Berry's Dance in Second Life Challenge

Strawberry Singh is so demanding with her memes and her nosiness and her challenging us to do things we've never done before. I mean REALLY. Inspiring me to find a screencap thingy and make my first ever machinima. Pushy, pushy, pushy.

Credits for the music - "Miley Cyrus Vs Redfoo Vs Journey - Don't Stop Wrecking Ridiculous Ball (Djs From Mars Bootleg)"

1. Which dance are you sharing in the image/video and where is it from? These are both dances from the Ministry of Motion - "Want You Bad" then "Happy Happy!" I like the second one the best because it's the dance I do when I really want to embarrass my kids. 
2. Which is your favorite dance in Second Life? – There's 2 also from MiniMo. If you've known me for any length of time, then you'll know I'll bust out into either the Bootiepop or Baby Oh Yeah at any opportunity. Being in front of a live audience of hundreds never stops me either... hi, everyone still traumatised from Mr Virtual World 2011! 
3. What are your favorite dance animation stores in Second Life? – Apart from Ministry of Motion; there's Humanoid, Akeyo and A&M Mocap.
4. Are you a frequent dancer in Second Life? – Unf. Yes. I used to spend an obscene amount of money on dances, and I kept an antisocial alt just for clubbing so I could bliss out on something really meaty with a ridiculous BPM and not be interrupted. I'm also happy to accompany the ladies in my life to a ballroom. I used to work for one of the top gown makers in SL, Miamai - so I could write it off on tax as market research. 
5. Are you a frequent dancer in the real world? – I am. But only when no one's watching. 

An Open Letter To Miley Cyrus

Dear Miley,

Congratulations. 

You are now a fully fledged Rock Star.

 I have never seen this many pearls clutched before, and certainly not by musicians who got by on on shock value alone once people stopped listening to their actual music. You've got a truly bangin' bod and you are only going to be 22 once, so whack as much fun into your life with that sledgehammer as you can fit.

It's your party, you can do what you want.

Love, Winter  

25.08.2013

...because in the year 2713, I'll still be around. Sure, I'll be wearing enough face spackle to regrout the Sistine Chapel; and I'll likely have grown so much more taller and emaciated that I won't dare stand still for more than 5 minutes in a strip club...



... but I will ALWAYS be the guy wearing the sharpest suit.




What Winter Is Wearing

Hair - Codie in Chromium by Discord - available at The 24 event but only for one week
Suit - The 24 Exclusive by Xiaj - also at The 24, see above for time sensitivity.
Skin - Nathan by Tableau Vivant
Makeup - Liquid Shadows by Kooqla
Hairbase - Style 04 in Winter by Miamai
Teeth - OpenMouth Add On by PXL
Gloves - Dexter in Void by FATEwear
Shoes - Spiked Platform Sneakers by Cult of Belgar


This blogpost was made possible by Tymmerie Thorne - thank you for your generosity!

09.08.2013

I've been drifting around in this outfit or a while (ever since the recent makeup fair, as you'll guess when you look closely)  frightening small children, furry animals and anyone with the faintest modicum of good taste. I know that in theory fuschia and orange are so very wrong together, but it totally pushes my buttons.


I refuse to accept liability for any eyes that may be gouged out upon viewing this post.


OH YEAH and Eid Mubarak to my friends! Hope I don't put you off your feasting. #YOSLO







What Winter Is Wearing Whether You Like It Or Not

Hair - Abel by Monster
Skin - Nathan by Tableau Vivant
Eyes - Tropical Brights by Insufferable Dastard
Makeups - Halftone by Nuuna, Two Moods by [TAXI TAXI], Fake Painted Eyebrows by Essences, Ultra Eyeliner by Sopherian, Couture Mesh Eyeliner by Glam Affair
Suit - Rayon Suit by Cashmere & Keane
Shirt - Oxford by Schadenfreude
Gloves - Soft Leather by Mentine
Ring - Endless Heaven by Chop Zuey

The SL Movie Poster Challenge

Dear Berry;

I finally stumped up and did one of your memes.  I know we agreed that I was going to do Twilight, but I couldn't find any Sparklepires to skin.

It's just a shame that you haven't seen this movie. You'll find the source poster here. 



Love, your friend the Dead Boy.

Splinters

...and all of a sudden he realised that he existed. Why? Was it important? He spent some time on his back, just watching the gulls whirling above him as he mulled this over. "Yes," he decided. "And no. I'm here, that's unmistakable. I feel these splinters working their way into me, when less than a breath ago I was of these boards myself. But I feel no urge to act upon this knowledge. Hmmmmm..."



He sat up, so suddenly that his wooden form quivered a few times as it locked into place. Brushing shavings off his thighs, he looked around at his new world in delight. "It's all so dimensional, so full and it has air, and space, and light, and volume and... and how do I know these words? These concepts?" Something flitted past the corner of his vision as he gleed over life. His head turned. It turned much further than yours or mine could. But it was worth it.



There she was. A glory of youth, of vivacity, a vision constructed of cherry wood. She was pretending to not notice that he was staring at her, but of course he was too new to understand the wiles of women. She struck the most coquettish pose to exaggerate her grace, then arched her form into a perfect arabesque as she circled the carousel on her skates. He was enchanted, as was intended. After the perfect amount of time had elapsed, she chose to notice his presence.  She skated up to him, then stopped - sending a shower of sparks across his body. He covered his face with a wince, then lowered his arm as she circled him. "You are handsome;" she advised him critically "but you are lame.  Come with me. Let's remake you."



She led him to a trove. A sunlit cave of wonders that was also a game of chance. He darted from the red machine to the blue one, and lost his balance somewhere near the yellow, completely overwhelmed. He knelt on the green carpet and  whispered, not daring to look up. "All of this? I can choose from... ALL OF THIS?" She giggled, taking delight in his confusion. "Shhh... don't fret, pretty splinter. I want you to look good on my arm. Lets choose you a new self."



She led him back into the open, marveling at how easily he took to wheels. But everything is easy to learn when you are brand new, and don't have a head stuffed full of misconceptions. They frolicked along the boardwalk, he barely looked down at the planks that were his creator. She took great care to remind him that she was smoother, that her curves were more appealing and that her cherry wood was of great value. And she reminded him often. He smiled at her, not knowing that he should have been unhappy at her game.



"Oh look!" He led her by the hand to the stall where balloons bobbed against their strings, and gazed up at them in delight. He untied one from the rack to hand to her, then realised that one single balloon was not a fitting enough tribute to her beauty. One more. Another. Several more to balance them out. And now to add these and... "For you." he bowed as he presented her with his prize.



Disaster!

He grabbed her ankles as she was carried off shrieking, the winds claiming her from the pier. Luck was on their side this day, as he was able to haul her back from the skies. "But..." he asked her in puzzlement. "How...? You don't look that light?" not realising of course that this is a dreadful thing to say to a lady, no matter which kind. She sobbed in his arms, tears of sap running down her face as she confessed "I'm not re-hea-hea-lly cherry.... I'm just BALSA WOOD WITH A CHERRY VENEER. " She turned her face away in shame, not daring to meet his gaze.

He looked at her, stricken as she pulled out of his arms, preparing to flee. He shook his head and inwardly declared no. He clutched her heaving form and pulled her in close, then turned her face to his and told her steadily. "I don't care. You can't leave. I love you. I have no idea what love is, or what I'm supposed to do with it. But I LOVE you."

She stopped crying in disbelief. She had been so contemptuous of him, not realising that his was a heart of oak. Her entire being lit up and she beamed at him, then took his hand and whispered. "I'll show you exactly what you are supposed to do with this. "



That was three years ago, readers. They fell in love, mad delirious eternal light filled love. They now have five beautiful children that they hold very high hopes for, even Bricky who was their "Very Special Child" and was treated no differently than the others. (Even if he did have to wear a muzzle in public.) The children were  always happy to visit The Arcade, especially on a Friday night when they were kicked out of the caravan so Daddy could stuff Mummy full of sawdust.

The end.


Oh yeah, and visit The Arcade. 



Pictures by Eve Petlyakov.
Words by Winter Jefferson.
Mannequins by The Domineaux Effect
Everything else available from the fabulous merchants at The Arcade in March 2013.

26.01.2013

Most important thing first - HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY!

Next.

Coming very soon to Ikebana. 





Sparkly mesh unicorn horns that shoot out temp rez cupcakes. Or hearts. And lightning bolts too apparently. I'm trying to persuade the creator to work in a double rainbow too, but she kept wanting to know what it meant.


And why is this coming soon? Because sparkly unicorn horns that shoot out cupcakes and lightning bolts, that's why. 

Accourse the only things even approaching awesome enough to go with this horn are this brand new Clumsy hair by Magika, and this delicious Fucking Unicorns tank top by A:S:S.


Then.





I made it onto the Second Life homepage again! There is no greater thrill or honour than being allowed to smear my pasty face all over your screen when you are trying to enjoy your morning coffee. If you go visit, remember to log out. Then you can see the gorgeous pics submitted by Eve Petlyakov,  Skankberry Singh, Harper Beresford, Harlow Heslop, Zaara Kohime and Arkansas Sorbet. 


Finally.


A heartfelt thank you to the people who offered their feels on the previous post, both in the comments and on plurk. OH and that one email that I got from Berry too. But it all came from people that I respect and admire, and I will get onto that bunny slipper challenge soon, Madame Law.

Promise.

Time Out

....featuring the epic Male Fleshsuit from Curio Obscura, the Miami Linen Pants in Army by *BOOM*, Tidal hair from Exile, Twilight Gold Eyes from NoirOptix, HISmokes by HISpose ...


... plus a smartarse vampire in the Edward Glitter Edition skin from Redgrave who can laugh at himself harder than anyone else can.

.

Gaga Gala

Okay - if you've ever even looked at my blog, my flickr, my plurkline or even just said hello to me in passing; you'll know one thing.

I love Lady Gaga.

Oh yes - I really am that mainstream and I'm completely unashamed of it. I've never pretended to be cool, just... cold.

I have a problem though. I'm finally getting to see her in concert this Saturday night - omg omg omg - and it hit me hard the other day. WHAT THE HELL AM I GOING TO WEAR? It's easy for me as Winter - he has flaming bras, polar bear coats and kermit jackets up the ying yang -  but not so much for the poor bastard whose head he has taken over. I have been seriously eyeing off everything in the house and office this week wondering if there's any way I could turn it into couture. My cat just doesn't feel safe any more.

Luckily... I can just get on my baddest Monster self right here. 





I've willfully and somewhat guiltily deconstructed the Cascade dress from Epoque that was only available at the Blur installation two years ago, and edited what's left of it to match my glasses from Chic Zafari. Obviously you can no longer buy this item - sorry! - but the Warrior hair that I'm wearing also from Epoque is part of the current sale, all hairs half price.




On my bottom half it's all Ladies Who Lunch. Faint Paulse also gets it, and I'm wearing her mesh Laurella pants and Troopa boots. Finishing up my Little Monster Mash I'm in Damon skin from Tableau Vivant, Poker gloves from CheerNo, lipstick from Sorry.Asia and the Famous Lady ring from LaGyo.





Actually after posting this I may have some inspiration after all. Time to raid the kid's lego box!

Once Upon A Dream

Just a few tastes of the new; some assorted luciousness that found it's way into my life this weekend.





The new Cachet Hair from LeLutKa, meant for girls... I guess. Does anyone else remember when this brand used to be called Cachet? This comes in three styles, but the one that made me stop in my tracks was this pony, mesh heaven rigged to move with you.

Also, I now happily own this Maelle Shoulder Jewellery from Indy & Co. It comes in three different configurations of chains, and in a fullbright option. The earrings from from Pididdle; I have had these for a long time but they needed to be worn with this.





From the epic Fairy Tales in 2012 event - these 2 lusts. This Damon skin by Tableau Vivant. It's chalky and creamy all at the same time and comes in six makeups - I decided to not wear the vampy one, can you believe it? 





Oh look; what a surprise. Winter's in a skirt again.  Could you blame me though? I have long admired Irie Campese of So Many Styles' aesthetic, but I've never been able to buy her clothes. I saw this haunting item at the Fairy Tales sim, and decided on a whim to try it on. I don't think I'll ever take it off, and it was a dream to shoot. Look at the way it moves!


I had been hoping that someone would make some really kickass male boots - Puss, hello? - but  I can hold out until the next year. It will take me that long to pick out all of these glass splinters from between my toes anyway.


DAMNIT, when's it gonna be MY turn to be a Princess?

Perspective

I like to think that after almost 6 years in SL I'm fairly well travelled. However today my partner Eve asked me if I'd been to 2 Fish yet, I hadn't. Should we go now?  "Great!" said the ignorant vainpyre "I love Dr Suess!"

It wasn't Dr Seuss.

I was very unprepared.

After arriving and having a quick look around and delighting in the whimsical build "The Inevitability of Fate" I complimented the creator Rose Borchovski on how amazing it was. We mentioned my photos for a moment and I blithely commented back how I hoped I could do it justice. Eve and I wandered the sim, jumping on poseballs and snapping pictures. Then she asked if I had the sound on. I hadn't until then, so I did. And that's when everything snapped into place, and made shocking sense.





I still took a few of my substandard photos which I'm posting here, tiling issues and all. But I also turned off photographer eye and absorbed what was happening, the tale that was being told. It's interactive in that there are poses in all the installations so you become part of the history, plus there are triggers that when you walk through them, they hand you props and items to wear. There was more than one spot that was overwhelming and I came very close to having to leave. I have never been affected by a sim in Second Life like I have this one.











 I don't want to talk about it too much as I feel it's better off experienced rather than read about on my shallow fashion blog.  But you should go, you really should. Just be prepared to be challenged and leave yourself time to think. I myself took away from it a new perspective, and a reminder of what's important. You can also see Eve's view on the installation here.


Thank you, Rose Borchovski.




P.S. this post is dedicated to Craig, with best wishes for your recovery.

Glam Reaper

....guest starring the amazing Grazia Horwitz. Who was not only lovely enough to answer my stricken plea for photography help on plurk - by taking these glorious pictures - but she also took the skin challenge that I flung at her. "Modern Death with a palette of black and gold." And she didn't just take it, she ran right over the top of my styling attempts with it.




At least she got my best side in this pic. And I'm shirtless - AGAIN - because she flat out insisted upon it.




Because occasionally, even Death takes a holiday.


What We Wore For The Danse Macabre

Grazia

Hair - 99 Elephants Krima b1
Hairbase- 99 Elephants shaved black T0
Skin - Ellivu female skin by Nuuna
Eyes - Repulse rage eyes
Eye make up - Grixdale Eyesore
Collar - Cheerno Lory scarf
Top - Whippet & Buck Cole boatneck top black
Dress - LeLutka Shutter dress
Coat - Bare Rose Black Duster Lady
Fishnets - Erratic fishnets wide
Boots - Lapointe & Bastchild Stiletto knee boots
Nails - PixelMode sculpted nails


Winter

Hair - Rebel in Black VII by MADesigns
Hairbase - Mist in Black by White Widow
Skin - Ellivu Male Skin by +Nuuna+
Eyes - Sunrise Eyes in Black by Fashism
Lashes - Deity Lashes in Colour 2 by Deity
Jacket - Military Cardigan in Black by *Coco*
Necklace - Butterfly Skull in Gold by R.icielli
Ring - Blak Diamond Stud Skull by NSD
Nails - Short Male Nails in Palette2 by Mandala
Pants - Juka Leggings in Goldfish by Miamai
Boots - Sidewinder in Black by Similar

Le Voleur De Paon

So I'm one of the 20 male models in SL currently trying to prove that they are really really really ridiculously good looking in the BOSL Mr Virtual World 2011 competition - yep, I'm Mr Iceland of course. (Transylvania was voted out of contention by the Russian judges... curse them.) I'm loving it so far - style challenges every other week WOOOOOO! - and this time it was avant garde. Which if you know me at all is really the only way I bother getting dressed in SL...





I spent several days trying to make something all spikedy and geometric, and you will see this at a later date - swear. But things evolved as they often do when your fairy godmother Monica is a bit of a creative genius, and I ended up looking as if I'd made good on my promise last month to molest Frolic's peacocks. It's okay - it's a far more fulfilling life for them as FASHION anyway.











What I'm loving on in this post - the cape is called Magus, it's by Miamai and it's not out yet sorreeeeee but the Lenoire hair is, and it's available at Hair Fair until the 15th of July. Be aware that I've modded it a fair bit though, there's meant to be some girly stuff on top. I'm still mad about my Vincent skin from Tableau Vivant, this is the January tone and I also got my Claw Pants from there too. Nuuna Nitely makes wonderful bold makeups and I'm layering several of them here, most of them from her new Version 8 makeup pack. My Taped Guts are from Sinistyle and the Sequinned Leggings are from Fishy Strawberry. Just out of view - the huge and inventive stream of cursewords from when I crashed two minutes before showtime.



I have no idea what the end results of the styling competition were, they may have announced it but I was too busy trying to untangle Winter Junior from the sequinned tights. It's also a mad giggle watching the audience wake up when the very blindingly pale man appears on the runway after the Costa Rican guy and tries to convince them that dead with shitloads of guyliner can be beautiful too.

Alone In A World That's So Cold

.....so it was just one more of those mornings where you put on new hair and think "Oh god I look like Prince AGAIN today."





Surely I can't be the only one this happens to?






I finally managed to break my month long crash-every-single-effing-time-I-take-a-photo hoodoo which is partially to blame for the fact that my blog turnaround is something like three weeks between posts now. Thank heavens for alts with almost zero inventory, eh?




___________________________________________________________________________________

What The Artist Formerly Known As Winter Is Wearing.

Hair - Folie d'Ete in Noir by Vanity Hair
Skin - Shawn in Deep Tan 9-E by Belleza
Eyes - Black in Small by Fashism
Jacket - Spleen in Purple by Miamai
Ring - Archelon in Style 2 by Mandala
Gloves - Poker Gloves in Black by CheerNo
Pants - Satin Latex Pants in Purple by SN@TCH
Shoes - Gothic Platforms in Croc & Steel by LaPointe and Bastchild
Tears (not seen) - Provided by Dove Swanson

Jedi Couture

Most of you probably know that I'm the marketing guy for Miamai by now, right? I always try to keep that work - which is barely work because I LOVE IT - off my own blog as I like to think that I provide an unbiased view of menstuff that I consider to be awesome. Consider this a disclaimer. But. I was the completely dumbstruck recipient of a BOSL Awards nomination for "Best New Model" (which Rissa Friller deservedly won) and you can't rock up at something like that in off the rack, can you? So I asked Monica (okay whined at her incessantly) if she could make something epic for us to wear to the event, and I told her about my love for the creations of Haider Ackermann. He's a Belgian designer that is simply the master of drapery, and I heart his work so hard. Moni had a look and took her own special view of his style and turned it into something that had me weak at the knees.





She knows just what I love, and so she sprinkled it liberally with high fashion spikes, sparkly black diamonds and a Gagaesque crown. Because me constantly wearing the last one she made pissed off Elusye so much.





It's going to be released in the Miamai store under the Black Label marque on the 30th of April - this weekend - and it's named Spellbound, so look out for it. I'm also in the Olja hair from LeLutKa and my beloved Brent skin from CheerNo.






The good news for the ladies is that Monica created a companion piece for herself to wear by my side, this is the breathtakingly daring Rapt.





She didn't know I was going to blog her, she thought I was just taking vendor shots. So be kind and everyone tell her how pretty she looks, please.





She is also wearing the Monica skin by Glam Affair that was named for her, and you can see almost all of it in these pics. This is also the new LeLutKa hair called SJ which is the one they released the other day that WASN'T the one on every second blog.



I promise this wasn't just one big ad for my boss, I freakin' LOVED these two designs and I would have blogged them no matter who made them, I swear. And just to finish this off I'm going to show you the emerging morphing talent of Strawberry Singh. She really wants you to ask her to make these kinds of pics, she does. Plus she threatened to kill me if I dared to post her backfired revenge.





Berry? That's not a stake. THIS is a stake!

Alchemy

I haven't battled in SL for ages - might break a nail or something, yanno? There's no need to worry about my manlycure any more though. I have been slathering over this gauntlet and bracer set, the "Redemption : Hands Of Fate" by [TCR] on Marketplace for a while now. They are CCS Enhanced with extra melee attack points, a built in curse that slows your opponent and is very low lag in a fighting situation.


But most importantly....





They are simply beautiful.





I love that in SL there is no need to sacrifice form for function.





I've also been wanting to blog this C-001 Military Style Sci-Fi Suit by Vanilla C Designs for a while also, I'm loving all over the figure hugging suppleness of this leather. I've bought a few of Vanilla's gothic style suits and when she released this I was quite happily surprised. She sent me a notecard asking if I'd like a review copy, but I'd already bought it a week earlier. Can't get a more genuine endorsement than that, can you? It also comes in a femme version ladies, and it's just as hot. I'm also wearing a facial tattoo from White Widow named Sun, I was lucky enough to win a giftcard to the lovely Julie Hasting's wonderful store a couple of months ago and I walked out with almost the entire inventory.... and still wanted more.





I'm finishing off with mine most beloved Brent skin by CheerNo, Apocalypse X hair from _ZION_ and eyes named The Hunger - Satiated by Insufferable Dastard.


And satiated is something that I will never, ever be. Never stop pushing out the wearable art please, Creators of Second Life. There's still a lot of us out here that love you for it.