beautiful back- and necklines. The pattern from the pants graces the trim of the sweater. SySy has put the cutest cuffs on the sweater, too; they smoosh up at the bottom, omg, just like my RL sweaters do! And speaking of prim cuffs, the pant legs flare out into bell bottoms. All the prims fit my shape right out of the box, alwalys a big plus in my book.

In the picture, I am wearing black ankle boots - very styling. You can also dress it down by wearing sneakers, instead. It's a very versatile set.

Well, I must get to the set for rehearsal. Congratulations, SySy. You so ROCK!!!

Judy by Spork

2008-11-01T13:43:00.000-07:00

I am so excited about Spork's latest design, the Judy sweater. Judy was a close friend of Barbara Nicholls, who passed away from cancer, and the sweater is named in her memory.

So much to love about this sweater. The first thing that captures your attention is the texture. You have the deep vertical ribbing, with a classic cable knit down the front. The sweater can be worn without any prim attachments, but I just adore that low-slung collar. The pièce de résistance, however, is the prim cuff. Take a look. Aren't they too cute? The coolest thing is that the cuffs bend at the wrist; that way your hand won't break through.

Judy is available in seven colors, with proceeds from the sale of the pink sweater going to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

FreeSpirit and Flight by Spork

2008-10-27T20:12:00.001-07:00

As I have been delinquent in keeping you up to date on what's coming out of Spork, GM Nikolaidis has been getting ahead of me with his releases. Consequently, you're getting a "two-fer" this time around.

In early September, just in time for Spork's grand opening, GM released his first dress, FreeSpirit. I'm shown here modeling the "earth" color; the dress is also available in gold, mint, rose, silver, sky, and violet. At the top of the bodice is the base color, which softly shades into a dark charcoal at the midriff. As the charcoal flows down the skirt, it blends back into the base color again. The overall effect is to give FreeSpirit a light, feathery look. You can sashay down the promenade in ankle boots, sandals, wooden heels, or even just barefoot. The beautifully cut neck and low back show just the right amount of skin. You will draw attention - tastefully.

Then, week before last, GM released "Flight." Appropriately named, layers of feathers make up Flight's skirt. The detail of the feathers, right down to the rachis is simply amazing. There are three prims to the skirt, attaching to the stomach, and right and left legs. Since we all know what happens to most prim skirts when you sit in a chair (you are wearing glitch pants, right?) having the leg attachments keeps much of the skirt on the top of your legs. A single strap runs over the right shoulder, leaving a bare left shoulder; a very audacious look. And there is a teensie bit of belly showing, just enough, as GM says, to be anarchical.

The dress is available in the same rich colors as FreeSpirit. (So if you pick up both dresses, you can mix and match tops.) When you buy the dress, you get three skirt lengths: mini, mid, and long. I'm modeling the long skirt here, which, being not quite floor length, lets you show off your favorite shoes. Here I have added the black gloves and black choker ribbon from my inventory to dress it up for an elegant, formal look. At the other extreme, the mini skirt is sexy, fun and playful. You can hop on over to my Flickr page to see how I've used the mini for a daring effect.

There has been a lot going on at Spork, so if you haven't been to the store lately, it's worth a visit.

Zenovka Endorses "Totally Hot Dude"

2008-10-25T18:35:00.000-07:00

A week and a half before the election, Bourbon Zenovka joined the growing number of politicians who have thrown their support behind the candidate du jour. In a speech detailing her endorsement, Ms. Zenovka stated "You betcha. I ditched the wrinkly white-haired guy cuz I wanted to bring the totally hot dude onto the team. We're going to make some good things happen for SL."

Critics have accused Zenovka of letting the L$150,000 makeover go to her head. As one source, who wished to remain anonymous, said, "For crying out loud! We throw all this money into her campaign coffers, and she ends up looking like Sarah Palin. What a waste of Lindens!" Pictured above at a campaing stop at the Spork main store with her running mate, Sansabelt Jantzen, the similarity is striking.

Still, one campaign advisor defended Zenovka. "Bourbie has always shopped the finest and most prestigious designers in SL. At the conclusion of the campaign, we will be donating her wardrobe to up and coming fashion models."

Disillusioned Zenovka supporters are looking forward to that day, with one supporter saying "We'll be glad to have our ditsy, hot looking socialite back."

Skin Within - Alaysia Release Show

2008-10-22T20:25:00.001-07:00

It's no secret that Ayesha Bisiani of Skin Within is one of the premiere skin designers in SL. And you want to know how spoiled I am? I have already done one show for Skin Within, and I'm about to be in my second! Saturday, October 25, 9PM SLT at the Skin Within store, presented by the Butterfly Modeling Agency. You have got to come see these amazing skins.

Ayesha's new release is Alaysia, and it is, simply, gorgeous! Alaysia is designed to bring the beauty of China to SL. Khali Laguna last night treated me to a sneak preview of some of the skins in the smokey and day makeup lines. Don't let the "day" moniker fool you; there is nothing drab about any of these skins. The skins I saw range from soft to dramatic, and all of them have distinctive, compelling makeups.

To say that this skin has the meticulous definition I expect from Ayesha seems pitifully inadequate. The skin I'm wearing, pictured above, is "Luxi." The almond-shaped eyes give a mysterious appearance to her face. Luxi has just a little bit of blush on the cheekbones, something, honestly, I would like to see more of in SL. I love those light glosses of bluish-green against the autumn brown of the lips. And the complexity of the eye shadow! Luxi just draws you into those eyes. Overall, the skin is finished with a shimmery dust; not like body oil (I don't care for that), but rather a subtle and natural sheen. Altogether, the blend of makeup gives Luxi a stunning depth of color.

The finishing touch here is Skin Within's eyelashes. First of all, they are very easy to fit. But what makes them unique is that they are scripted with seven differnt textures! A simple command typed in chat takes you from siren through dramatic to Hollywood. Fun to play with, and I love having these different eyelash looks so easily accessible.

I promised Khali I wouldn't run around in this skin until it is released. But I am SO looking forward to Saturday night, when I can show it off.

Tanx by Spork

2008-08-29T22:30:00.000-07:00

OK, so. Who this summer hasn't rooted through her inventory looking for two tanks to layer? And found two that don't clash? And that actually look good together? And that aren't both “shirt” layers? Drrr! Me too. So Spork's new “Tanx” is a welcome release.

Tanx is, well, a pair of tanks, a beautifully matched inner and outer layer set. The pattern has attractive rows of colored stripes against a solid white background. The stripes on the inner layer are thin and those on the outer layer are somewhat broader, so that the two layers wonderfully complement each other. Each set is available in one of six colors of stripes, or you can purchase the fat pack and go crazy mixing and matching. Today my two favorite colors are red and sky. Tomorrow...? Oh, and by the way, keeping it simple and wearing a single color on both layers looks fabulous, too. And needless to say, either layer can be worn alone.

It's worth noting what GM Nikolaidis has done with the cut. First of all, there is the attractive gray trim around the edges. Not too strong, it gives a very nice definition to each piece. The inner layer is longer than a shirt layer, so GM includes both underpants and jacket layer extensions in each set. This allows you to wear the inner tank either out or tucked in.

Tanx has all the niceties I have come to expect from Spork: a detailed fabric (note the waffle pattern), wrinkles in just the right places, hems that follow a woman's curves, and so forth. “Tanx,” GM.

Mmm - Mankato

2008-08-28T19:55:00.001-07:00

It is always a delightful surprise when GM Nikolaidis sends me his latest project to evaluate. Alright – full disclosure: I perform quality assurance for Spork Designs. But that does not diminish the excitement I felt when I first tried on the Mankato sweater.

Mankato is a totally amazing turtleneck, available in red, blue and black. The first thing that catches your eye is the rich color. Look closely, and you can see two colors of yarn; with the shading, you have a very deep texture. On the cuffs, GM avoids using prims (nice if you are inclined to wear a bracelet). Instead he uses a ribbed pattern that gives the sleeves a totally realistic finish. The same pattern graces the hem. And while we are on the hem, notice how GM avoids defining the hem in a straight circle around the hips. If you're like me, your sweaters sometimes ride up on the hips a little bit; GM effectively reproduces this in Mankato. The cherry on the cake is the prim collar. No worries about looking like you have a rigid tube clamped around her neck. The turtleneck bunches up a little bit here and there, giving a very natural appearance.

Suzi Phlox and Olyvia Zenovka look like they are relaxing at the lodge after a day on the slopes. Mmm, I can almost smell the hot apple cider. My take was to pair it with dressier pieces for an evening out. It works either way, a very versatile sweater.

As much of the northern hemisphere now looks toward autumn's chill, Mankato would make a cozy addition to your inventory.

SL Illustrated - Jador Fashion Show

2008-08-21T21:08:00.000-07:00

The Gala opening night for the 2008-09 season of the San Francisco Symphony is coming up soon. But as far as I can tell, the SF Symphony does not have a presence in SL. However, if they did, I know what I would be wearing to the Gala...

Mimi Juneau is a reseller for Jador Fashion, and her store is Mimi's Choice. She scored the exclusive on Jador's fall collection until September 21. Here I am modeling the Black Coat, with Bax Coen's overknee Silver Brocade boots (it is SOOO GOOD to be a model!) The plush velvety upper sleeves and collar feel sumptuous, while the close-fitting lower sleeves give the look of a sleek black jaguar. That nice, full sash around my waist is part of the jacket skirt, scripted of course. The jacket is a leetle bit shorter in front than back, tantalizingly suggestive. The hem has a delicate velvet texture, carrying through the theme begun at the collar. You know what? You really have to come out to the show and see this jacket from all sides - the bold buttons in front, the poofy shoulders in back - ya gotta have a look.

The boots are classic Coen from the perfectly fitting uppers, to the side tassels, to those oh, so sexy heels and toes. Zooming in on that brocade pattern... just amazing! So guess what? Mimi is also a reseller for Bax Boots.

*sigh* So I'm not wearing this to the SF Symphony Gala opening night. /me searches "events" for concerts...

Jacket: Jador Fashion - Black Coat
Boots: Bax Boots - Overknee Silver Brocade
Skin: Skin Within - Adriana Plasma
Hair: Little Heaven - Rabi White

Summer in the City

2008-08-20T17:02:00.001-07:00

Here in San Francisco, we are into the coldest season of the year (summer). My friend Laura18 Streeter recently brought her Italian glamor to North Beach. Standing defiant against the chilly fog, Laura looks stylish wearing "Old Writing" from Spork. Oh - and for those of you not in the know, North Beach is our Italian neighborhood.

Me? As I lounge in the bay of the Victorian that my dear and talented friend Mystery built for me, I am thinking of warm colors - red and black. I started with rich black leather pants from the UK Couture "Rock Chic Couture" outfit. Then for a soft, satiny touch, I added the bodice from Last Call's "Jana Crimson Dress." This look called for a some attitude, so I topped it off with "Angel I" hair in Sand Dollar from Naughty Designs. And shoes? This won't be the last time I will say this: heels always make a girl feel good. How about the red patent pumps from Stiletto Moody? Oh, yes. As a finishing touch, I'm wearing the choker from the Digital Adornments "Inticing Silver" set. It's delicate and feminine, but with a suggestive chain.

Hey, Laura, what do you say we meet for lunch at Alioto's?

Zenovka Declares Candidacy - Conservatives View her as Rational

2008-08-14T21:21:00.000-07:00

Addressing a rally of supporters in a maxed-out sim, tabloid chow Bourbon Zenovka today apparently declared her candidacy in the 2008 presidential bid. Asked by reporters to clarify her intentions, Ms. Zenovka responded, "All I am prepared to say at this time is that I have my personal shoppers buying a selection of pant suits."

One of Zenovka's closest advisors, however, expressed concern. "Bourbie's latest thing with the pant suits is a huge mistake. It calls to mind disturbing images of the disastrous Clinton campaign. If B is going to succeed where Hilary failed, she needs to stick to her own unique and creative style."

An analyst at a prominent conservative think tank used the word "rational" in a sentence describing Zenovka. "The only remotely rational thing that woman said all day was '158 days, Georgie.' We believe she was referring to the number of days remaining in President Bush's term of office." Conservatives' support for Zenovka is surprising, considering she has long been an outspoken critic of the conservative agenda.

Democrats likewise were jubilant at the announcement. They appeared eager to mend fences following the brouhaha Zenovka raised last year, when she labeled Dems as "too conservative for me." At a celebration in Chicago, one Obama campaign worker noted, "There is no doubt that Zenovka will bring out the bubble-head voters in huge numbers. We are confident that when her campaign tanks, she will throw her support behind Obama. We can't lose."

The Hilton campaign appears to be in disarray, as there has been no official reaction. Remaining Hilton loyalist on the street, however, are still desperately maintaining that Paris is hotter than Bourbon.

When asked what party she might join, Zenovka giggled, "I'm not supposed to say... but there is a rager on Daddy's yacht this weekend."

Second Life Illustrated - Skin Within Show

2008-08-09T22:16:00.000-07:00

Skin shows are a lot of fun. I think the three things that define our looks more than anything else are our shape, our skin, and our AOs. So wearing a new skin – and if you're lucky, a new shape – is a playful way to experiment with your SL look.

I consider myself very fortunate to be modeling two skins created by Ayesha Bisiani. Her Skin Within store features a unique collection of ethic skins from around the world. Tomorrow we will model Brazilian, Ethiopian, Grecian, Turkish, Scandinavian, and Native American skins. More than just the physical features of each ethnicity, the skins evoke the personae of the women of these regions. We have the stealthy huntress of the Native American, the imperious beauty of a Greek goddess, the commanding presence of the Ethiopian. I could go on.

But I would rather take a close look at the skins themselves. We will be modeling both natural and fantasy makeups. I am pictured wearing Plasma skin from the Adriana line. Adriana is our Brazilian beauty. Her skin tone is a natural soft tan. She has these penetrating eyes that see straight through to the heart, matched with her rich crimson lips. And everywhere you look on these skins, you find just amazing detail.

I probably shouldn't say this, but I love the shapes just about as much as I do the skins. I've always been happy with my little Bourbon shape. But having worn the Adriana shape above and the Saba shape (you'll have to come to the show to see me in that one) I fell in love with the totally natural look of these shapes. Especially the perfectly proportioned curves.

I started out talking about skin lines found nowhere else in SL. More than offering a unique collection, these skins are GORGEOUS. Please come to the show and take a close look. We would love to see you there.

Second Life Illustrated - Agnes Finney and Chrissy Ambrose Show

2008-08-09T14:12:00.000-07:00

Just as I was thinking I had been spending too much time hanging around in cutoffs and bikini tops, along comes the Agnes Finney and Chrissy Ambrose show. Agnes's stunning formal gowns paired with Chrissy's exquisite jewelry make for seamless matches. We will be modeling 18 dresses and jewelry sets tonight. At rehearsal I got to see what the other girls were wearing, and everything is marvelous. To give you an idea, I am going to describe one of the gowns I will model tonight.

In the photo I am wearing the "Virginia Ball Gown" in blue, matched with the "Flowers of Love" set in silver and blue topaz. The colors of the gown are so soft and delicate! I love the way Agnes brought the silver and several different shades of pastel blue into the texture. Nothing clashes; all the colors blend beautifully into this harmony. And I love the way the delicate floral pattern of the bodice accents my femininity.

The silver and topaz set stands on equal footing with the gown. The fine chain of the necklace complements the feathery straps of the gown. The stones have an amazingly realistic appearance. I am especially impressed with the tiny cut gems along the stems. If you have read a few of my posts, you know I'm a sucker for that kind of detail. The gleaming color of the stones adds just the right touch of luminosity to the soft tone of the gown.

The gown and jewelry set each are beautiful on their own. Together - amazing. OMG! Somebody please invite me out to a ball after the show:)

Zenovka Unveils Energy Policy

2008-08-08T08:12:00.000-07:00

Returning home from a reportedly painful waxing, Bourbon Zenovka was peppered by reporters with demands about the promised release of her energy policy. Zenovka initially refused to take questions. However, as the level of shouting rose, she faced reporters, and in a rant that was uncharacteristically articulate for Zenovka, she made the following statement:

"All of these morons, including the ex-con who claims she's like totally ready to lead, see offshore oil drilling as part of a solution to high gas prices. Here's what they're not telling you. This is a global economy. Every last barrel of oil that is pumped off the California coast will be traded on the international market. Good news for big oil, but it will have a negligible impact on lowering the prices we pay at the pump. So the federal government can just keep their sticky fingers off our coast."

Then, heels clicking angrily, she stormed up the steps and slammed the door on reporters. No responses have yet been issued from the Obama, Hilton, or McCain campaigns.

Socialite Bourbon Zenovka Spoofs Hilton

2008-08-06T17:47:00.000-07:00

Second Life supermodel Bourbon Zenovka today fired the latest volley in what has become an increasingly spiteful ad war evolving from the 2008 presidential campaign. The full transcript follows:

"Hey, Second Life, I'm Bourbon Zenovka, and I'm a celebrated party girl, too. That other ditsy blonde thinks just cos the wrinlky white-haired guy took a cheap shot at the totally hot dude, that she gets to be president or something. Even though my long-time rival didn't mention me by name in her ad, I can smell a cat fight when I see one. She claims to be totally hot? OMG! I mean, she looks like a total hooker in those gold stilettos.

"I want Second Life to know that I am, like, totally ready to have my booking agent lay out an agenda for my administration. And I'm going to do that other thing she said as soon as I get home from from the day spa."

In a statement that has puzzled reporters, Ms. Zenovka added, "And Madonna and I never tongued.

"Well, not on TV, anyway..."

Blue Summer by SPORK

2008-08-01T15:53:00.000-07:00

Talk about the perfect top for these warm days of August! GM Nikolaidis of SPORK sent me one of his latest creations, "Blue Summer." That bright blue color makes me feel so cheerful, and the pretty floral pattern adds a zesty pizazz without being overpowering. GM shows his appreciation for the sensual beauty of a woman's shoulders with that low back. You'll attract admiring glances with the curvy cut of the neckline, and the hem is high enough that you can show off your favorite belly stud.

You're in for an unexpected treat when you try it on. You will find that all the edges are finished with seams, giving this a very natural look. That kind of quality and attention is what keeps me coming back to my favorite designers.

I felt Blue Summer worthy to pair with another quality designer (Viva La Glam) for the capris, and finished the outfit off with color-scripted ballet flats from *KC* Designs.

Can I resist wearing it? I don't think so:)

Top: Spork - Blue Summer
Capris: Viva La Glam - Classic Denim - Womens' Ivory Capris
Shoes: *KC* Ballet Flats - Bright-N-Shiny (Navy Blue)
Belly Stud: Gos Collective - Multicolored Bellystud
Skin: Celestial Studios - Vogue Skin - Champagne (Red - Glitter)
Hair: *TRUTH* Jasmine - Dark Blonde

LOOK Elite - Lemania Indigo Show

2008-07-28T19:40:00.000-07:00

We did, like, the coolest show today. We, being a bunch of LOOK Elite models. In case you haven't heard of her, Lemania Indigo designs dresses from the golden age of Hollywood. And they are gorgeous. Here's what I mean.

A few days before the show, Laura sent out a notecard with pictures of all the dresses we were going to model, and asked us to choose one. Being on the coast, most of the dresses were taken by the time I got the note. But to my surprise, nobody had yet chosen the Marily Monroe dress. Hello? So I fired off a notecard to Laura, and scored the Marilyn dress. YAY! Now here's the thing. I fell in love with the dress just seeing the vendor picture. But... when I took the dress out of the box and tried it on, O...M...G! There is so much rich detail that a photograph just doesn't capture. All the dresses that the models wore were lovingly detailed in the same way. If you haven't been there yet, get yourself down to Lemania's store. In addition to luxuriating in her exquisite designs, you get to revel in the glamour of being a Hollywood star.

Lemania is also the SL presence for Bugles Across America. She helps raise money for uniforms and equipment used by Honor Guard members who play Taps at the funerals of veterans who have served the U.S. If I understand correctly, 75% of the proceeds from the show went to BAA. How kind of Lemania to sponsor such a beautiful cause.

The LOOK Elite Models were so awesome. All the ladies walked, posed, and modeled Lemania's designs with such poise and grace. I was SO PROUD to be a LOOK model. Laura and Renee worked very hard on the preparations for the show. The Hollywood-style venue was beautifully done, and fun. And we had such wonderful clothes to model. What a priviledge to be in this show.

Mystical Virtual Studios Marisa Release Party

2008-07-28T12:26:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday night a few of us from Second Life Illustrated put on a show for the release party of Mystical Virtual Studios line of "Marisa Island Tan" skin. Like, totally fun. We posed on the balcony, stairs, and stage, danced on stage, then mingled with the guests. Cool!

And I love these skins! It's a dramatic change from my usual fair skin, and it takes a little getting used to. But there is so much to love about this skin. Those very pretty lips soften my usual introspective look and I have eight lipsticks to choose from. Also, I can choose from eye shadows ranging from active to romantic. The detail of these skins is amazing. Unfortunately, in this picture you can't really see the clavicle, but it is a fine example of the beautiful detail of this skin. Mystical Demina should be justifiably proud of this new skin line.

My hair is Analog Dog "Sasha" in brown sugar, the dress and gloves are GrueLing Designs "Chic Raven," and the necklace is JCNY "Mila." Do I look HAWT?

wb, Bourbie

2008-07-26T19:21:00.000-07:00

OMG. It has been SO LONG since I have written a post. I have been a busy girl. Since my photoshoot, I entered and won the Adam n Eve Model Pinup contest, and was "pinned up" outside the entrance to the Genesis Drive Boutique, passed my final exams at the CC Modeling Academy (whew!), and modeled at the MOOSH fashion show at the end of May. (MOOSH was like our graduation ceremony.) And I impersonated Samantha Jones at Vyktor's rezday party (too fun!). That was Sevenstar's idea, btw. She decided that she would go as Carrie Bradshaw, and that we would totally rock the party if I went as Samantha. But Samantha? Just what are you saying, Seven?

I am gainfully employed at LOOK Elite Models (love working with Laura, Erana, and all the girls), and Second Life Illustrated Models (Madison is totally awesome).

Now that I am finished with modeling school, I spend my copious free time (lol) putting together mix & match outfits (look for them in coming posts), and spending quality time with my friends. Oh, and keeping up with my blog :)

A Model's Portfolio Shoot

2008-03-19T20:13:00.000-07:00

So you know I have been training as a fashion model, right? Well, on Saturday GM Nikolaidis (photographer extraordinaires) shot my portfolio. It was a relatively simple affair on my part: swimsuit, casual outfit, and formal. I had paid attention in class, so I had all outfits completely ready to wear. GM has a fantastic studio, and all I had to do was stand around and look gorgeous while he did all the work. But the most fun were the swimsuit shots. He, like, has a beach outside the studio. And, OMG! I'm not even going to try to describe it. Just look:

This thumbnail hardly does justice. I totally need to start a flickr page.

But I was chatting with my friend Sevenstar when GM sent me the pictures. And I was totally caught by surprise. I was, like, "I look like a model, 7! I look like a model!" Oh, I was so excited. All the effort - with the help of GM's artistic talent - paid off like a dream! A model couldn't be happier.

Farewell to the Mandarin

2008-02-06T20:31:00.000-08:00

Life always gets interesting when Babyhoney Bailey crosses my path. (Have I said that before?) Last Saturday, I danced at the Mandarin for a few hours. It was quiet. Only Pce showed up, and shortly before I left, Mystery dropped by. I left Mystery and Pce, a beautiful couple, dancing a waltz as I clocked out and went home.

A few hours later that night I receive an IM from Babyhoney that they are changing the Mandarin quite a bit, and that I am welcome to keep working with them. I guess I was kind of caught like a deer in the headlights. Babyhoney TP'd me over. I was bewildered. In the span of a few hours the Mandarin was gone, and this bohemian night club was in its place. The stage was gone; there would be table dancing instead. It would be kind of a modern day moulin rouge motif. I had been working on my goth look when I went over there, so I was wearing the enormous black and sparkly mohawk that I had bought from Digit Darkes. Babyhoney commented that I could SO rock that hair here. That should give an idea as to what the No. 9 Club, as it will be called, is about.

I loved the Mandarin, but we just weren't drawing in patrons. This will probably appeal to a hipper crowd. It totally is going to be way fun. Stay tuned.

Cayce's Rezzday

2008-02-02T14:47:00.000-08:00

One night recently, Vyktor sent me an IM, asking for a favor. Cayce's rezzday was coming up, and she had a brilliant idea. She wanted to round up a few models and soon-to-be-models, dress us all up in Cayce's shape, skin, hair, and fashion style, and put on a little fashion show for her. Was I in? Oh, yes.

Vyktor later sent out a notecard detailing each walk. Of course, being as anal retentive as I am, I sketched the whole thing out on paper, and spent hours and hours practicing. Vyktor found me at the catwalk early, early Sunday morning, and kindly helped me practice. My graphics board is slow, and the sim was laggy, so at one point I had walked off the catwalk twice in a very short span. In my frustration I complained, "Vyktor, the lag is killing me." She shot back, "No! You are still talking." As always, she was unerringly correct. I took a deep breath, composed myself, and jumped back on the catwalk for another go.

You see, this is what makes Vyktor such an amazing mentor. She has complete confidence in her students, and she never stops challenging us to perfection. Few teachers take that much care with their students.

Shortly before the party, with all us Cayce clones standing around in Cayce's skin, hair, etc., we agreed that it looked a little creepy. And we joked that we hoped that Cayce wouldn't be creeped out. Of course she wasn't; she seemed to get a big kick out of it. Happy rezzday, dear!

For the record, I walked right off the front of the catwalk. (But I did it intentionally, to amuse Cayce, right? Yeah sure.) But I walked Posh and Proud. And Cayce, in case you ever read this, I hope you're proud of your student.

CC Modeling Academy - II

2008-01-06T16:59:00.000-08:00

The day after Christmas the CC Modeling academy group received sad notice that Cecile Collins would be leaving SL for a long time. She had a difficult Christmas, with her father having passed recently. In addition to her personal loss, the fashion community of SL lost her highly regarded modeling academy.

A day or two later, Sansabelt and I were crying in our beers about this situation. This left us in mid-semester, with our model training incomplete. Sans suggested that we might be able to hire the instructors to help us complete our training. This sounded like a brilliant idea to me, so the next day I approached Cayce Newell, one of the academy's instructors. She was very receptive to the idea, and before we knew it, she was arranging with the other instructors to complete our coursework. They are truly amazing and dedicated teachers!

My dear Sans offered his venue at Boxwood for classes, and he even built a catwalk at Kindred Spirits for us to use. With students and instructors pulling together like this, the Class of '08 is going to happen. Go Team!!!

CC Modeling Academy - I

2007-12-31T11:46:00.000-08:00

I had been toying with the idea of modeling almost as long as I had been in SL. I mean, what little girl hasn't dreamed about being a top model? I even entered a modeling contest in SL, and while I didn't finish in the top 5 or anything, I felt I turned in a respectable picture. So I decided to take the plunge and enter modeling school. After a little research, I selected Cecile Collins' CC Modeling Academy. She had a complete curriculum, reasonable tuition, and she partnered with two modeling agencies.

The first class involved the basics - how to refine your look, fast-changing you outfits, and so forth. But the best part of that class were the people I met: my good friend and classmate, the irrepressible Sansabelt Jantzen; and the dear and dedicated instructor Vyktor Maertens. (Oh, my. "dear and dedicated" seems so inadequate. Once in a great while you meet someone whose personal characteristics you so admire that you are compelled to say "I would like to be more like her." Vyktor is such a person.) Sansabelt and Vyktor each deserve their own posts. On my list.

Then came Catwalk Class. Initially, I had not considered doing fashion shows, only still shots. Again, Vyktor was the instructor, and the catwalk is really her cup of tea. With her endearing wit and charm, she really opened me up to the catwalk. Mind you, I looked like a complete clown my first time on the catwalk. But it was SO FUN! And of course, I totally like being on stage. So I've been practicing. And you watch... I'm going to walk out there proud and posh!

Beginning my Second Life

2007-12-29T13:30:00.000-08:00

I was born into Second Life on 3 July 2007, and spent about the next 120 hours logged on and exploring this fascinating new world. What a garden of delight!