• Fashion

    Mainstore Monday – AlaskaMetro (who saw that coming)

    Sasy Scarborough - AlaskaMetro - Mainstore Monday
    Sasy Scarborough - AlaskaMetro Store - Mainstore Monday

    Did You Know: In the FIRESTORM viewer (and possibly others), you can ‘Protect’ folders in your inventory, locking them in place so they can’t be accidentally deleted or moved. To enable this, simply right-click the folder and select “Protect.” This is an incredibly useful feature, especially for content creators, to safeguard their work.

    It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of AlaskaMetro—not just her makeup, skins, and clothing/lingerie, but also her work as an overall content creator and Second Life resident. Her folder in my inventory is one of the few I’ve protected using Firestorm’s tools. I’ve been using AlaskaMetro’s creations for years, with blog posts dating back to at least 2008 (on this blog). I had the pleasure of first interacting with her during Another Fundraiser, a massive project where she helped select the benefiting charity. Her philanthropic nature shines through—she often participates in events that donate proceeds to charity and creates bandanas for Hair Fair every year.

    At one point, Alaska even attempted to revolutionise Second Life itself. With help from another creator, Namssor, she created a way to replace the default Second Life skin by editing the base files on your hard drive. This was groundbreaking before tattoo layers existed.

    Let me paint a picture: before tattoo layers, we had one of each wearable layer—skin, socks, gloves, shoebase, hair, underpants, undershirt, pants, shirt, and jacket (the jacket layer did all the heavy lifting). There were no alphas, no tattoos, no stacked layers. It was medieval. Alaska’s innovation, called Synergy, allowed users to replace the default skin, freeing up the skin layer for customisation. This essentially created a workaround for the non-existent tattoo layer. She invited bloggers like me to test and share this concept, providing all the tools and guidance we needed. This was back in 2009 and remains one of the most exciting memories I have of her and her work. I wouldn’t be surprised if it directly influenced the implementation of tattoo and stacked layers in Second Life.

    Alaska is that kind of creator—always pushing boundaries to enhance our experience. Every makeup item has a demo, product images make finding your look easy, and her store layout is intuitive. On her marketplace, she even has a secondary outlet for older creations at fantastic discounts. I once opened 81 tabs to buy everything I didn’t already own!

    Her range is stunning, from delicate, wistful lingerie to bold, editorial makeup. She’s incredibly inclusive, creating products like flat chest skin layers for add-ons and other niche needs. If you’re not already an AlaskaMetro customer, visit her main store, play dress-up with the demos, and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere.

    I’m wearing AlaskaMetro skin, makeup, and adorable foil freckles that I love. Whether you’re going for a soft look or high-impact glamour, you’ll find it all. I’ve also layered a lovely camisole underneath for a subtle touch. The jeans are by The Kiwi Co. and are absolute must-haves! They include an “inside boots” option, making them perfect for pairing with these chunky, fur-lined, lace-up boots. This feature is so thoughtful, even if it doesn’t work with every boot.The sweater is another standout by Fashionably Dead, with both long and short versions. The oversized sleeves are so fun, completely covering the hands for that cosy, wiggly-fingers vibe.

    Finally, let’s talk about this hair by Monso. It’s inspired by Jinx from Arcane—this is the Jinx 2 style. I love its shorter length with tendrils and flyaways. I even switched up my usual black hair for a punky soft pink with dark roots. It’s such a cool look!

    AlaskaMetro Mainstore
    AlaskaMetro Marketplace Main 
    AlaskaMetro Marketplace Outlet
    AlaskaMetro Website
    AlaskaMetro Facebook
    AlaskaMetro Twitter/X

     

    For information on how you (Bloggers) can do Mainstore Monday posts if interested, check out the information HERE.

     

    Equipment Used

    VR Studio and HUD/Library  – VR Foundry Marketplace

    LeLutka Axis HUD Face – LeLutka

    Important: Moles featured on face or body unless otherwise stated are created by me, for me personally. If wearing moles or freckles etc layers by other creators they will always be credited. As my face moles are the same always, it will be clear to know it is mine not part of the skin.

    Poses & Props

    Pose  – Lyrium Mainstore

    Body Parts

    Body :

    Reborn – EBody

    Head:

    Genus Morph Head – Genus
    Straight – NoseMorph
    Natural Pierced – Lipmorph
    Puppy – EyeMorph
    Triangle – HeadMorph

    Appliers:

    Nail appliers – Flair – Marketplace

    Skin Worn:

    Amber – AlaskaMetro Mainstore

    Head and Body BOM Layers:

    Peaceful eyes – Insol Mainstore

    Ozone Eyeshadow, Lipslick Lipstick, Foil Freckles, Annika Bom Lingerie – AlaskaMetro Mainstore

    Hair Worn:

    Jinx2 – Monso @  Collabor88 Event (Dec/Jan 2024/25)

    Wearing:

    Modern Off Shoulder Sweater (Short) – Fashionably Dead Mainstore

    Ceres Jeans – The Kiwi Co

    Footwear:

    Kirito Boots – Breathe @ Tres Chic Event

    Accessories:

    Hoops forever earrings reboot – Dark Mouse

  • Fashion

    Training Day

    Sasy Scarborough - Training Day

    Did you know: System/BOM Clothing layers, when modifiable, come with their own sliders in edit mode. These sliders allow for adjustments in various directions, offering more than just tinting options. This opens up creative possibilities to use the layers in ways beyond their original purpose. If you’re including these layers in your product, please leave them modifiable—you never know what unique results users might achieve!

    It is no secret that I absolutely love BOM (Bakes on Mesh) and the ability to layer looks because of it. We definitely had an easier time creating unique styles when working with system layers exclusively in the past. Being able to utilise it now with mesh gives a lot back and can expand your wardrobe in many ways—some you may not have even thought of.

    This look today was built from the tubetop up. I had actually gone to wear it and felt it was a bit too flesh-revealing. Some days you don’t mind, and some days you do. I scoured my inventory for a T-shirt and found one that was a tad longer than the tubetop but had a knotted look to it. While a flat, longer shirt would have been fine, the knot didn’t work. I opened it up in edit mode, it being delightfully modifiable and all, and worked the sliders to make it shorter, sliding it under the tubetop lengthwise while keeping the high neck and sleeves. The result? A layered look I loved. I was all ready to show it to you in the future.

    Then I was wowed by these boots. As I live in the future, if you see this and still have time, you can pick them up for a discounted price. However, even if you miss the sale, they’re so worth their regular price—especially if you’re a ballet boot fan. I am, and these are not my first boots of this kind from Azoury. Honestly, if you look at their releases over the years, you have to wonder what goes on in the minds of the creators at that brand—it must be wonderful to have that kind of imagination. These boots come in both classic (it’s funny we call them that now) and PBR texture options. They also come as separate left and right leg attachments. At first, I wondered why, and then realised: obviously, you might have a robot leg or something else on one side and only need one boot. I love that they cater to that thought. Azoury makes products for such scenarios, and from experience, I know there are customers who specifically seek separate footwear.

    The style of these boots is undeniably ballet-inspired, with incredible leather work. But it’s the metal encasement at the toes that has me imagining all sorts of barbaric training methods. It’s not just a look—it’s a whole vibe, and I love it.

    I had them on, paired with my tubetop and tee. At first, I was wearing random shorts but then realised the creasing details in this mini skirt by Cynful matched the style of the boots perfectly. The skirt’s intricate detailing really stands out for something so small—I had to pause and giggle because it is a tiny skirt. Tiny, but with so much emphasis, and I adore that. It’s actually part of a set that includes a bodysuit with a glorious back design, but that’s for another time.

    Just when I thought I was ready, lightning struck—or rather, I stumbled across an ad on social media announcing that KillJoy had released some sleeves. Stop the presses! Off I went, because, as you may know, arm warmers and sleeve add-ons are my bliss. These were a must-have, and they were reduced in price at the time, so I didn’t delay. You might not think you need these now, but trust me, you will in the future.

    While I was already dressed, and some might pair these sleeves with a sleeveless look, I loved how they transitioned between my BOM layers, the tubetop, and everything else. They added so much versatility to the outfit. It’s a texture soup, and that makes me so happy. I did increase the gloss on my body for the photo, which added a shine to the T-shirt. While I prefer the matte cotton look without it, the sheen worked well for the picture. You can play around with these settings as you like. The sleeves themselves have three texture panels to choose from: latex, leather, and satin, with some offering extra detailing beyond solid colours.

    I finished off the look with this hair I’ve been living in for the past few days. Typical for me, I went to grab No.Match’s latest release at Fameshed—you may have seen it in my previous post and video about the new in-browser Second Life testing phase—but then ended up at the No.Match store itself. I grabbed two more styles and ended up using the third purchase instead of the first. That’s just how I roll.

    Equipment Used

    VR Studio and HUD/Library  – VR Foundry Marketplace

    LeLutka Axis HUD Face – LeLutka

    Important: Moles featured on face or body unless otherwise stated are created by me, for me personally. If wearing moles or freckles etc layers by other creators they will always be credited. As my face moles are the same always, it will be clear to know it is mine not part of the skin.

    Poses & Props

    Pose  – Loel Poses

    Body Parts

    Body :

    Reborn – EBody

    Head:

    Genus Morph Head – Genus
    Straight – NoseMorph
    Natural Pierced – Lipmorph
    Round – EyeMorph
    Triangle – HeadMorph

    Appliers:

    Nail appliers – Flair – Marketplace

    Skin Worn:

    Emma Skin (face), Rhea Body Skin – Nuve Mainstore

    Head and Body BOM Layers:

    Peaceful eyes – Insol Mainstore

    Willow Eyebrows, Emma Lipstick, Modular eyeliner – Nuve Mainstore

    Baby hairs V2 hairbase – Izzies Mainstore

    Hair Worn:

    No.Company – No.Match Mainstore

    Wearing:

    Call Me – Mini Skirt – Cynful Mainstore

    Tubetop – Thiya Cardigan set – Elikatira Mainstore

    Cryptic Sleeves – KillJoy Mainstore

    Knotted Tee (Modded for length) – Sn@tch no longer available (but you might already have it)

    Footwear:

    Velignis Boots – Azoury Mainstore

    Accessories:

    Hoops forever earrings reboot – Dark Mouse