*Overdue*

/me cups her hands at each side of her mouth and shouts, "Hello all out there in cyber-world!"

Days, weeks have scattered since last post, but! I am back & ready to let you know about more new exciting and unsung designers in-world. I start with introducing you to not 1 - but a crew of designers, whom I met just before my break, creating as rapidly as their imagination flows. Howard Lindley & Lilli Yang are the proud creators of .:: HLD ::., a trendy retailer filled with sassy designs for the flirty and bold alike. Samples below do not reflect all the latest available styles in-store at this time; rather, reflecting the progress until early November.

Mix 1:

(click on image to view full)

Mix 2:


Lindley has been designing in Second Life for 2 years & Lilli a year and a half! Lindley plans to design shoes with feet next (yay! shoes).

TP to .:: HLD ::.

Seldom Blue Special Offers!

After several SL roadblocks, designer IndigoBlue Dagostino is back in Second Life & is releasing a new line at Seldom Blue. Complimenting this new release, IndigoBlue is offering two specials today! Both are great deals to pick up - as always, either Mia outfit comes in a variety of layers & skirt options:

1L Offer, Mia in blue


100L Offer, Mia in red

TP to Seldom Blue

Have a wonderful Friday!
Lv, Tekila Vella

Something Fun!

Scary costumes, Candy, eery sounds, Candy, HORROR MOVIES & More candy...could it be?!? YESS! TIS HalloWeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee-n! And here's to hoping you're having a good one so far :D Today's post may not be the most Halloweenest post in SL Blog (Slog) Land, but never fear - you might find the last piece you've been searching for in making that great costume. Today is about deals around the land - designers have been so very generous, showering numerous of takers with orange/black/spooky designs. Without further ado, lets get to the thick of this post!


Several designers are shown above, who have made what you spend reasonable.
(From Left to Right)
Hair: Vanity, 1L Limited Color Edition
Top: Cashmere, *Nothing in this store is over 100L* Fantastic.
Skin: Vive9 Warehouse Gift
Lashes: ALB Dream Fashions, Group Gift
Flag Mouthpiece: Pink !nc, Dozen others to choose from, very cute!
Eyes: Pulse, 25 - 50L..Very realistic
Earrings: Designers United

Hair: Frangipani
Lashes: Cybernetic, old gift
Skin: Cupcakes, 50L Skin Hunt Storewide!!!! RUN!
Top: Designers United

**Other Great Deals this Weekend**
Fishy Strawberry: 50L for anything Black!
Dark Eden: 25% Off Black, Red & Orange Items
KA Designs: 50% Off Select Skins

Have fun & stay safe!
Lv, Tekila Vella

*Still to Come: HLD!*

Clothes Horse!

Sensualism, fitting & stylish are merely a few words to describe the wonderful designs and ideas Claire Harford has brought to Second Life fashion. Founder of Clothes Horse, Harford brings consistent quality in the bright beginning of her boutique. Before starting the review, I would like to first mention that Clothes Horse is participating in Breast Cancer Awareness Month by offering this lovely sweater dress, in which 100% of the proceeds will go to breast cancer research.

As always, none of the reviewed designs have been altered. (Click to see full)
Outfit One: Gina

Warm and cozy Gina comes with several layers, a convenience noticeable in each outfit. Layers include: 1 pant layer for coverage under the skirt in the same texture as the skirt; 2 layers for the dress top (shirt & undershirt); 2 turtleneck layers (shirt & undershirt); 2 stocking versions (thigh high & low rise); 1 Flexi belted skirt & 1 sculpted collar. Each attachment is modifiable, making it better to fit the belted flexi skirt to size. As seen before, belted skirts can be challenging to fit perfectly. There are also two small buttons in the front that may get buried in bustier cleavage. Texture-wise, Gina is superb. The patterned babydoll is consistent and shows no to little seams on the sides. The simple red belt is shaded along the outer edges. Shading/highlighting is a big part of what makes the turtleneck and stockings smooth-looking. Overall, a quality outfit to stay warm in during the fall season.

Outfit Two: Sofia, natural (Click to see full)

Sofia, Sofia! Natural, beautiful, comfy & very in-season. Sofia comes in two pant layer options: one regular, the other - a skinny version. The cuffs & collar are both sculpted and the skirt of the jacket is flexi. All attachments are modifiable. Detail-wise, Sofia comes across as an original piece, the white lines, more specifically, really help define the style of this long coat. The wrinkled, shaded tan-colored texture appears to be of a soft suade type material with hardly any noticeable hard/jagged edges or seam lines. The jacket itself can be worn either with or without the skirt, giving the wearer more options to mix and match.

More styles can be found in the main store! Clothes Horse is definitely a boutique to visit & watch.

TP to Clothes Horse

Coming up next on TekilaUnplugged:
HLD! What does that stand for? Stay Tuned to find out!

Lv, Tekila Vella

Also Shown
-Hairy by Truth
-Skin by The Obscene, a group gift

Weekend Events!

With several events taking place around the grid every weekend, I've decided to keep you posted on the ones I'm aware of - ones you'll hopefully enjoy, too. Starting off with fashion related and then not so fashion related, but still fun, events:

Fashion Offers:
Seldom Blue is very generous! This month, starting TODAY, Seldom Blue is offering two very gorgeously textured outfits, one a gown - the other a party girl VIP dress! Here are previews of both:
Evangeline, 100L, 2 Skirt Options

Evangeline in Blue, 1L

TP to Seldom Blue
---
Ring of the Week!
Puarangi Designs is set to release one every week until November 10th! Each ring features sounds you can activate on touch.
TP to Puarangi Designs
---
Glamour Expo!

Vanity Universe is at it again, hosting the Glamour Expo, starting today, October 3rd. Big & Small name designers are participating in the expo, showcasing dressy to party to casual attire. Half of all proceeds benefit, "Care," an international aid organzition.
TP to Glamour Expo
---
Sim Opening:

Elate & Decoy have a new home! There are several check-worthy shops placed around these established stores, such as: Fri.Day, Sugarcube, Tiny Bird, Tuli & more. Free gifts are available in celebration.
TP to the Sunny Sim
---
Fun Stuff:

Newest place to see or have a battle is Lost City! Combat sim, Lost City, is hosting a boxing match - open to the public! Sign up today for your chance to let a little steam off or to just have some fun testing your key-stroke speed!
TP to Lost City

Lv, Tekila Vella
Fashion Blogger

Skin & Shape Expo!!!

-Update!-
SLURL Near Posh, Milk Motion, nr. 9
http://slurl.com/secondlife/KMADD%20Events/84/95/21

I'm so overjoyed with excitement! The Skin & Shape Expo begins tomorrow, Saturday, Sept. 26th. Do you feel the lag already??? Luckily, the expo will be open until October 10th (2 weeks). The delicious expo will be held on the KMADD sim - I'll be sure to update this post with SLURLs for anyone who may need one. In the meantime, here's a few tips to help fight the first week of major lag:

Tip #1, Bald is beautiful & the newbie limp is okay so be sure to detach all prims and scripts from your avatar.

Tip #2, Demos! Collect all the demos you want and tp out to try them.

Tip #3, Put your graphics on low. This will help your computer load the graphics faster. Go to Preferences > Graphics > check Custom > check Bump Mapping & Shining > check Basic Shaders > check Avatar Imposters > check Hardware Skinning > Apply > Ok!

There are going to be several new skin line releases with some of the biggest name skin makers in Second Life. I have seen some of the new releases and they are amazing!

Stay Posted,
Lv, Tekila Vella

Skin Tight

Everyday, I log into SL & look over notecards and notices and aimlessly go through my bulging inventory. I was tp'ing around to skin stores I have not recented. Some were no longer there, some moved & some are still around and going strong, one of those stores is Skin Tight. The very generous & talented designer, Myrtle Spyker, recently sent the group gift below via subscribe-o-matic:

(click on image to view full)
This strikingly gorgeous skin is very original in a SL world where many skins can start looking alike. Four tones are in the gift &, as if the designer wasn't generous enough, there is also a lucky chair with a set of skins in-store (not shown) that are just as beautiful as the subscribe-o gift.

So, a big thank you to Myrtle! Be sure to try out other demos as there is a healthy selection of skins to choose from at Skin Tight.

TP to Skin Tight

Lv, Tekila Vella

Sales & Gifts: Oh Yeah!

Sales are everywhere - maybe as much as hunts - these days. That is great for consumers & business owners alike. SO, who is having these sales?! Here are a few to list:

Skin:
:: Vive 9! Yes, I know, I'm a huge user of Vive 9 skins on my blog and now they are having a sale! Skins can be found for as low as 150L. These cute soft faced skins are definitely demo-worthy. TP to Vive 9's Skin Sale

:: *Fishy Strawberry* has just released a new skin & shape line & to celebrate they are putting all of their older skins & shapes on a 50% off sale for the next 6 days!
Tp to *Fishy Strawberry*

:: Dutch Touch has a new special group gift out & the skin is very lush! It comes in two tones, here is one:

Dutch Touch has several model-like gorgeous skins - shop around and try the demos first :)
TP to Dutch Touch

Clothing:
:: PixelDolls has a sale on all their singles. Nothing is over 100L here and there's lots to choose from - great for mixing and matching with other sets! And the quality? Some of the best in Second Life in my humble opinion. TP to PixelDolls

:: Church of Luxe is having a sale on ALL merchandise! There is lots of entire outfits up for sale for as little as 50L, in several colors, most of which are very modern chic and conservative.
TP to CoL

More to Come!
Lv Tekila V

Vive 9 & Donna Flora

This is just a quick little post this fine Sunday night to let you all know that Vive 9 is now making hair! The ever-so-generous designer of Vive 9 has released two group gifts, this beautiful skin named, Twiggy & new hair not pictured here. Twiggy is delicately soft with full pink lips.

*Click Picture to see Full Size*
Also Shown,
Dress & Earrings by Donna Flora
Hair by Posh

Lv, Tekila V.

* Alluring Secrets *

Talented, with an eye for beauty, the modest Alluring Secrets designer, Hotla Hoodoo, possesses all the above. Hoodoo's works are elegant, but are also made with a touch of sass. Hoodoo has been designing for years in sl - even longer in rl - and is unquestionably an artist to watch for in both worlds. Below are a few of her latest fall fashion pieces up for review:

(Click on images for full view)
Outfit 1, Eternity Gown in Copper & Salmon

Eternity is classy and very feminine when greeting the eye while presenting a mere touch of risqueness with the reveal of partial cleavage, too. More technically, as with most designs, the trim directly under the breasts is a bit pixelated, as well as the lace of the gloves when zoomed in - unless someone is set on extremely zooming in, the pixelation should not be a problem. Eternity comes with both jacket and pant layers, gloves, a tie-string for the back & 2 skirt options: one sheer, the other solid (shown above). There are 4 attachments in all, all manually modifiable. . . I say manually since SL is seeing more resize scripts in attachments.

Eternity's backside reveals the length of the back, dipping in an acute v-cut as far down to pass a panty line. The back's exposed skin is partially covered by a laced up copper string. Aside from some pixelation near and underarms, zoomed in, the quality of Eternity's textures & cuts are superb.

:: Also Shown ::
Hair - Analog Dog, Bella

Outfit 2, Slacked in Olive

Slacked is semi-casual wear and it offers a chance to mix & match with other garments in different layers. It comes in a jacket layer for the outter part & a shirt layer for the tank top. There are 6 ruffles for the Blouse that are not modifiable. The multi-layers of these frills are flexi and give a nice wave when moving, very subtle and natural. The midriff, slighty sheer tank top has a lace design along the top held up by spaghetti straps. The lace looks mildly blurry when zoomed in, but is accetable good quality. The pants come in 2 layers: one with boot cut (shown above) & the other with a slight flare. The dark denim jeans have a detailed shadowed/highlighted line running down the middle front. This lengthens and draws focus inward, creating a skinnier, long-leg look.

:: Also Shown::
Hair - Posh
Boots - Adam n Eve, Tia

Outfit 3, Tootsy in Red

Racy, wild & just plain fun. Tootsy in red comes with a silver metal belt & black leather thigh-high boots with a twisted chain lining the backside of the lower leg. Tootsy's belt is very commanding, reminiscent of the big Texas-type buckles that say, "I'm in charge here." By design, the belt's thick band makes the lower torso appear smaller. The plunging neckline is nothing far from bold & sexy as it's marked by the folded back flaps of its upper half. A single button holds this onesy outfit together. Texture-wise - its fabulous! The cuts & seams hold true to their designs & there are no apparent jagged edges.

:: Also Shown ::
Hair - Atomic
Skin - Staged
Heart Glasses - Elate!

Alluring Secrets is not only for women - there are also tons of items for males! Stop by to really see what Hoodoo has to offer.

TP to Alluring Secrets

Lv, Tekila Vella

Wasted Youth

Only 3 months into the virtual world of fashion design, Kendall Freenote is creating a variety of SL apparel ranging from uptown chic to punk rock glam to sweetheart casuals and back again. Here are a *few* designs by Kendall, available in her store, up for review:

Part One, High Waist Studded Skirt

The high waist studded skirt is patterned with silver metallic triangles. The mauve-like color is the undertone color featuring an elastic type waistband. Like the texture, the cuts of the skirt are decent. This skirt comes in a Jacket & Pant layer, with a modifiable prim attachment for the bottom-half of the short lengthed skirt. This would be great to pair with one of Freenote's many blazers, but being that it is only a Jacket layer for either - it is not yet possible.

Also Shown,
Hair by Truth, Farrah
Neglige by Urbanity
Boots by Adam n Eve, Tia

Part Two,Times Square Jacket

Tricky, that's what this texture is. It may appear a bit pixelated, but then again its a certain type of material the texture is portraying - a fuzzy, cotton wool type. Shadows are plentiful in this piece, giving a layered put-together look. The sleeves are manually modifiable sculpties & the blazer itself is only available in a jacket layer. The backside of this blazer is very interesting as in the darkened detail lined down the spine from neck to tail. This centers the focus inward, thinning the shape of the avatar.

Also Shown,
Hair by Truth
Gloves by Emery
Panties by Mai, in-store gift, 0L

Part Three, Vintage Rose Dress

I love vintage pieces! This near rustic-textured piece is very feminine while paying homage to a style not always seen in SL fashion while still keeping it modern & flirty. The off the shoulder short dress comes in both Jacket/Shirt & Pant layers. The skirt is sculpted & modifiable. Though pretty to the eye, there are a few flaws with this particular dress. It's difficult to resize the sculpted skirt with the belt attached to it: If you downsize too much, part of the belt gets lost in the avatar's body; If you expand, you risk having the belt too loose with parts of the sculpted skirt showing in either the front or back (bottom right). Last part may not be a big deal to some; however, there is extra shadowing along the top of the outfit.

Also Shown,
Hair by Truth
Earrings by [glow] Studio

There are many more great outfits not shown here! Feel free to stop by Freenote's store as she continues to grow in her designs : )
TP to Wasted Youth

Lv, Tekila Vella

*NEXT On TekilaUnplugged: Things get Hot with HotLaLa!*

♪♫Check My Medley!♪♫

Medley! What a fun & energetic name for a shop! Medley is presented by the generous upcoming SL virtual artist, Arriah Fiertze. Indulging the Sl design world, Fiertze is creating skins, shirts and deviant piercings. Here a few items you can find in-world and in-store:

Part One: Skin, Never Sees Sun - Scene



Okay, YES SL world! There are tons of skin makers who are rocking socks daily! Lets show some love to those not so well known. Arriah has detailed her skins, offered in dark and light tones, to the best I have seen a fresh and very new skin maker to have done so. This particular skin is soft, not realistic, meaning the details are there but look airbrushed. In SL, that is pretty much the divide. Since this skin is soft and offers highlights in the best asset of places - it already looks more feminine to the eye. The facial makeups come in 7 versions each. With soft made skin, hair by Truth or truth-like, typically work best. At 250L for a single skin - this is a must try! Back to details though... There is NO apparent seams on this skin, which is very hard to find for a new skin maker.Highlights and lowlights appear to be set appropiately.

Lingerie. . .Cherry Girl
Hair. . .Truth

Part two, Striped Sweater in Pink with Snake Bites Lip Piercing

Two layers are available for this top - shirt with or without gloves, meaning, you can either wear it long sleeved or not. The cut of this top is not jagged enough to notice, if at all, & the folds in it could be more detailed; but, this top does have enough boldness in color and quality to work with any realm of skin quality. The lip ring *sucks her teeth to ease the pain* is arrowed double head and is only available in a dark metal texture.

Outfit Three, Hip Hop is SL Lost, 1L Gift

Okay! This is *SO, SO, SO* an EXCLUSIVE!!! For my fellow followers & then some, a gift has been set out for 1L! This tee that asks where the real Hip Hop is at? in Second Life. . .Real hip hop is not the same as the Party Hip Pop and Techno you hear today...Its classy and original...Ty for being part of a movement to revive real music Arriah! You can get this at her shop, as well as two skins for *ONLY 50L!* The one I'm wearing here plus another *smiles*

TP to Medley

Lv, Tekila Vella
Fashion Blogger

Dead Lethal...Couture *smirks*

Sassy, confident, modern, flirty & fun are just a few words to describe the fresh-off-the-street designs envisioned by new designer Emerald Emor. Her shop, Lethal Couture, is more exclusive than most - located in a strip mall. Nevertheless, Emor will soon open her own fashion filled sim! Details to come. But, to take that next step Emor has been creating outfits not typically found in you're better, well-known, shops. Below are a few outfits up for review - nothing doctored.

Outfit One, Plaid Scrunch Top in Yellow

The centered bow in the mid-section creates the overall cutesy look of this particular outfit. The skirt and arm bands are sculpted and modifiable, making it easier to fit to any shape. The arm bands are also sculpties and hold true to their overall design and texture well. This outfit only comes in one layer - jacket. Now, we have all been perv-cammed, I assume! (hehe) And yes, though the texture looks fine from afar, it does lose some quality and becomes blurry when zoomed in. The seams are not lined up perfectly, but, even so, they do not create direct attention to the average eye. Overall, this outfit opens up free range, concerning styling! Any leggings, denim, etc will go great with this top.

Shoes. . .Biddle Boots, "Cuties" Black
Skin. . .Free Spirit, Kimberly Tan

Outfit 2, High Waist Plush Dress in Gold & Blue

This club/celeb-like outfit comes in a shirt & pants only layer with 2 skirt prim attachments, one flexi. It is a very young and flirty outfit with an energized impression. The textures do appear a bit stretched and blurred when zoomed in and out. Concept-wise, this outfit is ideal for a fun-filled night, showing off the better body assets one has.

Hair . . . Maitreya
Skin . . . Staged

Outfit 3, Cheetah Racerback Dress in Red

HOT!...okay, I said it! Red is definitely coming back in a major way this season - so let it sizzle! The red in this particular outfit compliments the wild nature of the big cat print. It comes in shirt & pant layer only along with a 3-tiered flexi skirt. Aside from the last two outfits, the cut of the top is not so noticeable - it holds true when zoomed in and out. There is less degradation of texture with this outfit, too. This outfit can be worn almost anywhere - becomming a more univeral design.

Skin. . .Free Speerit, 0L Gift @ UVogue Fair
Shoes. . .Shooz, Sting Heelz
Hair. . .Red Queen XStreet Special, 50L

Again, these are *only* a few samples of Emor's work,

TP to Lethal Couture

Lv, Tekila Vella
Fashion Blogger

NEXT - A Sweet Medley!

Eternal Brides & Seldom Blue!

IndigoBlue Dagostino continues to capture my attention with not only her eye for design, but her knack for quality in her designs. I am pleased to finally review Ms. Dagostino's virtual fashion art. All the pics are screenshots - nothing doctored. Again, feel free to get a front row seat at one of her firsts Fashion Shows. SLURL to come : )

Outfit One: Kira Wedding Gown

For every outfit, there are several layers for top and bottom - very helpful if you want to wear another layer not associated with the outfit. . .This gown comes with a traditional veil that rests behind the head, a long train and lengthy skirt option..The detail within the skirt itself is very high quality when zoomed in & out...though the top appears to be of good quality it does get a bit rough on the edges, especially around the straps. Overall, this is a very lovely gown to celebrate ones most memorable and special day in : )

Outfit Two: Giselle Bridal Lingerie

Hands down, Giselle Bridal Lingerie is kinky and sweet! It comes with two skirt options & all layers for both top and bottom, with optional garter. . .The quality is an improvement from the straps bogging down the quality of the Kira set. The folds/creases seemingly correspond to the body...Definitely a must have.

Outfit Three: Francesca Dress in Red

This dress actually comes with two skirt length options, the one you see here & a longer version - pardon me for not showing the other....This dress received several compliments...I think it's because the quality of it, zoomed in & out holds true to its intentional design...It is both elegant & sexy. Red is definitely due for comeback this season *smiles*

Outfit 4: Francesca, 1L Gift!

Stay tuned for more info on how to get this great outfit & more!

TP to Eternal Brides & Seldom Blue

Love,
Tekila Vella
Fashion Blogger

Bridal & Gown Fashion Show!

Eternal Brides & Seldom Blue are unveiling their latest line this Sunday! I will be reviewing many of the items within a day or so that will either be featured at the show itself, or, on their release day in-store. Stay posted for a TP link & time : ) And YES, the gown shown below will be given out as a gift. . !


Cheers,
Tekila Vella
Fashion Blogger

70% Off @ Bliss Couture =oO

Bliss Couture has been one of my favorite stores to get gorgeous one-of-kind gowns. Amutey DeCuir's creative designs and texturing has been seen in some high ranking SL pagaents (Miss SL Universe, to name one). Amutey's gowns, shoes & other clothing make me feel as feminine as I can be. Congratulations Amutey for reaching 10k members! I will post the group gift shortly for you all to see : ) Feel free to drop by Bliss Couture in the meantime *warning* it is pretty laggy!

TP to Bliss Couture

BC continued. . .!
Here are some examples of gowns that you can find at Bliss Couture! I am wearing the 1L group gift that you can find in store (middle)


Here are more awesome gowns you can expect from Bliss Couture in the near future : )...*ah* they just keep getting better...


luv, tekila vella

PINK POST!

Hell yeah...I love pink - is it still the new black? Hasn't it always been?! This isn't so much of a review, rather its me buying oodles of yummy pink stuff in-world and me wanting to share it with you all! There's some new shops in this post - at least shops not so blogged about, and yes, some that have been blogged banged already. No photo doctoring, as usual. So enjoy & happy shopping :)


Go from the Beach...to being Out & About...to Late night Lingerie
(Left to Right)

1. Bikini Time! Courtesy of Doux Petit Dahl - out now! This is the Zebra kini. I'm wearing hair from (fd), better known as Fashionably Dead. I feel dead sexy in this one! DPD definitely has great stuff out at the moment.

2. Just shopping and feeling good in my pink get up found at the *50L Sale* at Pink Outfitters & Cherry (shoes)! I believe that sale ends at the end of this month, so in other words - run! The quality of the textures are very well designed. Hair is by Pacadi Jasha, Roos in mocha. Earrings by P!NK !NC.

3. Lingerie can get to looking all the same: 2-piece with garter, lace and so on....This one piece called, Lambini in hibiscus, does have lace, but is subtle, laying along the satin look of this one piece. It is from Pacadi Jasha - the sim is full of great hair, skins, clothes, shoes & accessories of all great texture/design quality. And yes, one of the main designers used to own Maeva prior to the partnership. :) Hair is by Posh, Lolli Sexy Buns in blonde.

more details
Skin * Vive9 * Miranda Glow Juice NB Skin
Tattoo * Iren * Fleurs du mal

Entropy...*mmm*

Not only do the creators of Entropy share a love for one another, but they also share a love for the quality and the process of design. Dirk Ingmann & Whisper Stella are budding fashion designers, collaberating together to put out a selection of shoes, skirts and accessories. Below is an ensemble called, Celtic Plaid, featuring a few of their items:



I'll say it first in the blogosphere - these boots are hot! The high rise of the heels gives the overall boot a lengthy look, which compliments the legs. The detail of the thick strings covering the upper foot & ankle, as well as, the lace wrapped around the boots, appears to have been constructed with time & skill. The boots come with ivisiprims & the texture holds solid when zoomed in. Not to forget, the boots come with flexi tassels in the back that shimmer in local lighting. The boots come in a variety of colors - this color is called, Myst. The mini skirt comes with two different attachable options: one for the pelvis & the other for the stomach. The quality of the textures are as good as the boots and matching bangles.

Entropy has also recently joined other SL designers across the grid for the upcoming Satisfashion Hunt, starting August 1st - August 31st. Also available in-store is Midnight Mania.

TP to Entropy

lv, Tekila Vella

Other Items Featured:
Hair by Posh. . .Hair Fair item, "Alice is Emo" in Charcoal
Skin by Vive9 - not yet released

NEXT: Pink !!!!

Donna Flora - Couture with flair

Designing clothes is not just about technique in SL - it's also about having imagination and lots of perserverance! Squinternet Larnia, owner & designer of Donna Flora, creates gorgeous outfits, jewelry, hair, skin, shoes and well! lots... Larnia's expanding collection remains impressive. Below are a few examples of her work, in which I have reviewed unbiasedly.

Outfit 1: Charlie

Charlie is a 3 outfit in 1 ensemble. The skirts are all modifiable. The 1st skirt is flexi. The middle skirt is part sculpty, while the 3rd skirt is a prim. The textures do not blur when close up - one thing I tend to look for - and they look held together when zoomed out. The only minimal trouble area is the cute of the straps. However, this is not noticeable from a distance. Overall, a very nice ensemble.

Outfit 2: Gigi in Azur

Gigi in Azur is fun, flirty and trendy. The puffy skirt is a modifiable prim. Jewelry & handbag are also Donna Flora items. This outfit comes with this particular hangbag. The texture on the sculpted purse is moderate in comparison to the texture detail of the rest of the outfit, but it manages to pull the outfit together for a complete look. The top and underpants come only in a shirt and pants layer.

Outfit 3: Ester

Ester comes with 2 skirt options: a mini skirt prim & a system mid-length skirt. There is one shirt layer option and 2 pant layer options only, depending on which skirt you choose to wear. The texture appears satin with diamond-type jewels embodying it. Donna Flora also offers matching jeweled heels. In many outfits, I have found Donna Flora keeps her outfits pulled together with a single theme. In this outfit, soft and shiny seems to be the theme with the satin feel and diamonds adorning the skirt and bow belt. Also pictured here, is hair by Donna Flora called, Danae, in blonde. The texture of the hair is rich - shiny- and of higher texture quality, considerably according to those found in SL.

Squinternet Larnia is definitely a designer to watch as she delves further in her designing ventures. If you are new to the game, low on lindens or just like a nice gift, Larnia has generously placed a few 1L items for all to have.

TP to Donna Flora

NEXT: Celtic style :)

lv, Tekila V.

click here to view the photos closer

Hair Fair '09!!!!

OH YEAH BABY!!! The ever primtastic event, known as the Hair Fair, is near! And to boot, there is an awesome contest underway on Flickr.com. SO! If you haven't made an account with Flickr, do not panic...here's a few things to know: It's free to make an account; if you have yahoo you automatically have flickr...just use the same ID and password to sign in; Flickr does have some photo editing features both for free and paid accounts; its easy and several SL members are already on the site sharing their shots. Soooooo! Hair lovers, photogs and the like, be ready to get creative and snap, photoshop, paint shop and so on away! Numerous talented SL designers are providing the prizes for best Hair Fair contest winners. You can find more details about the contest at: http://www.flickr.com/groups/hairfair2009/

Not to forget, if you've ever been to a Hair Fair in Second Life...you know that it can be somewhat laggy, almost excrutiatingly. Typically, if one is planning to attend, its most recommended that one should detach all prims from his/her avatar and even rid of any scripts (ie AOs, radars). This year, I decided to attempt to make my own skin, everything already 'painted' on ;) I'll let you know how it goes! Til then - stay tuned!

Lv, Tekila V.

**Hairrr Affair!**

Okay...i'm guilty! I've been sneaking on SL every night to shop for hair!!! All kinds of hair...especially hair in hats and have I found some yummy ones! Aside from that....I was kindly informed of a newer Japanese beauty salon called, Cri-Cri. The hairs are very cute...but what caught my attention was the many options each hair comes with! Right now, Cri-Cri offers group members an awesome 4 pack of 4 different hairs with countless options to style each doo to your liking - and yessss, there's two hat versions!! In store, I did the 20 minute camping chair and received an awesomeee bag that comes with poses and an AO! It's majorly cute and comes with animated poses to boot. This shop owner is mighty generous! Have a look around if you're in the mood for hair shopping - I definitely recommend it :) Pic below with the goodies!



TP to Cri-Cri

Not to forget! Apple May Designs is spring cleaning & several marked outfits are only 75L! Not sure when it ends - def. worth checking out though :)

-Skin is by Rockberry, group gift

Couture designer to come! Stay posted!

Lv, Tekila

*Mai Skins*

Fresh faces are popping up around the grid in time to start off the Spring season. With many notable and established skin designers out there - it can be hard to find a skin that everyone and their SL moms isn't wearing! That is. . .until I came across a shop called Mai. Designer, MiraSonia Demina has a new collection of skins out, in tones named after the phases of the day. I am very impressed with the great amount of detail that has gone into making Demina's latest collection. It is quite refreshing to see the amount of artistry in this new line called, Mia. I have reviewed two different tones in the Mia collection.

First: Mia Sunrise Skin in Vol. (click here for full size)


Fresh, Gorgeous, Highly detailed and exotic are just a few words that immediately come to mind after putting the Mia Sunrise Vol. 6 skin on for the first time. The makeup is a mix of Spring colors, but not overly done. There's this hint of natural beauty while closely looking over the facial detail. Mia offers full lips, a defined nose and eyes that can catch anyone elses. Further examining, the detail of the breasts and stomach have a very natural flow, as well. There are no signs of seams on the sides or below the navel. The ribs are not showing as much as other skins show - so this skin does not make you look like you have starved you're entire SL life! The legs and hands are also considered. Not only do the front of the knees get definition through careful shading, but also the backs of the knees, too! The fine lines and notches from underlying bones appear to have been carefully considered of their placement during the making of Mia. There's even cute dimples on the lower back (not pictured)! The Mia skin appears athletic with an undeniable sex appeal to boot.

Last: Mia skin in Sunset in Vol. 3


This particular tone is darker, more ebony-like. Ebony skins can sometimes look too orange. However, Mia in Sunset appears to have a more realistic dark brown skin color with soft hints of a rosey pink. The makeup around the eyes is done in the smokey effect - a very dramatic way to make the eyes stand out - and that they do! The lips are a light pink, full and pouty. The blush is subtle. The body is very well detailed as much as the Mia in Sunrise is, highlighted in the right places - making this a very nice pick for a darker tone!

The Mia skins come in two types: one with hair and one bald. MiraSonia has also provided two types of lashes and a face light. There are several more makeups in the Mia collection, again these were two that I chose to show - a very hard choice as there were many great makeup combinations! I am finding that Mira must have many other talents that I am sure we can all follow and see in the future. Along with skins she creats dashing realistic eyes that have a realistic glare in them. The eyes worn here are free at Mai. The black panties and black top are also a lingerie set you can find for free amongst the other goodies.

TP to Mai

Up Next: Newest SL Couture Designer

* A Splash of Kiwi *

Ivori Pera, designer & owner of Kiwi, has a new store! Kiwi is one of the first stores I ever shopped at many SL moons ago. I am pleased to see Kiwi is still around & doing well. Here a few of the newer items out at the store! I will be reviewing them - again, no pictures have been doctored.

First Up: Julien Gown in Blue

Radiance: one word to describe the Julien Gown. It comes with a jacket & pant layer and a long flexi skirt. The empire waist finished off with the contoures of the tube top accentuates the overall fit on any avatar body type. The complimentary Spring colors of green and blue are well blended throught the outfit, moreso along a faint cheetah-like pattern on the skirt. The slit in the front offers a peekaboo effect at the legs, stopping at the bottom of the one piece underneath, which can still be seen throught the subtly sheer designed skirt. Truth be told, I received many compliments about this particular gown. It is quite eye-catching with close-up detail quality to boot!

Second Up: Pearly Gown in Cream

If the Pearly Gown was an M&M, I'm pretty sure it would melt in my mouth. . .From the cuts, to the beaded detail against the nude material chosen for this particular outfit, everything comes together. The Pearly Gown comes in a shirt & pant layer, along with the long flexi skirt shown. The skirt is not modifable, perhaps the only request I would put in for this outfit. Modifying the skirt would allow different avatar body types to fit the skirt to their slider measurements more accurately. More about the gown itself: it's elegant. One thing I'm noticing about Kiwi's gowns is the subtle hints of sexiness while still keeping it classy and mature. The cleavage line on this dress reveals just enough of the breasts to lead the eyes further down to the clasp. Again, this is an empire waist dress, OR one could think of it as a long skirted babydoll dress. The cream color is complimented nicely by the flesh-colored upper half, which, from a distance, gives the perception of a nude upper half graced by the beaded work only. The wavy cut of the bottom of the skirt gives flow to a dress, even when in a static position. Overall, this seamless gown is a must have.

Third Up: Bella Outfit in Gold

Bella is one of Ivori's latest outfits. It's a fun, party girl type of outfit. The cuts in the top are very much unique. I especially love the shimmering texture of the top and pants - it gives a liquifying feel of sorts. The top is especially sexy. It looks wet and thin straps cross past the upper body. The pants have a thick belt on them and come in the same color as the pants. It also comes with two prims to give the regular skinny jeans look a more flared out feel. This outfit would be great for anyone who loves the club type scene.

Last but not Least: Marie Sweater & Boots with scarf & legwarmers

I decided to mix it up a bit with the Marie-like items! First off, you can either wear a scarf or a full half sweater. The sweater is made of prims - there are no clothing layers to wear. Clothing like this is becomming more common in SL. There is a slight drawback when wearing prims - if someone has his/her draw distance set low, the prims disappear to only then reveal whatever you have underneath (which can sometimes be nothing so your bits will show!). The scarf is amazing. The folds are very realistic and the textures used throughoutt the Marie sweater items are all very high quality (not pixelated) and realistic looking. The legwarmers are modifiable, as well as the shoes. The shoes for the Marie line look like snow shoes but the textures for the foot part could be a little better to match the quality of the rest of the line. The versatile pants in this outfit are from the Bella outfit!

You can check out all pictures in full size at my flickr site!

And, you can also follow Ivori's personal stream here

luv, tekila vella

Next: Skinssssss! *mmm* Stay tuned :)