The Unofficial Second Life® Fashion and Shopping Blog

Since I first found the store, I have never stopped being in prim lust with EarthStones Jewelry. I blame Abraxxa Anatine. She’s evil and must be destroyed. It’s just all too damn nummy.

So, here’s a brief little rundown of the items that will soon be burning out your L$ balance.

Pearls, pearls, glorious pearls. No one that I’ve seen does natural stone textures like Abraxxa (and I say that dripping with envy). The sheen on these pearls is no different. While the white pearls and pink pearls are lovely, it’s the black pearls that make me salivate. She says getting these right cost her many a sleepless night and I believe it utterly. The Knotted Elegance pearl necklaces come in three styles, depending on how long, how looped, and how knotted you like your strings of pearls. To accessorize properly, there are also multiple varieties of Timeless Elegance earrings in the same lustrous pearls to match. So much squee.

In a more wicca-themed turn, there are the Crystal Charm necklace and earring sets. Painstaking prim by prim detail blessed by a real witch and beautiful to boot, these sets are aimed to enhance your creativity, healing or other positive energies. I’m not one for that sort of thing, so I’ll just show you how pretty they are and leave the energies up to the people who spend theirs on more important efforts than virtual paper doll frivolity

Some of my real new favorites, however, have got to be the slave bracelets and footlets. Whether you wear this sort of jewelry for roleplay activities, or if you’ve just got fond memories of Renaissance fairs, these are too darling to resist. I love the moonstone just because they actually look like moonstones, but the pink and green variegated tourmaline knocked my socks off (or would have, had I been wearing socks).

Abraxxa has a constant flow of new releases at her store and the quality never falters; everytime I visit I have a new favorite.

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Leading to our shutting the doors this Friday, I’d like to post a few last-minute and mini-reviews on items that I’ve been meaning to blog about for some time now. It’s possible I’ll be doing a few each day, or, given my propensity to fizzle out on big plans made on Mondays, today’s might be all there is. However, with the best of intentions, here’s the first of what I hope are several last minute reviews:

(Click For Larger Image)

When I first got a sample copy of items from Bandit Jewelry Shop and their unique “reflecting” diamonds, I was worried it would be bling hell. I was happily surprised. Yes, several of the items have bling, but to be fair, it isn’t the regular blot-out-the-sun tacky bling that caused many of us to loathe the feature. Every item I found comes with the ability to turn bling off and if you’re like me, you can just IM the creator or shop’s customer service persons and ask for a copy without bling at all.

I was knocked out by the prim work and the “reflective” illusion employed by these items. They really do look like shimmering, shining diamonds and gemstones. The WLB set in rubies and diamonds is a little pinker than I prefer my rubies, but it’s available in ten different gemstone combinations and if you look at the larger image, you can see the prims are lush with detail. One element I most appreciated is that the gems are fitted into settings and not just linked together. That might seem insignificant, but lends a heavy dose of reality to the overall pieces. These sets are a bit on the pricer side of SL life at L$1480 for the necklace, earrings, and bracelet, but there is no denying their being worth is when you look at the work involved. Still, I was disappointed that the creator, Anthony77777 Bandit, opted to sell the matching ring (not pictured) for this set separately at L$580.

The other item that delighted me was the Diamond Party ring which looks a bit like having a dandelion made of diamonds and platinum on your finger. There are oodles of traditional engagement rings and wedding bands at Bandit, but this ring stands out in an instantly love-it-or-hate-it way. I suspect I fell on the love it side because IRL I would never own such an item, and it feels like the sort of decadent playtime accessory that SL fashion fun was created for.

All in all, I think it will be up to the individual to decide if the undeniable quality of Bandit Jewelry is worth the above-average price tags on several of the pieces. I lean toward yes, but then I’m a bit of a frivolous shopper. If you go by the store, even just to browse, be sure to check out the Murano glass vases on display for home decor. They’re nummy!

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These days, when it seems like everyone in SL fashion is taking themselves way too seriously, it is delightful to be reminded of just why I play virtual paper dolls. Recently, while scouting for a costume for a party, I discovered something I’ve been looking for since I was thirteen years old.

It’s quite possible you may not recognize this dress. You are not necessarily a child of the 80s with a crush on all things fantasy. But ever since I first saw this sequence from the movie Legend which features Mia Sara dancing with (and being seduced by) a gothtastic gown, my id has been muttering a low, guttural Gollum-like cry of “mine.” And now, thanks to the SL dress-up goddesses and Natalia Zelmanov of Sirena, it is now my precious!

Like many costumes, it’s not a 100% success. Those nummy gossamer arm drapes are not represented, and there are some elements that could use a little tweaking. I should mention: I could care less. The wicked-witch delish high collar, the cleavage that dips all the way down to Paris, the black and gold decadence of the original intent is well represented in goth girly scrumptiousness. The skirting is also a triumph. It doesn’t suffer from the wretched pangs of transparency bug ruination (is LL ever going to address that crap?) because it is actually two different attachments - effectively layering the skirt and creating smooth movement without the woes of most formal-length offerings today. The texturing might be that “lather, rise, repeat” style that is unfortunate in SL dressmaking, but in this instance, where we’re dealing with folds and ripples of black satin, it just works.

Also at Sirena, you’ll find some fabulously innovative scripted hairstyles. The one I paired with my Dark Lily is called Seduction and it has been my favorite fashion toy over the last several days. When you purchase Seduction, or a similar style, you’re effectively getting two styles in one shot. The base wig comes in colorpacks of four shades, with each shade presented in three different sizes. Each size has corresponding hair sticks (sister styles might come with barrettes, etc). When the hair sticks are worn, the style changes to an updo. To revert to original long hair, simply remove the sticks. You can set it so that only you (the owner) can remove the hair sticks or allow anyone to do so - making your hair a target for friends and mischievous strangers to play with. The hair shows as no-mod in your inventory due to the scripting, but I was able to resize and re-texture it with no problem. It must be said, it was really a treat to get the wigs in three different “start off” sizes.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that the faboo skin I’m wearing is from Fleur and the necklace that compliments the ensemble so delightfully is a previously reviewed gem from Miriel.

Now if anyone can tell me where I can find the ball gown from Labyrinth…

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You know that your shopping experience at Datenshi Creations is going to be a little bit different the second you arrive. It takes a moment to rez, as you find yourself in a playful little open field beside flowers and a wishing well. Slowly, as your surroundings take shape, you realize you have to choose a shopping direction - one of the two more traditional little storefronts, the giant teapot, or the slightly spooky Victorian house further back nestled amid the trees.

Well, kids, it doesn’t matter which one you pick first because there are goodies behind every door.

Door #1: MUWU. This outfit is appropriately titled “Painting Madness” and I’ve been enjoying the hell out of it. It’s such a simple concept, and yet the look feels much more creative amid the glam dress up craziness most of us swirl in. The prim rolled-up cuffs add charm and detail to a the casual pairing of top and pants and the tattoo layer gloves of paint stains are another little wink.

Door #2: Kuroi Hane: If gothtastic lotita stuff is your thing, this is your place. I know this first outfit “Ichigo” looks like the uniform of a Strawberry Shortcake ice show skater, but it’s got incredible detail and it’s just so damn sweet. It comes with parasols for each hand and has oodles of prim details from the puffy bell sleeves to the belt and stocking ties.

The black “Hinata” is far more mainstream goth lolita. Both dresses have incredibly good prim skirts with great movement. The textures are top-drawer here. You can always tell how skilled a designer is by checking out the black textured items where shading and detail becomes far more challenging.

More after the cut!
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