The Unofficial Second Life® Fashion and Shopping Blog

Oh, this year has been great, but time flies. We’re about to say good-bye to the old year and welcome the new. It’s time to take a look at the last of 2007’s fashion. Some will become oldies but goodies.

By the skin of her teeth, Designing Nicky Ree offers us her Audrey gown, a sharp swirl of colors. Time for something a little different: Kat Palmer, Immortelle, did Aiswyra, a cocktail dress reminiscent of a night in New Delhi. Zen Deledda, House of Zen, added Rei to the Tsunami line a great looking kimono that can be worn in 12 variations.

This just squeaked by in the nick of time, another set of makeups for Sachi Vixen’s, Adam n Eve, Juliette skins. Tesla Miles, added several new colors and patterns to her great Ziggy retro boots. Elexor Matador, EMJ, made these gorgeous jewelry sets just in the nick of time to give one to Amelia for Christmas. We can all have some now, see the platinum version of The Princess Journey:

Janie Marlowe, Mischief, said it took forever, but her new cropped jacket looks worth the time. Rach Snookums, Frangipani Designs, took the time to do 4 more hairstyles and a cute safari dress, among other things. Take a trip back in time in one of Wisp Jinn’s, Wishbox, medieval gowns, Forest Princess.

If you’re looking for something racier this time around, Sensual Casanova, Sensual Designs, has Heart Lust, a latex outfit that’ll make eyes pop. Raven Pennyfeather, Rfyre, satisfies the Drifter in you with her outfit of the same name. Edgy, chic, and perfect for adventure. These are just too darling to believe: Tekilah Elytis, Sculpties Up in Here, has the most adorable Fair Isle knit hats with flaps that you will ever see.

Draconic Lioncourt, Draconic Kiss, had time to make hair, Baby. Cute hair-wrapped ponies, fall with color change dreads. Emma Gilmour, Sand Shack Surf Company, had the time of her life doing some new hair. This one, Georgie, reminded me of so many people I’ve known. Love it!

It’s only a matter of time before you’re sick of winter, so Miko Omegamu, Icing, made us a nice outfit called Field of Blooms, to help spring along. I’ve not seen new jeans for a long time, and Nessinger Loveless, Tart Clothing, did some nice straight leg ones.

The time is ripe, so

Signing out for now, I’m…

When Eolande Elvehjem IMed me to ask if there was any particular reason she’d never been reviewed on LL, I was stumped. I wasn’t immediately familiar with her work, and couldn’t find anything readily stowed in my inventory to refer to. We get so many submissions and there are myriad reasons some get overlooked. Most frequently, designers disregard our submission guidelines in some way. Other times, the items aren’t really up-to-snuff for what our readers expect. And sometimes, things just get lost in the ether or misplaced amid the bric-a-brac of insane inventory chaos.

I have no idea why Eolande’s items didn’t come to my attention before, but I’m thrilled twice over that she took the extra time to nudge me.

This winter, Eolande has released a number of snowflake items that I really found charming. Above, the choker and large hair pin are in the “Aurora Borealis” multi-toned mother-of-pearlish option, while the pendant below is in the ever-popular gunmetal. The tiny stone in the center of the pendant has a color-change option which is conveniently driven by touch-menu and not channel commands. I think the use of winter images like snowflakes is a smart option for many designers because it gives us options that don’t necessarily lock us into holiday festive wear. Snowflakes are just as common in January as they are in December. Unlike, say, Santa hats.

Many of Eolande’s items are hair accessories - which are items I cannot have enough of. Some of these are lovely baubles that will accent most hairstyles like the Chinese Poppy Hair Pin. This comes in a variety of poppy colors, each with a chopstick-like hair stem which slips happily into most hairstyles.

(Read on after the cut for more Eolande treasures and where to buy information).
(Read More | Where to Buy)

I’d shop dawn-to-dark if I could. Of course, there’s a little catch called enough money to be able do it. Here’s hoping the old pocketbook holds out. I don’t suppose SL stores will be closed even on Christmas Day, and there’ve been some nice new things released despite the season.

Rosemary Galbraith, Oh What a Neat Boutique, has great Sequined Panty and Bra Sets, along with sequined corsets for you to wear at the end of the day. Blaze Columbia made my day with a new gown, Persuasion. It’s got a definite back-in-the-day look, with capped sleeves and princess seams. Actually, I’d love to have this dress to wear every day, street length and with plain hem.

Designing Nicky Ree made it a red-letter day with her Winter Flame Gowns. Truly gorgeous. Nyte Caligari over at Nyte’n'Day made new dresses as her order of the day, several to choose from.Nephilaine Protagonist, PixelDolls, also has 4 nice dresses, some for daywear. Abby Coalcliff, Devilish Cupcake, saw the light of day with a shiny new Merry dress in 2 lengths .

Draconic Lioncourt, Draconic Kiss, blew me away with her Ghosts of Christmas series of gowns. They’re not of this day and age, and are a limited release, so hurry over there. This is Christmas Ghost - Present.

Roslin Petion and CJ Carnot, Tete a Pied, in addition to building a marvelous new sim, had a field day releasing new makeups and skins. 3 for the guys, and 4 lovely makeups for ladies. They’re great looks. Jasmin Marquez, ’nuff Body Talk has some lovely lingerie sets in her Dreaming in Color Series.

Zen Deledda did House of Zen’s newest Wall Street addition, Page. It’s a dress to wear for just another day at the office. If you still need an outfit for Christmas Day, Eloria LeShelle, Battered Boudoir, has a very cute Christmas Cutie. If you hanker to go back to the days of Bonnie and Clyde, Betty Doyle, Ingenue, has the Bonnie outfit .

Damen Gorilla, Adam n Eve, put many a day into his new strappy, jeweled Incanti shoes. Not meant for day, they’d do well for a night on the town. Haedon Quine wants us to be on time for everything with Calla’s Pocket Watch Necklaces . How about one that pins to your blouse next, huh, Hae?

Tomorrow’s another day, so

Signing out for now, I’m…

I consider Random Calliope to be one of the great artists in all of SL. His jewelry pieces are true works of art. Each one is sculpted lovingly by his hands, each prim in the design added with a distinct purpose. Reading his blog, and the stories behind each of his creations is a delight. He’s long been a generous contributor to charities, and I witnessed one of his limited edition pieces go at auction last week for 56,000L$.

Well, his inventive mind has done it again. This is part of his newly released Amandote! set. It consists of necklace, earrings, bracelet and ring. This set is red on black. The necklace alone is 248 completely untextured and unscripted prims. I wish you could see it’s natural shimmer.

Random describes it himself as “the path of two people coming together to dance the salsa…as it is intended to be danced.” Released in time to celebrate the Winter Solstice, Amandote itself goes for a song. Not actually a song, but a hug is the only currency that will win you these jewels. You need the special HUD, scripted for you to give out hugs. Everyone you hug will receive one of the 18 colors of the set. One hug = one random colored nc/nm/t set.

All are invited to attend at Popeye’s Beach Club on Saturday, December 22 between 8-10 am slt for the Solstice Salsa. Random will be there giving out Hugs and HUDs, which was scripted by Desdemona Enfield. Afterward, you can still get a copy of the HUD at Random’s Worthwhile Gallery in Ode. (More….)

(Read More | Where to Buy)