Coat To Float Your Boat.

Look at me in my Maki coat from Lurani.

A designer sends you an outfit or item and every time it's like Christmas, opening your present to see what's inside. Do I love it? Do I hate it? Regardless, I am always grateful that someone took the time to think of me and my blog. This time dearies I opened the virtual box to something I just loved. My Maki coat from Lurani is so, so me and its stark lines give it the edge. Maki contains the coat, coat prims, under shirt and black leggings. The cute little mandarin buckle collar is a lovely touch and after a few little alterations to the coat prims, was ready for action.

Immediately I remembered buying some boots from sYs that I thought would be perfect. I couldn't go past my YaYa bag from Simay Creations and short, cornrow hair style from je suis.

I just love it when something comes together as easily as styling this. Me loves me in this.

And the SLoscar goes to:

Hair: Sonique 4 by je suis.
Hair base: LAQ in black.
Skin: Claudia 2 Milky Glow Skin (Make up 4) by LAQ.
Glasses: Susie Cateye Shades in White by Elate.
Jacket and leggings: Maki by Lurani.
Shoes: Syberia by sYs.
Bag: YaYa by Simay Creations.
Earrings: Black Shadow by glow studio.
Photo Studio including backgrounds from Second Snaps. I recommend it.

Ode to Eshi - Forever In Our Hearts

Flipping through the Fashion Feeds last night, I noticed a headline saying goodbye to Eshi Otawara from SL. It directed the reader to Eshi's blog where Irena, the RL Eshi, had written a heartfelt and amazingly insightful post about her reasons for leaving SL. It was such an honest and perceptive account about the battle she has been facing in recent times in assessing her quality of life whilst absorbed in this game we call Second Life. It strongly resonated with me because I too had to critically analyze what it was about SL that had such a hold over me for a while that I would put spending time in-world over other RL enjoyable pursuits. It took me to leave for months and enjoy an overseas holiday to cut ties with  the negative aspects of my life in-world and finally realize it had become unhealthy and that I was losing touch with reality. I have found the perspective and balance required to allow me to come back.  Although I do realize that this doesn't happen to everyone, there were  people who contacted me to say they too had struggled with their identity and RL priorities.

Irena's descriptions of Eshi versus Irena and which one of them was clearly coming off second best should be a wake up call to anyone, like me, who have ever compromised their RL selves for their avatar. Bravo, bravo Irena for realizing that there is no contest...the RL you is too precious and deserves all the self-love you can muster.  It has served it's purpose and now you must move on. It was entirely your talent we all enjoyed in-world but I'm so happy that you are going to focus on extending this beyond the confines of SL.

I just wanted to say a huge thank you for making my experience in SL all the richer through your art works of various kinds. I didn't know you that well but the time I did spend with you I quickly came to realize what an amazing person you (Irena) were.  You created my Emu Egg National dress for the Miss Virtual World pageant last year and I was so proud to wear it. What you did with that dress, the small details, is beyond belief. I see it when I wear it...you captured the essence of Australian-ness and it didn't go unnoticed by me.

 

So you gorgeous thing...go out and take your rightful place and shine like the diamond you are. Yeah we'll miss you but for those who appreciated your fashion designs, we have your legacy.

Best of luck Irena although I don't think you'll need it.  You have a beautiful smile RL from your piccies so use it :-)

Halloween And All That Jazz

All Hallows Even is fast approaching on the 31st of October and whilst I have never celebrated it in any form due to being Australian, its great that I can get in the spirit of the lead up and the actual day in SL.

As usual there will be competitions, hunts and giveaways galore in the next few weeks and I took advantage of a competition currently running to get this devilish little number from SySy's Designs, a quality label well known to most fashion lovers in SL.

Any excuse to theme up a photo, I took myself off on my overworked broomstick for a ride around SL whilst the moon was full. After riding around checking what you were all doing during the night, I ended up at the Blooded Forest looking for Stingy Jack who I placed a curse on one day condemning him to wander the earth at night forever with a candle in a hollowed out turnip. Be careful little pumpkins or you too might end up in limbo if you try to trick me.









Hair: Spencer from Truth (Halloween giftie 2008).
Skin: LessThan3 - Pale - Disturbia 1 (Free Halloween giftie 2008).
Eyes: Expressive Eyes in Green 2 by Nany Merlin.
Dress: Bitch, Please from SySy's Designs
Gloves: AyaV Fur gloves sold at Atelier.
Boots: Midnight Boot in black by Fuel.
Necklace: Chained Heart necklace by JuJu's Closet.
Stockings: Fishnet Schwartz by Awori Cassini.
Broomstick: From Jas Particles & Prim Things.