Blazer love today, with the gorgeous Blazer from Tres Blah that is currently at Collabor88. This blazer has either on its own options, or with longer tank underneath. I can see living in both looks, but I went with the on its own today. I am however wearing a sheer tank from Stigma underneath it. This tank comes in great colour packs, both of which were a must for me.

The blazer was perfect to go with my new Maryjanes by Lindsey Warwick that are at this session of My Attic @ The Deck. I love these platform Maryjanes, and they come in great colours, one of which is bright red, perfection honestly. The girl is talented that is for sure, if you are not familiar already with her footwear, get out from under that rock. She makes her shoes now as add ons for Slink feet, and these are for the avatar enhanced flat feet.

Another happy for my day, was getting to pull the Xiu trousers out of my inventory for a whirl, because they are the perfect short longs, or long shorts to show off such great footwear, and also as crisp and suity enough for the great blazer. The necklace was also a perfect adornment, this being another item from this session of C88. I am a big fan of businesswear in Sl, so this session is a must shop at as many times as it takes to get it all.

To cute the look up a bit, not only with the adorable footwear, I went with the great bag from Boom that is at My Attic. You actually get two colours per set for the 95L pricetag, so don’t dilly dally, the same with the shoes of course…all items at My Attic are 95L until 31st of March which is when they will all go to full price in their stores.

The Hair I am wearing is by Ploom, and actually comes in different sizes and options for breast wearing. I love this hair especially in this great red, I felt like Poison Ivy all last night wearing it, and added this great headband by Adore & Abhor, both are also My Attic items.

The last time I wore the New Emma Slink Visage head I was wearing an Ellie skin applier by Adam n Eve…this time I am wearing Carolyn which it is a tie for me to love both. The Carolyn I love because it has a moles option that I adore, and Ellie just looked so much like me when I wear it, it was hard not to fall head over heels. I think more people have to give the mesh heads a go, because once the eyes take in all the features that make us us, such as eyes, hair, style, and so on, they all come together and don’t get too far from the you you are used to, but then it could be that changing skins more often makes that easier.

I do know that a lot of people are loving them that use a lot of looks for ads and stuff, because it makes it so much easier to have a perfect look. So definitely a space and time saving item if its not you, then use it when you don’t want to be you, nothing better than having a bit of variety in your ads.

Equipment Used:

VR Studio 3.0 and HUD and Library for location shoots–VR Foundry Mainstore,VR Foundry @ The Deck

Props, Furniture, Build :

Poses by:

Marukin Poses

Eyes:

Ellis – LeLutka

Lashes:

Natural Curl Sculpted Lashes – LeLutka

Skin Worn:

Slink Visage Head – Emma – Slink 

Carolyn Visage Appliers & Genesis Skin – Adam n Eve 

Avatar Enhanced Mesh Hands & Flat Feet – SLink

Avatar Enhanced Skin Hands & Feet Appliers : Adam n Eve

Avatar Enhanced Nail Appliers : set 205 – Flair @ My Attic 

Hair:

Flick  (Visage Size) – Ploom @ My Attic 

Clothes:

Blazer – Tres Blah @ Collabor88

Xiu Pants – Celoe 

Sheer Tank – Stigma 

Shoes :

Playful (Slink Flat Feet Add Ons) – Lindsey Warwick Handmade Shoes @ My Attic

Accessories :

Tokyo Party Night necklace – MG @ Collabor88

Princess Headband – Adore & Abhor @ My Attic

Squeaches Bag – BOOM @ My Attic

Today I was showing some pics to Mel, that I had taken yesterday in my studio…this was responded to with ” You never do depth of field pics “. This is actually very true, but Mel is persistant, so if I was going to do some location shooting I got prepared. First off attaching my VR Studio Mobile Library – part of the VR Studio Posestand set – and then without hesitation tping over to the NEW Slink West sim.

If you have not been you are letting yourself down, also you are letting down your Slink Avatar Enhancements collection, as every store there has one item minimum in their store for 50% OFF until friday this week. Now while the stores are just lovely, and I myself have one, it is the landscaping that is a must see. The talented Whimsy Winx left me for further lands for a few days last week, and what she created with her incredible skills is just a stunning arrangement of landscaping brilliance. I wish that I had many sims just to sit back and let her go for it. She has an amazing talent of just putting things together in wonderful ways, and now that we have mesh, and lower prim counts, it is a marvel to watch.

I am wearing the NEW Slink Visage Becky head as well, she was a big surprise for everyone the other day…the whole sim I heard was packed with people waiting for Emma , and then out of nowhere came a second head Becky. Becky is a younger face, and the features look great. Her hud skin and make ups are interchangable with the Emma head, which makes me happy because I really like the matte lipsticks she has. Everyone is getting appliers ready for the heads for Skin Fair that starts on the 14th of March, and I love the ones I have seen. But I really believe in these heads as also being stand alone items. The skins that come with, the make up options and the fact that one click of a tone will change hands and feet also, make them wonderful. So definitely check them out and wear them on their own first, before you jump into appliers. But it definitely gives you lots of options especially for store ads etc.

Red hair and the smattering freckles on this face are adorable. I pulled out some older Elikatira hair, and the colour and the style were just perfect. I am wearing one of my favourite shirts, this is an older C88 item by Tres Blah. It was a release with a Maxi skirt, and honestly, this one and the shorter versions are my go to shirts so often, I just love them, comfy, stylish and just so soft looking.

Totally busted still wearing the Baiastice shorts from the other day, and I have not taken them off since, I love them. Though a bit more tailored than this look would generally go for, I just don’t care, I love them.

Slink West

Click HERE to SLURL’s Page.

Equipment Used:

VR Studio 3.0 and HUD and Library for location shoots–VR Foundry Mainstore,VR Foundry @ The Deck

Props, Furniture, Build :

Location – Slink West

Poses by:

Long Awkward Poses – No longer available which is BAH and Dove Swanson should totally come back and make more.

Eyes:

Ellis – LeLutka

Lashes:

Natural Curl Sculpted Lashes – LeLutka

Skin Worn:

Becky Sunkissed – Slink Visage Mesh head – Slink 

Avatar Enhanced Mesh Hands & Barefeet – SLink

Avatar Enhanced Skin Appliers : part of Slink Visage set for Becky – Slink

Avatar Enhanced Nail Appliers : set 198 – Flair 

Hair:

About – Elikatira

Clothes:

Half Tucked Tee – Tres Blah 

Kasia Shorts – Baiastice

 

Such a HUGE start to the weekend. Slink has been enticing us all with Visage sneak peaks over the past weeks, and they produced with not only one head, but two fantastic mesh heads. Emma was the head all the trailers showed, and then out of nowhere we got Becky as well. The options are amazing, and will grow and grow further as more skin creators join the existing in creating appliers for these wonderful heads. More heads are also coming in the future, and another great thing is that all appliers will work on either, and all future heads.

So far I have seen some beautiful posts on the heads, and one stand out post so far is from the lovely Grazia Horwitz, who goes into detail on the appliers huds already created by other stores HERE. I am actually cheating by wearing a yet to be released Adam n Eve applier set and skin called Ellie. Ellie is beautiful and comes with the base skin, cleavage options. The lolas appliers, phat azz and Slink appliers are an add on pack you can purchase if you have those things. It will be released at the upcoming Skin Fair that starts very soon, so look out for the Adam n Eve booth there.

Another location to pop over to before Skin Fair is the NEW Slink West sim. This also opened yesterday and wow what a build, what a fantastic location for taking pictures, shopping or just chilling. Whimsy Winx actually did all the incredible landscaping over there, and she did an amazing job.  There are so many incredible add on and appliers stores over at Slink West. Each store has an item reduced by 50% during the first week as well, and there are some Flair items reduced as well as my usual free items on the wall, so stop by and visit.

The Slink Visage head actually comes with its own skin base in three tones, a hud with make ups, brow options and marvelous tintable lashes. When you click on the tone you want, it will also tint your hands and feet to match, so if you have other skins you have matched to with a tint, be sure to back those up somewhere else first. I am wearing Emma which is the more mature of the two heads so far in this first pic, and I knew instantly that I wanted to wear a bun and glasses, I love taking the bun from the LeLutka swish hairstyle, and resizing it, then adding it to the helen base as I have done here, especially with the tendrils of hairs coming off the base.

The glasses are a fantastic creation by Yummy at this months Collabor88, I did have to resize them down as those funny girls over at Tableau like to oversize for the wow factor. I especially love the thick glass texture detailing on them, leading one to believe if I removed them I would walk into the side of a bus. The necklace I am wearing is also a Yummy release, and Yummy it most certainly is.

The theme of Collabor88 is Back in Business, and I am feeling ever so fierce in my look. I teamed up this stunning deep v top from Fishy Strawberry that gives incredible inside side breast, with the amazing Kasia shorts, that are an older Baiastice item…I love the sharp pleat at the front of these shorts they are just wonderful.

The whole outfit was put together colour wise to show off the amazing new booties from Celoe. Celoe will be doing every second month for Collabor88 and this first release is of course as any Celoe item a MUST MUST HAVE. The boots are sexy and have a real swagger to them. I love that they are a very upscale designer take on a traditional shoe, with a severe heel and killer pointed toe. Look out big business I am ready to take you on.

Click HERE to SLURL’s Page.

Equipment Used:

VR Studio 3.0 and HUD and Library for location shoots–VR Foundry Mainstore,VR Foundry @ The Deck

Props, Furniture, Build :

Poses by:

Adorkable Poses 

Eyes:

Ellis – LeLutka

Skin Worn:

Ellie – Genesis Skin w/ Slink Visage Appliers – Adam n Eve @ Skin Fair 2014 (Coming Soon)

Visage Mesh Head – Emma – Slink 

Avatar Enhanced Mesh Hands – SLink

Avatar Enhanced Skin Appliers : Genesis Skins – Adam n Eve 

Avatar Enhanced Nail Appliers : set 199 – Flair 

Hair:

Helen (Base Only) Swish Bun Only – part of style modded larger – LeLutka 

Clothes:

New York Deep V Shirt – Fishy Strawberry @ Collabor88 

Kasia Shorts – Baiastice 

Shoes/Boots:

Fox Boots – Celoe @ Collabor88

Accessories:

Monday Morning Necklace , Diane Frames – Yummy @ Collabor88

Mackenzie Tote – LaGyo @ Collabor88

I got told today that I was not wearing my usual “uniform’ by that they meant my Boom bikini that I wear under everything in case of alpha or mesh load failure. Because of this I tend to just wear it on its own much of the time, because it is just much easier to do so.

Today though I unpacked a skirt that was released some time ago by Erratic, and fell instantly for it. Not only does it come in the solid as worn, but there are also two tone – very 70’s – looks as well. It reminds me of those shorts in a similar style, and it is a perfect texture of softness and sexy all rolled into one.

Even though super short and sexy, the cardigan worn with it is also extremely vintage in style, but more mature and sedate, the contrast makes it even more appealing to me to wear. Then with the toeless leggings and the fantastic Clarice sandals also by Erratic, that are add on shoes for the Slink Mid feet, you have a wonderful outfit that can lead to all sorts or nights out.

The Arcade has just begun to a resounding WOOOT from the grid. The hair that I am wearing, or really ‘Hairs” are the Exile release for this event. Rain and Shine are their names and they are superb styles, and so fun for taking pictures. The Umbrella that I am holding in the pictures is another The Arcade item by Boom, and when you click on it it opens and it rains. There are so many wonderful types of brolly too, amazing animals shapes and the one I am using opens up to have a big red bow on top, so delightful.

Lastly The Arcade item for Glam Affair is the Aria skin. I am wearing it at its base, and it is so pretty. The hands and feet appliers also come with and there are all sorts of amazing add ons and options for the skin, from brows to moles and everything in between.

Click HERE to SLURL’s Page.

Equipment Used:

VR Studio 3.0 and HUD and Library for location shoots–VR Foundry Mainstore,VR Foundry @ The Deck

Props, Furniture, Build :

Poses by:

Oracul

WinxBox – Bright Lights BC – W.Winx & Flair 

Eyes:

Ellis – LeLutka

Lashes:

Natural Curl Sculpted Lashes – LeLutka

Skin Worn:

Aria – Glam Affair @ The Arcade/March

Avatar Enhanced Mesh Hands & Mid Feet – SLink

Avatar Enhanced Skin Appliers : Glam Affair 

Avatar Enhanced Nail Appliers : set 187 – Flair 

Hair:

Rain ,  Shine – Exile @ The Arcade/March

Clothes:

Sally Zipperskirt – Erratic

Cardigan – Cynful

Toeless Leggings (slink appliers) – Flair 

Shoes/Boots:

Clarice Sandals (slink add ons Mid Feet )- Erratic 

Accessories:

Rain no Rain Umbrella – Boom@ The Arcade/March

Leather Blossom ring – Paper Couture

“Really Big Ostentasious Ring” should be a category in Marketplace, but I didn’t need search, I knew exactly what store to hit up, and that was Paper Couture. Regardless of age, sculpts, prims, or mesh, the Paper Couture collections hold up over many years past, and will for many more in the future. This ring is just beautiful and when dressing up in such a manner, I need the ring to pull it together.

The gown and shoes I am wearing today, are part of a huge collection of Bridal wear by MiaMai, and honestly, these are the kinds of collections that make you want to organise a big and beautiful event for someone, but SySy won’t let me throw her and her RL husband a wedding…mean right? It is rare for me to pull out all the purple, but this gown was well worth it, and as soon as I saw it on I knew it would go with one of my more recent sets of nails for Flair, one of my favourite sets of simple subdued colours, and they really look beautiful together.

The parts of this dress are all significantly beautiful, the sheer taffeta trailing in sections, the balloon like asymetrical mid length, before cascading down in sections to the train. The strapless bustline with adorments of mesh flowers is just delightful, all the things you would want in a truly beautiful gown. Then look no further than the same store for the fantastic shoes, that would work for all in the bridal party, but can totally be rocked out afterwards, so definitely not going to waste, and coming in such striking colours and jewel detailing, and that heel, you better brush up on your dancing, because you could probably injure someone with those.

I was leaning towards the Lorella hair from Lelutka with the crown of flowers that comes with, then I remembered that Glam Affair had just released a beautiful mix of flowers and pearls. This accessory has a very 1920’s Flapper quality to it, that is just perfect with this gown…and while a few strands of hair are pulling through the petals, you can find a style that might work better, but this one fanning back behind the shoulders makes me very happy.

Click HERE to SLURL’s Page.

Equipment Used:

VR Studio 3.0 and HUD and Library for location shoots–VR Foundry Mainstore,VR Foundry @ The Deck

Props, Furniture, Build :

Poses by:

Tuty’s

Eyes:

Ellis – LeLutka

Lashes:

Natural Curl Sculpted Lashes – LeLutka

Skin Worn:

Isla – League

Avatar Enhanced Mesh Hands & Mid Feet – SLink

Avatar Enhanced Skin Appliers : League

Avatar Enhanced Nail Appliers : set 199 – Flair 

Hair:

Lorella Hair – LeLutka 

Clothes:

Shae Moonlight Gown – MiaMai 

Shoes/Boots:

Barbarella Bridal Special Editions (Slink Mid Feet Add Ons) – MiaMai

Accessories:

Leather Blossom Ring – Paper Couture 

Bohemian Romance Hair Accesorry – Glam Affair

 

EDIT: This rant is specifically focused on Fashion Blogging

In the 8 years I have been an Second Life Resident, only a few months of that time was I not blogging. I didn’t start out Fashion Blogging right away, I actually didn’t know that existed as a thing until I was already in world 4 months, but I was blogging pretty regularly on my own blog. Then I discovered ‘Appearance Mode” I have told this story a few times, and how I had so much inventory from shopping everyday and working, that I started blogging daily.

If you think I am wordy now, there are older residents that can attest that how I blog now is barely a blurb by comparison. I loved it, was incredibly passionate about it, and looked at it as a way to contribute to this amazing community.

This post is a rant, a big one that has been festering for months. I have spoken about it with Cajsa, and Gidge, as well as Gogo and Whimsy – pretty much daily with Whimsy. As much as I would get my rant on, I never actually wanted to post it. I never thought I would ever do a post about people that blog in a negative at all.

Notice that I said ‘People that blog” and not ‘Bloggers” in that sentence. That is pretty much the point of this post.

If you have ever really followed me as a Blogger, you will notice that I have been very sporadic in my posts lately. It has been actually really upsetting to me, to realise that many days, even sometimes a week or two have gone past without a post. This is not due to lack of content, I could actually wear a full outfit and delete it everyday for the next few decades – Mel did that math for me last week. It is more to do with being disheartened by what has been happening to blogging in Second Life over the past months, and if not longer.

In the past two years, I was getting very irritated seeing plurks and posts with comments from Designers/Creators putting down Bloggers. Outraged really to be honest, at how people that I knew, or had followed as creators for many years, could just dump on us as a whole. To me the idea that one rotten egg meant we all sucked, was vile, and made me very angry.

In my working time – I work with a few different stores behind the scenes – I deal with Bloggers almost daily. As well as all the events and other things that pop up during the year. I have also made many lists for stores of their Bloggers, so I do tend to see a lot of what I am going to discuss in this post.

In the past year it was getting more and more obvious that there is a wide gap between what I do as a Blogger, what people I have known for many years do as Bloggers, and what is going on now.

That is how the word Bloggrrr came about. When working through my mental list of what was the difference between a Blogger and a Bloggrrr, I realised that I needed one more term. So Blogga! was born. So now for the breakdown…and believe me, you will know which category you fall into, because a Blogger knows what they are doing is right, and for the right reasons.

As I said, when I started I had a huge inventory. It never even occurred to me that Designers sent items. I knew that stores provided Models for Fashion shows with product, and I knew that Magazines were sent items as well. But blogging was a personal choice, to share information, as that is the point of a blog in the first place, to SHARE. If I came across an item that I knew I would never wear, but just thought it was incredible work and my readers deserved to see it, I would take a pic of the vendor, or even ask the owner of the store for vendor ads, so they were better resolution. If it was skins , I would shoot the demos – no one really gave skins to bloggers back then. But I shopped a lot, and then Designers started to approach me and started sending me things. It was an incredible feeling to have EARNED that.

Bloggers

* Start up their blogs because they want to be part of something in their community. For me this was because I could not build, or create items, so I wanted to share what I did a lot of, and that was find and put together looks, as well as sharing information along the way. In posts I often would relay information I had learned somewhere that day, or discovered myself. I often helped New Residents, and also helped customers in the store I managed, so that also carried through to my blogging. I talked a lot, and I find that Bloggers tend to do so, that does not mean you have to talk to be a Blogger.

* Have a definite joy in sharing information and content with their readers. They think of their readers, and how what they do effects them. At the end of the day what we say and do on our blogs is looked at with expectations of honesty and in some cases admiration for what we do, and what we know. I have had many conversations with other Bloggers over this in the past, about how it is important to know what we are talking about, and to find out what can help others, as it is us that readers come to for that knowledge. If you go through many of the Bloggers blogs, you will find tutorials on hundreds of things that help readers/community almost daily. I have pasted the link to my Alpha tutorial many times in in-world groups when someone has needed it. I have pasted links to other Bloggers tutorials as well, and also seen the links flow all over the grid.

* Showing support for other Bloggers, whether through in world groups, plurk or other means. In the past, Bloggers have often collaborated on posts together, shared information from one post to another, sharing pictures, and crediting on both blogs. Some people that I have made stand on a posestand with me, went on to become Bloggers themselves. Memes, and Blogger Community focused Challenges, all combine the spirit that has always been very big in the community. Sometimes it can even bring Bloggers out of retirement, wanting to be involved in a community driven project such as that.

* Purchase items as they are needed to start out, and if on a limited budget, find ways to still share information. This can be by either starting a blog focusing on free content, group gifts, promotional and discounted items. I actually applaud those bloggers, because generally they work very hard to do posts as much as possible, with limited content, but do so to help people with limited income, or New residents. It takes as much time and energy to blog a 500L item as it does to blog a free one in many cases.

* Building honest relationships with Designers/Creators, over time, and caring about their content…such as letting a Designer know if there are errors in packaging, sizing, fit, and any feedback that may be helpful. This can lead to many years of good relations with Designers, and sometimes even testing an item before release or being asked for opinions on many different things.

* They CREDIT ALL…there is no such thing as a Blog “Sponsor” unless that “Sponsor” pays for your website and/or domain, or it is actually a store blog, and you are using their items in posts and adding information about other items along with them.I have actually done that in the past…when I had a break after Appearance Mode, I worked on the store blog for the store I managed, and posted looks of the day etc. That is the only time Sponsorship in Second Life Fashion Blogging actually means anything.

But if you are being hired by a store to blog items and they are ‘Sponsoring” you , then they are the ones that are responsible for your other content NOT other stores – see Bloggrrr*

If you have readers coming to your blog, and you are calling yourself a Blogger, then it is your responsibility to credit ALL items all the time. The only things that are a let go in this rule are , eyes, lashes and shape. Most Bloggers make their own shape, or at least tweak the ones they purchase. If a shape is given to blog though, then it should always be credited. Eyes are a very personal thing, there are thousands of them all over SL…Again if eyes are sent and you wear them in posts, then crediting is needed, lashes are again a leave them out kind of item, there is a rule of three free pass on this. I include my eyes and my lashes in my posts always, but if you don’t you don’t get Bloggrrr status 🙂

Blogga!

* Someone whose main blogging purpose is to share information of ALL kinds. This does not just mean by crediting. As I said earlier, I had to make up this term to fit this title. The Bloggers that come to mind in this title are Gorgeous Yongho, Strawberry Singh, Chic Aeon, Iris Ophelia  and so on. I also am a Blogga! on occasion.  To me this title does not mean they are any less a Blogger fashion or otherwise, it just means that there are times that even if fully clothed and on location or in a studio, it is NOT the fashion that they are communicating. The post is about a featured aspect of the scene, or it is a completely different item/s.  An example of a Blogga Blog would definitely be SeraphimSL, as they are all about sharing information that helps, readers and the event organisers and creators share vital information.

* Tutorials are really important, sharing information that can help educate their readers/community. This is also not just a post on how a product works or to benefit a particular store, this is to do with technology within viewers, products that help in the day to day use of Second Life. Tips and tricks to create or just to exist within the community in a better and sometimes prettier way.

* Blogger Community Focused, in ways that go further than just their own blogs. This is things like Bloggers Groups, Blogger websites, running Blogger events, memes,challenges, and creating spirit within that community, and often giving an opening to Designers/Creators that may be unsure on how to interact with Bloggers they don’t know.

BLOGGRRR

It may seem harsh as a description, but it has become more and more justified in the past 8 months.

* A person that starts a blog because they think it is a way to get all the things they want to wear in their day to day, but not actually spend any lindens. Blogging in SL is not a Hack, you don’t win or get to the top level faster because you didn’t pay to play. I am on many Bloggers lists, Groups, etc, I get sent items which I do not always have time to blog, or may in some cases not be my style or may not fit etc. This does not mean I have ever stopped spending money on things I need to. If a creator sends me items that is wonderful, If I send a creator a note-card and ask for items and am not sent them, then I purchase them, but that is only if I want to blog them that I contact them at all. If it is because I want to own them I buy them. Blogging should not be a shortcut to amassing inventory.

* A person that contacts a Designer/Creator every day with a note-card that can sometimes even be addressed to the wrong avatar, and has an entitled expectation of getting what they have asked for. Within a 24 hour period, they can contact the Designer/Creator or even Manager, more than once, to ‘follow up’ on their request. If not answered, and items are not sent, they continue to send notecards or IMs. This can actually go on for weeks, and sometimes leads to the Bloggrrr being muted or in worse cases, actually sent the items so that the Designer gets some peace. A Bloggrrr should never put anyone in this position, you have not earned anything if you get items in the end, you have been a bully.

* IM Designers/Creators with Hi, Hello, you there, or even straight to the point of ‘ Send me new items” Often in these IMs and sometimes notecards there is illegible speech used, by this I do not mean the difference of English as a second language/translator needed…I mean U and Da used to cover You and The. If you are interacting with a person in Second Life that is not your friend, leave the crazy talk somewhere else.

* The blog has music included, this is actually one of the funniest things to ever have to say to someone is just bad. Music is often personal taste, your choice of content may not be the type of music that is liked by your readers or in some cases even appropriate content…with songs that may have racial slurs or vulgar language used – do not misunderstand, I swear like no ones business, but I find swearing in text on blogs or in music offensive if not something I myself have chosen to listen to. If you want to create an atmosphere on your blog, and feel that music does that, then make that music an option. Do not have it set to Autoplay, and make sure that all controls of that music are clear and at the top of the blog. Opening a blog to check it or read it for whatever reason, and having your eardrums blown out means you can lose readers, who will never enjoy your content.

* A Bloggrrr does not credit all items. I often see people asking in in world groups as to where an item is from. Often I expect to see a link to a MP Listing, or perhaps a print screen of a vendor ad. But when it ends up being a blog post link, I get very disappointed. There is no reason ever other than the three free passes I gave earlier, that you should not credit an item. I have heard so many excuses for this that it is such a bizarre thing. I have been told there is no reason to credit something behind someone if its not fully shown, such as a bag may be peeking around behind someones legs, but apparently there is no reason to credit that.

The ugliest excuse is ‘ I bought them” what the hell does that even mean. You purchased the items, so that means sharing that information with your readers is not necessary? WHAT ? You are not doing a fashion post, you are taking a picture after you got dressed. If you think you are a Blogger and you call your blog a Fashion Blog then you need to credit all Items.

” I only credit my Sponsors” , ” It is not fair to credit stores I bought from, when others give to me” , ” I only blog what I am given”  that last one was something told to me one day, and started the whole Bloggrrr mind blowing anger that erupted into this post.  Also ‘ I have worn the items before so I don’t credit again” A readership can grow every day, someone can be visiting your blog for the very first time right now, and everything in your most recent post may be completely new to them. They may even be new to Second Life, if you do not provide the information in every single post, then you have let down not only that reader, but your whole blog, and definitely the Designers and Creators.

It is also not about Sponsors vs Purchased, it should not be ever the case, because there are NO SPONSORS. Bloggrrrs made that up themselves, it is not something that was ever in a Second Life Blogger vocabulary, and Bloggers I know cringe every time we see it.

Lets take away the fact that you don’t actually have any, you are just on some lists, and sometimes you are sent things from other stores, this does not bind anyone to any contract – that is a whole other rant – but this is also very telling of Bloggrrrs not knowing, or caring about what they are doing. You are not allowed to advertise with banners/images, on free wordpress sites, as in using your sidebar to link to stores and so on with graphics such as the logos of stores. Those ‘Sponsors” you all seem to be collecting like Pokemon, could cause you to lose all of your content, with wordpress taking you down. Self-hosted blogs are allowed to do so, because they pay money for the option.

If you only blog/credit  content given to you, then eventually your followers will look at your blog as an advert, not a fashion resource. It will mean you’re paid to blog, but not even paid in what would be value for your time. If everything you are wearing is just the same pack as everyone else got, then readers will go elsewhere, there are enough blogs on enough feeds to replace you.

When crediting items, be sure to actually name the store properly, copy pasting from the abbreviated wording on the items in inventory does not help anyone. Hair by dvb doesn’t mean anything to anyone unless the store is actually called dvb. Don’t be lazy, and make sure you know what you are blogging.

* Taking time to learn how to do things that are part of a bloggers must know tools of the trade. If you cannot tint your feet, hands, bottom, mouth, ears etc go away and learn how to do so, it is readers that rely on you to know how to do that. If your pictures show your feet in a different tone than your legs DELETE the picture. If a necklace is hovering above your shoulders and your hair is cutting out the window behind you in a picture DELETE THE PICTURE.

There is never an excuse for sloppy pictures like that, there is a duty of care for all items shown to your readers. If mesh doesn’t fit you, and there is a huge gaping hole around your waist, do not blog that item, if it doesn’t fit you , either edit your shape for it to do so , or move along. You are not helping anyone making yourself and the items a joke.

* Blogging for a store blog, but expecting items be sent to you from other stores. A store blog is a promotion tool for that store. Them deciding to hire you in some way to do looks of the day and so on using their own items as part of every post is a very different thing than your own fashion blog. If you work for a store, then it should be the responsibility of the store to provide you with some kind of way to purchase the other items needed…you should not be used for your inventory or items gathering skills, because while the other store is being credited, it is still a store blog.

* Event blogging and getting into an event earlier than others is great. But if you apply for an event or miss the deadline on applying for an event, do not boycott the event. That shows you to be caring more about yourself than your readers, and anything that event has to stand for. Every single sim in Sl has a limit of how many people can be on that sim, even if there is a preview, it is not possible to add every single blogger to that list. But it should never ever mean that you wont blog it, it should also never mean that you don’t attend,  or not even mention it on your blog.Your readers deserve to know what is happening and you may be their number one resource for news, if you do not even mention the event, that means they miss it, and when they find out it was on, they are not going to be happy you let them down. This is not to say that you should be promoting every single thing on the grid, but there is a difference when you actually say to someone or people that you are not going because you didn’t get your way, that is just ugly. It is also letting down all the creators participating in the event that may have supported you over the years.

* Using your blog as a weapon. This makes me very angry, and even if you are a Blogger, if you do this you get slapped right down to Bloggrrr status. DO NOT EVER threaten anyone with your blog.  This is not about doing a blog post where you have an opinion, or do an honest review of an item, that may or may not be favorable. This is about taking personal situations and using your blog to perform for the masses in some way. This also counts with Flickr and the like, your readers, and followers are not your audience for vile behavior. You let down not only them, as well as the Designers who support you in some way, but you also let down yourself.

* Blogging obviously stolen copyright infringing items. It does not take a rocket scientist to know that NO ONE in Second Life has the license to create Chanel, Barbie, Hello Kitty, Versace labeled items. Just because you are sent a pack of tshirts or dresses that have a Chanel logo on them, does not mean you have to blog them. No amount of content sent to you from a store, is ever worth what your integrity is worth.

If Bloggrrrs stopped blogging this garbage, then people that have shops that sell it, may just stop creating it, if their advertising for it dries up. It is because you look so good mixing and matching it, and give it some kind of approval, that the spiral continues. Copyright in Second Life is just like RL…you know that buying a knock off for ten bucks on the side of the road does not give your look any value at all. So exactly what does wearing something worth approximately 73c that is copyright infringing do for you ? You look like a tool, and you lose the respect that anyone with any understanding of this may have for your work. Those that sell it are also completely ignorant of the overall wants of their customers, those maybe hundred of a stolen item you sell, may cost you many more sales when conscientious customers walk out the door when they see a Superman tshirt.

On a side note, I actually think that Designers/Creators that provide content to Bloggrrrs that do blog this kind of product should stop sending them items. You sending them items shows support for not only their blog, but also the content they show on it. 

What it all boils down to, is that regardless of how incredible your photography is, how amazing your style choices are, when you blog in a way that shows no consideration for anyone, you aren’t a Blogger you are just someone throwing some glamour shots up on a website, and if you want to be a photo-blogger, then go right ahead, do exactly that, just take pics and post them, no credits, nothing…but do so for arts sake, because you enjoy it as a hobby, don’t spend most of your day running around to every store and event and expect them all to give you stuff. Some stores will send to photographers, because they do want to see their creations shown in a beautiful way…but that is a mutual understanding that it is not about credit, or advertising, it is about expression.

I could probably keep writing for days on this subject, but I will stop there, because I finally got to release some of the build up from my mind on this topic.

Bloggers and Blogga!s’ you are an asset to our community, you are the go between from Designer/Creator to Reader and Community, your work is appreciated, and I applaud your dedication and energy. Thank you for letting me be a part of what you all do.

21 Shoe started last month and enjoyed resounding praise for this one day a month event. You have 24 hours on the 21st of each month to get your hands – or in this case FEET – on the EXCLUSIVE items, in a 2 for 1 promotion. Each store involved, and they do change, will have out 2 shoes, either the same style or differing, in exclusive colours or styles that wont be sold again in that way.

Slinks items for this coming Friday are these stunning Siren Stilettos. Not only is the shoe NEW and so sexy, but the exclusivity is in the amazing Silver and Gold Glitter options. I could weep that these won’t be available afterwards in these colours, so do not dilly dally, or think you can get them another time, because you won’t be able to. They will come out in other colours at regular pricing, but this is not only a bargain, but MUST HAVES in the silver and gold. They only work with the HIGH feet from slink, as they are add on shoes, but that of course means you can also wear all the other high feet add ons, not only at this event, but in stores all over that are creating for them. If you want a closer up pic of the two colours, you can see them HERE .

Moving on up, the pants I have on are at this months Collabor88, and Ison has created the most amazing effect with these zippered sides, that make them look like a mix of cigarette pants and tuxedo pants. The style is elegant and classic, but with this amazing detailing that just stands out from other pants of this type…if any come close. I highly recommend these to anyone looking for some slim fit pants, that have an edgier look to them.

The top is by Emery, and is also part of the C88 this round. Its metallic finish was perfect with the gold shoes, and its chenille  like texture makes it warm and inviting, even though baring the tummy. If bare tummies are not your thing, then layering it with a bodysuit or tank may be a good idea, either in system, or there is most likely enough room to layer over mesh.

Finishing off the Gold look, the necklace is a tribal masterpiece, also from Ison, which is also available in other metals. I would not normally wear a necklace in this style with a high neck top such as this, but it worked well, and also gives me more than enough opportunity to wear it again with more skin baring looks.

The beautiful hair by Lelutka, finishes off the look, with its shoulder swept look and tendrils tucked behind one ear. I love this style, and if you are feeling adventurous you can wear it with the amazing horns and staff that come included.

Click HERE to SLURL’s Page.

Equipment Used:

VR Studio 3.0 and HUD and Library for location shoots–VR Foundry Mainstore,VR Foundry @ The Deck

Props, Furniture, Build :

Poses by:

Tuty’s

Eyes:

Ellis – LeLutka

Lashes:

Natural Curl Sculpted Lashes – LeLutka

Skin Worn:

Shyla – Belleza

Avatar Enhanced Mesh Hands & High Feet – SLink

Avatar Enhanced Skin Appliers : Belleza

Avatar Enhanced Nail Appliers : 124 set – Flair

Hair:

Evilly – LeLutka

Clothes:

Nova Zipper Pants – Ison @ Collabor88

Metalic Sweater Fei Fei – Emery @ Collabor88

Shoes/Boots:

Siren Stilettos (Exclusive) – Slink for 21Shoe Feb 21st ONLY

Accessories:

Nova Tribe Necklace – Ison @ Collabor88

With this amazing Special Edition of skin by Pink Fuel, I felt very mysterious and empowered today. The skin is definitely a more mature skin than usual for Pink Fuel fans, and the raised eyebrows are just stunning, adding that touch of sexuality to the whole look. The eye-shadows are beautiful and rich, with the pouty lipsticks that we have come to love with other skin in the range. This skin is super loaded as well, so many incredible appliers options, from Slink to Apple May baby bumps, so if you are an extras kind of lady, this is a must have sneak peak at the upcoming release of this skin line in full at the upcoming Skin Fair, in March.

When feeling this sexy and mysterious, there is a definite ‘go to’ item in every ladies wardrobe. The trench-coat, and this one by Erratic does not let us down. Amazing detailing on the fabric choice, with a almost quilted looking sleeve, and amazing detailing, with the tied belt and double breasted buttons. I especially like the unbuttoned bottom button, as without that you would find it very hard taking long sexy strides in this coat. Mind you, remember to be cautious of how you sit, as one would suggest in this mood, there may not be a lot you have on underneath, so be sure to sit ladylike wont you.

One of the recent releases – not the most recent as I am behind – is this lovely french twist style, that is a kind of signature style for Elika. There have been a few different looks like this over the years, and every one of them only improved each and every time. One of the past ones I know ended up an always worn style for a few ladies I know. I am glad Elika is back creating more regularly, she is always missed when she disappears, but always comes back with delights.

Click HERE to SLURL’s Page.

Equipment Used:

VR Studio 3.0 and HUD and Library for location shoots–VR Foundry Mainstore,VR Foundry @ The Deck

Props, Furniture, Build :

Poses by:

Tuty’s

Eyes:

Ellis – LeLutka

Lashes:

Natural Curl Sculpted Lashes – LeLutka

Skin Worn:

Sora – Alabaster – Special Edition – Pink Fuel

Avatar Enhanced Mesh Hands & High Feet – SLink

Avatar Enhanced Skin Appliers : Pink Fuel

Avatar Enhanced Nail Appliers : set 87 – Flair 

Hair:

Arabella – Elikatira

Clothes:

Chloe Trench – Erratic

Shoes/Boots:

Quinn Boots ( high Feet needed)  – Slink 

Accessories:

Milano Sunglasses – Maxi Gossamer Jewellery

Metal Petal Ring – Obsidian/Obsidian – Epoque

The other day we spent hours in space, by we I mean Whimsy Winx, SySy Chapman, Kavar Cleanslate and myself…oh and some freaky Alien dude. Whimsy in her usual fashion, constructed a great mix of a space scene, with the records we created for the Pop Music WinxBox. So we spent literally hours, dancing and chatting while Whimsy made a video, that you can see here on her blog Virtually Dressed.

Ever since the release of these fantastic thigh high boots from Maitreya for Collabor88, I have been swapping colours and pretty much wearing just them and a bikini – yes just a bikini, I have a Boom one I wear all the time under everything, just in case alpha and mesh doesn’t load. It also makes me very lazy. We were busy all week making the NEW W.Winx and Flair Candy Hearts set though, you can see that HERE. So we have to deprim when working with poses, so that is my excuse.

The boots are gorgeous, and shockingly – well to me it is – they come in HOT PINK! If you are a Maitreya fan, you will come to realise, pink is not a common colour for Maitreya, so this is exciting. There are patent versions of the boots, snake or crocodile, my favourite aspect of that is there are join seams, which when working with leathers of that nature cannot be all in one, because its not how it works in RL.

The dress I am wearing is from Luxuria, a Prom Date at Collabor88 for this round. I was so excited about the style, but even more so when I saw the suspender straps meet the tops of the boots, as though that was an intentional matching, but pure fluke, as they aren’t each others date – unless they have something going on on the side :P.

As always, Yummy has not let us down in the gorgeous jewellery aspect of the theme. The favourite of the items up for grabs are these rings of saturn items. earrings, ring and the stunning cuff bracelet. There is Gold, Silver or Mixed, and I love love love the cuff so much.

I was in this outfit in the video, as you can see, but I wanted to add a little more to this stunning hair from Exile, and was looking for a headband and came across this fantastic 80’s inspired headband that is from a set with bangles, by Izzies. You can get it on MP for 5L so its a must have regardless of price, it fit the hair perfectly, and the colour change option of 12 colours makes it so versatile and look how perfect the grey is with the dress.

Click HERE to SLURL’s Page.

Equipment Used:

VR Studio 3.0 and HUD and Library for location shoots–VR Foundry Mainstore,VR Foundry @ The Deck

Props, Furniture, Build :

Poses by:

Eyes:

Ellis – LeLutka

Lashes:

Natural Curl Sculpted Lashes – LeLutka

Skin Worn:

Isla – League 

Avatar Enhanced Mesh Hands – SLink

Avatar Enhanced Skin Appliers : League

Avatar Enhanced Nail Appliers : Flair 

Hair:

Perfect Promise – Exile

Clothes:

Andromeda Dress – Luxuria @ Collabor88

Shoes/Boots:

Thigh High Boots – Maitreya @ Collabor88

Accessories:

Headband – 80’s Set – Izzies

Rings of Saturn Earrings, Bracelet, Ring – Yummy @ Collabor88

The first Celoe item of the year, and it is part of their ‘Date’ release for Collabor88. Every year C88 lets their permanent creators invite a date to ‘Prom’ and Maitreya invited Celoe as theirs. This Kes dress is a beautiful mix of day and night wear. Easily transitioning between both. The fabric choices are just beautiful and the sleeves are my favourite feature of the style, so adorable. You could wear this dress so many ways, that I see it becoming a go to dress for many.

The theme of this session of C88 is Super Nova, and the creations do not fail to impress as usual. I am wearing some amazing Celestial horns by VN, which looks to be another brand by Crushed Clarity/Ivy Graves. The features on these horns are wonderful and all HUD driven, so you get so much out of them.

The other day while exploring SL, I came across a new to me store Yasum. This store is so stunning in its set up, I was literally taken aback. To my dismay though, their clothing which is just awesome is not standard sizing, and nothing fit me at all. But I stumbled across some Gatcha machines that had these incredible steampunk headsets in them as well as other pieces I will wear in the future, but this work is amazing, and if the creator does ever give Standard Sizing a go, I can see doing some serious damage in that store spending wise.

Pilot suprised me with Jewellery this round of C88, usually homewares and what not, this ring is part of a set of necklace and rings, in various stones and metals. I love big rings, and now that Slink has given us divine hands, it is so much better to have them on all the time.

The boots are also C88 and they are Ingenue, very cool wedge style boots, that have enough of a GoGo/SciFi look to them to be wearable any and all times. I really want Ingenue creator to burst out of her vintage genre now that she does such wonderful footwear and just create everything, but I am just going to have to be happy enough that she is making what she loves to make, and we get to enjoy it. Not that I would say no to her alting up though :P.

The skin I am wearing is Sylvia, a skin by Glam Affair. This skin has base skins and then all these wonderful tattoo options for nose typle, lips and eyeshadow. So much mixing and matching, it is fun to create your own style this way.

Collabor88 JUST OPENED , so get on over there and shoot lasers at eachother, with the fun raygun from daters Silent Sparrow and Schadenfreude .

Collabor88

 

Click HERE to SLURL’s Page.

Equipment Used:

VR Studio 3.0 and HUD and Library for location shoots–VR Foundry Mainstore,VR Foundry @ The Deck

Props, Furniture, Build :

Poses by:

Tuty’s

Eyes:

Ellis – LeLutka

Lashes:

Natural Curl Sculpted Lashes – LeLutka

Skin Worn:

Sylvia – Glam Affair 

Avatar Enhanced Mesh Hands – SLink

Avatar Enhanced Skin Appliers : Glam Affair 

Avatar Enhanced Nail Appliers : set 22 – Flair 

Hair:

Lana – LeLutka 

Clothes:

Kes Dress – Celoe @ Collabor88/Feb

Shoes/Boots:

Tau Ceti Boots – Ingenue @ Collabor88/Feb

Accessories:

Steampunk Headset – Yasum – Gatcha in store 

Galactic Ring – Pilot @ Collabor88/Feb

RayGun – Silent Sparrow & Schadenfreude @ Collabor88/Feb

Celestial Horns – VN @ Collabor88/Feb