Second Style Magazine

If you’ve been reading SexySecond lately then you already know about Stella Stapleton’s awesome photography. This week she reviewed some lingerie and the skins you see here, both from Mannon’s.

Stella came to us through a photography challenge for the last issue of our magazine. We are just now starting our sexysecond second photography challenge to be part of our third issue. If you would like to have a hand in picking the next 50 sexiest outfits in Second Life, dust off your camera and send in your pics!

In the last week or so Stella took a look at some lingerie by AmyEmily, and I pointed to some nice freebie skins from Rosemar. I also took a look at some gorgeous silks from Analise. The set to the left, Carmina, is my favorite, coming as it does with a number of combinations of layers and accessories, each richly textured and yummy.

Carmina is not “new” but it’s new to me- it had gotten lost in the vastness and messiness of my inventory. When I found the folder with Carmina in it, I also found a few more things that may have slipped past my filing clerk, so we’ll be having a neo-vintage show on the blog this week.

Till then!

In the melange that is SL fashion it can sometimes be hard to work out what’s hot, and what’s not. You can’t go wrong with a little black dress though, can you? Well, yes, you can (thinks of some of the nastily textured, overly skimpy and over-priced horrors she’s seen in far too many malls), but not with the three I’m going to show you today. These three will take you from day to night, from smart-casual thro’ formal to haute couture, and from absolutely free to outrageously expensive.

The first dress is from a designer that came to my attention just a few weeks ago through the Free*Style blog which featured her Peepcock Outfit. It was clear from then that Four Yip was a very talented designer and one to watch. Not only that, she hasn’t charged a single Linden for any of her outfits to date. Her most recent release is the Black Skull Dress which is available from the Free*Style HQ in Juicy. It come with a variety of attachments including this cute hat, a similar shoulder piece (not shown), two skirts, two chairs with pose (not shown) and the skull decollage dangle.

In these pictures I am also wearing my “favourite hair of the moment”, again from a designer I’d not heard of until recently but stumbled across whilst following up leads from the Free*Style blog (note to designers :: freebies work!). The Mermaid hair, shown here in my usual platinum blonde tone, isn’t free, but it’s mid-length messy curls perfectly frame the face for a casual modern look. I’d seriously recommend paying TEKUTEKU a visit, a hair designer to watch in my opinion.

This next dress, officially the sexiest dress in SL (according to me :p), I’m not sure I should really be telling you about as up until now it’s been MY secret. It’s one of those dresses which, when you look at the vendor image, really doesn’t jump out at you, so many of you I suspect have over-looked it. However, put it on, and WOW! It’s HOT.

Why am I getting so excited, you ask? There is a popular misconception amongst women (and men) that more flesh on show equals more sexy. This dress proves that wrong. From the front it looks incredibly demure. Classic and classy, obviously well made, but more suited to a nun than a sex-kitten. Turn around though and….. pheeewwww! Could that back BE any lower and still be legal? See the beautiful ruching of the skirt prim as it slides over the cheeks? Just perfect. Men just want to slide their hands down and…… let’s not go there I defy anyone to wear this dress and not turn heads.

Lastly, we can’t talk about fantastic black dresses without mention of what I consider to be the most fantastic dress I have seen in SL this year.

I saw it and snapped it up on SL Exchange before it had even reached the ears of the FashCon community, scrimping together every last Linden to afford it’s ginormous price-tag. However, in my eyes this isn’t just a dress, it’s a work of art. I’m afraid it is no longer available to buy, but check out Chambre Du Chocolat for some other exsquisite and unusual pieces of wearable art.

Talking of chocolate, have a good Easter everyone!

::What I’m Wearing::

All Images::

Skin:: Celestial Studios – (CS) Vogue Skin – Amber (Classic Glitter – Silver 1)
Shape:: my own
Eyelashes:: Cake – Cake – Deco lashes – Tintable
Eyes:: Skin Deep (now The Body Politik) – Skin Deep Real Hazel eyes/Twinkle Eyes
Manicure:: Love Soul – [Love Soul] Nail*Silver*
Shoes/Stockings:: Storm Schmooz – Storm Schmooz Carat 12
Jewellery:: Random Calliope – Rendezvous (No longer available)

Dress One::

Hair:: TEKUTEKU – =TEKUTEKU=mermaid(plutinumblond)
Dress:: Yips little store – YIPs blackskulldress /c/m

Dress Two::

Hair:: ETD – ETD Couture Collection: The Knot – Light Blonde
Dress:: LeeZu Baxter Designs – *LeeZu Baxter* Loren FlexiDress

Dress Three::

Hair:: TEKUTEKU – =TEKUTEKU=mermaid(plutinumblond)
Dress:: Chambre Du Chocolate – Fishook Dress (black) (No longer available)

Seen In World :: Yes
Review Copy :: No
Friends List :: No

Time flies when you have cute shoes…that’s what I always say.

My post this week will be short, sweet, and to the point. Last week Anessa featured the Nana Pumps from Enkythings, and they come in so many colors, I know you will find one that you will enjoy. Anessa also thew in some older releases from Enkythings that I really think are worth a look at. check out the link.

My ”DeLa-ite” of last week were the newest shoes from DeLa, these are pumps, with the most adorable ankle ribbon (shown left) and come in a wide range of colors to choose from.

Never one to rest, Anessa brought us some great write ups on the newest from Melanie Zhao of ZHAO Shoes.

And what about Tesla’s Sherry sandals (shown left). These are just what I want to see my feet in after a long and very cold winter!

I’m so excited to see all the sandals out for spring, and of course these include the Hampton Wedges from ETD. These shoes are just adorable!

Anessa also let us in on a little secret with the shoe store of Tree of Second Life. Some GREAT boots for those of you holding onto the last bits of winter.

And then there are the Peep toed Heels from Babette Ultsch of Kitties Lair. Sexy and sassy…these you don’t want to miss.

Last but not least is the amazing St. Patty’s Green Shoe contest we are having…the details are TOO huge to include all of them here, so you HAVE to go look. Let me just tell you for the grand prize winner  there is $2000L in cash, 8 Pairs of the Ltd. Edition Sherry St. Patrick’s Shoes (you can share with friends!), and A Collection of Shoes selected by Tesla herself!!!! there is also prizes for the 2 runner ups. So check out the rules and get those pictures in…time is a wasting!….

Until next week…

Issue #17 is now available in Second Life (visit our HQ location using this SLURL), from our website, and page-by-page on issuu.com.

March 8th was International Women’s Day, so we wanted to feature lots of international style in this month’s issue. From hanboks to hijab, we’ve tracked down tons of different cultural outfits as well as put together fun city-specific fashion looks for lots of cities around the world. We also are debuting three new monthly writers – Puma Jie, Ana Lutetia, and Milla Michanga.

Hope you enjoy issue #17. Next month will mark Second Style Magazine’s second anniversary issue! We have a lot of special things planned for April. Advertisers, don’t forget your ad content deadline is March 20th. Our publication date will be at the end of the first full week in April.

Who can resist Paris in the spring? Certainly not me! OK, not Paris, but Western France is my destination in a month or so’s time, and planning the trip has put me in the mood for European couture. And if it’s European-style you are after you need look no further than Frozen Turquoise Valentine, and designer Valenttina Carfagno.

I first became aware of Frozen Turquoise Valentine when FashCon opened to new designers in February. The quirky name and some eye-catching freebies put them firmly on my “must take a closer look” list. I bought a few items at that time, but it is Valenttina’s more recent releases that have really piqued my interest. I was thrilled then when she let me have a few to try on.

I have chosen three outfits to show you today, one casual daytime, one pretty evening wear, and one formal yet chic. With all three outfits I am wearing the Canimal – Essence (Lust)..of Simplicity skin, a review copy that Canimal passed to me a couple of weeks ago. These skins have been properly reviewed elsewhere, however I did not want their release to pass without comment. The skintones are beautiful, as one would expect from Canimal, but what stands out for me is the shading around the eyes which give real depth to the eye sockets. I wasn’t sure at first if this was something I liked, as it changes the way my face shape looks quite dramatically, but it has grown on me and is fast becoming a favourite.

The clothes called for a Mediterranean setting to do them justice so I headed to the lovely Rue d’Antibes in the early hours of the morning (courtesy of Torley’s wonderful windlight settings) to show them in their best light.

The first outfit, Carolina, comprises a dark purple plaid jacket, with scupltie collar and cuffs, teamed with a short black tulle skirt. The jacket comes on the shirt and system skirt layers only, which caused me some trouble when initially looking for a turtleneck to wear under it. However, it was by happy accident that I put on the jacket layer from Cubic Effect’s TunicDS for a funky layered look.

It’s off to Italy for my second look, and Valenttina’s Venecia outfit. Feminine and flirty, this skirt and top are perfect for a warm spring evening stroll with your sweetheart, meeting up with friends for drinks outside the local cafe. The texturing, on the top especially, is beautiful, a slight shimmer reflecting the red of the skirt.

My third outfit is Paris, the chicness of which lives up it’s name. The flirty layered skirt and cropped jacket are teamed with a feather and net hat to give a classy sexy look. Unfortunately the hat is no modify, so it doesn’t work with some hairstyles – it’s perfect with Armidi’s Milano hair though, which neatly fits on this tour.

I’m heading back to cold and misty England for now. At least the weather is better in Second Life!

What I’m Wearing::

Picture 1::

Skin:: Canimal – Essence (Lust)..of Simplicity
Shape:: my own
Hair:: ETD – ETD Aleah – Smoke Burnt
Eyelashes:: Cake – Cake – Flutter lashes – Tintable
Eyes:: Shapes by Zada – -SbZ- Eye Fidelity IdealEyes – Midnight Sun (o)
Manicure:: Skin Within – [SW] Amethyst Manicure
Jacket/Skirt:: Frozen Turquoise Valentine – FTV Carolina
Sweater:: Cubic Effect – !_Ce_Cubic effect Tunic D5(Black)
Tights:: Tete a Pied (now Fleur) – TaP Opaque Tights in Black
Boots:: Insolence – Charlotte Black Low Boots by INSOLENCE
Jewellery:: Shiny Things – (Shiny Things) Nighttime gems – black with 11 gems

Pictures 2 & 3::

Skin:: Canimal – Essence (Lust)..of Simplicity
Shape:: my own
Hair:: Armidi – Armidi Hair – The Glamorous I – Nutmeg
Eyelashes:: Cake – Cake – Flutter lashes – Tintable
Eyes:: Shapes by Zada – -SbZ- Eye Fidelity IdealEyes – Midnight Sun (o)
Manicure:: Skin Within – [SW] Russet Manicure
Outfit:: Frozen Turquoise Valentine – FTV Venecia
Shoes:: Maitreya – Maitreya Free Slinky Stilettos – Black Leather
Jewellery:: Cailyn’s Classic Jewelry – *Cailyn’s* Teardrop Necklace Set (Silver/Baltic Amber) (Butsu); *Cailyn’s* Lillyane Bangle (Silver/Amber)

Pictures 4 & 5::

Skin:: Canimal – Essence (Lust)..of Simplicity
Shape:: my own
Hair:: Armidi - Armidi Hair – The Milano – Mahogany
Eyelashes:: Cake – Cake – Flutter lashes – Tintable
Eyes:: Skin Deep (now The Body Politik) – Skin Deep Real Hazel eyes/Twinkle Eyes
Manicure:: Skin Within – [SW] Russet Manicure
Outfit:: Frozen Turquoise Valentine – FTV Paris
Shoes:: Maitreya – Maitreya Free Slinky Stilettos – Black Leather
Hat:: Frozen Turquoise Valentine – part of Paris outfit
Jewellery:: Cailyn’s Classic Jewelry – *Cailyn’s* Teardrop Necklace Set (Silver/Baltic Amber) (Butsu); *Cailyn’s* Lillyane Bangle (Silver/Amber)

• Seen in world:: Yes
• Review Copies:: Yes
• Friends List:: No

Howdy, so the shoe world spins on! There is never rest for the weary, and with such great shoes to wear…who really is all that weary? To start our week, Anessa showcased Storm Schmooz’s Suomi Pumps.(Shown Left) All of us at O.Y.T. love the workmanship of Storm’s creations and these pumps are not different.

Next on Anessa’s list were the new release from Sandy Cleghorn of FUEL – the Bambee Wedges. A cork soled wedge with a T-strap upper just in time for the beginnings of spring.

Last week I actually got off my tushy long enough to post some fabulous footwear, and when talking about the fabulous, Shiny Things is never far from the subject. Fallingwater Cellar Door’s Brocattos flats and the older Glossy Ribbon Boots really tickled my fancy along with the upper sale area of Shiny Things! It is definitely worth a peak.

Anessa brought us the fabulous freebie alert for the week, the Elise Mary Janes that just happen to be in Tesla’s flagship store!  She also brought to the limelight a store I had never heard of before, but then again I like to hide under rocks…Anyways, theTwilight Pump from Yuuki Kurosawa of Sugar Cube is a realistic pump that I know I would wear in RL and SL.

The personal highlight of my shoe life last week was when Anessa and I were able to rush over to Armidi when they released their new Dhali Bow Platforms! (shown left) Anessa was dying for these shoes when she saw them in last months issue of Second Style and was literally frothing at the mouth to get her hands on them. Ok not really, but it makes for good press. :) Anyways, these are CUUUUTE shoes.  

Erpla Prieto showed me her new goodies from Periquita and I just love the bright, vibrant, fun colors and shapes she puts into her shoes. Her Bootie Shoes and the Fat Dolly are sassy and just what the doctor ordered after a long dark winter.

Shiny Things made another appearance, I just couldn’t help it! The Francoise Flats recently released are so detailed and perfect for a casual denim day!

Maitreya’s Onyx LaShelle never disappoints and her Verve Pumps are gorgeous! Just Gorgeous. What else is there to say, but go get some if you haven’t already?

I don’t know how she does it, but Anessa finds the coolest shoes. The Tattoo Rain Boots by Coke Dreadlow of UBU (shown left) are just too cool! Funky and Fun, I dont’ think I’ve ever seen skulls on rainboots, and I love it!

Lastly, I’d like to invite everyone to the Fashion for Fido Fashion Show and Charity Auction. There just happens to be exclusives from Fuel and Maitreya up on the auction block and the event is for a great cause. The auction begins March 6th 8am SLT and the Fashion show is March 8th at 12noon SLT. Check out the link for the details & good luck to the bidders.

Well ta ta for now! Have a great week and I’ll see ya laters gators…Graciana McMillan crawls back under her rock.