Fashion from Miss Virtual World - Miss Philippines by AlaFolie

View of Venice from the Ponte di Rialto - Dressed in Miss Philippines by AlaFolie

Miss Virtual World is the premiere beauty contest in Second Life. The finalists in the contest all have sterling pedigrees in the Second Life fashion industry - all are popular models in the top agencies and are graduates of the prestigious modeling academies. The pageant that crowns the new Miss Virtual World is a feast for connoisseurs of fashion. Some of the finest designers in Second Life create the outfits worn by the finalists in the pageant, and their creations are eye-popping fabulous. One that especially caught my eye this year was designed by Pixivor Allen of AlaFolie for Fuzz Lennie, Miss Philippines, 2011. Naturally, this stunning fashion creation is called Miss Philippines in her honor.

Click on the pictures to enlarge them for better viewing.

Silvery sequined Miss Philippines is shimmering excitement. And Fuzz Lennie was absolutely breathtaking in this outfit; indeed, as any girl would be. I love how its low cut and form fitting elegance grace my curves and combine with strands of sequins to conjure irresistible magic. Delighted would be that special someone that falls under its spell. Miss Philippines comes in three versions: Club (version 1), Formal (version 2), and Mini (version 3). I am wearing and featuring the Club version of Miss Philippines. Each version sells at AlaFolie for L$1000. All three are available for L$2000. Group members get a discount.

Midnight Rendezvous

The hair that I am wearing is from DrLife and is called BaoChai. BaoChai was designed by dear friend Leena Ying and sells for L$350. The skin that I am wearing is also from DrLife. Leena creates the absolute Best Skins in Second Life. Their artistry and details are unsurpassed by any other skin designer. I wear DrLife skins exclusively.

Fascination in Venice

I have already attended a number of events dressed in Miss Philippines. Let me tell you, you'll make a grand entrance in Miss Philippines. I am so thrilled to have this outfit in my wardrobe, and I know that you will be too.

AlaFolie

http://slurl.com/secondlife/AlaFolie/138/145/38

DrLife Skins and Hair are available at Mariko in Mont Saint Michel

 Mariko

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Mont%20Saint%20Michel/228/117/31

The pictures were taken at Venice Venezia and Villas de Revello. Venice Venezia is an astonishing recreation of the city of Venice that is amazing in its details. These photos are windlight free.

Venice Venezia Showcase City

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Prada/118/86/30

Villas de Revello

http://slurl.com/secondlife//141/191/31

City of Darkness

Loshi by GothiCatz

There's something about the look and feel of leather that is so irresistible. Maybe because it's so evocative.  Leather is attitude, confidence, individualism, and rebellion. And maybe because I look so darn hot and sexy in leather. Well, I always have my eye out for that magical leather outfit. So look at what I found at GothiCatz. It's called Loshi.

Click on the pictures to enlarge them for better viewing.

 

Created by Looloo Beck, designer and owner of GothiCatz, Loshi has a powerful look that is dark and post apocalyptic.  Loshi comes with a highly detailed, tight leather jacket with sculpted folded up sleeves, a black feather collar, and matching pants with sculpted cuffs and belt. It  has deletable menu driven resizers and sells for L$520. Loshi shouts High Adventure! Well, I was up for it. So donning the outfit, I set out looking for danger and intrigue in the Walled City of Kowloon.

Nightfire in the Walled City

Kowloon, The Walled City, in Second Life

Infamous and shadowy, the Walled City of Kowloon was an accident of history, a no-man’s land situated between China and the New Territories of British Hong Kong. Originally, a Chinese outpost with formidable defensive walls, the fort was attacked and briefly occupied by the British in 1899 which established a tenuous British claim on the city. During WWII, the Japanese tore down the walls and used the material to build nearby Kai Tak Airport.  After the Japanese surrender, the city was left totally ungoverned as neither the Chinese nor the British exercised control. The Walled City became a haven for criminals and fell under the control of organized crime syndicates known as Triads. The city was infamous for its many brothels, gambling parlors, opium dens, and unlicensed doctors and dentists. Yet, it offered a unique freedom that attracted 33,000 residents to its 6.5 acres. The Walled City grew rapidly into a dystopian megacity. Buildings were constructed on top of each other, and they merged to form a single solid block of construction that reached a uniform height of about 10 stories. The construction was so dense that the city’s lower levels never saw sunlight and had to be illuminated by fluorescent lights. It was a City of Darkness.  In the 1970’s, a series of massive police raids broke the control of the Triads.  In 1987, the Chinese and British jointly agreed that the decaying city should be torn down. In 1994, the Walled City was demolished and replaced with a public park.

I hope you enjoyed this look at Loshi by GothiCatz. If you have a taste for high adventure, head out to GothiCatz and get acquainted with Loshi. And then set sail for Kowloon, a Second Life treasure, and explore the alleys of that City of Darkness.

GothiCatz

http://slurl.com/secondlife/GothiCatz/121/82/23

Kowloon in Second Life

http://slurl.com/secondlife//144/10/24

Video: City of Darkness - Life in Kowloon, The Walled City

Russian Snow Princess, Encore

Russian  Snow Princess at Lemania Indigo Designs

The highlight of winter in Second Life are the gorgeous winter scenes found on many of the sims, islands, and properties in the virtual world.  They  provided me a welcomed opportunity to create a new set of photos of my favorite winter fashion - Russian Snow Princess.  This outfit is a wonderful period piece that seems inspired by Tolstoy's Russia. Last year, I featured Russian Snow Princess in this blog, and it continues to be one of my most popular posts. But, I was so pleased with these new pictures that I wanted to share them with you. Well, I thought, why not bring back Russian Snow Princess for another performance? She deserves an encore and another bow. So allow me to present once again for your enjoyment, Russian Snow Princess 

Click on the pictures to enlarge them to their original size for better viewing.

Mariko Nightfire as Anna Karenina

Russian Snow Princess was designed by the marvelous Lemania Indigo, prolific designer and owner of Lemania Indigo Designs. Russian Snow Princess comes with corset, pants, gloves, stockings, footwear, a fur hat and a number of fur pieces, a flowing flexy skirt, and a prim skirt. It currently sells for L$495. You can create a number of different looks with this outfit. For a more complete description of Russian Snow Princess, please visit my original Russian Snow Princess post.

First Snowfall

About the pictures. Usually, when taking pictures for a fashion post, I use default settings so that the fashions are presented as most people will see them in Second Life. However, with these pictures, I wanted to use the winter backgrounds to create moods. To manipulate the color shading, lighting, and contrast of the backgrounds, I went off the default settings. But, in none of these pictures do I use windlight. By windlight, I am referring to atmospheric shaders.

Windlight is used by Second Life photographers to create sumptuous atmospheric and lighting effects. It's great for landscape photography. But, when the picture's subject and center of attention is avatars, I rarely use windlight especially when I want realism. Windlight does not favor avatars. It's harsh light can remove up to fifty percent of the details of a finely crafted skin.  That is why avatars will look like cartoons or plastic dolls under windlight. We are all familiar with that flashlight-in-your-face plastic look that we see in many SL pictures. Now, I understand that some people do like a cartoony look for their avatars. But, in general, avatars under windlight are cold and lifeless, just like a store mannequin. In these pictures, I applied various sky settings in the environmental settings, just like using windlight, but with atmospheric shaders turned off. I am also wearing a soft facelight with a narrow range. I get the mood creating backgrounds that I want. And my avatar is warmer and softer and light falls on me more realistically than under windlight.

Windlight or not, Russian Snow Princess is magical isn't it? Get it at Lemania Indigo Designs while it is still in season. And experiment taking portrait pictures of your avatars without windlight. You may be surprised at how lovely your avatars really are.

Lamania Indigo Designs Main Store

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Lemania/190/187/58

Pictures were taken at Ocelot Valley, designed and owned by Painter Meriman, at Cap Estel, a wonderful public park designed and owned by Maurice Messme, and at the residence of my dear friend, Jaysun Dagger.

Ocelot Valley
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Ocelot%20Valley/108/175/25

Cap Estel

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Cap%20Estel/198/136/26

Original Post for Russian Snow Princess

http://marikomagic.blogspot.com/2009/12/russian-snow-princess.html

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A Classic Christmas Rose

Christmas Rose by G Sloane Couture

I love fashions that capture a time and place. And what better time than the joyous Christmas Holiday and what better place than a nostalgic bygone era to which we yearn to return if not for a visit. Christmas Rose is a sumptuous and elegant holiday dress that truly captures those Classic Christmases of yesterday and brings them to our own time. I adore this dress. And I'll be wearing Christmas Rose throughout the holiday season in Second Life. This charming outfit was designed by Geryn Sloane, owner of G Sloane Couture. You can find Christmas Rose in the Christmas Shop located on the third floor of flagship store. Santa Claus is there too. Be sure to sit on Santa's lap to recieve a free gift.

Click on the pictures to enlarge them for better viewing.

I have recieved such glowing compliments wearing this dress. Christmas Rose comes with a rose shirt with fur cuffs, a Christmas ribbon skirt, a golden sash, and a golden neckwrap. It seems like it was designed with a gorgeous gift wrapping for a Christmas present in mind. Christmas Rose sells for L$500.

I do feel like a beautifully wrapped Christmas present in this outfit. Saying that, I can just hear my more flirtatious male friends (you know who are) saying that they can't wait to unwrap this present. Well, naughty boys don't receive presents on Christmas. They get coal in their stockings and a right cross to their jaws.

The Christmas Fashion Wreath that I am wearing about my hair was designed by Precious Restless, skin and fashion designer and co-owner, with her real life twin sister Vitabela Dubrovna,  of Boudoir. This wreath is a free holiday gift from Boudoir. It's wonderful, isn't it. Thank you Precious and Vitabela.

G Sloane Couture Flagship Store:

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Cedarwood/234/45/24

Boudoir:

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Bonaire12/161/130/997

Photos were taken at my home community of Ocelot Valley and at the residence of my dear friend, Jaysun Dagger

Ocelot Valley:

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Ocelot%20Valley/108/175/25

Related Post:

Russian Snow Princess (December 17, 2009)

http://marikomagic.blogspot.com/2009/12/russian-snow-princess.html

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them; and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace,

good will toward men.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Princess Anna

Princess Anna by MEB Fashion

The MEB 2010 Winter Collection from MEB Fashion was officially released earlier this week. There's always excitement around the release of the seasonal collections of MEB's owner and designer, MariaElena Barbosa. Oh, I may have built up the wrong expectations for this post. No, I'm not featuring items from the Winter Collection today; but, they are exciting. Look for them in future posts - guaranteed. What I want to blog, while autumn is still in the air,  is my very favorite outfit from the 2010 Fall Collection. Its a delightful creation called Princess Anna.

Princess Anna is exactly what I want and expect from Italian fashion. It's smart and stylish. It's playful and sexy. And it's so flattering on me. Can an outfit be all these things? Well, you tell me. Princess Anna will have you answering with an emphatic yes. Princess Anna sells for L$490 at MEB Fashion. 

Click on the pictures to enlarge them for better viewing.

Where to photograph a princess? At Le Mont Saint Michel, of course. Mont Saint Michel is a Second Life treasure. It is an accurate and full size replication of the famous tidal island in Northern France. This small rocky islet was consecrated to the Archangel Saint Michel in 708 AD and is famous for its Benedictine abby, a 13th century Gothic masterpiece, towering over 500 feet above the sea. Mont Saint Michel is actually an outcropping of granite conspicuously jutting out of a vast sandbank and exposed to powerful tides that can rush in over the tidal flats at speeds, famously described by Victor Hugo, ‘as swift as a galloping horse.’ The rocky islet is entirely surrounded by water twice a month, becoming a tidal island. The actions of the tides give Mont Saint Michel a wonderful mystical quality. I wanted to photograph Princess Anna with the medieval charm of the island's village as a backdrop. I hope you like the result.

The hair that I am wearing is from DrLife and is called Leena. Leena was designed by Leena Ying and sells for L$350. With Leena, you get 9 hair colors which you can select from a menu.

Strolling and Shopping on the Grand Rue at Mont Saint Michel 

Well, didn't I tell you that Princess Anna is all that. And there's more fashion magic at MEB Fashion. Be sure to catch the new 2010 MEB Winter Collection. I'll be blogging my favorites from the collection. So stay tuned.

MEB Fashion Main Store

http://slurl.com/secondlife/KLIO/86/200/23

DrLife Skins and Hair are available at Mariko in Mont Saint Michel

Mariko

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Mont%20Saint%20Michel/228/117/31

Previous posts for MEB Fashion:

From the MEB Spring Collection - Vogue (March 2, 2010)

http://marikomagic.blogspot.com/2010/03/from-meb-spring-collection-vogue.html

MEB Photo Contest Winner (November 15, 2009)

http://marikomagic.blogspot.com/2009/11/meb-photo-contest-winner.html

MEB Anette at Mimi's Choice (August 21,2009)

http://marikomagic.blogspot.com/2009/08/meb-anette-at-mimis-choice.html

Learn more about Le Mont Saint Michel in Second Life

http://mariko-nightfire.blogspot.com/2009/11/le-mont-saint-michel-in-second-life.html

Posing in front of Mariko, my fashion boutique in Mont Saint Michel

Pretty Lilly

Lilly by ALB Dream Fashion

I stopped by ALB Dream Fashion to pick up the monthly gift for the store's group members. Store owner and fashion designer extraordinaire, Analee Balut, gives her very devoted group members the most generous gifts. The store is also a joy to shop in - tasteful, airy, and set in an exotic North African desert. Much of her fashions are influenced and inspired by the color and cultures of Africa. The designs are some of the most exciting in Second Life.  When wandering about the store, a new collection of dresses caught my attention. Called Lilly, my first reaction was to draw in my breath and exclaim, 'Oh, how pretty'.  Pretty they are indeed. Lilly  is very fresh and very today, yet has a delightful redolence of nostalgia.  Lilly would be just the thing for those occasions when we want to be feminine, soft, and pretty ... very pretty.

Lilly come in seven colors - turquoise, red, khaki, black, blue, violet, white. It sells for sells for L$390. All seven colors are available in a  fatback  for L$1500. I bought all colors. Readers of my blog - Mariko Nightfire: A Virtual Life - know that  my beloved community of Hallelujah Azul recently closed. For this post, I photographed Lilly at various locations around Hallelujah Azul to preserve one last look at my long-time home.  

Mmmmm Yummy in Pink.

The strawberry ice cream at the Bumble Cafe is yummy too.

Surprised in Blue.

When running into that special someone,

it's best to be pleasantly surprised in blue.

Lilly in Black.

Sophisticated and Knowing.

He won't keep me waiting long. I'm in turquoise.

 

 A Red Cherry Swirl goes so well with cupcakes and tea at the Brazen Tarts.

Lilly in White. Lovely.

My hair is from ARGRACE and is called Soft Breeze. It was designed by rika Oyen. Soft Breeze comes in nine colors  - black, dark brown, light brown, red, copper, amber, platinum, blonde and dark blonde. They sell for L$250 per color. All nine colors are available in a fat pack for L$1500. 

My townhouse in the Garden District. Goodbye.

 

ALB Dream Fashion
http://slurl.com/secondlife/LAMU%20ISLAND/183/74/40

ARGRACE Mainstore

http://slurl.com/secondlife/shin%20zushi/150/162/26

Chinese Brush Painting

China, A Chinese Brush Painted Sim

Second Life offers many artistic pleasures; the best of which explore the potential within virtual worlds to be uniquely entertained and enlightened by the arts. In Second Life, I've experienced paintings by Vincent Van Gogh and Salvador Dali that have been rendered into three dimensions in our virtual space. So, rather than merely viewing the painting, one can actually enter the work, wander about its composition, and interact with its objects. Imagine walking about Vincent Van Gogh's Bedroom at Arles, viewing the room from all perspectives, and plopping down on Van Gogh's bed. It was great fun.

Click on the pictures to enlarge them for better viewing

But the most immersive art experience that I have had in Second Life was not an immersion in a particular work of art but immersion in an particular art form, that of Chinese Brush Painting. Chinese brush painting has a long history dating back to 2000 BC . Its techniques were codified in the 5th Century A.D. by the venerated master Hsieh Ho. Chinese brush painting emerged from calligraphy, considered by the Chinese as the highest art form, and utilizes strokes of a brush dipped in black or colored ink.   The artist paints with rapid brush strokes; some are strong and some are light, some are thick and some are thin, and some are wet and some are dry.  Each stroke is defining and never elaborated. The spirit (chi) of the artist flows from within and animates the movements of the brush. A master paints with authority and a spontaneity that captures the essence of the subject.

Above the China sim in Second Life is an encapsulated world where the virtual reality is that of brush painted impressions. Its not a world of realism; but one of essence. We walk among translucent shadows that are groves of bamboo in our mind's eye. In the distance, a dark shadow is a fisherman's shack set a shore of a lake whose rippling waters recede into the horizon. Above us is an ink washed sky. It's otherworldly; but hauntingly beautiful.

I showcased myself against this beautiful background because I want to introduce you to an updated look to my avatar. Many people express their creativity through the design of their avatars. Some of my friends change their shapes and skins so frequently that I recognize them chiefly by their name tags and not by their avatar. To me, my avatar is not a fashion accessory. Its design captures the essence of 'Mariko'. I am intimately familar with this essence. I know it when I see it. It's an important part of what defines me in Second Life. I've updated my avatar only once before. And any update must capture that essence.

Leena Ying, the owner of DrLife, is the greatest designer of avatars in Second Life. Her artistry is unsurpassed, and DrLife Skins are the best in Second Life. Leena is my oldest and dearest friend in this virtual world. She is the primary designer of my avatar. I perform the final tweeks. Leena had been trying to get me to update my avatar for almost a year as the artistry of her skins reached ever higher heights. Time and again, Leena would present me with a new skin. I would put it on; but, always revert back to my old skin. I could tell that this peeved her. But as artistically lovely as these new skins were, they just didn't capture 'Mariko'. Until she persented me this last one. It was close. Each skin has its own peculiarities that must be dealt with. And after countless tweeks and checks against references, 'Mariko' emerged once again. And the artistry is lightyears beyond what I previously had. Bless you, Leena.

The kimono that I'm wearing is from Sweetaholic Kimono Shop and is called Reishoku#black. It was designed by Asalt Eames and devil Babii and sells for L$500. Sweetaholic Kimono Shop has an outstanding collection of kimono and accessories. I love this particular kimono because it looks very much like my mother's kimono, rarely worn and then only for special occasions. It is a family treasure. Reishoku#black also comes with a black feather shawl. The hair that I am wearing is from DrLife and is called Leena. Leena was designed by Leena Ying and sells for L$350. With Leena, you get 9 hair colors which you can select from a menu.

China:
http://slurl.com/secondlife/China/107/100/1994

Sweetaholic Kimono Shop
http://slurl.com/secondlife/grasp/162/179/37

DrLife Skins and Hair are available at Mariko in Mont Saint Michel

Mariko
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Mont%20Saint%20Michel/228/117/31


Videos - Chinese Brush Painting:

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