Second Style Magazine

Reasons to Love Fall: Jackets

Because I live in a state with an utterly rueful, detestable winter, my friends are always surprised to hear that I actually welcome fall’s coolness with an open heart and (many) open windows.

I take great delight in wearing jackets.  They’re not (always) terribly expensive so I can justify having an array of colors and styles to spruce up and add flavor to whatever droll ensemble I’m sporting.  Jackets can also hide a lot–body parts you’re not especially in love with, a shirt you didn’t have time to wash, or bare skin you can’t or aren’t inclined to cover with anything else.

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that AOHARU’s machang Pichot continues to produce exquisite pieces more accurately described as works of art than vetements; we’ve come to expect no less of her.  Her newest jean jackets– though passed to me a little while ago– became all the more appealing to me this week when fall arrived in RL.  I paired this one with Miel’s yummy little skirt and a burnished top I grabbed from Muism when I was checking out their new releases and sale.  The top’s gingery, copper-like hue reminded me of the fallen leaves I found my flats crunching on while I walking outside last weekend.

I highly recommend heading to these shops to start building your fall wardrobe.  At the very least, go snatch up some jackets for yourself; the cool breezes of fall will have you shivering soon, anyway.  Hit me up in-world if you want a shopping buddy– there’s always room in my virtual closet for another coat (or seven).

Fashion Notes

Headband: ‘Cerre-tete Camelia Noir’ by BOUTIQUE COCO & CO

Hair: ‘Bang Bang – Kit Kat (sideways bangs)’ by !lamb

Jacket: ‘ShortJeanJacket_White’ by AOHARU

Shirt: ‘[Smock Waist Top]_Orange’ by *Muism*

Skirt: ‘cali cords – sculpted skirt w/ belt – midnight’ by Miel

Gloves: ‘Full Finger Gloves White’ by (DoMoCo)

Reasons to Love Fall: Warm Colors

There are a plethora of reasons why I simply adore the fall. I love the cool, crisp air that makes it necessary to bundle up in fitted jackets and matching gloves/scarves, I’m smitten with the dazzling array of colors that start to pop all over the trees in the park across the street, and I delight in the activities of autumn– pumpkin carving, haunted houses, and corn mazes.  I also have a particular fondness for drinking copious amounts of apple cider.

Dressing Brig to match my warm, cozy mood is always quite engaging this time of year. I’ve had toraji Voom’s deliciously patterned tweed jacket in brown for some time now, but found myself back at **DPyumyum** just the other day gazing at the other colors on the wall, too.  In case it hasn’t been obvious as of late, Maria Gherardi’s ‘Gigi Tank Tops’ have become a staple in Brig’s wardrobe.  The relaxing chocolate brown jacket and toasty red of the tank top weave together in a comforting richness that, I think, represents my favorite season nicely.  I topped my new sassy fri.day locks off with one of Pididdle’s Hair Dangles from the Gatcha Gatcha Fest.  Its rustic earthiness reminded me of the leaves and twigs that catch in my hair when I roll about in the leaves.  Yes, I still roll about in leaves.  Sometimes.

Cheers, Brig.

Fashion Notes

Hair: ‘Rashelle – Timid Brown’ by fri.day

Hair Dangle: ‘Hair Dangle – Gatcha Gatcha Fest 002′ by PIDIDDLE

Jacket: ‘tweed jacket/brown:check’ by **DP**yumyum

Tank: ‘Gigi Tank Top (firebrick)’ by [MG Fashion]

Jeans: ‘Boyfriend Jeans’ by Maitreya

Listening to: ‘We are Golden’ by Mika

The Goth

As a modern movement, Goth started as a component of the punk rock scene.  Now, of course, it has become a complex subculture and one of the most controversial typecasts in all high school society. The Goth has quite a few (often false) myths surrounding her, including rumors that she’s always depressed, is angry and violent, adores vampires, and practices witchcraft.

Certainly, The Goth is more varied than her peers give her credit for.  She often has a rather sophisticated taste in music, art, and literature– especially Victorian and Edwardian history.  She’s interested in thought-provoking topics simply out of reach of her peers, including racism, way, and discrimination.  Despite what most think, she’s typically non-violent, pacifistic, and quite tolerant, even if a staunch realist.  Although she’s often perceived as sullen, withdrawn, and lifeless, The Goth is, in fact, just painfully shy out of her comfort zone; amongst friends she opens up and thrives.

Many Goths choose to wear black clothing, heavy accessories, and overcast makeup accented by zany hairdos and strikingly bold body jewelry.  Many Goths are spurned by their peers for their refusal to live according to societal standards.  Rather than the challenge against societal norms it’s often perceived to be, The Goth’s vesture might, in fact, be a result of her free-thinking, imaginative disposition.

Fashion Notes

Hat: ‘Winter knit(Black)’ by Ce Cubic Effect

Hair: ‘Happy – brown’ by ::69::

Long Necklace: ‘Sophisticated long necklace/black’ by Twosome

Short Necklace: ‘Pearl Necklace Black’ by {SMS}

Arm Warmers: ‘Armwarmers – Black’ by Maitreya

Gloves: ‘Full Finger Gloves Black’ by (DoMoCo)

White Tank: (part of) ‘meduse’ by ::SUGARCUBE::

Black Tank: ‘Gigi Tank Top (charcoal)’ by [MG Fashion]

Ribbon Belt: (part of) ‘[Oversized Shirt]_White’ by *Muism*

Pants: ‘My harem pants black’ by Milk Motion

The fun embroidered jewelry sets that Bliesen & Maitai have out at the jewelry fair were the inspiration for my fun retro styling today.

Each set comes with a several options for color changing metals and beads as available which gives them huge versatility.

Handwork being such a lost art, it’s great to see Bliesen and Maitai celebrating it with these releases.

The earrings here are part of another set – Naiades – also available at jewelry fair and most likely at their mainstore after the fair.

Where to get it all?

• Shape – Gidge Custom Shape
• Hair – Novocaine - Edwina – Champagne
• Skin – Blowpop – AVA – Tone C – Kitty Kitty
• Jewelry – Polly, Hilda, Naiades all from Jewelry Fair - BLIENSEN AND MAITAI
• Top – Merlynn’s Closet - Strappy Beaded Tank
• Jeans- Callie cline - Floral Wash Jeans
• Shoes – DUH Clogs - in Grap
• Nails- PXL Creations Manicure in Red 1
• Eyes Poetic colors – Lavender Fields

For our last Friday Feature of the month we are focusing on the Tattoos spread by Darkley Aeon.

This beautifully captured pictorial is full of images taken in-world of avatars wearing extraordinary tattoos…

View the entire spread  in Second Style’s 27th Issue.

The Teacher’s Pet

Often spotted near or around the teacher’s desk, The Teacher’s Pet is a student devoted almost solely to pleasing her instructors in order to earn their esteemed approval.

Also referred to as a ‘brown noser, ’suck-up,’ and ‘kiss-ass,’ The Teacher’s Pet stops at nothing to earn the esteem of her instructors.  She obsequiously volunteers for every classroom/school activity, bestows her teachers regularly with various gifts (flowers, apples, paper weights, pencils, etc), and nauseates her peers with her overly friendly, outgoing attitude.  Because of her tendency to ignore everyone besides her instructors, The Teacher’s Pet often doesn’t have many friends except for others who also spend their academic career in the teacher’s spotlight.

The Teacher’s Pet’s efforts often result in her rising through the ranks of school hierarchy faster than her peers.  She’s an expert at applying flattery and specializes in excessive, often over-the-top compliments.  Her resume of persuasive skills allows her to get (basically) anything she wants in the classroom and serves as an effective cloak for any questionable activities she chooses to engage in.

Besides the visual cues already mentioned, you’ll know The Teacher’s Pet when you see her based on her neat, tidy appearance.  She often dresses a tad formally, wearing dresses and suit jackets while her classmates choose to sport sweats and sneakers.  Many suggest that her formal attire is an attempt to appear more mature or on an equal playing field with her instructors– something that gives her more leverage when she negotiates for what she wants.

Fashion Notes

Hair: ‘Cassie – Timid Brown’ by fri.day

Glasses: ‘Arae’ by Solar Eyewear

Neck Sweater: ’stole(Black)’ by Ce Cubic Effect

Jacket: ‘check jacket’ by Milk Motion

Tank: ‘[Tank Top]_White’ by *Muism*

Bottoms: ‘Jeans *moss*’ by Zaara

The Class Clown

The Class Clown’s purpose seems to be to provide comic relief to classroom life.  Tools in her droll arsenal include biting sarcasm, impersonations, one-liners and quips, and daftness.  She’s quick to provide a joke, a snappy rejoinder, and even a bit of slapstick.

The Class Clown is quirky, playful, and has a sense of humor that penetrates all levels of social hierarchy.  She’s capable of pointing out the absurdities of any social group in the school in a heartbeat and transition instantaneously to poking fun at her own niche of friends.  She’s usually surrounded by a large circle of friends because she’s entertaining and because others fear being on the wrong end of her jokes.  Oftentimes she’s even given leeway with instructors because she’s genuinely entertaining.

A large amount of debate surrounds the reasons behind The Class Clown’s buffoonery.  While some suggest that she suffers from immaturity, a constant need for attention, or retarded emotional development, others insist that The Class Clown is just naturally charismatic and outgoing, in constant pursuit of any and all outlets for creativity and expression.  If her behavior degenerates or becomes too disruptive, though, The Class Clown can transform into the much-loathed Bully.

The Class Clown’s accoutrement is as eclectic and varied as she is.  Her garments are often mismatched and odd, not season appropriate, and even ironic.  As a whole, they reflect her lighthearted, frolicsome attitude and are often colorful,  airy and whimsical– just like she is.

Fashion Notes

Hair:‘Ono hair – mocha brown’ by *Kookie*

Scarf: ‘Halifax Scarf TANGERINE’ by *~*Puddles*~*

Dress: ‘Dots’ dress by *NINIA*

The Band Geek

Often found lurking near football fields or practice rooms, The Band Geek is heavily involved in marching and/or concert bands and often devotes much of her out-of-school time to musical performance.

The Band Geek is a herd creature– you rarely see her without other Band Geeks by her side.  While many Band Geeks associate with individuals outside of band, most prefer to inbreed, dating and devoting their attention and energy only to their melodious comrades.  If she can be convinced to do otherwise, The Band Geek makes for a fun, inventive, and loyal friend.

The Band Geek has an amazing ability to adapt to any weather condition instantaneously, be it rain, snow, extreme heat, or tornados– you’ll usually see her in a layered concoction of clothing.  Her diet consists of energy drinks and sugar, often supplemented by her director with waterade– a blend of powdered drink mix, hose water, and ice.  For this reason, The Band Geek is often unusually peppy and on-edge, as if on a constant caffeine or sugar high.

The Band Geek is one of the easiest individuals to spot around a school’s campus; except for rare occasions, she’s either playing an instrument, spinning a flag/baton, marching in a military fashion, or humming music.  Her dress, when she’s not in her band uniform, can be anything from surprisingly trendy and edgy to unbelievably shabby and distasteful to just plain confusing.  It’s best not to rely on visual cues to identify a Band Geek– stick with the behavioral markers.

Fashion Notes

Hair: ‘Klaire – Cocoa’ by ! iN ESSE !

Jacket: ‘MG Louis Jacket (olivedrab)’ (group gift) by [MG Fashion]

Purple Tank: ‘Gigi Tank Top (eggplant) by [MG Fashion]

White Tank: ‘[Tank Top]_White’ by *Muism*

Belt: ‘TwinSkinnyBelt_White’ by AOHARU

Bottoms: ‘BF Jeans’ by Maitreya

Flute: ‘Manual flute(Silver) for HUMAN’ by +*TINY LOVE*+

There are still a few days to get your ads in for Second Style’s October/Halloween issue!

Be sure to check out our fantastic new rates as well!  We’re more affordable, but still offering the same great readership that Second Style is known for.

Our September issue has had over 11,000 readers ALREADY!! (not including our in-world readers)

You can contact Felicity Blumenthal in-world for via e-mail (felicityblumenthal@yahoo.com) for all advertising inquires.

The Girl Next Door

Known for her unassuming femininity and wholesomeness, The Girl Next Door is typically open, straightforward, and genuine– neither her social, economic, nor sexual intentions are concealed.  She’s sweet-tempered, friendly, and often innocent (but unquestionably appealing).  One need only turn toward television or popular fiction for a plethora of examples of this classic stereotype; think Winnie Cooper in ‘The Wonder Years’ and Lana Lang in ‘Smallville.’

The Girl Next door often goes unnoticed because she’s so familiar she somehow meshes into the fabric of daily life– she’s reliable and stable in that way.  That said, she almost always has a comfortably large circle of friends because she’s unpretentious and amiable.

Typically, it’s only a matter of time before someone sees The Girl Next Door for the diamond in the rough she is and snatches her up, much to the surprising disappointment of the general social circle.  In the idealized American context, falling in love with The Girl Next Door is an archetypal romantic fiction.

Spotting The Girl Next Door isn’t too hard; she’ll have a laid-back demeanor appearance because she’s not keen on pleasing anyone but herself.  Look for comfortable tops, bottoms, and accessories that nonetheless have an appetizing spin to them.  Though she won’t be strutting down the hallways in the season’s hottest couture, she’ll most certainly call attention to herself because her taste is deliciously all her own.

Fashion Notes

Hair: ‘Babys on Fire – Kit Kat’ by !lamb

Necklace: ‘Sophisticated long necklace/black’ by Twosome

Tank: ‘White Lace Strappy Top’ by Narwhal

Overalls: ‘jordyn marine’ by (Kunglers)

Arm Warmers: ‘Armwarmers – Black’ by Maitreya

I am sporting a gorgeous new shape from Sui Generis – Viveca. Assymetrical in a beautiful way, with broad shoulders and a strong set of features, I’m in love with her look. What do you think?

I am bringing you some gorgeousness from Donna Flora today as well. If you have not been yet, let me just tell you that Donna Flora can dress a Valley Girl to the Gibson girl. Her range is amazing and I think you’ll find a trove of gorgeous original styles if you pop by.

She also makes over the top gorgeous costume jewelry, which I picked up to coordinate with this fun bright look.
And speaking of Jewelry…….one of my FAVORITE Jewelers on the GRID is celebrating her marriage by creating several wedding sets which are NOW available at EARTHSTONES! Congratulations Abraxxa!

I’m wearing Destiny in Gold – just a click of the diamond and I go from engaged to married! VOILA! There is a man’s ring which is included – I have to drag Silo into human form to make him pose with me to show it off!

Just to show you this beautiful face from Sui Generis one more time – this is what you get when you buy one of the shapes – three shapes with just slightly different facial expressions – plus skirt shape! YAY!

So gorgeous!

Where to Get it?
Shape – Sui Generis - Viveca

Skin - Laqroki – Jen

Hair – Truth – Twiggy

Dress and Necklace/Earrings – Donna Flora Merena and Leila

Wedding Set - EarthStones – Destiny in Gold