Over the years that I’ve had this blog, I regularly beam with pride when I show off anything from Decoy’s Annette Voight. So I was excited when she went into “hair fair deadline” mode because I knew she’d do something fantastic.

hair fair : decoy

Another designer who always brings out his best for hair fair is Kavar Cleanslate. I love his unnatural colors and new darker roots variations. Exile hairs are great for photography: lots of drama and body. None of our jewelry seemed perfect to complement the hair adornments, so we pulled apart copies of the hair for earrings and chest decoration.

hair fair : el & feles in Exile

Thanks again to Feles Seitan for styling and posing with me and El, and for knowing I want her to add black eyeliner before I even ask <3

1-
hair: Decoy Aili – charcoal
skin: Glam Affair Mary natural 2; *elymode* makeup – red & gold; Nomine eyeliner
jewelry: League Wanderer black
eyes: Poetic Classic November Ice bright; Free Spreerit Eyelashes 1 (no longer available)

hair: [Decoy Hair] Milena – (Dark Browns) Fudge
skin: -Glam Affair- Mary Dark- 10; *elymode* makeup – plum & bronze 2
jewelry: League Wanderer oak
eyes: Ibanez SmoothGlow Eyes – Blackberry; Exile Lashes: Razor (x2)

2-
hair: Exile Aroha:Roots-Passion
skin: :GP: Airhead-Truth District Update Group Gift
eyes: Poetic Color 0 pink garden; Exile Lashes: Tokyo

hair: Exile Lady Versailles Roots Teak
skin: Curio Pout Whine sundust frex; *elymode* makeup – blue frost, smudged liner
eyes: Poetic Classic November Ice bright

I found Raspberry Aristocrat for the first time during Hair Fair 2009, and am so excited to see her cute new styles for this year’s fair. How adorable are these?!?! I especially love all the wispy parts.

Hair Fair : Raspberry Aristocrat

I’m a hair color & texture snob, and Raspberry does a great job with both natural colors as well as some berry-flavors. I am kicking myself in the ass now for having chosen such normal colors to capture, so, someone, please, blog some of RA’s fun colors or I will be forced to do more!

Hair Fair : Raspberry Aristocrat

I definitely see both of these styles working their way into my normal rotation of “I wanna look really cute without looking like I am trying” looks. Girls, I know you know what I’m talking about ;)

1-
hair: Raspberry Aristocrat – Jane – red canyon
skin:GP: Airhead-Dreamy 2
necklace: miel – FRIENDO
clothing:*elymode* Rubystar halter
eyes: Ibanez SmoothGlow Eyes – Eau; Amacci lashes – allure

2-
hair: Raspberry Aristocrat – Khloe – Black Beauty
skin:GP: Airhead-Tease 2
jewelry: Mandala Kabuki earrings & necklace
eyes: Ibanez SmoothGlow Eyes – Nightwatch; Amacci lashes – allure

17
May

I was TPing around the grid following SLurls from marketplace when I randomly came across a cute little clothing store called Junbug. Now, this store isn’t really my style, but I messaged Feles immediately and told her to get her ass over there, this was just her kinda thing. As we stood there, this voice in the back of my head started to whisper… ok no, I lie, she started screaming… “I WANT SOME CUTE DRESS!!!” My alt, El, hasn’t seen any photo action for a long time. No new skins, no new hairs, she has been totally neglected, and she wasn’t taking it any longer. I found myself logged out of SL, with El taking over for a shopping trip.

Now see, I got a new computer about 6 weeks ago and can finally turn on shadows, but I have been feeling like every photo is a struggle, and they don’t quite end up looking the way I want my photos to look. My super colorful, soft-and-glowy-without-being-blurry, vivid image style that I have been cultivating in SL for almost 4 years seemed to have gotten lost. Now I know what happened; El stole my mojo and was holding it hostage. One new dress, some new hair and a megapack of Curio skins seemed to do the trick though, and I think I got it back.

El & Feles

The dresses that inspired El and Feles to play dress up are fun and whimsical and just the kind of thing they like to run around the grid wearing. There is a false modesty in those big skirts that might distract you away, for just a second, from the fact that Feles’ nipples peek out from that top. Obviously, it has not escaped El’s attention! She was a little disappointed that her own nips didn’t make it into the shot, but she wants me to make sure you know that the dress-turned-camisk shown below does not come with panties ;)

El & Feles

Feles tirelessly searched for a nice location until she found the perfect place at Everwind, two beautiful fantasy sims with lots of photo opp areas and pretty flowers and trees and lily pads, and we were even allowed to rez pose stands. The mix of residential and shopping areas using builds from Maxwell Graf’s Rustica for both homes and shops creates a real village atmosphere. If El did more to earn her keep, I might indulge her with a rental here.

just a little note for you perfectionists out there: I did some retouching of the shoulder and underarm seams, and the side and waist seams of the blue dress aren’t a perfect match… but that isn’t stopping El from dancing around in it while I blog.

El:
dress/camisk: *{Junbug}* Missy Wench Azure (the color in the second photo is more accurate)
skin: Curio Sundust Frex [Light] Sweetheart-Rose 1
makeup: *elymode* makeup – coal & teal (worn twice for bolder effect)
hair: >TRUTH< Jolie Streaked – jupiter
jewelry: Burroughs- Shanti Bracelet
nails: Page 3 rings & nails

Feles:
dress: *{Junbug}* She Wench dress
skin: Curio: Pout Whine acorn dark
hair: >Truth< Kaelyn – chocolate
jewelry: Sigma: Shandal jewelry in brown/wine
nails: Candy Nail: Clear Glitter French Fresh

poses: photo 1 – exposeur; photo 2 exposure (modified with Animare HUD) and xoxo ania.

The first fantasy skins I bought in SL were from the Sin Skins Etheria line; I’ve got photos in them that date back to 2007. Today when I saw this teaser pic, these color options, and the phrase”Updated Etheria skins are now available at Sin Skins in Port Seraphine!” I teleported over faster than you can say “which shade of purple do I want?”

Purplish-violet skin that fades to light blue on the hands and feet (and tush!)? Oh, and is that glitter on the cheeks and arms and hands? Yes please.

Etherial...

I am pretty sure these are not at Skin Fair (today is the last day for that, by the way… I think) so head down to the Sin Skins / PixelDolls shop to try them.

skin: *Sin Skins* Etheria~ Fae~ Dusk
clothing: *elymode* Dulce Layer Tank & panties
wings: Illusions Angel Wings
hair: redQueen Dreams
jewelry: Mandala Takara bangles, nails rings and Soul Necklace
eyes: Poetic Color Fairy Eyes ; (amperlope) wham bam! : lashes top/bottom
pose: Exposeur

I don’t mind that in browsing blogs today I see that I am one of several showing the new release from Evie’s Closet, it’s a dress worth all the coverage. I walked into Evie’s store a few days ago and saw some photos of it with a “Coming Soon” sign above and messaged her saying something to the effect of “OMGSOCUTENEED”. I especially like the leafy tops of the stockings/socks and the matching hat; and of course the wings, wings are always a plus.

Strawberry Fairy

It’s possible I may have gone a bit overboard here, but I like the very decorated looking result. I was even inspired to create a strawberry face tattoo for the look. The dress makes me feel like a fairy waiting to pick juicy strawberries from the plant and dip ‘em in sugar. mmmmstrawberries….

Strawberry Fairy

It’s amazing how the introduction of one little feature, tattoo layers, can bring with it so much possibility. The new Redgrave Fairy skin is soft and sweet and has some fantastic makeups; the skin texture is really beautiful, too. You have probably seen it a ton of times already on various blogs, so I’ve changed it up here by adding the Ice Queen lips from Gala Phoenix. I don’t think they are available separately, they were included in the Ice Queen fatpack. I wonder how skin designers feel with us mixing and matching from their collections; I hope they see it as something that adds to the possibilities and not something that takes away from their hard work.

clothing: Evie’s Closet Eden in Hibiscus (includes shoes, wings, and hat)
skin: Redgrave 16b Fairy Skin -Avie- /*redEye with Gala Phoenix Ice Queen lips 2
face tattoo: *elymode* Strawberry Face Tattoo
hair: Truth Allegra Streaked – cranberry
jewelry: Alienbear Aphrodite Earrings; Evie’s Closet Alatariel Crown & Collar
poses: xoxo ania
low grass and flowers: Fluffy Green Meadows
strawberry plants: New Trails

28
Feb

No set of blog posts from skin fair would be complete without Feles and I getting together to bare some skin. The obvious choice for us was Belleza’s newest release, Melissa. We took these shots a few days ago, when only the Sunkissed and Tan tones were released, but the full range is now available from pale to mocha.

This is also the photoshoot where I gave in and used a v2 viewer for multiple tattoo layers. I’ve been resisting for so long, but my need to look unique in a skin that lots of people were wearing took over and I added Tuli’s freckles and parted lips to my look. Feles looks perfect and unique in every skin of course, so, she doesn’t need to bother with all this multiple tattoo layer nonsense!

in Belleza's Melissa

The Belleza bodies are one of my favorite on the grid, so of course they deserve to be shown off. I wanted to do a more conservative shoot but Feles insisted we show all this skin. Yup, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

in Belleza's Melissa

Thanks to Feles for her time and patience even though she’s got homework to do <3

photo1:
ely:
skin: Belleza Melissa SK 14 w/ lips 4; Tuli Freckles
hair: Exile Nyx;  Analog Dog hair base
eyes: Poetic Color – tarn
jewelry: Mariposa Oceana (no longer available)
feles:
skin: Belleza Melissa Tan 16 with lip 0
hair: Truth Aloha
eyes: Poetic Color-  Star Mercury; amperlope Penny Lane Beneath Blue Sky lashes with SiSSi Lashes 01
jewelry: Mariposa Simplicity blue necklace and earrings

photo2:
ely:
skin: Belleza Melissa SK 7 w/ lips 0
hair: Exile Rina
eyes: Poetic Color – indian summer; Crissy Designs Irresistible Look Eyelashes
jewelry: Miel Ahi set;Mandala Takara bangles, rings & nails
panties: *elymode* lounging panties
feles:
skin: Belleza Melissa Tan 2 with lip 4
hair: Exile Brandy
eyes: Poetic Color-  Star Mercury; amperlope Penny Lane Beneath Blue Sky lashes with SiSSi Lashes 01
panties: *elymode* lounging panties
jewelry: Miel Cue jewelry; Candy Nail Basic Prim Nails brown0
poses from Exposeur

Not that I need an excuse to take my clothes off, but if I did, skin fair is as good as any. Add to that wearing a skin from Gala Phoenix and the exhibitionist in me takes over. I’m showing off the new Pout, released at the fair (there is a gift of 4 Pout lip tattoos at the fair, too).

in Gala Phoenix's Pout

Now that the Curio skins are being sold in megapacks with all tones, I am happily drowning in possibilities for looks. I usually stick to buying the Sundust or Acorn tones, but I occasionally wish I had something darker or lighter for a specific shot. I no longer have to make the choice between a pack of my “standard” or something different that I might get less use from, I can have them all!

in Gala Phoenix's Pout

If you don’t mind spending some extra time and effort to really customize your look, you can take advantage of Magika’s hair color change HUD to change additional strands to multiple colors. The HUD changes textures based on the names of the individual prims. If you inspect the hair, you will notice that the prims that respond to the streak-color change begin with a 0 (that’s zero, not the letter) Add a 0 to the beginning of the prim name, and that strand will change color when you use the HUD! To get the look for the photo above, I had to remove the 0 from some prims and add it to others for each different color. Be sure to MAKE A COPY of the hair first. Keep in mind that once you remove the 0s, if you use the HUD to change the base hair color, ALL prims without the 0 will change to that color. (yeah I totally did that and had to start over!) HAVE FUN!

skin: GP Sundust [Light] Pout-Spoiled Rotten 2 with L.Fauna Dimples
hair: Magika // Dara (Mirrored)
skirt: *elymode* Estrela – lilac (limited color, other colors still available)
eyes: Poetic Color autumn-crocus; Amacci eyelashes – Belle
nails: [ Love Soul ] Prim nails+Ring*SPIRIT-Long
pose: exposeur

skin: GP Petal Frex [Light] Pout-Spoiled Rotten 1
*elymode* makeup – smudged eyeliner – lower w/ lashes – teal (gift, more info here)
hair: Magika Hair // Veruka; (see modification instructions above); Analog Dog hair base – green
bra: *Solange!* Siren Silk
eyes: Poetic Color autumn-early frost
jewelry: [MANDALA] TAKAYAMA necklace* and earrings

*this necklace was a gift from my very special Flix Saiman <3

I know I’m not the first, or the last, to jump on the skin fair blogging bandwagon, and I know my blog is a bit dusty, but really, you expect me to resist all this new goodness? I don’t think so. So here is my take on a couple of this week’s new skins.

First up is Tuli’s Zoe. The amazing woman behind these skins never ceases to amaze me. She is always changing and trying something new and different, and her collection of skins has a range that appeals to a broad variety of tastes. Zoe is glamorous with juicy lips, and I have added Tuli’s Rosy Cheeks tattoo layer which adds a sweetness to it. The rosy cheeks also change how it fits my shape; I suggest picking up the rosy cheeks and rosy nose tats at Tuli’s shop and trying them with other skins in your inventory. I love the way they enhance my cheekbones.

in Tuli's Zoe

Next on my list is Mary from Glam Affair. Lots of people love the Glam Affair lips, including me, and it’s been great to see how Aida Ewing improves this feature with each release. I am a big fan of the dark tone, especially with this makeup. Do you “feel” your avatar’s personality based on how they are styled? I do and, these two photos are a perfect example of why I love fashion/beauty/photography in SL: I can be both of these women in the same day.

Glam Affair: Mary

photo 1
skin: Tuli- Zoe / sunkissed :: 06 Brasseyes, Rosy Cheeks and Zoe lips -peach.
eyes: Poetic Color eyes – sunny glade; Tuli lashes-brown
hair: Truth Serena Streaked copper
earrings: Burroughs – Bianca

photo 2
skin: Glam Affair – Mary Dark-  08
eyes: Poetic Color Eyes – indian summer; Amacci ~ Eyelashes “Allure” (2 pair); Tuli eyeliner 2 tattoo layer
hair: Magika Hair // Ren
jewelry: Mandala Soul Necklace & Sinra2 rings/nails
shorties: *elymode* simply sheer shorties (with modesty panties)
pose: exposeur
photography backdrops: elymode

Lil Feles and El don’t get too many opportunities to play, which is a shame because these ‘tweens have attitude. Wear Gray, with an assortment of designers donating kidswear and playthings for the American Brain Tumor Association, gave just the excuse needed to shop and goof off.

As always, El is busy working hard so Feles can have fun. Sassafras Kids/Family Poses put together the perfect scene as a 100% benefit item, The Family Garden Shed with pile of leaves for El to rake and Feles to destroy. (5 poses included!) The mini cereal box and spoon are from a gatcha machine at Larnia Kids.

fall

Larnia Kids also offers these two adorable outfits complete with shoes for two bad girls who aren’t quite old enough to know what bad is. They break from homework long enough to mock you. Don’t hate.

lil troublemakers

donation items from Wear Gray are indicated with “WG”

Larnia Kids- Back to School boys: jeans, sneakers, hat WG
*FIR & MNA* Bookmite Cardigan SE Red WG
(Dernier Cri) Kira
[Pink Fuel] Skye <Honey> – Pure

FIR V Neck Tee in burgundy WG
A-Bomb unisex deck shoes in zebra WG
Glitterbugs Vania capri jeans WG
Dernier Cri Kira blonde Armidi Limited long sleeve crew in river blue
Pink Fuel Skye honey Beestung skin

Larnia Kids back 2 school outfit including shoes WG
Dernier Cri Taylor
Pink Fuel Elly chai Broken Hearts Bleed

Larnia Kids- i’m with the band outfit including bootsWG
[PF] Skye <Honey> – Pure (dkbrow)
(Dernier Cri) Dove – All Shades
*LC* E (C) – Symphony NomNom (mouth)

additional photo 2 details: What Next Artisan Bistro set; school supplies including text books, from RC, poses from LAP

Here’s your limo to Wear Gray.

El is still teasing me about getting into hair fair earlier than me and purchasing more hair than me, so I am making her show it off. Together with Feles as her styling and modeling partner, she came up with some great looks (ok actually, Feles put her own looks together first and El just took inspiration from there! somehow she always gets it easy.)

I love this modern-day Pebbles Flintstone look Feles has here with her hair from Obscene. El took a cue from the RunoRuno top and dug into her inventory for this skirt/overalls combination from the same shop. Her adorable Katat0nik hair has color change parts, allowing her to coordinate the braid, streaks, and bow to her outfit. (El completely disregarded our “no mod? no sale!” hair policy for this one she loves it so much)

El in Katat0nik & Feles in Obscene Hair Fair

The variety of styles all in one place is one of the things that makes the fair so much fun. These next 2 styles from the new-to-us Ivanka Akina aren’t for everyday wear; but they are the type of styles that you see and you know you must have for some special occasion or photography shoot. The hairs and accessories are scripted to change to dozens of colors, so no standing around the booth trying to figure out which color you want!

El & Feles in Ivanka Akina- Hair Fair

If you want to visit specific designers at the hair fair, here is a link to the SLurls to make it easier for you to find what you are looking for.

hair: the oBscene – Hime hair
skin: GP Acorn June Swan 2
clothing: RunoRuno Stole, Sn@tch Nightmare skirt
jewelry: Mandala Takara red fur and leather bangles; Zaara Anaya cluster earrings

hair: *katat0nik* (colors) LaLa Hair
skin: GP Sundust June Swan 2
clothing: ~*RunoRuno*~ Odd Overall & Simple Skirt
jewelry: ::Page 3:: Pretty Hands, U&R Dogs Traumerei Bracelets

hair: IA Magic hair no. 25A
skin: L.Fauna Lapine Snow Fae chill
clothing: Solange Charlatan red
lashes: Detour Widow Lashes

hair: *IA* Magic hair no.26
skin: []::Tuli::[] Jade (tone 1) with Makeup by Elysium: Antheia 1
clothing: Solange Charlatan purple
lashes: Amacci ~ Eyelashes “Feather 1″ – Green