Ultimate Skin Wars v.3.7

I'm no expert on skinning that's for sure, I'm just learning Photoshop. While Mallory Cowen's presentation is compelling, I wanted to see for myself. Pictures are worth 1000 words and now I'd like to add a few words to my verbose picture and play devil's advocate.

Skinners who are inherently adept at Photoshop can spin anything the way they want to spin it. These two pictures of mine were taken at the same time in the same pose with the same lighting with no post processing. The base does look similar and Hart named his source in the IM exchange posted on Mallory's blog. Personal opinion here, chat logs can be changed and knowing LL's TOS doesn't reach blog postings, posting private instant messages is just bad form. The timing of the post seems hinky to me as well. Why didn't Mallory post it the day the Crys skins started showing up in the blogs instead of waiting until Hart went on vacation?

In looking at just the top half of these two skins side by side, I like the lighting, the shading, the make up, the lips, the nipples, and the lack of seams in the PXL skin much better. When I look at the Laqroki skin, I don't like the lips, the shading, the color and the smudged ring around the aureole of the nipples. These features are nothing like the PXL skin. Another thing I noticed about the Laqroki skin is that the faces are a different skin tone than the rest of the bodies...the face has a blue/pink undertone and the body has an olive/orange undertone. I would not purchase a Laqroki skin based on this alone. While everything is personal preference, I think the Laqroki skin is cute, but I feel it is sub-par work. I think the PXL skin is beautiful and to me it looks like a true artist put it together. I don't know, if I didn't know any back story and seeing these skins side by side, I might think the Laqroki skin was the below standard copy.

I've been wearing PXL skins since before the last skin show-down between Minnu and Hart and it turned out they showed each other their sources and there was no further debate. If the Linda and the Crys skins were in violation of the DMCA, why are these skins still available?

I'm going to wait until the fat lady sings on this one...there is always two sides of the story. If it does turn out that the charges are true I'll be looking for a new skinner. Until then I am going to wear my PXL skins, I look beautiful in them.

Fab.Pony

There's a fun store I want to share with you owned by the charming Tatiana Faulkes called Fab.Pony. I showed up there yesterday and found out that Tatiana has 10 years of RL design that she brought into SL last November. She is offering everything but hair, she said she has to have something to buy. The girl's a house-a-fire of productivity.

Tatiana says this first dress is her current favorite because it's girly, great for cleavage and doesn't make you look preggers! Tatiana said she is always in game and she does custom fittings for her customers...how refreshing is that?!



It was so hard to choose from the outfits and the mix and match. I could not resist the Boyfriend Skinny Jeans and I paired them with the top from the Sexeh Dress and added the Maitreya pumps. There was a pair of Glam Metallic Leggings that didn't make it into this post that I really liked as well...they come with an illuminator and bling...super cute and they lit my face from underneath.


I wanted to pull Damselfly's new hair in this post, Shylah Honey has released some excellent new hair designs the past couple weeks that are hovering in the top 5 spots in my hair folder. I am so loving this look and resisting the urge to buy some hot rollers.

The Panther Babydoll caught my eye first and it's fresh and easy to wear. Tatiana was right, I look far from preggers in this outfit.

The Fab.Pony store is soooo cute and laid out very well. Skins and a gallery upstairs and clothes, shoes, and accessories downstairs. For being here for nine months or so, the show pony of Fab.Pony is an astute study of content creation in SL.


First Outfit:

Dress - Fab.Pony - Tie Dye Sundress

Shoes - Stiletto Moody - Pinup Pumps

Bangles - Frangipani Designs - Mystic Beaded Necklace and Bracelet

Skin - PXL -Linda - Fashion Eyes & Coffee Lips

Hair - Damselfly - Chantyl

Second Outfit:

Jeans - Fab.Pony - Boyfriend Skinny Jean

Top - Fab.Pony - Sexeh Dress

Shoes - Maitreya - Slinky Stilettos

Hair - Damselfly - Bijoux

Skin - PXL -Linda - Fashion Eyes & Coffee Lips

Third Outfit:

Dress - Fab.Pony - Panther Babydoll

Shoes - Periquita - Funny Girl Flats

Necklace, Earrings, & Bracelet - Earthtones - The New Grazia Set

Skin - PXL -Linda - Fashion Eyes & Coffee Lips

Hair - Damselfly - Taliyah

The Trolls are Talking

No, I didn't wear the same thing today because I was out all night partying! I wore the same thing today for two reasons, the first being that I don't want to take this Haute Style & Co. dress off and second because I was out all night...waiting for the Stiletto Moody store to open. I went to bed considerably early compared to all those East Coast combat shoppers. It was pleasant enough to walk in there today and leisurely pick up my coveted new shoes and boots. I heard we have to wait until tomorrow for the lingerie and the group bracelet. Speaking of bracelets, I keep reaching for the new Shiny Things Ruma set. Coming in both gold and silver they go with anything. The art and talent in Fallingwater's work makes me fan myself. Okay, the squid hat she gave me doesn't quite do that, but you know what I'm talking about.


Back to HSC. Typically these mini dresses don't fit well and I'm constantly adjusting the prim attachment and the tinting so it doesn't look like I have a radioactive netherland issue, but I haven't had to do this with the Grandma's Curtains dress. If Grandma knew how hot I looked in her curtains I wouldn't have made it out of the house wearing something like this made out of them. The bodice looks fantastic with the shirring and little bits of lace demurely peeking through. I don't know if women dress for men or other women, it's hard to tell wearing this. I've had compliments from both camps today...even the trolls were talking.





And the shoooooes! I seriously considered plunking down L$ 4,999 or some crazy price for all 12 colors of these Pinup Pumps with gold and/or silver chains, AO walk, bling or no bling, sound or no sound and multiple sizes. I opted for my typical neutral colors but I'm sure if I have a photo shoot that is in dire need of some off-beat color I won't bat an eye at paying for another pair. Good lawd, how much do you spend on just the right picture? *covers her eyes*



Dress - Haute Style & Co. - Grandma's Curtains

Shoes - Stiletto Moody - Pinup Pumps

Bangles - Shiny Things - Ruma

Skin - PXL -Crys SunKissed Fashion Eyes & Natural Lips

Hair - Aden - Annyka

Eyes - Miriel - Eyes - Sepia (Big)

Membership DOES Have Priveledges

Sometimes in managing my measly 25 groups I feel like I'm playing a game of chance. There are some groups you simply can not sacrifice and Stiletto Moody is definitely a keeper.

There is newness coming today at 5:00 this afternoon over at Stiletto Moody shoes. Not only shoes, but lingerie! The sim is closed right now and will open at 5:00 for group members who will be treated to a 40% off sale of previous season stock. You had to have joined the group before today and I'm not sure when the non-members will be able to get into the store for the new releases.

During the sale, wear your group tag, buy the item and you will receive an immediate 40% refund. Another thing I learned during the last stampede, there is a kiosk near the door that will re-send your purchase if it doesn't make it into your inventory immediately. Brilliant.

Stiletto says, "Stiletto Moody Generation 2 (SMG2) is not just a new season, it's an evolution". Here's what we can look forward to in the Fall '08 release:

STILETTO MOODY – TALL BOOT
Introducing a knee-high boot in patent leather and crocodile, with full ranges of both and colour-changing packs. Possibly my most requested item. It’s a boot of the moment with lots of yummy fall browns and large colour range to make it an all-year-round boot. This classic has a ‘Vargas-girl’ inspired shape, with a towering straight-drop heel. You will discover SMG2 features by playing with the menu – Hint - removable accessories, changing stirrup-chain colours.

STILETTO MOODY PINUP
The Pinup is a sexy “high-toe” pump with hidden platform and beautiful deeeep curve heel. The cute little stirrup-maryjane-chain is going to make you smile...trust me. Sensual, elegant, powerful - the cleanest shoe in the range in a whole range of patent colours and colour changing all-in-one set.

STILETTO MOODY d’ORSAY
Drop-dead-sexy pointed strappy heels. Some say until you’ve had a pair of “Fxxx-me red shoes” you haven’t really ‘worn’ high-heels. We call them Lipstick-Red but I think they deliver - wink. Juxtapose elegance with danger by just removing the heel cup chain or toe strap.

MORE - MUCH - MORE
It doesn’t end there. SMG2 is a many weeks launch, with cute little additions tottering out continually to surprise and delight we hope. I’m not going to reveal all but look out for our PYTHON PATENT PINUPS coming next with a brilliant “redstripe” patent. We are creating a whole new generation of exquisite, cutting edge and dramatic Stiletto Moody fashion. I hope we hit the mark.

Let's synchronize our watches and I'll see you at 5:00 tonight at Stiletto Moody Shoes!

Marvelous Malcontent

Our dear, sweet Kit. Who would have thought she had THIS in her design repertoire?! I am a fan of CKS Design for sure, but Domina is my favorite so far. Attention to detail and quite a few options, this outfit is visionary for sure. I'm hoping Kit will add a new department to her store for more of this malcontent-wear that makes misbehaving oh so fashionable. Available late tonight, or early tomorrow, you'll have to add this to your HOT folder in your inventory. You do have folders, right?


The beauty of Second Life is being experimental on so many levels. I'd bore myself into a lather if I wore in SL what I wear in RL every day. Check out the sexy back of this set! The booty shorts blend perfect without compromising the design integrity of the piece. There are nipple and non-nipple version, of course I chose the high-beams. Miss Maitland, you've outdone yourself this week, bravo!


Outfit - CKS Designs - Domina

Shoes - Redgrave - Black Leather Boots

Stockings - Sheer - Black Fishnets

Earrings - Shiny Things - Pyra

Sunglasses - Role Optic - SG-60 Princess

Skin - PXL -Crys SunKissed Smoke Eyes & Ice Lips

Hair - Shop Seu - Pompadour

Eyes - Miriel - Eyes - Sepia (Big)

I Want Your Pants!

Zoe Llewelyn asks us who read the fashion feeds if anyone wants her pants, and I answer with a resounding yes. These rich Brocade Low-Rise Slacks are classic with an edge. I was in total shock that Zoe offers eight colors on both underwear and pants layers for L$ 195. I checked twice to make sure. I definitely would have paid much, much more for these. The rear view is perfection, makes me want to up my workouts in RL.



I started flipping through my inventory and found the ::69:: Succubus Pumps and Sheer's Black Fishnets that were perfect. If you don't own every set of stockings from Sheer, you are certainly missing out. Actually, without a top I looked reeealllly hot, but for blogging modesty I donned Tori Heart's Kala top from Barerose Tokyo in white and tinted it to match my shoes. Okay, you designers that let us modify our purchases, I kiss your face!




Then on to the sim owners that allow build, I also kiss your face. I knew that taking pics at the new Curio sim would complete my theme today. I was able to rez a gaze point and a pose stand to do mah thing.


Pants - Boneflower - Brocade Low-Rise Slacks

Blouse - BareRose Tokyo - From the Kala Outfit

Shoes - ::69:: - Succubus Pumps

Stockings - Sheer - Black Fishnets

Pendant - * Dirty Ego * - Available Soon

Skin - PXL - Dark Eyes & Coffee Lips

Hair - Damselfly - Amaleen

Eyes - Miriel - Eyes - Sepia (Big)

Are You Hot Enough Challenge

This is so hot I had to tell ya'll about it. Lexi Morgan definitely keeps her eye on the prize. She is a virtual machine pumping out new content constantly. I amble over to Stellar Designs when I'm feeling a little feisty and her latest release, Soaking Wet filled my feistyosity for sure. This smexy number comes in a few colors and Lexi says, "normally the tanning oil is worn underneath the clothing layer, but in this case if you would like an extra slick look in your clothes, wear a layer of tanning oil under your clothes layer and over your clothes layer".

I've noticed that photo contests are all the rage lately, and Lexi is offering the goods with the "Are You Hot Enough" ongoing challenge. Take a picture of at least one Stellar Designs offerings, clothes, skins, shoes, jewelry, etc., submit it to the Stellar Designs Flickr Pool, and join the Stellar Designs group in world so Lexi can hunt you down and shower you with prizes. Be sure to check the rules for all the particulars.

Dress - Stellar Designs - Soaking Wet

Bangles - Shiny Things - Ruma Bangles

Skin - PXL - Dark Eyes & Coffee Lips

Hair - Damselfly - Amaleen

Eyes - Miriel - Eyes - Sepia (Big)

Lashes - Cake - Bedroom Lashes