Silent Valentine?

You do not need to be loved, not at the cost of yourself. Of all the people you will know in the lifetime, you are the only one you will never leave or lose.

[Jo Coudert]

Valentine flowers, Valentine cards, Valentine cookies, Valentine this and Valentine that… every where you go, you get it rubbed right in your face wether you like it or not…

But what is with those people who would like to avoid Valentine’s da?

Maybe someone lost a beloved person and does not want to get reminded?

Maybe someone had a bad experience on Valentine’s day and tries to forget?

Maybe some people believe, that Valentine’s day only was made for the retail and do not want to support that?

What ever reason people have, I think that everyone should be able to make their own decisions about if they want to celebrate Valentine’s day or not.

I do not needΒ  a special day to tell those I love how much I love them and I would not just do that on one special day. If I want to make my partner a little present, I do that on any day and as often as I want during the year. Sometimes it is just a little thing, maybe candy or something I saw and thought he would like it,Β  just a gesture or maybe just spend some precious time together. I even think it is the many little things that really show how much you do love someone else and not a huge present on a special day, that you are told by the calendar.

That brought me to today’s post as I wanted to do something different for Valentine’s day, but as well keep the typical red color πŸ˜‰

So many new events started and so many new amazing creations got released, I really had a hard time to decide what I would like to wear and use for todays pictures. I ended up with a huge mix and match for my look and as well for the set.

For the outfit I chose a combination of the new “Diana” outfit from [sYs] and a new lingerie from La Perla. You certainly can wear “Diana” without a lingerie underneath but I thought it does give a nice romantic contrast to do so πŸ˜‰

The awesome bracelets and the very special mask, I found at ROMP. When I tried the “Blinded” mask from Cubic Cherry, it immediately added a very intensive feeling to the whole look. With the metal look and the shaped eye contour, it did remind me on that old Roman theater masks.

The head piece is an art piece itself. It was made by LouLou Teichmann, owner and designer of Bauhaus Movement, and with the amazing details and the super sweet look, it made the perfect contrast to the mask.

I would like to drag your attention onto the hair a little more. Recently I discovered a new hair store. I am super picky with hair, especially with the textures, but when I tried my first Sintiklia Hair I was totally amazed. Not only the textures are awesome, Sintiklia has an amazing way how they create their hair at the base. You do not really need a hairbase with the way they do their end parts that meet the head and there is NO alpha issues at all! On many of their hair styles, they even include a style HUD, so that you can change the look of it and get more than one style with your hair. With the “Salma” hair, that I found at ROMP, you get a style HUD that gives you the possibility of 4 different ways how you can wear your hair! And usually you find a mirrored possibility if you have wisps of hair coming down at the front. So often I was cursing when the pose was not cooperation with my hair and I wished I would have had such an option to just change the side of the wisps. As if that would not be already awesome enough, with many of the Sintiklia hair you will get – besides the usual color HUDs – a tint color picker add-on HUD. With that you even can work on the shades of a certain color to match it perfectly to your skin and as well your look! You really should try some of their demos and see for yourself – I only can highly recommend it!

Another part of my post, which I would like to spotlight a little bit, is the sweet looking ‘daybed’ – if you call those things like that. It is a little stool with sweet ribbons and cute ruffles, that comes with many different textures. On the first view you would never believe what is behind that “cute mask” if you do not realize the little metal rings that are added to all the ribbons! Maybe you will get rough idea, if I tell you that the “Boudoir Bondage Stool” was made by Dictatorshop… ok the name might discover something already as well :p

This sweet little furniture you might imagine in a sweet girls room until you sat on it – and if you are a dork like me you enabled your RLV before as it said something about RLV and capture yourself on it *facepalms* It has a full ‘Dictatorshop known’ engine for all kind of couples and solos and for some poses it does even rezz cuffs and chains! What I liked most, you can pose solo in a non kinky way as well as you can roleplay all kind of scenes with it – private ones, which I resisted making picture of :p You still can get it, if you get you an actual Bound Box with a lot of other goodies in it at the Bound Box HQ!

I hope you enjoyed my little ‘different’ interpretation of my personal Valentine today πŸ˜‰

Happy Valentine’s for all who celebrate it and happy shopping!

Details

Outfit & Accessories:

Outfit: [sYs] – “Diane” (Maitreya) – NEW @ Kinky

Lingerie: {La Perla} – “Bela Ensemble” (Maitreya Applier) – NEW @ Enchantment

Shoes: UTOPIA@Design – “Kaliska” (Maitreya)

Mask: [Cubic Cherry] – “Blinded” – NEW @ ROMP

Headpiece: Bauhaus Movement – “Grimhilde Headpiece”

Necklace: [ abrasive ] – “Romance Necklace” – NEW @ Enchantment

Bracelets: NOIR – “Sophia Bracelets” – NEW @ ROMP

Rings: Meva – “Bento Maitreya Rings Gold” (Maitreya, Bento)

Hair & Makeup:

Hair: Sintiklia – “Salma” – NEW @ ROMP

Body & Tattoos:

Head: LeLutka – “Simone 3.0”

Body: Maitreya – “Lara 4,1”

Face: Izzie’s – “Pores & Blemishes” (LeLutka Applier)

Tattoo: Redfish – “Beast Tattoo” (Maitreya Applier) – NEW @ Enchantment

Set:

Stool: Dictatorshop – “Boudoir Bondage Stool” – NEW @ Bound Box

Cage: Ama & Nais – “Box Cage” – NEW @ ROMP

Table & Deco: <Heart Homes> – “The Rose Silver Table” & “The Enchanted Rose Red” – NEW @ Enchantment

Wall Art:Β Atelier Visconti – “Vincent Wall Art”

Lamp: Trompe Loeil – “Wiggle Modern Light” (Gacha)

Chains: [Arch] Deco – “Box of Chains”

Model & Photographer:

Wicca Merlin

 

 

 

Those Moments…

Sometimes you have something in mind and as much as you try… it won’t look like you first wanted it.

Do you know that feeling? You built a wonderful set, you had all kind of poses in mind to bring your set and vision alive and what ever you try it looks wrong?

Exactly that happened to me today. I was fooling around over 3 hours, stubborn about my first idea and anyways what I tried – pushing furniture around, changing poses, twisting poses and even make poses – nothing worked…

So I gave up on the first idea and since I anyways love playing with poses, I went into my Poseidon poses folder and started going through them. The dress (like dresses always do) limited the possibilities lightly because of the legs movement, but the more I played with them the more I got new courage and new ideas about how todays pictures should look like. I trashed my set and just played with poses, windlights and shadows.

Today my style was based off the amazing “Rihanna” boots from [Gos].

“Step into Rihanna, a sky-high thigh high boot featuring perforation detailed accented by a metal-capped square toe and sculpted-metal stiletto heel.
Rihanna is available in 3 colour HUDs – Boutique, Blueberry, and Metallics – each sold separately or as a collection. The Boutique HUD includes 16 current, in-season colours perfect for any fashionista, the Blueberry HUD includes 20 colours which coordinate with clothing from Blueberry, and the Metallics HUD include 7 metallics which will have your feet shining. Each HUD also includes 5 sole and 3 metal options.” Gospel Voom states and he is not exaggerating!

The boots are skin tight and with the perforation something very special. It as well shows how accurate the boots are made and rigged as you cannot alpha out anything!

The cool dress with the amazing chained bottom part was made by [sYs]. You can have many different colors but since I am a black addicted – I went for black πŸ˜‰

The awesome face decoration I found at Zibska. I adore her for her special sense of art. In every of her designs you see, what a skilled artist she is. Her items are never boring mainstream and always when I use her creations for a style it adds so much character and attitude. The eye decoration I really had to get, when I saw it as it reminded me of seeing many different shades of one thing if you look through all those parts or the imagination of how many you can see in one thing only.

So even if I trashed my set today I hope you nevertheless had fun with my look πŸ˜‰

Details

Outfit & Accessories:

Dress: [sYs] – “Ano” (Maitreya)

Shoes: [Gos] – “Rihanna Perforated Boots” (Maitreya)

Gloves: L’Emporio – “Fingerless Gloves” (Maitreya)

Arm Straps right: L’Emporio – “Harness Arm” (Maitreya)

Collar: NOIR – “Mallory Choker”

Fingernails & Rings: Slipper – “Deidra” (Maitreya)

Facedeco: Zibska – “Pari” (with LeLutka Applier)

Hair & Makeup:

Hair: Exile – “Windsong”

Makeup: Zibska – “Razmig”

Body & Tattoos:

Head: LeLutka – “Simone 3.0”

Body: Maitreya – “Lara 4.1”

Tattoo: Ivory & Rose – “Alexandrina” (Maitreya Applier)

Face: Izzie’s – “Pores & Blemishes” (LeLutka Applier)

Poses & Props:

Poses: Poseidon

Model & Photographer:

Wicca Merlin

I can, therefore I am!

 

I can, therefore I am!

[Simone Weil]

I already admitted, that I am a boots addicted, especially when it comes to overknee, thigh-high boots πŸ˜‰

So it was a given, when I saw the “Monza” boots from [Gos], I had to make pictures with them!

[Gos] – “Monza” – Boutique HUD

This thigh high, stiletto-heeled boot features slouched leather, cinched with a wide buckled belt at the top.

The Monza Belted Boots are available in 2 colour HUDs – Boutique and Blueberry. The Boutique HUD includes 16 current, in-season colors perfect for any fashionista and the Blueberry HUD includes 20 colors which coordinate with clothing from Blueberry. Each HUD also includes 5 sole and 3 metal options.

The purchase includes sizes for Lara, Isis, Hourglass, Physique (high foot).

With the 2 closeups I at least wanted to try to capture the amazing color pallet that comes with the “Monza” boots.

[Gos] – “Monza” – Blueberry HUD

For the outfit, I chose one of the latest releases from [sYs]. The “Amirale” coatdress is a perfect outfit for the actual season, plus it really does make a statement. You can style it in many different ways from casual to heavy and industrial like I did it for this post. I loved how both designs, the boots and the outfit are made with materials enabled and reacted amazing to all the light sources around me. You get 4 different colors to choose from, but since I am a black addicted, I certainly had to use black and with the red collar and front button line πŸ˜‰

The “Amirale” coatdress is available at The Project Se7en in sizes for Maitreya, Belleza, Slink, eBody and TMP.

Details

Outfit & Accessories:

Outfit: [sYs] – “Amirale” (Maitreya) – NEW @ The Project Se7en

Boots: [Gos] – “Monza” (Maitreya) – NEW @ Fameshed

Nails: Slackgirl – “Catarina” (Maitreya, Bento)

Hair & Makeup:

Hair: EMO-tions – “Dessia” (color modified)

Makeup: Zibska – “Noir Pack 06” (LeLutka Applier)

Lipstick: [LB Lips] – “Eve Set 1” (LeLutka Applier)

Body & Tattoos:

Head: LeLutka – “Simone 3.0”

Body: Maitreya – “Lara 4.1”

Face: Izzie’s – “Pores & Blemishes” (LeLutka Applier)

Poses & Props:

Poses: Slouch Poses (store closed)

Background: anxiety – “%rule#1”

Model & Photographer:

Wicca Merlin

Vintage Impressions

Recently I got asked, if I do set myself any kind of styling challenges, because I have so many different looks on my blog. No I don’t! :p

Usually I get my ideas in the very moment when I put on clothing or accessories. Sometimes it evenΒ  starts with a completely different idea and turns into the opposite in the end. Like today, when I put on the new “Sasha” outfit from LX Essentials. “Sasha” is a cute and sweet ensemble of a solid skirt and a beautiful laced top. With the HUD you can change the sold AND the lace colors! First I had a lingerie or sweet casual style in mind and even was playing with the color HUD between pink and red.

While I was looking for the matching accessories, I stumbled over one of the newest releases from Enfant Terrible. The “Large Fur” is an amazing rigged fur piece, which goes down from the left shoulder to the bottom, only the hand is visible. Because it is rigged, it moves perfectly with an inbuilt pose for the arm with your AO and poses.

As soon as I saw the outfit together with the large fur attachment, I pulled back up the HUD for the outfit and changes the color to something black and cream to match the fur. From there on the vintage impression was set. I wanted to have some more fur around the neck and found another, for Maitreya body rigged, fur from Enfant Terrible.

 

I think it must be really hard to make fur for Second Life. Most you see is either blurry, has alpha glitches or it looks like many little sharp triangles added up. You rarely find some real cool and realistic looking fur with most of the mesh items. But rarely you get the impression of something really smooth and fuzzy but LeEnfant Terrible, owner and creator of Enfant Terrible, really did an amazing job with her fur!

For the shoes I used the “Smilla” heels from UTOPIA@Design, With the awesome HUD it was relatively easy to match them to the tones of the outfit and the way how this amazing peep-toes are made even the style looked perfect vintage. Besides all the colors and presets you even can control the glossiness with the HUD and decide if you want a more latex shinny look or a more matte leather looking one… really amazing and so versatile!

An elegant – never thought I would call me that – vintage Lady certainly needs a head and certain accessories and what hat could fit better than the “Vintage Romance” one from LODE – The name already proves. I will turn around for the next picture so you can see all is beauty πŸ˜‰

So all I had left to add was some jewelry – certainly some ivory pearls – and a long vintage cigarette holder πŸ˜‰

Lately I more and more try to built my own sceneries, as it takes me ages until I find a place or sim where I can shoot or even rezz a posestand, plus you have way more control how busy your background will be if you not wanna spend hours to derender everything around you what you think you will not need and relog like a million times because you derendered the wrong thing or too much of something πŸ˜‰

The basic mostly are 2 prims that I use to texture them with wallpaper and floor textures, so I can start building a room/set.

Since I had no idea what I was looking for I just typed vintage into my inventory search and looked what came up. That was how I found that amazing little set from Tuesdays with the table and the frames. After I rezzed it, I saw I do not need much more than just some little decor and maybe a few light resources. Sometimes it does not need much to have a proper scenery if you want to showcase mainly your style.

Details

Outfit & Accessories:

Outfit: *LX* Essentials – “Sasha” (Maitreya) – NEW

Fur 1: Enfant Terrible – “Large Fur” (rigged) – NEW

Fur 2: Enfant Terrible – “Winter Fur” (Maitreya)

Shoes: UTOPIA@Design – “Smilla” (Maitreya)

Gloves: .:Avanti:. – “Tessa” (Maitreya Applier)

Stockings: AviCandy – “Vintage Hosiery Collection” (Maitreya Applier)

Hat: LODE – “Vintage Romance”

Earrings: *C:K* – “Simple Pearl Earring”

Collar & Bracelets: SECRETS – “Pearl Jewel Set”

Rings: Slipper – “Cadence Rings” (Maitreya, Bento)

Cigarette: [ht:apparel] – “Cigarette Holder”

Hair & Makeup:

Hair: EMO-tions – “Tragedy”

Makeup: Slackgirl – “Rose Gem Shadow” (Omega Applier)

Lips: alaskametro<3 – “Fey” (LeLutka Applier)

Body & Tattoos:

Head: LeLutka – “Simone 3.0”

Body: Maitreya – “Lara 4.1”

Face: Izzie’s – “Pores & Blemishes” (LeLutka Applier)

Poses & Props:

Poses: Foxcity

Props:

Table & Frames: ..TUESDAYS.. – “Vintage Whimsy Decor”

Chair: GizzA – “Vintage Wedding / Victorian Chair”

Candle: *HEXtraordinary* – “Reindeer Antler Candle”

Decor: {anc} – “mannequin. vintage” (Gacha)

Spots: Poisoned Diamond – “Theater Lamp”

Model & Photographer:

Wicca Merlin

Wiccattitude with HelaMiyo!

Pose: HelaMiyo – “Wiccattitude” set

When I saw HelaMiyo has a “Wiccattitude” pose set.. certainly I had to play with it and make some pictures πŸ˜‰

If you like the more edgy and unusual posesΒ  and as well love the option of a mirrored version of your pose… then you should take a closer look at HelaMiyo. I got one of my first picture pose set from HelaMiyo and since back then Miyoko Magic never disappointed with new and exciting pose sets!

Pose: HelaMiyo – “Wiccattitude” set

It is always exciting and as well a huge honor if you have products named after you in Second Life, and when Miyoko Magic – owner and designer of HelaMiyo – even mentioned she thought about me when she was trying to find a name for her new pose set, I was completely blown away and certainly had to make a post about it πŸ˜‰

Like I mentioned before, mostly we all use poses for each and every picture we do. We kinda see poses as matter of course and rarely think about all the work and effort each single pose needs to become real for SL. I often catch myself, to just use poses and not looking at the brand it was made from or even the name which sometimes as well says something about a pose set, for example a special purpose. That is why I made it as a task for myself for 2018 to have more pose centered posts or pose studies, to just do justice to all the amazing pose creators in Second Life, who make all our amazing pictures possible.

The “Wiccattitude” set is a very energetic one, which can be used in many different ways. You can even turn around the poses and use them laying or even 180Β° vertical twisted with many different angles to shoot from. Yes, I have to admit I love not just shooting but playing with poses as well, even if they are completely working out different as intended sometimes πŸ˜‰

Pose: HelaMiyo – “Wiccattitude” set

If you do a shooting focused on poses, the question of the clothing and accessories is not always easy as you want the most flexibility for all kind of movements. I love to use skin tight clothing and look for even those posts the most. This time I started with the boots. The stunning “Syberia” boots from UTOPIA@DESIGN. I have a love for overknee boots, but for many looks you can’t wear them especially if long mesh pants are involved. 99% the pants stick through the boots except if you wear applier pants.

Speaking of appliers, the awesome “Cozy Tights” I am wearing are from .:Avanti:. and I love the details she puts on her fabrics and designs as well as her awesome ideas for appliers.

Pose: HelaMiyo – “Wiccattitude” set

The amazing outfit was made by Salt & Pepper. Originally the “Teisha” was released on We β™₯ RP in December but I am sure you can find it in the main store now. I chose to go with the silver/black option for the outfit, that even includes the cool headpiece, that I used instead of wearing hair. On the HUD for the outfit you will find black and white for the shirt color and 5 different metals (black, silver, rose-gold, light gold and gold) for the body suit and the hair part. The outfit as well contains boots with those 5 color, which I did not wear for todays post.

Happy New Year 2018!

Pose: HelaMiyo – “Wiccattitude” set

Details

Outfit & Accessories:

Outfit (incl. Headpiece): Salt & Pepper (S&P) – “Teisha” (Maitreya)

Shoes: UTOPIA@DESIGN – “Syberia” (Maitreya)

Tights: .:Avanti:. – “Cozy Tights” (Maitreya Applier)

Nails: >glyph< – “Apex” (Maitreya, Bento)

Necklace: Codex – “Charlotte”

Hair & Makeup:

Makeup: Zibska – “Araceli” & “Noir Pack 06” (Maitreya & Omega Applier)

Lipstick: Zibska – “Araceli” (Maitreya Applier)

Body & Tattos:

Body: Maitreya – “Lara 4.1”

Head: LeLutka – “Simone 3.0”

Poses & Props:

Poses: HelaMiyo – “Wiccattitude” set

Props: ChiC Buildings [Cb] – “SEA Jugs” & DRD – “Gold retreat wall art -reaching – “

Model & Photographer:

Wicca Merlin

Loneliness…

Loneliness

Loneliness
Is a place that I know well
It’s the distance between us
And the space inside ourselves

Emptiness
Is the chattering in your head
It’s the call of the living
And the race from life to death.
And I know
Yeah, I know, what you feel

And I’ve got a longing that’s hard to find
Won’t give me no peace of mind
Something that I’ve lived with all along
Days and weeks and months and years
Filling in the time, my dear
Tryin’ to find the place where I belong

[Annie Lennox]

Details

Outfit & Accessories:

Pants: .miss chelsea. – “Shea Shorts” (Maitreya)

Top 1: Storybook – “Dystopia” (Maitreya)

Top 2: [The Forge] – “Banshee Armour”

Arms: L’Emporio – “Harness Arm” (Maitreya)

Shoes: Essenz – “Honduras” (Maitreya)

Mask: Bauhaus Movement – “Cypriss Apoc Part II”

Necklace: Schadenfreude – “Corax Necklace”

Nails: >glyph< – “Apex Shadow” (Maitreya)

Hair & Makeup:

Hair: EMO-tions – “Lost”

Makeup: Zibska – “Noir Pack 06” (LeLutka Applier)

Body & Tattoo:

Head: LeLutka – “Simone 3.0”

Body: Maitreya – “Lara 4.1”

Tattoo 1 (legs): BODY MOD – “Vicious Tattoo” (Maitreya Applier)

Tattoo 2 (upper): PMS – “Buzz Tattoo” (Omega Applier)

Poses & Props:

Background: [ isuka ] – “dead ahead backdrop”

Matress: [ zerkalo ] – “Last Refuge Dirty Matress”

Seat: DRD – “PA – Sewer Shelter – Bucket Seat”

Model & Photographer:

Wicca Merlin

Just a walk… with freezy toes and cold fingers ;)

Now autumn really caught me in RL as well and so today I was in a totally autumn mood while sitting at my PC with freezy toes and fingers. So when I unpacked one of the newest releases fromΒ  [sys] for the Sad November event.

[sys] released a full outfit with the “SWEATER” outfit. The outfit contains a skirt and a huge oversized sweater dress. For todays post I just used the skirt together with the amazing “Y6 Jacket & SHirt” as well made by [sys] and released for the Seasons Story back in October 2017.

I loved the wintery touch that the colors and the style of the combination gave me and so I added more autumn/winter looking items to it. Certainly when it gets colder, you need som tights otherwise your legs will get freezy and turn into an ugly blue tone, what we do not wanna have πŸ˜‰

The colored tights from Izzie’s had the perfect tone to match the red parts of the vest and with the cute “Varsity” sneakers from Miel, which i got at one of the last 50 Linden Fridays it just looked nearly perfect. While I was staring at my pixels, I remembered the “Boot Socks”, that I got longer ago at katat0nik. I was waiting so long for a chance to wear them as i loved them so much and they perfectly fitted on the sneakers and as well to the colors of the whole look!

The hair I found at the actual round of the Fantasy Gacha Carnival. Needless to say, they are a gacha and it might take a while until you get the ones you want, if you not wanna wait for the resellers to put them on Marketplace πŸ˜‰ I loved the possibility of having different styles on a HUD where I could decide about bangs or no bangs and as well if I wanted both sides of the hair over my shoulders or just one side. For the bandana you as well have the choice of a uni colored one or an ornamented version.

With the sneakers and the socks the whole look became a sporty touch and made me want to add something on my hands. First I was thinking about some knitted gloves matching the bandana but then I remembered the cool “Fingerless Gloves” from L’Emporio, that I got from Marketplace not too long ago.

For the poses I again chose to go with HelaMiyo as I really loved the “Walk” poses and as well the “Ground Sit” pose set soΒ  much. They perfectly went with my sporty look.

Details

Outfit & Accessories:

Top: [sys] – “Y6 Jacket & Skirt” (Maitreya)

Skirt: [sys] – “SWEATER Skirt” (Maitreya) – NEW @ Sad November 2017

Socks: kakat0nik – “Boots socks”

Gloves: L’Emporio – “Fingerless Gloves” (Maitreya)

Shoes: MIEL – “Varsity Kicks Natural” (Maitreya)

Hair & Makeup:

Hair: no.match – “No.Problem” (Gacha) – NEW @ Fantasy Gacha Carnival

Body & Tattoos:

Head: LeLutka – “Simone 3.0”

Body: Maitreya – “Lara 4.1”

Facetattoo: Izzie’s – “Pores & Blemishes” (LeLutka Applier)

Poses & Props:

Poses: HelaMiyo – “Ground Sit” & “Walk”

Model & Photographer:

Wicca Merlin

Pose Studies with HelaMiyo

HelaMiyo – “Ankles Action” Pose Set

Poses are something very personal and as well to me they are a very important part to my pictures and blogging. We all spend a lot of time to dress up our pixels to get a cool look for our posts. I need the same amount of time as well to find the poses I do want to use for certain outfits. A real cool outfit can be super boring and not exciting at all when you use the wrong poses in my opinion.

HelaMiyo – “Ankles Action” Pose Set

If you have a wonderful detailed outfit and you just do a standing pose with lots of background and ambience around you, all those pretty little details simply vanish. It took me a long time until I figured out a way for me to keep those details and as well have a cool picture. Poses are very often too underestimated. Sometimes poses that look crazy and weird on the first view, can become very interesting if you play with them, turn them around or just have a crop picture where you only can see certain parts. Maybe that requires more pictures to showcase an outfit properly but I do not mind that at all if I am satisfied with the picture itself.

HelaMiyo – “Ankles Action” Pose Set

For shoes for example you can do so much more than just have shoes and feet on the picture. Like with the pose I used on the picture above. The shoes are the definite focus in that picture, but I still have nearly my whole avatar shown and the outfit it self as well. The same pose from another angle can showcase something different. So one pose can be used more than once and maybe sometimes you cannot even tell that it was the same pose with a totally different angle on it (at least I could not :p)

HelaMiyo – “Ankles Action” Pose Set

Sometimes I get asked, why I am doing more than one picture for my blog posts and if one picture would not be enough. Maybe sometimes one would be enough but then, if you style your avatar with time and passion, would you not like to show all the details you styled to it – Maybe a back view or a closeup? For clothing I usually do not have more than 3 to 5 pictures, if I do not have a picture story or something like that. Then I try to have one full body shot, one head shot and maybe one with shoes, nails or a little detail that would be overseen in one of the 2 others. But if I play with poses, I do have more than that. Usually, one pose set has more tha one or 2 poses in it and how I could showcase a pose set with just one picture if I do not wanna stuff all poses into one picture?

HelyMiyo – “Ankles Action” Pose Set

If I want to do pose studies with more than one pose set, I have to have more pictures to really showcase the work a pose designer put in to it. To be honest it is as well fun to change poses and angles while you take pictures. I sometimes find angles and crops I never would have thought about, by just turning and rotating my pose stand *giggles*

For this post I had over 80 snapshots and in the end over 20 pictures from them, that I wanted to use. but since 20 pictures is a lot I forced myself to cut it down under 15 for one post and do some more on a second post, so I will not beat you down with too many pictures πŸ˜‰

HelaMiyo – “Our Darkness” Pose Set

For todays post all poses are made by HelaMiyo.

HelaMiyo is not a new pose store. Miyoko Magic entered SL in 2008 and HelaMiyo was born back then as well. Miyoko always had very unique and impressive poses that not just were ‘simple standing’ poses. If you ask her you will find out that all of her poses have a linked story to her RL as she states on her website (http://helamiyo.blogspot.de/) . Maybe that explains as well why all of her poses are so unique πŸ˜‰

HelaMiyo – “Our Darkness” Pose Set

I still remember one of my first pose sets from HelaMiyo from when I started modeling and was working for a store named Staged back in 2009. We were standing on a round platform and we got a puppet hanger to wear so it looked like hanging puppet/string dolls instead of just usual store models – I really loved that idea and I still have those hanger and poses πŸ˜‰

That was the first time when I discovered HelaMiyo poses πŸ™‚

HelaMiyo – “Our Darkness” Pose Set

The more I was happy that now, about 8 years later, I got to know the person behind th poses! I am usually too shy to talk to designers if I am just one of a million customers, because I always think they are so busy with creating and I do not want to bother them with me and my questions πŸ˜‰

The more I was excited that Miyoko IMed me after one of my last posts, where I was talking about the difficulties to do pictures with gowns (https://wiccamerlin.de/i-am-a-pants-person-but-i-am-not-a-gown-enemy/).

She sent me 2 amazing pose sets for gowns (which I still have to post as well, as soon as I find a gown I do like) as she really proved me that there ARE gown poses who are not just boring and without any action πŸ˜‰

HelaMiyo – “Rock” Pose Set

What I do like a lot with the HelaMiyo pose sets is, that you always get a mirrored version of each pose. So you can decide either what direction you want to look at and as well you can do amazing pictures with a mirror or even fake reflection. It is really fun to experiment with that kind of pictures if you have the possibility of a second, mirrored pose.

HelaMiyo – “Contemporary Jump” Pose Set

HelaMiyo – “Contemporary Jump” Pose Set

I really think, that poses are sometimes underestimated and we just use them for the purpose to have a pose for our amazing styles and we rarely see the work and effort that posemakers as well have to do, so that we can shine in our amazing outfits on our pictures and on the virtual fashion runways. Because of that, I like to do the “Pose Studies” posts here and there, where I can mainly focus on the poses and give them the attention and time they really earn.

HelaMiyo – “Contemporary Jump” Pose Set

As well that is a personal challenge as well as you have to find an outfit that cooperates with all the poses no matter what πŸ˜‰ You have to find a look, where the poses come out clean and proper without breaks in the clothing or having your limbs inside your body. Sometimes that even asks for lightly shape changes to make your shape fit the poses as well. I did not have to change my shape for the HelaMiyo poses but the outfit was quite a challenge as I wanted to use some specific poses that have a lot of movement to them.

I hope you enjoyed my little pose journey as much as I did while iI was doing the pictures andΒ  I am sure that will not be my last one as I have a few more amazing HelaMiyo poses left to showcase πŸ˜‰

HelaMiyo – “Ground Sit” Pose Set

Details

Outfit & Accessories:

Body & Jacket: [sys] – “Samhain” (Maitreya)

Stockings: .:Avanti:. – “Ripped Nylons” (Maitreya Applier)

Shoes: N-Core – “Ballet” (Maitreya)

Eyepatch: .Shi – “Patch Mechanics 4.1”

Rings: MEVA – “Bento Maitreya Rings Silver” (Maitreya)

Collar: Pure Poison – ” ‘W’ Love Collar”

Hair & Makeup:

Hair: Vanity Hair – “Crown Royal-Greedy”

Makeup: Zibska – “Augusta” (LeLutka Applier)

Lipstick: Zibska – “Asya” (LeLutka Applier)

Body & Tatoo:

Head: LeLutka – “Simone 3.0”

Body: Maitreya – “Lara 4.1”

Facetattoo: Izzie’s – “Pores & Blemishes” (LeLutka Applier)

Poses & Props:

Poses: HelaMiyo

Model & Photographer:

Wicca Merlin

HelaMiyo – “Ground Sit” Pose Set

 

Girls just wanna have fun!

I come home, in the morning light
My mother says “When you gonna live your life right?”
Oh momma dear, we’re not the fortunate ones
And girls, they wanna have fun
Oh girls just wanna have fun…

[Cyndi Lauper]

Exactly that is what todays post is about… I wanted to have fun πŸ˜‰

When I put on the “Callie” outfit from Gizza I did instantly know, that I want to do a fun picture with it. In Germany we have a warm weather come back these days with lots of sun. Temperature climbed up as well and so I was in a sunny late summer mood when I styled my look.

I am not a girly style person usually, but today I just got me and I added some more pink and color to the “Callie” ensemble. The amazing “Kam” eye shadow from Slackgirl encouraged me even more for that πŸ˜‰

For the nails I certainly had to go over the top as well and used the fantastic “Signal Stiletto” bento nails for Maitreya, as well made by Slackgirl. Teal and pink – normally I only use that combination for cyber looks with lots of black *giggles*

The amazing bento rings with the huge gems are made by MEVA and I am totally in love with them. For modern statement jewelry the “Victorian Bento Rings” are just perfect with their huge color HUD and you can even hide some of the rings if you like.

Typically for me, if I wear tattoos, I mostly wear black & grey ones, but the “Anchored Love” arm tattoo with its bold colorful design, just matched the look so perfect, I could not resist πŸ˜‰

Like I said before.. today was only enjoying some free time and so I just went to Anduril for some snaps and enjoyed playing with windlights. Sometimes you have no reason, no special blogging duty and no idea what the outcome will be and just have fun!

Details

Outfit & Accessories:

Top & Shorts: GizzA – “Callie” (Maitreya)

Tights: Nanika – “Ombre Tights” (Maitreya Applier)

Shoes: KC – “Alexia Sneaker Boots” (Maitreya)

Rings: MEVA – “Victorian Bento Rings” (Maitreya)

Nails: Slackgirl – “Signal Stiletto Nails” (Maitreya)

Hair & Makeup:

Hair: Beusy – “Psuni”

Makeup: Slackgirl – “Kam” (LeLutka Applier)

Lipstick: je suis – “LeLutak Lips No. 006 -[nudes]” (LeLutka Applier)

Body & Tattoo:

Body: Maitreya – “Lara 4.1”

Head: LeLutka – “Simone 3.0”

Tattoo: U-Design – “Anchored Love” (Maitreya Applier)

Poses & Props:

Foxcity

Location:

Anduril

Model & Photographer:

Wicca Merlin

 

I am a pants person but I am not a gown enemy!

Gowns – Usually something outside of my comfort zone!

Normally I am used to say, I am not that much of a gown person. Somehow that is true, but not because I do not like gowns! It is more the fact, that in SL you cannot do as much with gowns as you can do with mix and match outfits or pants outfits – styling wise and picture wise.

With a gown your poses are automatically very limited to something, that does not spread or move your legs too much. Sitting mostly does not work without damage on lower part of the mesh gown and in the past with flexies it was even worse, when all the prims were hanging through your body. So what is left… mainly standing poses if you do not just go for closeups or crops. To me that can become boring very fast as you have a lot of ambience in your picture or you just stand there in an amazing environment and look like as someone forgot to pick you up :p

The next limitation you have is the styling itself. Certainly you can play with several accessories, jewelry, shoes and hair but the gown itself you rarely can transition to something different that just the gown and not many gowns to allow you a style category change. Gowns usually are meant to be formal or maybe even goth but still somehow elegant. I do like twisting style categories and changing purposes of certain clothing and as well I am addicted to mix and match to create a new look for me, that does not look like the one I saw on the vendor.

Not because I have to be always different and unique, just because I want to get a connection to the clothing I am wearing, to make them my own.

Everyone has an idea about the character and avatar that they play. Some do like the beauty side, some like the more ordinary looks, or even do like the imperfection and some are just looking at things and get a vision for them together with their avatar. I never did limit myself to a certain category, I just went with the flow for every outfit I was given with free styling reigns. I am not siting here and have to force myself to get a different or certain look, mostly it just happens step by step with every item I add to it. Sometimes beautiful, sometimes dark, sometimes weird and sometimes just simple casual.

When I saw the amazing “Samal” gown from E-Clipse Design, I immediately had a vision for it. I saw a black gown, some funky accessories and color! Maybe even something color popping like I do remember it from the 80s ;). I first played with red and black, but for what ever reason it had to be a more striking color, something that does scream color at you – if that makes sense. I was trying some neon green and yellow before I stumbled over a teal shading. The “Tista” lipstick from Zibska did a lot to my color decision as well. I loved the two-toned stong colors so much and it was a headache to find accessories in the same tone. So I ended up to re-color our bento gloves from the “Joan” outfit, the “Oakes” hair from KoKoLoReS and my LeLutka hair base (thank god we have the tinting option!) to match the color of the lipstick.

The gown is a firework of texture/fabric combinations. You have a more cotton looking fabric for the straps, the amazing detailed lace for the waist part and then you get a satin impression for the bottom of the gown.

Maybe some will question the term ‘gown’ for this outfitΒ now – I don’t.

It can be worn very elegant as well and if you are brave enough, you can wear it on a red carpet or to a dance event as well – Lady Gaga showed what can be called gowns and used like it πŸ˜‰

It is always in the eye of the beholder how you define certain things but with the tight body part and the wider floating bottom it is a perfect gown to me πŸ˜‰

The “Samal” gown and as well the awesome “Old Phone” glasses that I used for todays look, can be found on the ongoing Black Fair 2017 until the 20th or October. If you read this post afterwards I am sure you will find the designs in the main stores of the creators πŸ˜‰

So after all I am not a gown enemy, I just need the right gown and the right mood to get a vision for style and pictures πŸ˜‰

Details

Outfit & Accessories:

Gown: E-Clipse Design – “Samal” (Maitreya) – NEW @ The Black Fair 2017

Gloves: Wicca’s Wardrobe – “Joan” (Maitreya, Bento, part of the Joan outfit) – NEW @ The Black Fair 2017

Glasses: [Since1975] – “Old Phone Glasses” – NEW @ The Black Fair 2017

Necklace: Minimal – “Chelo”

Hair & Makeup:

Hair: KoKoLoReS – “Oakes”

Lipstick: Zibska – “Tista” (LeLutka Applier)

Body & Tattoo:

Body: Maitreya – “Lara 4.1”

Head: LeLutka – “Simone 3.0”

Poses & Props:

Poses: Foxcity

Model & Photographer:

Wicca Merlin