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One of my two favorite time of year in Second Life has arrived.  It’s Hair Fair time, when we fight insane amounts of avatars in the quest to fill our Inventories with lovely new hairstyles.  I’ve already worked through one region, and am planning on finding a box again tonight and trying to hit the next.

Whimsy Winx has written an excellent article at the official HF blog on how you can reduce your lag, which is similar to the one I reblogged recently.  Please go and read one or the other, and take the advice.  It may make for a far less interesting visual experience, but it will improve your shopping experience tremendously.  As for myself, I did some pre-shopping by joining the Hair Fair Demos group and receiving a mess of boxes of demos, most of which I tried on.  It gave me a sense of what to prepare my budget for, though there’s always something else.  And I followed the advice myself, dressing very conservatively before working my way into a chink in the sim population.

What you see above isn’t the ultimate in festival dressing; you can get yourself down to just 1 ARC by putting on a “system leotard,” which can be as simple as a cunningly created skin, and going bald, as I did a few years ago during the “Candy Land” Hair Fair.  The picture above comes very close, though, with only the simple sandals tipping the scale over to a still-green 365 ARC.  Frankly, since I rode around on one of the boxes left for use by the organizers for edit-flying, I could drop the sandals as well; after all, I wasn’t going to even get any virtual sand from the beach-themed pathways in my shoes.  Doing that, wearing only primless system-level clothing and a tattoo-layer hairbase, the ARC can be 100 or less, unless you move.  I left my AO off as well; what little walking I did was duck-walking, but it was for a good cause.

Remember to be at least a little loose with your wallets when you shop at these events.  The Accessory Fair in June was for the Relay for Life; as is traditional for Hair Fair, contributions (either direct or in the form of cuts on purchases) will go to purchase wigs for children with hair-loss problems, often through disease or chemotherapy.  The full details can be found at Wigs for Kids, the organization receiving the donated money.

List of SLurls

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Especially when you are wearing a longer style.  Like this one, which I found while I was cleaning Inventory tonight:

I won’t name it, and there’s no real need to, as the phenomenon can’t be helped.  If you’re gonna wear hair that long, and your head sways from neutral — as most heads will if you wear an AO — you, too, will suffer from occasional Hairy Boob Syndrome.

However, there is hope!  Virtual scientists and researchers are even now working on a cure.  I am accepting donations to further the good work in this quest.  Minimum donations of L$10,000 may be sent to my treasurer, Irving Lipschwitz, care of Jackson State Penitentiary.  (Or is that the state prison in Starke?  They keep moving him.)

(Chuckle)

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I’ve been sorting through my Inventory in odd moments lately, partly to just clear out over three years of deadwood, demos and Stuff I Can’t Believe I Bought.  But it was also to find things I’d lost or forgotten about.  And I have been successful.

The backward horns you see on my head in the above are not horns; they are my hair — well, as much as anything is really my hair in Second Life.  But it’s one of the earliest wigs I still own, and one of my most prized — Covet by Sinsation. You all know my love for wild hair if you’re long-time readers of this blog. Well, Sinnocent Mirabeau, now CallaLily Munster, was one of the reasons I started going for the wilder styles. Her old store, sadly now closed for a year or so, had some of the most amazing hairstyles I’ve ever seen, and the ones I own are prized keepsakes.  Sinny took the idea of looped braids here in Covet, and basically set off a stick of dynamite in each braid, while containing the explosion inside a set of hoops.  To some, it looks like I’m wearing three old tires on my head; to me and to all True Coiffuristas, the effect is fantastic and exotic.

There is one small drawback, though, that comes when I’m sitting in something like a conversation pit, as I was at the University of South Denmark:

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It isn’t often I write about something that’s just been released.  But, after getting the notice from Sascha’s Designs and stopping in to look at it — and also spending some very nice time chatting with Sascha Frangilli and a pair of Dutch visitors — I decided that this was so good that it was definitely worth talking about.  The only trick was what hair to wear with the magnificent jacket.

Doesn’t look like much here, does it, if you focus on just the blue undershirt and the white pants?  (In this color choice, there’s also a pink top; but I favor red hair, as you know.)  It’s the dressy jacket that makes this iteration of the outfit so nice — one of the nicest dress jackets I’ve seen yet in my fashion history in world.

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Anika went over the lacings of her light lorica vest and trews again, making sure all the knots were tight and the tag ends were tucked in.  She wished she could remove the skirt she had worn in town as a deference to people’s more narrow-minded sensibilities, but the judges had insisted she fight this stupid duel as she was.  Trying to keep from tripping over the hem of her skirt was liable to be a distraction, and when you were in a fight, the fewer things distracting you or falling off you, the better.

Her father, a mercenary turned weaponsmaster, had drilled that into her when she begged him to teach her the ways of the sword.  It had taken her long months to convince him; he had told her straight out of the gate that the life of a mercenary sell-sword was a hard one, and a dangerous and often short one as well.  But Anika had begged and wheedled, and proved her determination by doing every smelly, discipline-requiring job Petron had thrown at her to dissuade her and wear her down.  When she stood in front of him, smelling of five days of stable leavings without complaining once, holding herself at attention despite a bone-deep desire to drop and fall asleep, Petron had sighed — but with a light of pride in his eyes that his daughter could see clearly — and told her to get bathed and eat.  Her first lesson would be the next morning.

That had been seventeen years ago.  Petron had taught her everything he knew about fighting and weapons in eight of those years.  The rest had been spent traveling as a freelance mercenary, slowly earning a reputation with clients and the Mercenaries’ Guild as one of the youngest, ablest sell-swords in the country of Lyritea.  She kept enough banked with the Mercs that she could choose the jobs she accepted now instead of having to take anything offered her.  And in all her working time, she had managed to keep her nose clean, never get in trouble with city guards, clients or clients’ husbands — or lovers — and never, never with nobles….

Until today, when she had walked by the shrine of Nelagha, a god or saint or something she had never even heard of before in a city near the borders, and had apparently failed to salute the statue resting beneath the stone archway.  Now here she was, gearing up for a judicial duel in the ring behind the courthouse.  And, judging by the swirling field of energy that made up the “floor” of the ring, it probably wouldn’t be an easy one.  Anika had heard about some towns in Lyritea’s southern border regions that were more influenced by the magic-bound traditions of the neighboring country than by the ways of Crown City, and this appeared to be one of them.  Swallowing her nervousness, she stepped down through the gate of the arena, which clanged shut behind her with finality, and started scouting around for her opponent’s entry….

I did a little scrounging around through the recent Fantasy Faire, and discovered this warrior outfit that was both fetching and potentially practical. Just remove a few extra prims -- which Anika has not been allowed to do here -- and you are all set to go into battle.

She didn’t have long to wait.  No more than a minute later, the gate on the opposite side of the catha opened to reveal a bearded man in the blue and silver livery of the city courts.  His hands glowed faintly as he bowed in ceremonial greeting.  She returned the bow, having little choice but to go through with the fight, and yanked her long sword from the scabbard on her hip.  Petron’s parting gift to her on her leaving home, he had sworn that this blade would cut down on problems with wizards and sorceresses.  It was time to see just how much those words would hold up….

The sword is a prop katana that can be worn or held in your hand in "warrior ready" pose. A simple HUD controls the pose.

She had time to pull the sword up into a ready position; and then the mage was throwing a ball of lightning-fire at her.  Reflexively, she swung at the stuff — and was mildly shocked to see the ball split in two and crackle into nothingness.  Anika smiled slightly then; this was going to be a more equal battle than she had feared.  As for the mage, she saw him goggling at her, then moving his hands as he readied another spell.  Taking no chances, she dodged behind the tall monument in the center of the ring, considering how to lure him around to where she could close the battle to where a blade would count more than slung spells….

The leather is textured with a Celtic-knot pattern, which extends even to the palms of my gloves. A nice effect!

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The details:

• Skin:  PXL Candy SK SE, light eyebrows
• Eyes:  Poetic sapphire eyes, gold flakes
• Lashes:  LeLutka Photoshoot II
• Hair:  Calico Ingmann Creations Temira (Burnt Copper, scripted)
• Clothes:  MysticHope Anfaela Brown
• Boots:  *RD* unisex tall leather boots
• Jewelry:  EarthStones Crystal Elements suite (earth/gold — necklace 2 in the necklace pack)
• Other:  Hanzo Blades Imperial Fury katana – hip sheathed

Photographed in Avilion Nexus combat sim — teleport to sim (in costume, as this is an RP sim) and go to magician’s dueling arena

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I’m comin’ up so you better get this party started
I’m comin’ up so you better get this party started

Morning breaks over the Cafe du Monde in One Quarter French, but I'm still ready to party in this cocktail frock from Osakki, called Chained.

Get this party started on a Saturday night
Everybody’s waiting for me to arrive
Sendin’ out the message to all of my friends
We’ll be looking flashy in my Mercedes Benz
I got lot of style, check my gold diamond rings
I can go for miles if you know what I mean
I’m comin’ up so you better get this party started
I’m comin’ up so you better get this party started

I discovered this clothing store in the same region as the main store for Rozoregalia. The short, poufy skirt is decorated with gold chains, and flaps of gold lamé on the side, throwing flash and shine about you as you move.

Pumping up the volume, breaking down to the beat
Cruisin’ through the west side
We’ll be checkin’ the scene
Boulevard is freakin’ as I’m comin’ up fast
I’ll be burnin’ rubber, you’ll be kissin’ my ass
Pull up to the bumper, get out of the car
License plate says Stunner #1 Superstar
I’m comin’ up so you better get this party started
I’m comin’ up so you better get this party started

If you're going to wear the hat that comes along with the dress, make sure you have on a bob hairdo. I found this old classic from W & Y (their Model 25, scripted for all colors).

Making my connection as I enter the room
Everybody’s chilling as I set up the groove
Pumpin’ up the volume with this brand new beat
Everybody’s dancing and they’re dancing for me
I’m your operator, you can call anytime
I’ll be your connection to the party line

I’m comin’ up so you better get this party started
I’m comin’ up so you better get this party started

Lyrics:  “Get the Party Started” by Pink

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The details:

• Skin: PXL Candy SK SE light eyebrows
• Eyes: Glam Affair Stella Eyes 03
• Hair: W&Y Model 25 “AllColor”
• Nails: Candy #P000 Basic prim nails (Red08)
• Dress: Osakki Chained party dress
• Shoes: Baiastice Bow-back Ankle Boots
• Left bracelet: Finesmith Moroccan Bracelet
• Right bracelet: Shade Throne The Black Rider bracelet
• Earrings: Dahlinks Stage & Screen diamond/gold studs

Sky settings:  Torley’s Sunset Oriental Delight 2

Photographed at One Quarter French region

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I agree with Cajsa in her article here; anyone who doesn’t admit to mistakes in their photography in world, especially fashion photography, is either impossibly perfect, or they aren’t going over their work very well. It’s all a learning curve, one that all of us, including myself, are still traveling. But Cajsa suggests ways here that you can shorten the curve’s slope, at least in part.

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Talk to any Second Life® photographer or blogger and they will confess to committing multiple mistakes. Anyone who says otherwise is either annoyingly perfect or blindingly unobservant. Just the other day I had to reshoot my entire blog post because I left the camera set to show the User Interface – an elementary error that could have been prevented with a simple checklist. I notice simple errors in others’ photos as well. A prim is missing from … Read More

via It’s Only Fashion

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Many of us already know these basic editing techniques; but there are many newbies coming along looking for advice, and so the more publicity such information gets, the better. Besides, it’s a great dress!

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I am wearing the Carmen dress from Kunglers for Fashion For Life. It’s clear it’s inspiration comes from the fiery Carmen of Bizet’s opera. Carmen is an opera filled with catchy tunes that you will find yourself humming for days. The music is beautiful and makes it easy to forget what a misogynistic story it is. It’s all too familiar. A man who cannot accept that the woman he loves does not love him decides that if he can’t have her, no one will, … Read More

via It’s Only Fashion

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I always like to do a casual and formal shoot for Saint Patrick’s Day, one of the lovely holidays in world.  This year, besides the computer needing replacing, RL work and home has kept me hopping, and I haven’t been able to do many things I wanted to do.  But I did manage to squeeze in a few fast photos of this beautiful gown very early yesterday….

The dress is from PurpleMoon, and is called Serafina.  It also has a large production-show skirt that I didn’t take the time to fiddle with, but is still beautiful.  For me, this skirt is enough, along with the lovely high collar behind my head.  (I have a thing for dragon-wing collars, I guess….)  The collar is removable, of course, as is the excellent orchid-bloom detail on the breast; but who would want to do away with such niceties?  I used for hair an old ‘do from Sinsation — yes, Sinnocent Mirabeau did do some sane hairstyles during her time in world, and this is one of my nicest short bobs.  Along with this is a new eyeshadow from Miamai, one of their usual package of five at a time.

The jewelry suite of necklace and earrings came, I believe, from last year’s Jewelry Fair; it is by RH Engel, and this is the first time I’ve worn them. (Gotta clean out that inventory sometime…!)  I matched this with….

…a beautiful emerald bracelet from EarthStones, and a big, splashy, Art Deco-like cocktail ring.  Erin go bragh!!

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The details:

• Eyes: Poetic Colors sapphire, gold flakes
• Makeup: Miamai XGen Makeup Lash ‘n Liner (teal, no hair base)
• Hair: Sinsation Emma (no longer available)
• Nails: Candy #P000 Basic (green)
• Gown: PurpleMoon Serafina (emerald, flexi skirt)
• Shoes: Armidi Gisaci Barcelona slingback pumps (seagrass)
• Jewelry: Earthstones Envision bracelet (gold/emeralds); Chop Zuey Couture Jewellery
  Voices of Earth ring (gold/emeralds/pave diamonds); RH Engel Lumiere necklace and earrings (gold/emeralds)

Photos taken at my Secret (Public) Photo Studio at Harper’s Fine Art and Photography

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By now, the announcements of the nominees for the top categories of the 2011 Academy Awards will have been made (at an ungodly hour for the people making the announcements, but there’s the way it is now).  Which means that it’s time for what may begin to qualify as an annual tradition:  Around the Grid‘s Oscar Photo Contest.

The contest groups are now open for submissions, and the prize pool is in escrow (so to speak).  I ask the question again:  if you became one of the lucky ones to make the walk up the red carpet into the Kodak Theater in about a month, with your name up there as a nominee, what would you wear?  How would you show off your “Oscar chops”?  (Or those of your stylist (grin)?)  For those considered outstanding in their evening couture and artistic portrayal, there shall be (15 minutes) of fame, (a tiny bit of) fortune (for Second Life Residents only), and hopefully fun in playing the game.

The rules follow the break —