Reviews

Reviews of products we own in SL

On a Wing and a Fae

Jaz Fashion, Reviews

Let’s have a little fun this time around and I will show you how I really look in Second Life. Yes, I am by nature a faerie and most at home wearing my wings. In fact, this first outfit I will show you is what got me into SL. In RL I do 3D artwork, and one day I saw a promo ad for the beautiful Moonlight Melody outfit by Caverna Obscura. My first thought was “Wow, that is as good as the 3D models I am using! I need to go look at that.” I signed up for Second Life, and it was the first outfit I bought… and here I am six years later. 🙂

Now unlike some of my ‘normal’ clothes ensembles, with my fantasy and faerie outfits I tend to mix and match a lot of things… sometimes even maxing out my attachments… but this is more about sharing the faerie look than the parts and pieces.

So let’s start with said Moonlight Melody outfit, which is still my all time favorite. All of these shots were taken in my private garden, and no surprise it was rather designed with faeries in mind. 🙂

When I am feeling really one with my garden I tend to start sprouting flowers. 🙂 In fact this outfit is mostly just… flowers… but then that is not uncommon with outfits from Boudoir, who specialize in elaborate ensembles that are often a floral riot.

Often times it takes a bit of experimentation to find the right combination of components, but when you finally hit upon it the feeling is happy happy. And even better when it can be worn multiple ways; in this instance I am wearing all the parts of the outfit but depending on mood and circumstance various parts can be removed for a more, um, casual look and feel… This particular outfit also holds special meaning for me, with some very happy shared memories a part of it.

When I am looking for a nice contemplative spot, there is nothing better than my little waterwheel! And here I am fluttering in another wonder from Caverna Obscura, called Wisteria Wind. Caverna does such wonderful fantasy outfits!

Come, take my hand and fly with me to my garden, sweet faeries!

A Touch of Magika

Jaz Fashion, Reviews

That would be Magika hair, one of my happy hair places! Today I’d like to show you a selection of their offerings, both long and short, including one of my favorite hair pieces (which you will have seen in some of my previous postings).

Magika used to have a somewhat spread-out and confusing store but this year they moved to new quarters where all the products are in one easier to navigate space. In addition, all of the hair pieces have been combined into fat packs with all of the colors, 120 to be exact, in four included HUDs.

Let’s start with my happy hair, HoneyWhiskey, a nice almost Marilyn Monroe-esque casual style:

Next is a nice sweeping longer style called Never:

And a little big longer still, but with a bit more ‘wind’ look to it, is the Hush style:

And last, a sweet updo with French braid and curled up bun in the back called Meadow:

Time for a trip to the hair stylist! Cheers!

 

 

Far Eastern Flair

Jaz Fashion, Reviews

Waves to my sweet friends as today I give you something different! I am very fond of Asian fashions, both the demure and the more flamboyant. Today’s offering is very much more in the latter category!

So when we talk about out-there Asian style we of course have to start with Bare Rose, a Second Life staple for many years. Anyone who has been to the Bare Rose store, with its giant 20 story walls of outfits, knows that the selection ranges from fantasy to fantastic to… truly out there!

This one. Celestial Taipei, is by no means extravagant in terms of Bare Rose… but still pretty flashy. It is a full mesh outfit in a single size, with flexi in the back. Many of the Bare Rose outfits are system layer, but the newer offerings come in mesh (some say fit mesh but… not so much). The good thing is that the outfits are also relatively cheap, so one can afford to experiment as the ones that do work are often spectacular.

A more recent find of mine has been irrISIStible shop. They have a range of fantasy outfits, all very nice done and some with incredible detailing, like the China Dragon shown here.

It clearly competes with the Bare Rose outfit in the “problem getting through doorways” department… but is sure to impress even when standing still! It comes in five mesh sizes as well as Maitreya, Belleza, and Slink, in four colors with  a texture HUD, and some of the parts are resizable and detachable.

Now for slightly less flamboyant, we can go with Luas and their sexy shorty kimono style Akira outfit which comes in four bright colors. Akira is part of a gacha set but the gacha is in-world at the Luas store. Also, the parts shown here are not the rares, and are available on Marketplace from resellers at reasonable prices.

 

Did I say something about flamboyant? You ain’t seen nuthin’ yet! ShengLong by W-Zero is a gacha outfit too but worth trying to get, as I guarantee you everyone will know you are in the room with this one. In fact it needs more than a picture to show you, so check out this video clip:

This spectacular outfit includes the cloud particle effects surrounding you, as well as the animated dragon swirling around your body. AND were that not enough…

… it includes an animated bento dragon tail in back! So when you are ready to be appropriately revered as an ancient goddess… now you know what to wear!

  • Outfit: ShengLong by W-Zero
  • Hair: Jacqueline ponytail by DragensVarg (part of the Jacqueline-Steampunk-cap-goggles-hair set, Marketplace link)
  • Pose: crossed hands 1 M by Lumipro

Bows discreetly to all my friends (as much as one may bow in some of these outfits…) Cheers!

A’a i ka hula!

Aeon Fashion, LotD, Reviews, Sponsored

Happy Aloha Friday, my friends!  I get to share a beautiful new ti pa’u with you, a traditional hula skirt made from ti leaves.  It’s all in mesh from Island Style Designs!  Leave the grass skirts behind, and please please please let’s not talk about the abomination of coconut bras.  (although you may want to see the note on coconut bras at the end of this older post).   

  • Island Style Designs — Hula Girl mesh hula outfit (Maitreya/Physique fitmesh/standard 5 rigged mesh sizes) (includes mesh ti skirt, white top, hibiscus haku lei with ferns, kukui necklace, plumeria lei, and hibiscus flowers for your ear — all of the items that you see here except for the kupe’e and kakau, the anklets/bracelets and tattoo!)
  • ::*) Charmed (*:: —  plumeria kupe’e (anklet and bracelet) (from Ti-Leaf skirt, 30cm, Pearl)
  • Juna Artistic Tattoo — Haka tattoo woman
  • BellePoses — Hula Baby 6 (mirror) pose (marketplace link) exclusive for the The Avenue

And yes, I know that the haka is Maori in origin, but the tattoo has many common themes across Polynesia… besides, I  like it.

Also, that lovely traditional canoe behind me?  It’s a wa’a kaukahi, a single-hulled canoe with an outrigger.  This lovely one came from Tiki Tattoo, purveyor of lovely island decor.  This is a really lovely piece, and was a gift to me from a dear friend.

This is such a lovely hula outfit.  Nickki at Island Style Designs has really outdone herself!  You’ll definitely see me in this at summer dance events.

A’a i ka hula, waiho i ka maka’u i ka hale!  Dare to dance, leave your shame at home!

Aloha kākou, my friends!  A hui hou!

on the cool breezy dunes…

Aeon Fashion, LotD, Reviews

Aloha kākou!  I’m so sorry I’ve been away and sporadic, hopefully things will get back to normal here over the next week!   Like many of you, I enjoyed the big extravaganza of SL15, and picked up my store credit to Blueberry.  I found something just perfect — the DWL Classic jeans!

The fatpack for these jeans is totally worth it.  There’s a thirteen colour HUD plus exclusive patterns (I love the boho pattern shown — it matches my foil tattoos from Alaska Metro!), and three different jeans cuts – skinny, classic, and boot cut.

The belt from Bellydance Goddess is resizable, and just the perfect addition to this lovely little outfit.

I probably don’t need to tell you, Blueberry is just so hard to beat for quality mesh!

Mahalo!  A hui hou!

A Summer’s Day

Jaz Fashion, Reviews

Hello lovely friends! As promised in a previous entry, I want to share with you some of my favorite items from L & B (Lapointe and Bastchild). All of their offerings feature superb mesh detailing like laces and zippers, and many color options (all of their products are sold as packs only, rather than in single colors).

One of the best of their items is the Aspen Denim Jacket, with an open front and optional knotted t-shirt, with sewn seams, zippers, pockets, buttons and an optional wool collar.

It comes in 10 plain denim colors plus one bonus theme denim choice, 7 inner lining options, 12 wool collar options, 5 jacket hardware choices, and 42 t-shirt options. It is available for fit mesh for Maitreya, Slink & Belleza. Check out the detail in the artwork on this jacket!

One of the areas in which L&B excel is in their leather goods. Here is a wonderfully matched set of the Dita jacket and Keiko pants. I particularly love the pants as you can set different parts of the pants to contrasting or complementary colors. There is also a non-leather version of the pants available too.

The jacket is a cropped length open front that includes sewn seams, zippers, pockets, tassels and buttons, and can be worn with or without the optional wool/fur collar and cuffs. There are 21 Leather options, 4 wool collar options, 6 fur collar options, and 5 jacket hardware choice. It comes as fit mesh for Maitreya, Slink & Belleza.

The pants are finished off with front grommets and lacing (corset style) plus zipper pulls with dangle tassels. The included texture HUD has 22 plain leather colors and 5 zipper metal options. Versions are included for fit mesh for Maitreya, Slink, and Belleza as well as classic avatar fit mesh.

And how could one do a summer piece without a nice pair of shorts? These Dita denim shorts were originally featured at an event and are now available at the in world store. They are finished off with zip tassles and front lacing (corset style). It includes 12 denim textures, 3 theme versions, matching corset lacing, & 5 zipper metal options. It comes as fit mesh for Maitreya, Slink, and Belleza.

The cute hoodie top is cut short to highlight your curves. It may be worn with or without the included Bra Tube Top, which I have omitted here (hey, it’s summer and it’s warm out!) The set comes with 36 plain fabric colors, 6 theme fabric options, 9 hood lining versions, plus 36 Bra Tube Top colors. It comes as fit mesh for Maitreya, Slink, and Belleza.

Let’s go out and play in the sun, dear friends! Cheers!

Sea Breeze

Jaz Fashion, Reviews

Hello lovely ones! I would like to show off two items from Blueberry today that go nicely together: the Bella Knotted Top and the Lila Rolled Cuff Jeans. The Bella top comes in 29 single colors, as well as a fatpack with those solids plus nine floral patterns and nine metallic colors. The metallics are also available in their own mini-pack.

The Lila jeans come in 14 colors plus a fatpack, with two versions, one a smoother bum look and the other with a bit more crease to your cheeks. What sold me on them, however, was that they work perfectly with boots! I am forever trying to find jeans that play nice with boots. And these jeans are nearly as good as my standby, the Tali jeans also from Blueberry. Here I have worn my Faith boots again, with Bella in one of the lighter florals and Lila in a nice light jean shade.

Now one other really cool thing about the Lila jeans, if you get the fatpack, it includes a sweater option around your hips. Not only does this sweater come in 29 colors, in solid or with a choice of a couple of cute phrases; or in nine metallic colors; but you also have an option to write your own text on it! So of course I added “Graduate Jazzy, U of Fae” since I am by nature a faerie (you just have not seen it in the blog yet!)

And then the sun starts to set, and thoughts turn to that evening party on the sand, fire pit alight and good friends around…  You think about that special someone who might come and snuggle in your lap in this chair…

Come share my sunset, sweet friends! Cheers!

Comfy Casual

Jaz Fashion, Reviews

Hello my lovelies! Today I’d like to show you a wonderfully versatile jacket/dress combo outfit from Adorsy called Natasha. Just the jacket by itself is nicely tailored, with a little hanging belt and trim pieces. On top of that, though, it includes a dress that you can turn on or off, and a pair of panties that can be turned on and off as well.

It comes in seven single colors put it is the fatpack that really shines, with 30 colors for the coat, 40 colors for the dress, 30 colors for the panties/belt/pockets, 40 colors for the collars including 10 fur options, and 5 button options and 2 metals. There is also a loose version included for more flexibility with other clothes.

Here I have the jacket in a dark blue with a lovely flower print for the dress, matched up with a pair of starry leggings from Alaska Metro. The jacket allows separate color selections for the collar, the belt, and the pockets/sleeve trim, though I made them all light blue in this shot.

If you’d like a more upscale city look, here is Natasha with a white jacket and a dark blue dress and trim pieces.

For a lighter look, here I’ve gone with a pale shade for the jacket with an ombre dress selection.

Until next time my sweet friends! Cheers!

Happy Summer Days!

Aeon Events, Fashion, LotD, Reviews

A few little happies to share with you this beautiful Friday!  First up, Happy Summer Days is a gorgeous little dress from Miss Jones.  It’s currently featured on the Pleaseblossom path of the Midsummer Night’s Dream 9 Hunt!

OMG, I think it landed on my head!  The Aloha headpiece is a bright and cheery headpiece from Astralia that a friend found and just had to get for me.  It features a lovely HUD with a few colour choices for flowers and the bird.  

Happy Summer Days comes with an amazing HUD.  I tried to count, and I think that there are 37 solid colours you can choose from, and another 37 different patterned textures.  I might be off one in each column, so figure somewhere between 72 and 76  colour/pattern choices for you!  Your biggest problem will be choosing your favourite!

Just when you think that you’ve come to the end of the path…. the world opens up in front of you.

Have a wonderful Friday, a wonderful weekend my friends!  Stay cool out in the summer heat, or stay warm in the winter chill, and know that you are special and bright.

Mahalo!  A hui hou!

 

A Time for Elegance

Jaz Fashion, Reviews

Every now and then a girl needs to dress up a little bit… and with elegant and flowing style. Today I’d like to show you a selection from my gown wardrobe, something for any particular formal event.

Let’s look first at the Bianca gown from FlowerDreams, available in seven colors. It includes top and bottom layers for the popular mesh bodies as well as Omega, and lots of lovely flowy prim bits as well. Perfect for when you’re feeling a little bit of the fairy tale in you!

Now how about those nights when you want to glitter a little bit? Maybe even be a little daring? Then baii maii has just the thing for you in the 218 Glitter Gown with fits for the major mesh bodies. You’ll be hard pressed to know whether onlookers are more dazzled by the flashy dress or by your skin peeking through! Hint: the texture is materials enabled, and if you add a little light to yourself it looks absolutely amazing!

  • Dress: 218 Glitter Gown by baii maii (Marketplace link)
  • Shoes: Astrid Ankle Boots by KC
  • Jewelry: Diamond Lotus Gold Necklace by Exquisite; Butterfly Pink bracelet by Silvery K ; and Moonlight Arm Cuff by Real Evil
  • Hair: Vanilla A and Venezia A by eXxEsS
  • Pose: Finnley Series Four by an lar

Looking for something a bit classier? Returning to FlowerDreams we have the Leah gown, also a bit daring but in an elegant way, with top and sides revealing one’s form. A bit of carefully placed hair in case you aren’t *quite* that daring… Leah is also available in seven colors, with appliers for the the major mesh bodies and Omega.

And finally, this week a two-fer: both black and red versions of the same gown, worn by me and my lovely Kie during a formal dance. This is Irina from Utopia, with the amazing detailing that only Utopia can bring. It’s available in seven colors with appliers for the major mesh bodies and Omega. Here the open back makes a nice frame for a detailed phoenix tattoo from U-Design.

That’s it for this round, my sweet friends! Cheers!