Between The Seasons

Even though meteorologically, spring starts today, and even though I am sick of the cold, grey weather, it’s hard to come up with a daffodils-and-hyacinths-look when the window shutters are rattling in the storm outside. Instead, a TV-documentation on fashion designer Sonia Rykiel inspired me to create an outfit based on some of Rykiel’s collections from the 1970s, perfect for that time of the year.

Today’s look contains two pieces I have used in the same combination before, but they fit really well into the concept: if you look past the hippie and disco fashion, a lot of clothes from the 1970s are a re-interpretation of the silhouettes which were en vogue in the 1920s – especially noticeable in haute couture. For Sonia Rykiel, it became one of her signature looks which she still keeps varying several decades later. What I like about it is that despite the obvious references to bygone (fashion) eras, her creations never look dated.

Body:

• Skin: (5th & Oxford) Brooke FAIR – Nightfall 4
• Eyes: [LeLutka]-Reflections-Mist-Eyes
• Lashes: (Miriel) Lashes – Feather [not available anymore]
• Hair: !lamb. Dog Roses – ink

Outfit:

• Cardigan: *Thimbles* Jim Jones Doomberry Kool-aid
• Top: [Whippet & Buck] Cole Boatneck Top ALABASTER
• Skirt: *ICING* Fields of Bloom [part of outfit]
• Gloves: (5th&Oxford) Leather Gloves – M *white*
• Stockings: Stockings by Bettie’s – ivory [formerly 1-800 Bettie’s]
• Shoes: Maitreya Neyya * Toe Cap White

Other:

• Pose: Reel Expression – Posh 13

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Seltsam, im Nebel zu wandern!

The headline is taken from Hermann Hesse’s “Im Nebel” and translates to “[How] strange to wander in the fog” – a poem which often comes to my mind on days like this, when no ray of sunshine penetrates the misty grey. Despite the melancholy air of poem and picture, I really enjoy spending time by myself, both in the real world and online, and pictures like this showcase the appeal SL holds in this respect also.

COCO’s swing coat is the perfect outfit to wear for such an outing: undeniably chic, yet perfectly blending in with the landscape, one can pretend being a member of the landed gentry while the choice of footwear betrays the city girl, walking with her head in the clouds. Combined with simple, sensible accessoires, Aderyn is ready to bear the second half of winter in style, waiting for spring to arrive.

Also, I have been on a quest to replace my cherished Miriel eyes recently, because I felt it was unfair to keep showcasing items on this blog which are not available anymore. I have not yet found a permanent substitute for Miriel’s lashes (and tremble at the thought of fitting another pair), but came up with two alternatives for the eyes by LeLutka and L.Fauna.

Shopping for eyes has proven to be more complicated than initially anticipated, because unfortunately a) a lot of bloggers do not state which eyes they are wearing in their posts, so it was not that easy to compile a list of shops to check out, and b) the majority of shops did not offer demos for their eyes, and I am not willing to spend money on something I might not like on myself at all.

Eyes can completely alter the character of a face and I have a very clear idea of what I want to look like in Second Life, so I decided to pass on those who did not offer demos and bought the Chai eyes, which have a wonderful depth and shine. The irises are slightly bigger than I prefer, however, which is great for an innocent look, but might prove unsuitable for other designs.

Two days later, LeLutka released its new collection of eyes and at first I was going to pass on them as well because there are no demos available either, but after seeing them on someone who used to wear Miriel’s eyes as well, I came to the conclusion that I would probably like them and bought a pair. It turned out a risk worth taking as indeed they came rather close to the look I was already used to and have a great texture, but if not for this other person, I’d most likely have refrained from this purchase.

So, I’d like to close this blog post with thanking those creators who do offer demos for their eyes and those bloggers who credit which ones they are wearing in their posts, both is very much appreciated!

Credits for the first picture:

Body:

• Skin: (5th & Oxford) Brooke FAIR Kitty 2
• Eyes: [LeLutka]-Reflections-Mist-Eyes
• Lashes: (Miriel) Lashes – Feather [not available anymore]
• Hair: Clawtooth by Clawtooth: Love Letters (Black Beauty)

Outfit:

• Coat: *COCO*_CheckSwingCoat(Cream)
• Skirt: Ingenue :: Vintage Basics :: Secretary Skirts :: Apple [tinted]
• Shirt: [W&B] Cole Boatneck Top Black
• Gloves: (5th & Oxford) Leather Gloves – M *black*
• Stockings: *Sheer* Stockings 01: Nylon Black
• Shoes: Tesla – High Oxford *chocolate*

Other:

• Pose: [LAP] – F-Blogger11-Poofyskirt PR4

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No H8

Usually, I keep my personal life out of the blog posts, apart from the odd comment on the side. Who I am outside of Second Life® does not play a role in them. Today, however, I’d like to take a stand on a topic I cannot discuss without bringing my personal life up: same-sex marriage.

I have lived most of my adult life as an out lesbian, and these days I identify as a bisexual woman with a preference for women. The day my home country, Germany, introduced civil unions for same-sex couples is still very vivid in my memory. Back then, I assumed it would be the first step on a road to complete legal equality, but the process slowed down and there still are differences between marriages and civil unions.

Being a second-class citizen hurts – because that’s what you are if you choose to spend your life with a person who doesn’t have a different gender than your own. It hurts not only when you already have a partner, but also when you are single. Every day you are reminded that you don’t have the same rights most of your fellow citizens take for granted.

Those who oppose marriage equality often claim that marriages and families need to be protected, and I agree with them. However, they don’t need protection from gay couples, but from the hardships life keeps serving all of us. Allowing two people of the same gender to marry does not wreck heterosexual marriages. Allowing a person to be covered by their same-sex partner’s social security benefits does not harm children. Granting same-sex couples the legal visitation rights should their partner end up in hospital does not make the divorce rate among heterosexual couples go up.

Legally, it doesn’t matter if the person who brings chicken broth soup to my bed when I’m sick, who I buy a house with or who I travel together with is a man or a woman. We live in a time where equal legal rights are claimed for men and women – why, I ask, do so many people still insist that a marriage can only consist of a man and a woman, then?

In the Western world, marriage is only legal if verified by an official of some sort – you are not required to wed in a church, synagogue, mosque or temple. Why, then, apply religious convictions to a civil union? Why deny civil rights to citizens? The religious groups may hold the views they chose, even if they don’t agree with mine. But the law and the government should not distinct between people based on who these want to live with.

In my virtual disguise, I may look old-fashioned or conservative to many people, prancing around the grid in hats and gloves and demure attire. But my convictions are neither, and this is why I chose to support this campaign, even if I live in another country. Everyday life can be hard enough as a “non-straight” person, especially in the beginning, when you only start coming to terms with the realisation that you feel and indeed are very different from the majority of people around you. It takes time to process and a bit of courage to openly acknowledge this and guide your life against the written and unwritten laws of how you should spend your days. But it is possible, and no government in the world should be allowed to have a veto in the matter of such fundamental questions as the gender of the person you want to commit yourself to.

In 1776, the Virginia Declaration of Rights stated “that all men are by nature equally free and independent, and have certain inherent rights, of which, when they enter into a state of society, they cannot, by any compact, deprive or divest their posterity; namely, the enjoyment of life and liberty, with the means of acquiring and possessing property, and pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety.”

We have overcome the legal discrimination based on social classes, based on gender and on race – it’s time to take the next hurdle in order to make this come true.

And for those who want to know:

• NoH8-attachments: available at the gallery ( http://slurl.com/secondlife/Cupcake/54/51/28 )
• Skin: Fleur Allure Alabaster Winter Nights 2
• Eyes: (Miriel) Realistic Eyes – Strong Green [not available anymore]
• Lashes: (Miriel) Lashes – Feather [not available anymore]
• Hair: Clawtooth by Clawtooth – “Timeless Glamour” (Black Beauty)
• Shirt: [Whippet & Buck] Cole Boatneck Shirt Alabaster

ETA: I completely forgot that those shots were supposed to be done wearing white shirts, so I updated it with a different image.

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Blogger Appreciation Week(end)

In an uncharacteristic bout of courage I asked for permission to join the “Fashion Blogger Group” yesterday and despite my doubts I was admitted without further ado. Everyone involved was really friendly and accessible – the latter being something one can easily forget when the people are only experienced through their blogs.

Blogger Appreciation Week culminated in a party for bloggers today, and even though we all received an overwhelming amount of presents (I’ll probably be busy opening boxes until the end of the week), the best about it was this sense of community. It seems the group will continue to exist when this weekend is over, and I personally believe this is a great institution.

There was a dress code enforced at the party to keep the lag as low as possible: blue jeans and white tank top without any prim attachments, bare feet (no shoes or prim feet), no jewellery or other attachments; hair was allowed as well as 1 prim attachment to face/ head, for example lashes or a single piercing or pointy ears, and a not too elaborate AO.

Body:

Skin: Fleur Allure Alabaster Kitten 1
Eyes: (Miriel) Realistic Eyes – Mossy Rock
Lashes: (Miriel) Lashes – Feather
Hair: >TRUTH< Nikhita – night

Outfit:

Top: [Whippet & Buck] Hykova Buttoned Tank ALABASTER
Jeans: /artilleri/ Nina highwaist pants *blue*
Finger / Toe Nails: [Love Soul] Nail*Colors*Red

Other:

Pose: -AnaLu- *fresh poses* 5

Of course, I tried to stay true to my blog theme and preferred styles. Usually, my outfits aren’t that casual, but the high-waisted jeans gives it a bit of a retro feeling, and the skin choice wasn’t limited. Truth’s “Nikhita” hair turned out to have lowest prim number of all I tried and still works as a retro hairdo. A little colourful accent with red nails (even though nothing can realy save the avatars’ feet from looking strange without any shoes on), the new Whippet & Buck tanktop, and I was ready to go.

It was fun to see how different we all looked despite wearing the same “uniform.” Amazing, how much personal style you can express with such limited means.

Every single one of the organizers and content creators who spoiled us so generously would deserve a separate thank you, but I can only single out Callie Cline for happily taking it into her hands to organize such a mass event after initiating it. Many thanks also to everyone else who was part of it. It was through this group that I stopped thinking about bloggers as “them” and started to include myself into the term.

Thank you!

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