The Unofficial Second Life® Fashion and Shopping Blog

Designer Vindi Vindaloo recently dropped a nice collection of new pieces on me, including some experiements with those twisty-bendy new-fangled scupted prims. I must admit, I was curious to see what some of the early sculpted gowns would look like, so I popped that one - named “Amanda” - on first.

If you have ever been to Vindi’s store (and you may have, she says she’s been designing in SL since 2004 and I’m prepared to accept her word) then you know that most of the textures on her clothing are hand-drawn and fabulous. The textures on this dress are no exception, and I will cheer this one sculpted point - the sculpted prim collar on this dress kicks ass. I love it. And you have to admit, the sculpted prim skirt is stunning to look at. But the movement ~ *sigh* ~ the movement is just so primitive now that we’re used to those damn flex-prims. It’s bulky and blocky and doesn’t have the fluttering natural movement we’re all spoiled to. If you’re going to an event and want to stand in on place so you can look absolutely drop-dead nummy, this is your gown. If not, then I suspect you’ll be opting for the flexi-prim skirt included in this set. On the red lace variety of this same dress, btw, you get several different skirt options so it’s worth taking a look-see.

It is my understanding that the store will be hiring live models so that you can view a gown in action before purchase. I suggest holding off on this ensemble until you can suss out the movement for yourself. There are, however lots of other choices in the store that are must-haves off the rack.

For drama, you can’t beat “Duci.” The flex-prim skirt is more traditionally pleasing as it cascades down into a waterfall hem of ruffles. The textures on the bodice are simply stunning (there’s that word again) and the sculpted prim collar here is used to perfection. Right now I’m digging the use of sculpted prims in a supporting cast role as opposed to a main feature. Perhaps that will change as designers explore their creativity cores and begin to mix and match flexi with sculpti, but we’ll see how that goes.

Last up is the not-to-be-missed “Silk Flower.” If you haven’t noticed, there is a decidedly European flair to most of the designs in Vindi’s store. This chic little charmer made me feel like I should be walking around the Piazza San Marco on Marcello Mastroianni’s arm. The bustle-style of the train on the skirting is something you don’t see in a lot of SL gowns and I’m a big fan of it; it works in wonderful harmony with the system skirt under layer. The mother-of-pearl effect she managed for the base of this fabric texture is just one of the most amazing effects I’ve seen. So often you get that fractal look in pearl-effect texture attempts, but not here. This really does look like shimmering satin and I cannot express to you just how hard that is to pull off. Luster in real life is all about light and reflection. It is NO easy task in our virtual reality.

All of the dress sets featured in this article include shoes and, like most of the boxes in the store, several different wear options. IMHO, this is a very brave collection that goes out on a limb here and there, but also includes enough established, traditional fare to make it practical as well as trendy for those of us less willing to gamble on a premium purchase. Honestly, I think the quality of the textuers alone knocks this clothing out of the park. And, just in case all these new prims intimidate you, most of the prims are mod, so you won’t be waiting for a fitting appointment.

Hair and jewelry notes included with store location after the cut.

(Read More | Where to Buy)

It had been a while since I’d traipsed over to PrimAdonna. Some of my favorite older outfits (the ones that survive every inventory clear-out) were made by Estrelle Fauna and I’ve missed a couple of real charmers among her newer releases.

Take the unbearably adorable “Lemonade” outfit:

I know that loving this outfit means two very unhappy personal confessions. The first — that I’m old enough to look at it and remember Debbie Gibson, and the second — that I once owned far too many cute little outfits like this one (with matching hats, no less). In fact, I’d lay odds that I once lip syched “Foolish Beat” into a hairbrush before the bedroom mirror in something freakishly similar to this exact outfit. And, honestly? I still love it. For young, fun, flirty, casual you just don’t get any more adorable. I like the itty bitty summer top with mod-prim ruffle, I LOVE the embroidered jeans and I, of course, adore the hat. There are also a kick-ass pair of shoes that come with the set, but my 1-800Betties red slipper pumps looked so faboo that I couldn’t take them off.

For the profile shots on the left and right I wore the hat with “Maiden Fern” hair from Calla, but the center shot shows off the add-on option you can get - hair made to go with the cute little hat. I opted for the golden brown flexi hair but there are several different shades to pick from. I will say that I had one issue with this hair style that I’m having with a lot of newer hair fashions that utilize a generous helping of textures with transparent alpha layers. When you rotate the camera from several different angles you get that same kind of odd effect like with some plants. It’s an odd effect of transparent-on-transparent texturing. But I see it a lot in hair from all the top designers (especially with bangs) and no one seems to ever comment on it, so perhaps no one cares (or it’s just me).

Next, because I can’t walk out of a store without getting a dress, is the “Senorita” dress which I really love in the deep royal blue. The prim fan is included in the set and comes with a scripted fanning animation which is just too precious not to adore. The bodices looks great with or without the top prim lace ruffle, but the bottom skirt lace is necessary. I love the shape created by the layered prim skirt attachment and the way it works in tandem with the system skirt layer. I really love it when designers work with the layering and not just make the prims do all the work while the pants and/or skirt layer are designated “glitch” coverage. The combination on this outfit works like a charm and creates a skirt shapes that really is different from a lot of fare on the virtual market.

The full outfit includes the silver and sapphire jewelry set (necklace, earrings, bracelet) and the shoes you see pictured (scripted on/off sexy walk). The fabulous hair is another Calla recent release called “Bluebell.”

And, of course, no entry would be complete without adding the 411 for those seam-watchers. While it doesn’t detract from my enjoyment of either of these delish delights, there are seam issues with many of the items from the store including the two I’ve reviewed, but honestly, unless you were purposefully looking, I doubt you’d ever notice.

(Read More | Where to Buy)

The long-awaited sculpted prim has taken SL by storm this week, and our talented designers, prim aficionados all, were not caught with their pants down.

Style Disorder’s Arbel Vogel blogged Curious Kitties’ adorable cat ear sculpted prim hat. Designer Ameshin Yossarian also added a sculpted prim bow. Stephanie Misfit of Fashion victim tells of sculpted velvety gloves from Pixel Dolls, and Launa Fauna’s LF Fashion reworked her popular leather pants with optional sculpted leg prim, kind of a bunch around the ankles. “Cylinders need not apply.”

Shiny Things’ Fallingwater Cellardoor decided to just GIVE AWAY her first sculptie project for Fallingwater Flowers, so pick yours up free outside of Shiny Things, or at the gate to Flowers. It’s called “Flower Arrangement.” Siyu Suen of Illusions brings us sculptie pirate hats, and wonderful sculptie slouchy pirate boots .

I owe a great big thanks to Sachi Vixen of adam n eve. I simply inquired whether she was planning on doing her new Grazia skins in makeup shades for blondes, along with perhaps a tan, too. I bought the natural, because last week’s release had no makeups for my coloring. Within 2 days, Sachi responded by dropping demo packs on me for 2 more sets of Grazia skin. That’s 8 new makeups, and wonderful colors! Works out to one for every day of the week, plus twice on Sunday. lol. Boy did I ever buy skin!

Designing Nicky Ree just packaged her Dragon Boots for sale, and glorious they are, too, along with Dynamic League boots for men and women. Ninja Petion and Zoey Pinkdot of Digital Dragon Designs did birthstone earrings, little studs in gold or silver. Celebrity Trollop of Second Style Fashionista blogged shoes from Enkythings, Oh What a Neat Boutique, and Jeepers Creepers .

Ginny Talamasca at Last Call did her weekly mega release. This week’s is Argentine Dream, 9 outfits of your dreams. Nice pair of double ankle strap heels, there, too, by Lyra Muse. Cami Cooper’s got the cutest baby doll sundresses with straps, pictured below. She also showed a whole line of suspender dresses, and some summery tank tops.

Neferia Abel at Ivalde released a Cleopatra gown. Marc Anthony, eat your heart out! Nyte ‘n’ Day gives us bikinis, a skirt set, and new tops, too. Roslin Petion and CJ Carnot, Tete a Pied, added an additional store to contain their new releases, AND new clothing line. Nessinger Loveless of Tart Clothing made a suit with prim cuff shorts that’s darling.

The ladies of Calla have done it again. Tigerlily Koi and Haedon Quine released 8 new hairstyles this week. 2 of them are hair/hats, and are wonderful. There’s a picture hat and a cowboy hat. They’ve also discounted 11 more, to be found in a shed out back of the store. For the brides, 10 veils in 25 colors each. Diversity Hair’s Aleri Darkes got busy and offers 4 new hairstyles. Jonathan and Rach Snookums of Frangipani Designs only did 2 new hairstyles, but retextured their whole line, and offer a color chart on their blog.

For the guys, Truth Hawks of Truth has Day Trader Shirt, very sexy. According to Men’s Second Style “new designer Noaru Semyorka throws his hat into the ring with three sets of distressed denims” for those of you who are a little rough around the edges, with names like Brawler, and Grease Monkey. Find him in the Revelation Backyard. According to SLMen, Nice guys finish last in a neat humor tee from Posh designer London Dailey.

I was invited to an event held by The Hatbox Girls of Simone! SuperModels. It’s a contest folks, The Sharp-Dressed Soiree . Just put together a kick ass outfit from the 3 designers listed and win good stuff!

Signing out for now, I’m…

It’s time to get snap-happy again for our 4th Flickr Contest. Except this time, we’re asking you to show us your underpants for this week’s Boudoir Babes theme:

From trashy to classy and just plain sassy, we’re interested in your favourite Second Life underwear. Be it tiny thongs or boy-cut boxers, sultry pignoires or retro babydolls, we want to see your digital skimpies!

The constest is sponsored by the Kingpin of Knickers himself, Shep Korvin of Lap Girl Lingerie. The winner will take home $1,000L in cash and a $2,000L gift certificate for Lap Girl, which means you’ll probably be able to change underpants every single day of the year for the rest of your Second Life.

You can read our contest guidelines and learn how to add your photos to the flickr photo stream here. Please title contest entries with the word Boudoir so we know you’re entering and not just showing off. Remember that you can enter as many photos as you want to a maximum of 10 a day, and that photos must be flickr-friendly - that means no nipples, no kitty carpets.

The contest runs until midnight game time on Saturday, June 2nd, and the winner will be announced on Sunday. So strip off, dive in, and show us your skimpies!