Make It Yours

Doesn't that outfit look so lovely in the picture or on the model? Look, it's complete, with shoes, stockings and a hat!

It's so easy to look beautiful in SL. You can have the shape you want, the curves you want, the hair, the makeup, the skin. Unfortunately, when everyone looks like a Cosmo model, then everyone looks the same. In fashion "same" is boring.

So, spend some time on yourself. (You know you want to.) Decide on your personal look. Feel free to experiment. After all, in what other universe is fashion so cheap? Learn the sliders so you can make those fine adjustments. Mix and match your outfits. Accessorize. Your goal is that if someone saw a picture of your avatar they would instantly recognize it. Try it. It's harder than it looks. If you want help, we offer courses. You're worth it.

After one of our shows, someone came up to me and asked me where I got my skin. She wanted to upgrade her boyfriend. I told her where to go (Second Skin) and what to buy. A week or so later I saw her with her boyfriend. They loved the new skin, but she said to me, "He doesn't look like you." I could only reply, "Isn't that a good thing? You wouldn't want to confuse us would you?"

Second Life is a wonderful place to express the real you. Don't go with the defaults.

A Rainey Day

What better thing to do on a rainy day than go shopping? Rainey Paderborn is a MODA student, who has definitely found her groove. I will never look at Burberry the same way again!

When you have all the Lindens in the world, looking good is easy. The real challenge is not only looking good, but fabulous on a budget!

I put together the following look and have gotten so many compliments and inquiries about it, that I want to share it with you, dear friend and reader. It's one that will take you from business to the club, so you can be out all day without having to change. Although in Second Life changing and freshening up is never the problem it is irl!

The foundation of the outfit is LuhNee Hyun's Burberry dress by Infinite 8, available at SL Exchange for L$49.00! The shape is slimming and flattering and the Burberry Check is instantly recognizable and to die for! It comes with glitch pants and a system skirt so you may want to use poses which won't stretch the material too far! And despite the slimming effect, every woman in SL knows how system skirts make our butts look, so you may want to mod your shape a bit for this…

Since the weather is turning a little cooler (ok, it really isn't but any excuse to accessorize!) I paired Kat Palmer's *IMT* Elizabeth Shrug - Burnt Orange with the dress. There's a very delicate and subtle texture used, as well as flexi prim cuffs. At L$ 60.00 from SL Ex, not only is it a steal, when you consider that you have a to die for look already for L$109.00 it doesn't get better than that!

Matching handbag and shoes were a must for me, and yes, SL Ex continued to provide! Eme Buchanan's JDC - Handbag - Cream Tartan Purse w/ bling, is totally darling and comes with anims and a voice command for bling on and off. Compared to the outfit so far it's more expensive at L$125.00, but we've saved so much money by shopping smart that this little indulgence can be justified!

Good shoes are always key and Tesla Miles has created absolutely must have Sculpted Prim Burberry Super Heels. Coming yet again from SL Ex at L$200.00, the sculptie shoes have a total of 3 prims and the heels are extra high to provide definition to the calves.

So now you have a wonderfully classy outfit, shopped from the comfort of wherever you want to be without flitting from place to place in-world and dealing with lag or failed tp's. You've also done it for less than L$500.00!

To quote the makeover show….how do I look?

I put the outfit together because I heard that the new Gossip Girl sim was a faithful recreation of Manhattan's Upper East Side and I couldn't resist a photo op outside Helen Bernel !

I hope you had as much fun with this as I did, dear friend and reader.
Take care and stay safe, sweetie <3

Details:

Shape: Model's own. I am a professional shape crafter, co owner of To Die For! specializing in high end shapes and custom AV consultation
Skin: Sonia-tan-night by INSOLENCE
Hair: Armidi Hair - The Milano - Blonde
Eyes: Radiant Green lenses by Joannah Cramer
Jewelry: MQ - Chinese Inlaid Jade - White Jade "Love" Set (SLX) by Mezzanine Qi
Nails: FGXN000u(natural gloss) by Second Skin Labs

Miss Diva Style Photoshoot

Noelle Canning is one of MODA's top models. As such she is not eligible for the Miss Diva Style contest. However, she would make a fine spokesperson for Second Skin!

Wandering the gardens outside of Diva Style - to be the location for the upcoming Miss Diva Style Competition Photoshoot. I couldn't resist shooting some pics myself - love love love tulips - my fav flower. Felt like a big kid playing in the fountain. :)

Rip Tides

When you go to the beach, watch out for the rip tides! They will grab you when you least expect it. This force of nature is Noelle Canning, a new MODA model. Her camo themed bikini will knock any guy off his feet. Be ready to sink or swim!

Oh, by the way, Noelle created this pose herself. MODA models do it all!

Outfit

Bikini: Adored Clothing "Reagan Swimsuit"
Shoes: Shiny Things "Kickabout Mules - Soft Flowers"
Skin: Second Skin Labs "PJ-1"
Hair: Gurl6 "Leilani"

A Little Sample

Sometimes when you model you fall in love with the outfit you're given, then modeling is the best job in the world! RedDawn Blade couldn't say enough about this one. This is a little sample from the last MODA Fashion Showcase.

I modeled several interesting outfits and avatars from Isis Desmoulins of Pleiades Design the other day. This outfit is called Dark Angel and consists of two prim attachments that wrap the body and flex and flow with the slightest movement or breeze. It has a very etheral feel that I fell in love with - if only I had more places to wear something so 'light' yet so beautiful.



Outfit: Dark Angel - Pleiades Designs
Hair: Morgan - Gurl 6
Skin: PJ-1 - Second Skin Labs

The Skin I'm In

At modeling school Makeda Cole was full of surprises. It wasn't just that she had a large clothes wardrobe, it was also the way her whole look expressed her mood. She was the first one of us to get a professional gig, the first (as far as I know) to sign with an agency. She's going places! But in this post, she talks about how she started.

The Skin I'm In…

Well, here I am, my first day in SL working hard on creating my character. Finally, I am presentable to enter this SL world I heard so much about from friends in TSO (The SimsOnline). Venturing out, I roamed the land. One day, standing clueless as I did so well, this avatar landed in front of me. Wow, what a fine specimen!

I pushed myself into him trying to get a good look. I was drooling under his shadow in awe of his good looks. Then suddenly, he teleports his woman between us and she is impeccable as well. She is very friendly and they both offer me friendship. He instructs her to give me some education and leaves us to girly talk. She is curvaceous and well endowed. She had it all --the hair, the attitude, the booty, curves in all the right places and the dark skin. Man! I was identifying. She tossed me some clothes and a skin called Malibu. We part and I immediately go to work on my body to acquire that well endowed curvaceous body.

Now I am really looking good until I step in a store. Confusion set in. I had a difficult time deciding what would look good on my avie. I couldn't get past the pencil thin models. They just didn't look like me. Determined, I shopped till that last right click says no more funds and headed back to give my partner a show. The clothes didn't look right on me and the colors were wrong. Well, he loves my full curves, but the outfits he hated and he announces my skin was not what it should be –dark. He knows how I angst over the right skin tone and not being pencil thin or too big. He took a photo of me nude. I gasp and he give me this big ass grin. Just like a man! He is bias! I go into a slump, a identify crisis. He listens and sighs. Tirelessly I hit the stores again. I don't want to be just a clone; I am on a mission to find ME. 2 years later and an inventory full of shapes and skins, I am happy in my body and enjoy dressing it. I have found the middle ground and a nice booty.

I am sure the above is a scenario all too familiar with many first starting out in SL. I have observed avies in various shapes, sizes and skin tones. All are an expression of themselves whether it is fantasy, an imitation of themselves in RL or just the desire to create their own identify. I love it when I see that avie with the thighs, booty has the right amount of curve, full lips with an attitude and dressed to play it all off. I smile and think YOU GO GURL!!

(visit Makeda Cole at http://makedacole.blogspot.com/ or in game at Cole Photography Studio)

Makeda's Clothes

Jewelry: Kitten's Kreations "Diamond Studded Bracelets"

Hair: Calico Creations "Liz"

Shoes: Kitten's Kreations "Double Paw Buckle Boots"

Outfit: Mischief Designs "**Mis** Late for Class"

Second Skin is In!

RedDawn and I are both Second Skin Labs fans. In her words: "I currently wear skins from Second Skin Labs for most occasions. I also wear Gala and X2, along with a very cute skin from Nylon Outfitters when I'm in a playful mood."

My primary skin is Adam from Second Skin Labs, but it isn't a custom skin, like RedDawn's.

The beauty of SL is the extraordinary variety of looks available to you. RedDawn has some excellent advice in her blog about how to go about finding your look.

Skin: Custom skin by Second Skin Labs
Bikini: Namiko Surf Company "Sumatra"
Hair: ETD "The Straight" - part of the Couture Collection

For RedDawn's skin advice, go to: RedDawn's Blog
For Second Skin Labs, go to: Second Skin Labs

Guys - Get Your Nails Done!

Here's a little fashion tip for guys: if you're going to go around bare foot, get your toenails done! Default SL feet aren't that pretty to look at. Go and buy some female tintable toenails and don't add any color. They are sold as socks and cost as little as $75L. They add
definition to your toes and who knows? You might just get a foot massage from that someone special!




Skin: Second Skin Labs "Adam"
Silks: Moonflower Designs "Purple Fur"
Hair: Calico Creations "Calum"