DrFran’s Alt Goes Shopping and Exploring

By DrFran Babcock

DrFran won’t admit that she loves hunting for freebies, but I have no such problem. That’s why I have taken over once more to show you a few of the goodies that are around the grid for grabbing and wearing. Starting in September the Arcade Gacha will dominate the fashion and home markets, but in the calm before that storm, I will show you what I love. By the way, what I love is also some sims and places. Although the outfits I show you don’t match their surroundings much, they are the places to which I like go when I want to marvel in the wonder that is Second Life™.

 The Candy Girl Hunt

This free grid-wide hunt runs until September 15^th, and has some of the cutest, sweetest (of course), and worth-keeping items I have seen in a while. My absolute favorite hunt gift was the complete, sugary pink Neko outfit from Beautiful Dirty Rich. The tail that comes with the outfit is a knockout, shiny and animated nicely, and has the touch and chat option. The corset dress is mesh and ruffled, and comes in many sizes to fit most avatars. The airs are pink and animated, too, and the boots, although I don’t favor that big foot look, really go well with the entire ensemble. In addition, there are fishnet stockings and panties. I would easily spend Lindens to get many of the parts of this outfit, but the whole thing is yours free just for finding the mesh lollipop hidden in the store.

ROCHE Sim

The picture for this outfit was taken on the sim of ROCHE, one of my favorites. It has always been a place to go to when I need to relax. It has the best of eastern design qualities in that on the surface it looks very scrubby and simple, but the more you explore, the more you come to appreciate the work and attention to detail that went into building the place. You used to be able to get a free bicycle to cruise the island, but walking is just as much fun. The sim changes from time to time, but the basic message is one of stark and steely water and dilapidated buildings situated on softly rolling hills. Come for a walk and you will return, I am sure.

Plausible Body 1 – Latex

Do you know about Plausible Body? This shop has been in existence for several years, and features open pricing. Most of the items in the shop are free to buy, and the owners suggest that you make a donation at vendors that are located throughout the parcel. I suppose you can just take what you want and then leave, but I generally give a generous donation, as the quality of the merchandise warrants payment. What I like most are the basic pumps, because they are good-looking and come in a vast array of solid colors.

I picked up two outfits while at Plausible Body. The first is a classic latex catsuit, that comes in many colors, with really sophisticated shading. Latex is not that easy to recreate in Second Life™, and Roslynd Turbo has done a great job with the textures.

The other outfit is a must have for anyone who wants to travel light in inventory, but have many looks available. The Citadines outfit comes complete with a top, mini skirt, and pumps. What makes this mesh outfit such a standout is that it comes with four HUDS that allow you to change the top, the mini skirt, the shoe color, and the color of the shoe heels. With all of these options you could pack for a full week and hop all over the grid with a new look all the time. Since DrFran was busy elsewhere, I decided to take pictures in two of my other favorite sims: Kowloon and Lula.

Kowloon

Kowloon is based on the Hong Kong neighborhood of the same name. I have adored this sim since it was built because it is truly like a maze of streets and tunnels. You could spend hours immersed in its depths and not find your way out. More than once I have had to teleport home to find my way. The sim is a delight to explore, and things change from time to time, so it’s nice to revisit frequently. Of course, it’s a great place for photography opportunities as well.

Lula

Lula is a commercial sim that houses the shops Tres Blah and Lamb. The first time I landed there I was sure I had been transported to a small village in the south of France, and it has remained one of the best textured places in SL, in my opinion. There have been changes over the years, but the high quality of building never disappoint.

Conclusion

You can look good for only a few Lindens in Second Life™. If there is anything that you would like to see DrFran’s alt cover, just give a holler. Happy shopping and hunting.

Credits:

The Candy Girl Hunt: http://katnipzevents.blogspot.com/p/hints-and-slurls.html
ROCHE: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROCHE/165/217/88
Plausible Body: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Manaslu/169/231/289
Plausible Body Blog: http://plausiblebody.blogspot.com
Kowloon: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/kowloon/148/81/24
Lula: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Lula/104/93/34

DrFran Babcock

DrFran’s Alt Goes Shopping

By DrFran Babcock

Yes, I know that Second Life’s™ history is my obsession, but this grid is filled with so many things to do, and ways to be, that I can’t stand focusing on just one thing. With Bix as an editor, the writers are usually free to explore their passions, and that’s a great thing.

One of the things I had done for a while was to have a freebie blog, and it was relatively popular, but a lot of work to maintain. I have stopped that blogging, but I still felt the need to write about the better buys that are out there in this fabulous virtual world. If Hamlet can feature fashion (), so can this revered publication.

However, DrFran doesn’t have the time to go looking for freebies, so she sent out her secret alt, Livre, to hunt for her.  From time to time she will go out looking for items. The rules are that they have to be free, or no more than five Lindens.

The Fall enMeshed Hunt

Sadly, this hunt wasn’t completely set up by the time my alt went looking, but the first gift was worth showing you. It is a burlesque outfit that comes complete with everything including the skirted corset, panties, booties, and even black pigtails. The only problem with the outfit was the booties, in that the texture did not seem to render no matter what I did. However, at 0 Lindens, I am sure you could make use of the hair and outfit for Halloween, or for dancing at your favorite burlesque hall.

This picture was taken at the Moulin Rouge, a fitting location for a corseted lady. Credits:

enMeshed into Fall Hunt #1 Burlesque Outfit includes all you see, including the black pigtail hair (booties, too, but the texture wouldn't rez, so I didn't show it. Wasteland Clothing http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Green%20Goblin/26/115/38

enmeshed into Fall Hunt: http://enmeshedhunts.wordpress.com/enmeshed-into-fall-2013-hunt-hints/

Taste the Rainbow Hunt

This hunt has a lot of really nice freebies, including hair, and some wild glittery lipstick. Today, Livre is showing you the Blacklace Beauty rainbow eyeshadow and lipstick. I think with the right outfits that this makeup can really add a nice finishing touch that is a little bit funky, and a lot chic.

Taste the Rainbow Hunt information: http://chanimations.deviousmind.net/2013/08/09/taste-the-rainbow-hunt-2013/


Blacklace Beauty: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Blacklace/146/148/31

Group Gift Goodies

These were Livre’s favorite finds of her mission for freebies. The exquisitely detailed turquoise blouse was a group gift from Ruby’s Closet, and the group is free to join! The detailing of the buttons pulling over the chest is one of those things that makes me cry with joy. My only criticism of the shirt is the Nehru-like collar. I would have preferred a lower neckline. This did not detract Livre from wearing it all day, along with her group gift hair from Eater’s Coma.

The hair is a very nice gift from another group that is free to join. Your gift hair is actually a HUD that gives you every single color that the hair comes in. The mesh rigging is superb, and the braid moves along with your body. Livre chose the platinum, and it looked just right with the aqua top.

Credits:

Ruby's Closet Aqua Layer Top Group Free to Join http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Blacklace/146/148/31

Hair: Eaters Coma Group Gift This amazing hair comes as a HUD and will give you every color made just with a touch. This is the light Platinum. http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/SIXTY%20NINE/126/126/501

Me’LanGe Store Hunt

Livre’s last treat is a store-wide hunt for gemstones that contain all kinds of outfits and gift cards. I will show you two of them. One is a ballerina costume in lavender, and the other is a she-devil costume. Each of them comes complete with all the stuff you need, including boots or shoes, and cost only one Linden. The hunt is going on until August 30^th, so you will have to hurry!

Me’LanGe: http://huntsl.wordpress.com/2013/05/28/melanges-treasure-hunt/

So, that’s it for this installment of DrFran’s alt goes shopping. If you like this, let Bix know, and maybe he’ll put Livre on the payroll. Just kidding, of course.

DrFran Babcock

Luminous Designs

By Bixyl Shuftan

In Steelhead, there are a number of personalities, such as the Sasquatch, Baron Wulfenbach, and everyone's favorite lycan, Sherif Fuzzball Ortega. Then there's Lumina Elvehjem, better known by her friends as Lumi. Popular among her friends, when I asked people around Steelhead who deserved an interview, it was suggested I talk to her. So I contacted Lumi, and we agreed to talk about her store at Steelhead, "Luminous Designs."

Lumi has been in business for about four years. First logging into Second Life in June 2006, "I started with furniture at 6 months, I got into photoshop at around two years. and opened a clothing line around that time." The store offers, "mostly womens'  clothing, but I have several mens' things too, in a few generes. Among her items, "historically accurate, steam/Victorian-inspired, boudoir (lingere / bedroom), and whimsical. And some stuff I make 'cause I want to."

Among her top selling items are the lingere sets, "I have been thanked by boyfriends for some of them (smiles)." But the best selling one, "my most popular item of all time (was) a total surprise to me, it's my Greek/Roman shoes." These "gladiator style" shoes were pretty simple fitting men and women equally well, a single prim sole and a "wrap around the legs." While Steelhead has had some Greco/Roman events, the reason she made the shoe, "was actually a request from a customer." And once in the store, people began buying it again and again.

Another top seller is her Sheerly Sari, available in a number of colors and about 500 Lindens, "I have to say, this is the thing I'm most proud of. I nailed it. That is a classic historically correct bit of lush gorgeousness. No sculpts, and it's pre-mesh."

The store itself was fairly large, with several floors, "First floor is for newer stuff. I have some things I need to put out for New Years. Next floor up is Oriental. Third floor is Steam/Victoriana, loosely interpreted. Fourth floor is boudoir, and the whimsical stuff ends up there too. Top floor is ancients. Asking her further about the whimsical items, Lumi answered, "Fairy  stuff, skimpy lil miss nothing outfits." I then asked what was her whimsical item that got the most laughs. Lumi thought for a moment, "Hmmmm, toss-up between the shower bubbles and the sparkle suit." Camming up, a picture of the wearable shower bubbles wasn't exactly safe for a family newspaper.

Lumi has more than one store in Steelhead. Stopping by one of her "annex store" locations, there were a few chuckles at the place such as a "Beware of the neko" sign, and a can of "anti-drama spray." More examples of her humor.

So what does Lumi do when not minding the stores or making items? "I hang out with the Steelheaders. I often lead several of them in Sync dancing where you match animations to the tunes that are playing in real time." Her favorite regular event is the Steelhead Friday Night Dance, "I sync-dance everyone at that. (smiles)"

As for her title of "Steelhead Ambassador," Lumi answered, "It's something Lunar thought up. We represent Steelhead, and help locals with various things, invite people." She's happy to have her store here, even though. "I'm not a 'steampunk' store. It's not genere-correct, but I'm not going anywhere else."

One can find information on some of Lumi's items at her blog on: http://lumisbloggiebits.blogspot.com/

So whether to get a Victorian-era outfit to fit in better at Steelhead, or a little something for the spouse, or something just plain funny, come by Luminous Designs.

Steelhead Shanghai (67, 21, 31)

Bixyl Shuftan

The Peace on Earth Hunt

By DrFran Babcock

I really suck at hunts, but every year I struggle through at least a part of the "Peace on Earth Hunt" because of two reasons: 1) I love good quality freebies, and 2) what I REALLY want for Christmas IS peace on earth.

So, fashionistas, here are two looks I put together from just about one quarter of the hunt. For more information, SLurls, and hints, go to this website: http://peaceonearthhunt.wordpress.com

Look Number One: ( I mix and match, and don't always use all items from an outfit)

ANGEL DESSOUS Mimi Gown 

ESHI OTTAWARA -Fuzzy Short Jacket

Beloved Jewelry Chantelle Gold/Ruby Earrings and Necklace 

CHICHICKIE! Serafina - All Colors (ColorTouch) 

[BLUSH] Selma Skin Tan - Nude

POSE: The Muse - Peace 3

Picture Taken at: Area 51 Winterland International

Look Number Two:

EAR CANDY ~ Earrings and Necklace, and Gold Mesh Heels, which you can't see.

SASSY! - Whitney gown 

AMACCI -  Hair Nena - Ice

AMACCI Skin - Oleana (Pale) - Peace - Cleavage

Taken at: Garden of Whimsey - Winter Wonderland

 

DrFran Babcock

Reader Submitted: Vitabela Dubrovna Celebrating Four Years in Second Life

Fashion Designer Vitabela Dubrovna will on 17^th July 2012 be celebrating four years as an SL Designer and yesterday (May 17^th) saw the release of a stunning new Hollywood Glamour style ball gown which you can view here exclusively for this first time:

 

Image courtesy of The Best Of SL

This brand new design shows just how far she’s come and how she’s moved on as both a designer and an artist within the realm of Second Life. In the four years she’s been with SL she’s built up a large following mostly due to the strength of her design skills and the fact that her work is timeless, yet still very modern. Her boutique “Vita’s Boudoir”, set up when she joined in 2008 features an array of fashions and accessories – and one thing is clear; her ideology is all about glamour, sexuality and high femininity.

It’s all here among Vitabela’s collection from the beautiful, bold burlesque through to seductive lacy dresses with intricate detailing and clever contrasting. She even caters for those amongst you who wish to have ultra fluttery, floaty eyelashes or flowing hair extensions in her accessory boudoir. Her hair extensions mirror her notions about fashion, creating a “wild” unkempt look, which matches really well with the lace on her clothes and also provides a wonderful background to the severity of her catsuits and jumpsuits. This is serious Catwalk style fashion for SL.

Vitabela’s Ethos and Ideas

This really isn’t fashion for the faint hearted; throughout her career in SL Vitabela’s designs have proved that she’s all about the sex kitten within. Crisp, neat lines are, for the most part, out in favour of layers of gauzy lace, feathers and leather, often forming elaborate headdresses and accessories. Monochrome pieces play out in stark contrast to flashes of vibrant primary colours and delicate designs such as her Rose’s Thorn bikini/fascinator combination:

 

Image courtesy of Second Life Marketplace

Her clothes always seem to have an element of the theatrical about them – a contrast to other SL Fashion designers such as the house of Modavia, which cater strongly for the “everyday” wearer, with contemporary designs and muted colours in slouchy styles. Vitabela’s love of burlesque is clear to see, particularly in her catsuits and jumpsuits which (as she says herself) show off more than they cover up, not for the more conservative amongst you! Though for anyone wanting to branch out and try something completely different, her work might be just the thing to tempt you into a new area of experimentation.

Her fashion can also be viewed as high art, with the emphasis on intricate detailing and solid patterning which represents nature and wildlife and an intrinsically animalistic feeling. Her piece “Uprooted” is a good example of this, with neutral shades of burnt umbers and delicate browns used to create an “earthy” feeling. You can see that piece here (image Not Safe For Work).

One of her most daring recent artistic creations is without doubt “Ride” which you can view on her own blog here. (suggestive image) A highly sexy, polished and severe look which lies in contrast some of her lacier, floatier designs yet still exudes sexiness and glamour to the maximum. There are elements of her previous works in there, with subtle touches of leather and a loose fitting neck tie, there’s a strong feel of Art Deco to it as well, as while it retains an eminent femininity, there is an inherent sense of the masculine there – strong lines, nipped in waist, the neck tie and jacket.

Not All About Fashion Now!

Vitabela has now also diversified and has her own “Home And Garden” section, which can also be found in her “Vita’s Boudoir” shop. Again, the emphasis with a strong bent on high art; she uses muted colours contrasted with bright splashes of vivid greens to create landscaping trends that are really different, very up to the minute and on trend yet classic and able to mix with a variety of other styles. Her “White Winter Tree”, a beautifully stark and impressive garden design (which is the sort of thing that provides a beautiful backdrop for photos) sits delightfully juxtaposed with her “Spring Grass” collection – a wonderfully bright, floral work which is uplifting and inspiring, yet also similarly impressive for photographic work.

Here’s to another exceptional four years of outstanding fashion and inspirational design from one of SL’s most competent and highly sought after fashionistas, Vitabela Dubrovna.

By "Imogen" (Elizabeth Heartland)

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Elizabeth Heartland is a freelance writer from England who writes primarily for technology and gaming blogs as well as an SEO company. Virtual worlds intrigue her particularly and the amazing fashion 'industry' that is developing online is surely a sign of things to come.

Goddess Apparel

The fashions of the twenties are the basic foundation of many of today's dresses explained Athene Forder in the first floor of Goddess Apparel's Roaring 20’s Chicago location.

"If you look at the ball gowns of today, the slender style came to fruition in the twenties," stated Forder as she sits in a high-back chair, dressed in an elegant silk gown of her own creation, "It was a time of pushing limits. Men found that women would no longer be forced into the subservient mold of the past. Women had tasted the power of the vote and had learned that they could make changes in other areas of their lives as well."

Perhaps the more men pushed to control women, the more styles limits were pushed, was Forder's comment. Women's hair was cut shorter, as well as their skirt lengths. The best dressmakers of that time were women, but men held the pocketbooks prior to the twenties.

The most popular dress of the era was the flapper.

"Well, my guess would be because of it's flair," Forder declared. "It flaunted the staid, lady-like moray of expected female behavior. The style for a woman always included some type of hat. The twenties headdress kept that tradition, but once more pushed the limits, using pearls, beads, and feathers instead of, or in addition to a regular hat."

As for fabrics, Forder stated that cottons were still used, but mostly for the poor. Though the small detailed patterns of these cotton fabrics are a twenty's earmark. Satins tended to replace the heavy silks and beaded fabrics became popular. Though satins were originally from Asia, fabric manufacturers began duplicating the fabrics the best they could to fullfill the growing demands.

"An unusual fact about fashions during the twenties was the flat-chested look," she added. "Many of the women would actually bind themselves to fit the style."

At Goddess Apparel, Forder is making creative decisions. She has styled what she is proud to add her signature to since June of 2008. Her work began with a commission two years ago. Today, she has a portfolio of 79 different gowns. She also has men's jerseys, shirts and jeans. She works two hours a night and six over the weekend.

After a great deal of research about the flapper style, she created "Marika." Her goal was a dress that would allow the wearer to select the amount of fringe she wanted. By using actual photos of styles she loved, she'd then go to her drawing board and attempt to recreate them. She tries to keep a balance of soft pastels, bright jewel tones and dark, muted colors in her gowns. Marika comes in black, lilac, red wine, sapphire and teal.

"I was looking for a sexy style in the flapper tradition. I shortened the length for that bit of edge and then went wild with the fringe," she confessed. "It moves with you as you walk."

"Since then, I've been adding more and more period dresses to the gowns in the Goddess Apparel line," she said. "It wasn't until I looked through my line, with Chicago in mind, that I realized how many of them fit the style of the 1920's, especially the ball gowns."

"Zelda" is her second flapper dress. Instead of a feather, it has a little hat and veil and a more traditional cut to the top. The gown is made out of sequined material and comes in nine different metallic based colors," she informed me.

Forder selected a variety of colors that she could give a metallic sheen to. She named the dress after Zelda Fitzgerald, stating that Zelda was the icon of the day. It was her husband that wrote the Great Gatsby. I note that the gown she is wearing during our interview is named Lady Gatsby. It is available in a number of pastels with two exceptions: one is blood red and then she added black to a cream for a dramatic effect. She said that sales of this dress have been doing very well. Both have the shimmer of satin as you move and the skirt sits nicely without adjusting a sit script.

Forder created an alternative dress. She liked the lines so much and the jewels on the back straps, that she made a little cocktail dress from it, "Siren was actually designed as a challenge to myself," she confesses. "I wanted to try my hand at a split skirt... so I split more than the skirt. Siren is done first in silks, but it has a second set inside that is done in see-through chiffons...all held together with silver clasps."

Some of her gowns are adoptable to different time periods. She stated that most of the slender gowns may be considered a modern ball gown that fits nicely into the 1920's. Some of her older Victorian gowns have slender skirts to allow it to fit more eras. The outfits on the second floor of her Chicago location she considers to be more universal in look than the twenties, but would pass in Chicago.

We move on to the playful Leto, which is one of her early creations. She enjoyed adding the feathers. "I was trying to create a design that might catch the eye of the singer Katia Keres. The high cut skirt is surrounded by the feathered flexi. I tried to keep it feathered, so when I changed the colors, I kept as much of the white base of the feather there. This would keep them from all blending into one mess, preserving the outlines." With the more formal style skirt, she created a salsa version with the feathers which lead to the Leto Edge.

One gown demands my attention and I'm entranced with its detail. The Psyche is an elegant wedding gown. Without the train, the gown is perfect for bridesmaids. And, yes, she has veils available so you don't have to visit another store looking for one.

Forder is updating her main store to include multi-dress vendors that will have a note card of the included outfit parts. Some accessories are sold separately beside the appropriate dress.

She has conducted fashion shows in the past and hopes to do them again. Forder is also working on expanding her stores a little. Her main store, located in Newport Keyes, now has a dance area.

Netera Landar