So much of what we do in the fashion industry is subjective. What works for one setting may not even come close to fitting another setting. Opinions run rampant and it can be just as easy to find empty praise as it is to hear destructive criticism. I took a break from preparing for the Face of October semi-finals by doing this collaborative styling. From head to toe, everything in this photo relays someone besides my normal 'me.'
There are two new shapes from Scandelicious, new skin and outfit from Mirror's Enigma and jewelry from {{BSD}}. Sometimes when I look in the mirror, I don't see myself at all, and I think it helps me when I focus intensely to share myself in other settings. All of it helps me grow in this modeling choice I've made for my Second Life.
Featured Scandelicious Shapes
-- Leesa
-- Marilyn
Featured Mirror's Enigma Eliza Peach Skintone
-- Smoky
-- Nude
Featured Mirror's Enigma Invidia Satin Bodysuit
-- Black
-- White
Featured {{BSD}} Sophisticated Model
-- Big Black
-- Mini Silver
1. Poetic Eyes: Autumn Colors - Storm
2. Amacci Hair: Silvia
3. Sexy Mama Valentine Manicure
4. Bubbles Gothic Maid Doll Socks
5. {PopTart}: Mesh Combat Boots
6. Poses
-- Di's Opera
-- Miamai
Within the limitations of technology, I try my best to keep my word. The other night, I had a meeting scheduled at the same time Time Warner thought it necessary to have a Van on our street operating on cable in the area. Grrr...
But many things I can do and can keep up with, if I keep an eye on time and schedule. In this case, I received a blogging pack from Zanze and earnestly wanted to help.
A whole array of great new looks were added to Zanze just in time for Avenue Zenshi Fashion Week. This afternoon, just 3 hours ago, this event officially began.
I knew it would be beneficial to Zzoie and Zanze and Zenshi to have her entire new collection posted here, flickr and Facebook. I also knew it was a big project.
I made time each day since Friday to really pour time and energy into styling these items from the new collection. I even roped a fellow model into the process earlier today (for the pair photo that also features a new release from Image Essentials upcoming Hunt).
And now, early evening, Easter Sunday, I was able to post the final photo I took. I enjoy these challenges. More so when the situation influences good people, good friends, in a positive way for their business and their dreams. Loads of designers have new looks showcased this week at Avenue Zenshi Fashion Week, and I'm partial to this project at a personal level. I hope you're able to see what they've accomplished and all the pretty items Zanze offers you in the process.
Featured Zanze Rhianna {Abstract} (Avenue Zenshi Fashion Week)
Featured Mirror's Enigma Vanity Skintone
Featured Scandelicious Nikki Shape
Featured Chop Zuey Men's Brooch (as hair ornament)
1. EMO-tions: Lissi
2. Poetic Eyes: Autumn Moon
3. Face Paint: Anniversary Jean
4. Candy Nail: Chidori Gold
5. Joops: Gold Nail and Black Boots
6. Photos taken on site at Image Essentials - The Image Essentials Photo Booth prop is an item purchased from [Virtual Props and Poses].
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To Show Scandelicious Shape
7. Carrie's Lingerie: Basics Black Bra and Panty
Featured Zanze Shena Coat - Sexy Suit
Featured Mirror's Enigma Victoria Peach Skintone
Featured Mirror's Enigma Naturelle (n) Gray Eyes
1. Custom Shape
2. EMO-tions: Amnesia
3. [S H O C K]: Starshine Glitter Nails
4. Candy Nail: Bare Feet
5. Photos taken on site at Image Essentials: "This Image Essentials Prop is a combination of items purchased from various merchants as well as items created by [Kay Weston]."
Featured Zanze Shena Coat-Dress {Zebra} (Avenue Zenshi Fashion Week)
Featured Image Essentials Nubbly Snuggle
1. Custom Shape
2. EMO-tions: Winternight
3. Poetic Eyes: Quicksilver
4. Face Paint: Gidget Sky
5. Finesmith: French Nails
6. Glam Affair: Amberly
7. Chop Zuey: Angels Earth Silver Ring
8. Chop Zuey: Silver Cross Earrings
Featured Zanze Shena Pants {Onyx} (Avenue Zenshi Fashion Week)
Featured Zanze Shena Top - bra only shown - {Onyx} (Avenue Zenshi Fashion Week)
1. Custom Shape
2. EMO-tions: Bittersweet
3. Poetic Eyes: Hot Mocca
4. Natural Beauty Sculpted Lashes 6
5. Face Paint: Shiran Art
6. Quintessencia: Model Square 1
7. Glam Affair: Jadis
8. Chop Zuey: MaSonge Belly Ring and Bracelet
9. Chop Zuey: Caliban's Dream Men's Fibula (Worn as Hair Accent)
10. Juicy: Cherry
11. Taken on Location at Inside Art
Featured Zanze Suzanna Suit
1. Custom Shape
2. EMO-tions: Karma
3. Poetic Eyes: Hot Mocca
4. WoW: Diva Lashes
5. Face Paint Gems: Spring Gems 1 Under the Sea
6. Face Paint: Mix and Match
7. Mirror's Enigma: Leigh Native Skintone
8. Juicy: Classic Blackberry
9. Taken on Location at Inside Art
Do you know the theory propose by Andy Warhol? He said, "In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes." Is that true in Second Life? Is it important? I think it must be to some people, in every walk of life, on or off line. I've met a Prince from Tiny Kingdoms, a dancer from one of Second Life's premiere dance troupes, owners of some of the biggest names in fashion and Ubars who manager giant property on a fictitious sci-fi planet.
I tend to be the type of person who looks for the long road, and avoids the 15 minutes of fame. It may be possible to achieve that goal, and it may even be healthy and realistic for some. To me, it seems like a tiny droplet of time in an endless ocean, however. When someone obviously pushes to get to their pinnacle, I like to watch how they act and interact.
I'd rather get to know you and in the natural space of time and connection, energy and trust, I would prefer you invite me into your life because it matters. If I had to choose between fame and a devoted long term contribution to things I truly embraced with total belief and utter passion, I'd always choose the latter.
Sometimes it helps to make a splash. I get that. If more people know who you are, you have more ears to listen and more ways to motivate others. Today, I've talked to two people who've invested time into the fashion industry; maybe they've even had or are having their 15 minutes. They're using their celebrity to make a difference, one to promote awareness of children and young adults who need help, another to promote awareness of the overwhelming number of people across the world who live in abusive relationships and who need help.
Just the other day, yet another shared her passion related to a program that offers aid to those who live in places where certain diseases, when not treated, lead to blindness, and the treatment isn't excessively expensive, it just needs to be administered. If you do need that 15 minutes, and create a niche as prince or top model, I find I'm most impressed by what you do with it once you've reached your pinnacle. I work hard and appreciate others who do as well.
Heath Blessed and Llyssa Serupta: Stop the Bleeding
Blue Porchers: Abuse Victims
Kim Rongyu (one of hers!): Sight Savers
Featured Zanze Ellysa {Dark} (Avenue Zenshi Fashion Week)
Featured Scandelicious Phoebe Shape
1. EMO-tions: Strangelove
2. WoW: Diva Lashes
3. Face Paint: Deadly
4. pulchino: Reyukken
5. Mirror's Enigma: Sofia Dusk Skintone (Smoky)
6. Mirror's Enigma: Naturelle (n) Crimson Eyes
7. Chop Zuey: Great Earth Bracelet and Earrings
8. Baboom: Diamond/Red Shoes
9. LAP
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Showing Scandelicious Shape
Removed Zanze dress and added Carrie's Lingerie: Obsession
Featured Zanze Joslyn {Petrified} (Avenue Zenshi Fashion Week)
1. Custom Shape
2. EMO-tions: Yvonne
3. Poetic Eyes: Hot Mocca
4. Face Paint: Moonlight
5. Sexy Mama Valentine Manicure
6. Glam Affair: Amberly
7. Indyra Originals: Kelsi Pumps
Featured Zanze Lacie {Night}/also available in {Snow} (Avenue Zenshi Fashion Week)
Featured Chop Zuey Kingdom of God Necklace and Bracelet
Featured Chop Zuey Tiger Lilly Earrings and Ring
1. Custom Shape
2. Poetic Eyes: Hot Mocca
3. booN DTU831 Chestnut
4. Face Paint Gems: Spring Gems 2
5. Face Paint: Summer Bronze
6. Mirror's Enigma: SuperbiaV3 Tan Skintone
7. Defining Boho: Beaded Flat Sandals
8. Image Essentials Photo Studio
Featured Zanze Little Miss Suit {Blanco} (Avenue Zenshi Fashion Week)
1. Custom Shape
2. EMO-tions: Lilith
3. Poetic Eyes: Oriental Pearl
4. [NikitaFride]: Long Eyelashes Ludic Drama
5. Face Paint: Lip Gloss Shiny Pink
6. Noya: Silver Music Manicure
7. Mimi's Boutique: Mya Tan
8. Chop Zuey: Cheri Amour Earrings and Bracelet + Bracelet resized as choker
9. N-Core: Eternity Dots
10. Shot on Location at Model's Workshop w/ Photography Studio Open for Group Use
It's a little bit odd when I change shapes these days. In my Second Life history, I always played with shapes for the fun of it. As I got more involved in the fashion community, blogging and modeling, I grew far more attached to the avatar that is me.
Recently, however, I've had the fun returned to me via a neat shape designer, Catriona Dagger. She has a wide array of shapes and each time I use one of her shapes, I'm transformed into a new vision of self and my imagination ends up running at Mach 3.
This girl here, Bree, could be a show stopper up those stairs in through the glass beads to the stage. Tiny Dancer... She's an edgy little thing, dressed to attract attention, ready to entertain. I'm glad I get to break out of my Caryn mold from time to time and visit other niches in my infinite daydreams.
Featured Scandelicious (Special Discount) Bree Shape
Featured Dot-Be Fashion Shandra Dress Silver/Black
1. Glam Affair Skin: Jadis
2. EMO-tions: Jack
3. Poetic Eyes: Quicksilver
4. Gaeline: Mesh Lashes Starlia
5. Face Paint: Gidget Sky w/ Pink Lip
6. [S H O C K]: Starshine Glitter Nails
7. Blackburn's: 19th Century Classic Lace Up Booties Black
8. Wretched Dolls: Skully Tights
9. Jewelry: Black Pearly Set Anastasia
10. Image Essentials Props and Poses
Music speaks to me. Maybe it speaks to everyone in some way or another. Depending on my mood and circumstances, different songs come to mind and I feel the passionately. It's one reason why I started using song titles or lyrics to name my blogs and my photos on Flickr.
Last time, I showed a simple innocent side of my personality viewed through the eyes of a playful child. We all have facets in our personality. I like to think of them as facets in a diamond, and we're all precious stones to reveal the occlusions and brilliance we were given by the great Creator.
If those photos represented my inner child's voice, this series takes another approach altogether, and a dark, more sinister side is revealed. Some people only know on of my many facets, while others who've known me longer have seen more shades of color and diversity of character. I have that precocious innocence but I also have a dark and fierce streak running through me as well.
Many of us in the fashion industry have been told here and there to present a professional profile, thus our personal profiles in Second Life reveal only the facets of ourselves at times that 'work' well for business. Unfortunately, it's just like the masks we must wear off line and we don't always get to really know people well as a result. I wrestle with the concept of the 'real me' and realize that the real me is as diverse as the photographs I share with you week after week. Even when I use a shape like this from a designer, not my 'me' shape, I find a bit of me in it and try to embrace those feelings, even if briefly so, to evolve and become more of me than I was, always growing and trying new things.
Featured Dot-Be Fashion Violetta Black
Featured Scandelicious Karlie Shape
Featured EMO-tions Everlasting Jewelry
Featured Mirror's Enigma Sofia Dusk Skintone
1. Poetic Eyes: Quicksilver
2. [S H O C K]: Mesh Nails
3. EMO-tions: Irina Snow
4. Blackburns: 19th Century Classic Lace-up Booties
5. Poses from Vista Animations
I miss those days when I was young and could see the world though innocent eyes. Maybe we all do. When Scandelicious' shape creator asked me if I'd do a little girl shape, I said sure. It's fun to reminisce on a time in life before worries and fears shaped my future.
I have explored Second Life, searching for theme parks and carnivals and found in those moments, flying down a water slide built way up high, for a brief time, all the cares of the world push aside and I just laugh and remember the days of 'Wheeee!' and "Can we do that again?"
You don't have to have the right clothes or hair to be a 'little'. Many items that are mesh fit on avatars of all sizes. Maybe this weekend is the time to cut loose, do something frivolous and remember your own time of innocence. This sweet little shape from Scandelicious helped me dip my toes into positive old memories. I hope you find a way to revisit yours.
Featured Scandelicious Angel Shape
Featured *Baby Pie* Anna Grace
1. Poetic Eyes: Hot Mocca
2. [elikatira]
3. Mirror's Enigma: Nixie Light Skintone
4. Poses built into props
