More Than Meets the Eye

LOTD090831, originally uploaded by Grazia Horwitz.

When today during coffee break, I checked my mail and found an inventory offer from fellow blogger and new fashion designer Elysium Eilde from Elymode, I couldn’t wait to log in to see what she sent to me. This lovely long dress was waiting for me upon coming home. Ely Eilde is still pretty new at making clothes, but this one is really nicely done, with a pretty rumpled waist and and a subtle sheer skirt. A nice detail is the series of little buttons on the back of the waist. Promising design, makes me want to see more of Elysium’s creations.
I have kept today’s look fairly simple, as the halter cleavage is enough of an eye catcher already, so I’m just wearing Mandala‘s Soul 2 set in purple.

Today’s hair is Cake from Magika in Blonde C and I’m wearing my favourite PXL Creations skin, Kim natural NE nude lips.

LOTD090830, originally uploaded by Grazia Horwitz.

The ivory Hope skins from Tuli inspire me, this one is a group special, available in the mushroom in her shop and I just had to use it for an outfit! I’m wearing the skirt and corset of Leezu’s Mina dress with the sheer coal top from Maitreya. The pasties are from Designs of Darkness (D.o.D). I’m also wearing R2′s black Pele boots, and the blach mid length gloves from 5th & Oxford (not in the main shop, but in their satellite at Muse) The diamond ring is from Paper Couture (tinted to make it more demure and fitting in with the rest of the outfit) and the bangles are Dian, black, from Dela. The gorgeous posture collar is not available for sale anymore. It’s part of the Arachne outfit from Last Call, which, if you are lucky, you might still find at a yard sale. The perfect short hair cut is from Little Heaven, 13 rabi in ash.

LOTD090829, originally uploaded by Grazia Horwitz.

The snotaap cardigan from Ducknipple makes the idea of the summer ending soon, not too bad, I like this snuggly knitted cardigan, in pinks and purples. I’m wearing it with the blueberry Pinned Flower tank from Très Blah and Kari’s Rebel jeans. The Mauve scarf from Maitreya is adding a nice highlight to the outfit, and I couldn’t resist wearing Miel’s Bella peepers, because they are texture change and have this lovely antique pink/lila option.

I’m wearing fri.day’s Neva 2 in Delighted blond, and Curio’s Beach Sundust dark Jelly fish 2 skin

Click pic for all the make ups

In RL I love Shu Uemura and MAC make up. Both brands use premium pigments and their pressed eye shadows and blushers and such will last you a century. Aside from that, even while the colours may look quite bold in their boxes, they will leave a subtle but deep shade on your eye lid or cheek… until you make your brush or applicator wet and apply it like that, then the full electric colour fest will be revealed and it’s that way you create the best evening make ups.

That’s the effect you get with Chai‘s Nightlife make ups. They are eclectic, electric, bold and chic. For a night on the town, for a smoldering look, instense, mesmerising. 6 Exquisiste make ups in this series and of course like with all the Chai Nova skins, the lips and the eyebrows are moddable. Check Launa’s blog for the latest news on Chai skins and her other products!

(Lingerie: Lovelace; hair: Decoy)

Click photo for all the make ups

I might as well make Saturday my skin blog day, because I have an inventory full again. I just never get bored with the skills and creativity of skinners who go through a lot of  trouble and effort to really make their skins from scratch, and not -like you see often these days- slap a make up bought on XStreet onto an Eloh or Sezmra base.  Personally I’m a fan of drawn skins, but I certainly admire the blending skills of those who mix (legit) photo source material into their own handwork and make it look good. Anyway, I’m rambling, and this post is really about a spotlight on Cleo, the latest skin in the ever increasing collection at Dutch Touch.

Cleo is more malleable to a wider variety of shapes than the previous skins Iki made. Whereas Dune and Mauve for a lot of people would require massive shape tweaking, Cleo will fit you easier.  She comes in 3 skintones and 10 make ups (plus 2 brow versions and freckles!). If you like a soft, feminine skin, Cleo is one to consider.

(Lingerie Dolores, by Insolence; Hair Genie, by Trruth)

Click here for more make ups

Tuli has created an additional skin tone for her succesful Hope skin line: Ivory. Ivory is almost translucent and comes with 10 delicious make ups and a push up version, which is also shown on several of the pics in the slide show.

Of course, the body work is what you may expect from Ms. Asturias, soft and VERY well done!

(Lingerie: Le Petit Prince, Hair: Truth)

LOTD090828, originally uploaded by Grazia Horwitz.

Tuli just finished the Ivory versions of her Hope skins and shared some with me and they are beautiful. They are almost diaphanous, with some very subtle, and some stronger make ups, and they come in a normal and a generous push up version.
So that called for a look made around this pretty face and body. I’ve chosen the obsidian Melusine gown from Evie’s Closet and then went to SLink to get some of Siddeans Sachara Elf ears. Siyu Suen’s Amirah necklace is not a new release @ Illusions, but it’s gorgeous and with the metal change options it works perfectly with this gown.
To complete today’s look, I’m wearing Belinda in Ivory from Truth, and the black/red nail polish from PXL Creations.

Leopardess and Racy Lacy, originally uploaded by Grazia Horwitz.

While still working at new skins, Sachi decided to make some to wear with them, to show them off, and it’s instant sexiness. To the left is Leopardess, a smexy feline print set with 2 different knickers and to the right lacy racy, the skimpier, more revealing set, with an adorable garter!

They’re out now at Adam ‘n Eve!

Other than the undies, I’m wearing KA Designs GS Charlize 2 (sunkissed) , Truth’s Monica in walnut and Aitui’s kanji peace tattoo.

New @ Truth (August 29… supposedly) :-p, originally uploaded by Grazia Horwitz.

Yay!!! just arrived @Truth… it’s in the shop, still warm: 4 new gorgeous hair! Toko and Monica are sassy softer hair do’s based on the always en vogue bob line, Freda is all boho, hippy, love and peace, and Meara is variation on the previous Esme, with one instead of two pig tails. Would that make it a pony tail?

Chai Eyes, originally uploaded by Grazia Horwitz.

Sometimes you just don’t know what you’ve been missing, until it’s there all of a sudden… like Launa Fauna’s new eyes. It’s a bit like prim lashes… I was perfectly all right before they existed, but I love them hard now!

These are not the first prim enhanced eyes, but Ms. Fauna has a knack for making them just right! They come in 2 versions, small and big pupil (showing the big here) and, if you don’t care for prim eyes, she also includes a soul prim, which basically is just the high light. Because even when you’re in the semi dark, your eyes will reflect the little light in the room.

Since MIriel closed her shop, I have been looking for a good alternative for my all time favourite eyes, but until now I didn’t find them. They all are either too dull, or have too much highlights sprinkled all over the eye, and I’ve never really cared for prim eyes, but….. These might just be my new peepers!