Casually Careless

Well, back to business as usual at Life by Proxy... and "business" in these here parts is mix'n'match fashion! I had a lot of trouble putting together my next blog-worthy post. It was almost as though I was on fashion overload so I decided to step it back a little bit, stop thinking so hard and just write about the next fun outfit I threw on. And so I did. This is a great, casual outfit that works for a Sunday shopping spree or just hanging out. It's also a bit of silent rebellion against high fashion for a day or two to reset my style meter and get back to the basics.

Yesterday, I decided to do a little running around shopping. It's been awhile since I've had the time to just wander from store to store and see what's new in some of my favorite places. I also wanted to go check out Yummy because I recalled seeing a necklace that I wanted but didn't have time to grab. While roaming around, I ran in to several of you awesome girls who read the blog! That was fun and it was nice to chat and get some of your thoughts and opinions on blogging, fashion and everything else one-on-one. Feel free to stop me whenever you see me around. I love to chat!

While at Yummy, I picked up this cuh-yute sweater from Nylon Outfitters. It's actually all one piece, the sweater and the t-shirt underneath it, and I wasn't sure if I dug that at first. I was afraid that it was restrictive and I was going to want to pair the sweater with something else. But, the price was right for what it is and I think it makes for a cute look with jeans or a jean skirt for a casual out and about look. Besides, who can pass up the impressively hand-drawn big button detailing? The hood in the back is also hand drawn, not a separate prim, and I decided I really liked that organic quality. Plus, it makes it so easy to just put on and go... no messing with prims or trying to fit the sweater with different hair styles. The pink t-shirt underneath completes that "surfer chic" look and I like that it extends past the hem of the sweater itself. The set also comes with a shirt layer that adds "bulk" to it to make it look a bit more "sloppy".

The jeans are my absolute favorite jeans in Second Life. They fit phenomenally well and do wonderful things for the hips and derrière. I hope and pray daily that Maitreya will release another set of jeans as fantastic as these are. And for this outfit, I like the cargo pockets and zippers and how that casual detailing coincides with the details on the sweater.

I did manage to snag the necklace that I wanted from Yummy this time around. The details of it are pretty spectacular with the multiple chain look and the little extra charm. I think it has a vintage feel that works with the rest of the outfit. I paired it with a charm bracelet from Miam Miam. I've renewed my addiction to charm bracelets in real life and just decided to start building a new one. Like I've mentioned before, I like jewelry with a bit of significance and nothing fits that billing like a charm bracelet. This one is color changeable with just a click... gold, silver, copper and bronze (so you'll never have to mix your metals! *wink*) and is outfitted with all sorts of "good luck" charms. A chunky bangle on the other wrist gives a bit of weight to the accessories, which is needed to balance the button and the hood.

I started with a pair of boots, but then decided I wanted to add some color to the base of the outfit as well and knew my cherry-red ballet flats from Surf Couture would do just the trick. Every time I put these on, I have to cam in on the shape and the texture. They're so perfect. Since it's a bit chilly out, I added some fun purple plaid socks that stand out, but also blend with the tones in the rest of the pieces.

The ever-popular Cake Europa short, messy hair (that I tinted a bit to make a bit less red) and red lips with purple eyeshadow, and the outfit is complete!

(sidenote: please bear with me as I try to figure out the best structure for my pictures here... I know I keep changing it up, but I think I'm happy with this style... thoughts?)

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Sweater - Big Button Knit w/ Tee - Jacket Layer, Additional "bulk" on Shirt Layer (not pictured)
Nylon Outfitters
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Lions Shore/92/81/23/

Jeans - Raw Jeans - Pant Layer, Prim Lower Leg Attachment (comes with "skinny" and "no prim" style pant layers, also)
Maitreya
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Superieure/94/43/451/

Socks - Weird Plaid Socks, Purple - Sock Layer, Prim Thigh Bow Upper Leg Attachments
Shiny Things
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Shiny Falls/173/181/37/

Shoes - Sculpted Ballet Flat, Cherry (No Buttons) - Prim Foot Attachment (comes with both "button" and "no button" style)
Sand Shack Surf Co.
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Lions Shore/62/196/0/

Necklace - Chained Heart Necklace - Prim Chest Attachment
Yummy
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Lions Shore/92/81/23/

Charm Bracelet - Pouch Belt, Brown - Prim Pelvis Attachment
*Miam Miam*
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Sunset Arts/167/178/25/

Left-Hand Bangle- Cali's First Gold Bracelet - Prim Forearm Attachment Freebie! Properties Indicate Caliandris Pendragon as Creator

Hair - Europa, Dark Red (with a bit of extra grey tint) - Prim Head Attachment
Cake
http://slurl.com/secondlife/FNKY Cake/129/76/26/

Skin - MM-Light SkinGloss-OhWow
Minnu Model Skins
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Glam World/118/136/23/

High Fashion?

When I received the notice from LeeZu Baxter Designs about the fantastic sweaters I featured a few days ago, there was one more element that caught my eye. The jeans were fantastic. I don't know as though I've seen that level of slouch and deconstruction in a garment in SL yet and I wanted them... I needed them... I lusted for them. After I bought my sweaters, I made my way over to the model "on duty" at LBD and asked her if she knew where the jeans were from. She did not but said she'd find out from the designer and let me know. The next day, I spoke to LeeZu myself, actually, about something unrelated and remembered I still wanted (needed) to know where those jeans were from! She directed me back to her shop, indicating they were a part of one of her top-of-the-line designs. She did tell me that she'd be making a less expensive version in the coming days (apparently, this happened yesterday). Well, I have a fancy-shmancy SL job that pays the good Lindens and I can appreciate the cost associated with stellar designs, so back I went to the store to check them out. I found the outfit quickly once I knew what I was looking for (tsk, tsk to the model on duty!) and brought my mouse to hover over it waiting for that little information box to pop up.

$1200L.

I rolled my eyes and pulled my mouse away. It wasn't that I couldn't afford the outfit, it was that I saw it as ridiculously overpriced for what it is. Cute jeans, yes, absolutely. Two intricate tops that do, upon brief inspection, show a mastery of clothing design, yes again. Some fancy high fashion accoutrement that one would never wear anywhere besides a costume party? Yes, yes indeed. After all, does one really need a peacock tail and a skirt that looks like seaweed wrapped around the legs?

Ohhh, but those jeans... I was in lust.

I couldn't let myself do it, though, and I left the store without the outfit in my shopping cart. I picked up a leather jacket that looked stunning, instead, but I couldn't justify the outfit and I'm not sure why, really, as I've purchased insanely expensive items in SL before. In fact, my favorite store has some of the higher priced clothing I've stumbled across but for some reason, the perfect simplicity of the pieces makes it more understandable to me. In this case, it felt like throwing prims all over something in an attempt to simply obtain that "high fashion" look (anyone else sick of that phrase?) and I just had a mental block against it.

A couple of days passed and I couldn't stop thinking about those jeans. Finally the other day, in a moment of weakness, I teleported in, walked straight to the back corner of the store (before the store had even rezzed - sorry if I ran over anyone), waited for the vendor to show itself and purchased the outfit before quickly teleporting home in an attempt to outrun my own guilt.

Why had I done that? Why did I purchase something that for whatever reason I was morally opposed to?

Well, because I wanted to write this blog, of course. And I was hoping I would love the other pieces so much that the price suddenly made sense to me. (Didn't happen.)

It's funny, I contemplated long and hard about whether or not I would ever write negative reviews on this blog. Initially I thought I wouldn't and instead wouldn't feature something if I didn't like it. In fact, this particular entry has been sitting, written in full, in my "pending" blogs for three days while I contemplated whether or not I wanted to go to a negative place here. But I do think that part of the responsibility of having a voice is also using it.

And so, here's the original outfit that I purchased.




Okay, so... I don't have to wear all the parts, I get that. But then, I started to look at the jeans... the jeans that I loved... and I realized that the cuffs around the thigh are black with silver hardware... and the belt that is part of the texture is brown with brass hardware. And, as I've mentioned before, that's one of the things that drives me crazy. So the only way to make an outfit that I could live with using these jeans was going to be by covering up the belt.

And then I remembered that the fantastic jacket that I had purchased instead of the jeans outfit may have had the same problem. Let's take a look.


The buckles on the sleeves? Silver. The buttons on the jacket itself? Brass. What do you think? A conscious design choice? Or just an unintentional fashion faux pas? The only way I can wear the jacket is by editing the prims... I don't get that choice with my jeans, though. The mismatched metals and leathers are part of the textures. And I hate to say it, but it just feels sloppy to me.

I'm a strong believer that a product is worth what someone is willing to pay for it. And so, if the market will bear a ridiculous mark up, so be it... but is there a point where it crosses a line? And if so, what's that point?

So, there's my negative review. And now, on to the positive spin - the outfit I did manage to put together with my jeans...

So, apparently, the jeans come complete with an infectious "high fashion" disease because that's the only type of look it seems I could put together. The cute little shirt I picked up months ago but didn't wear often because the prim skirt never fit correctly. I remembered editing it when I bought it and finally just wearing it with black pants to mask the exposed part between the top of the skirt and the bottom of the shirt itself, which of course wouldn't work here. And I couldn't have fabric gap showing with my $1200L jeans and so I edited each and every box-pleat prim to conceal that gap. Once finished, I had a shirt that looked like it should (and covered the brown belt) but I will warn you that it was a hell of a lot of work. The outfit was begging for another layer to add interest and dimension, but the shirt itself is on the jacket layer so there was nothing I could use to put over it and I didn't want to put something under it. Then I remembered that last weekend as we dressed for an event on the Titanic, I mentioned off-handedly and with a bit of a chuckle to Ben that my shoulders were going to be cold in my tank gown on a ship's deck at night. (Am I the only one who feels cold or hot for her avatar?) As I put the finishing touches on my hair and shoes, he teleported off and surprised me by buying a gorgeous fur coat. The glorious thing about the coat is that it's all prims (and it avoids looking like a life jacket... which, now that I think about it, had the potential of being handy for our afternoon on the Titanic but thankfully wasn't needed). Layered over the rest of the outfit, it becomes one of the central pieces of the look and it really facilitates in making it all about the luxurious, heavy texture. The fishnets and stilettos are damn sexy with the seams running up the back of the calves and I think they're unexpected with a jean fabric, thus completing the outfit.

A chunky bangle holds its own with the bulk of the fur coat and the textures (black and silver) pull the black and silver details from the cuffs of the jeans. I like the feathered drop necklace which adds interest but doesn't take over the top of the look - there's already a lot goin' on up there with the jacket and the v-neck shirt.

And voila... Expensive look for expensive jeans.

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Jacket - Fur Jacket, Black - Prim Spine, Upper Arm and Forearm Attachments (forearm attachments not worn in this outfit) earth & sky design
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Tellus III/233/179/23/

Shirt - Amplify - Jacket Layer, Prim Ruffle Stomach Attachment Layer Refuge (Sinistyle) http://slurl.com/secondlife/Koreshan/51/69/24/

Pants - JenFall - Pant Layer, Prim Upper Leg Attachments (for gathered effect) (part of full outfit) LeeZu Baxter Designs
http://slurl.com/secondlife/centro italia /123/148/22/

Stockings - Black Fishnet Stockings - Freebie! No Creator Available in Properties

Shoes - Visions of Love, Black - Shoe Base, Prim Foot and Lower Leg Ankle Strap Attachments (ankle straps not worn in this outfit) Minx
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Hauwai/46/95/98/

Necklace - Irina, Black & Onyx - Prim Chest Attachment Lassitude & Ennui http://slurl.com/secondlife/Nouveau/65/63/30/

Bangles - Wood & Metal Bangles - Prim Forearm Attachment Last Call http://slurl.com/secondlife/Dazzle/68/11/27/

Hair - Mica, Mahogany - Prim Head Attachment Maitreya http://slurl.com/secondlife/Superieure/94/43/451/

Skin - MM-Light SkinGloss-OhWow Minnu Model Skins
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Glam World/118/136/23/

Ripples on the Dance Floor

It's Friday, the end of one of those weeks that started too fast and ended too slow. I get in these moods sometimes where I just want to let go... give up a bit of the control I try to maintain with closed fists almost all the time and become someone a little bit different than I'm expected to be. You know the feeling, music turned up just a bit too loud and drinks coming a bit too fast. Yeah, that's the kind of Friday night I'm in the mood for.

This was actually a quick toss on of some basic black layers. The base is an Armidi Limited tank dress that works with a lot of different looks. Layered over tight black leather pants with the perfect creases around the knees and thighs, it becomes a bit more edgy. I chose to stick with black on black because it creates a longer line from torso to toe. It also sets apart the subtle gold accents in the other pieces. The top layer is a summery wrap top from Redgrave that is fantastic on its own, but here it provides a bit of dimension and oomph to what started as boring black layers. The "rocker chic" edge comes from the detached sleeves and tall black boots. They add a bit of "funk" that wouldn't be there with simple stilettos and bare arms.

The double bracelets is a look I employ in "real life" often as a bolder accessory choice. There are two different metals at play here. The matte thick bangle links the center detail on the over shirt wrap where as the high-sheen bangles give a bit more interest and tie the shiny boot details to the rest of the outfit.

I followed the age old accessory rule here... get dressed and as you're walking out the door, check yourself in the mirror and remove one accessory. In this case, I took off a feathered choker as it was getting a bit TOO matchy-matchy and too busy and detracting from the details that should stand on on this outfit - the wrap, the textures and the bare shoulders and clavicle.

The hair is a bit more funky than I usually choose in SL or RL, but I love the interest the over-the-shoulder ponytail provides and the bangs are that perfect mysterious, guarded, sexy, messy, in-my-eye thing that is absolutely intentional but looks as though it were an afterthought. Kudos to Helyanwe at Deviant Kitties for accomplishing that. I did tint this hair as it started as a bright white-pink. The shading of the gray tint still allows it to be rocker-chic pink without crossing the line in to too punk.

The coup d'etat on the hair and the layers comes from the back view which looks a bit military-bullet-proof-vesty but has enough detail to make someone want to see what's happening in the front of the outfit.

And when you're in one of those "make me forget about the rest of the world for just one night" moods - it's all about luring the interest around to the front now isn't it?

Our music accompaniment for the day comes from world-class spinner Mark Farina. Makes you want to move, doesn't it?

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Tunic - Tunic A001 Tank, Black - Jacket Layer or Shirt Layer, Glitch Pants on Pant or Underpants Layer, Prim Skirt Pelvis Attachment in two Size Choices Armidi Limited http://slurl.com/secondlife/Armidi/132/104/26/

Shirt - Wrap TOP, Black - Undershirt, Shirt or Jacket Layer Redgrave http://slurl.com/secondlife/Sands Shop Art/217/47/24/

Pants - Isabeaux Leather Pants, Black - Pants or Underpants Layer, Three Choices of Prim Lower Leg Cuff Attachments LF Fashions
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Freelon/130/91/31/

Boots- Boots, Black- Shoe Base, Prim Foot and Lower Leg Attachments Redgrave http://slurl.com/secondlife/Sands Shop Art/217/47/24/

Gloves - Mirli Sleeves, Black - Glove Layer (part of Mirli Sweater - just glove layer worn in this outfit) Maitreya
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Superieure/94/43/451/

Left-Hand Bangle- Cali's First Gold Bracelet - Prim Forearm Attachment Freebie! Properties Indicate Caliandris Pendragon as Creator

Right-Hand Bangles- Lady Thin Bangles, Both Gold and Pearl Shown - Attachment Points Edited, Pearl Attached to Forearm; Gold Attached to Hand Talisman http://slurl.com/secondlife/Talisman/106/160/97/

Hair- Siyu, Pink Taffy - Prim Head Attachment Deviant Kitties http://slurl.com/secondlife/Deviant Kitties/128/127/22/

Skin - MM-Light SkinGloss-20s Minnu Model Skins
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Glam World/118/136/23/

A Vintage Flair

Last night was one of those boring nights. Everyone I usually run around with - be it shopping, club hopping or people watching - was all off doing other things. So I was forced to entertain myself. That consisted of reading blogs for awhile and catching up on what everyone else out there is wearing and talking about. It made me realize that I'm going to have to start doing a new trick. For a week or so, I'm going to open my inventory and sort by "Date" and wear some of the older things in my closet. It's not thrilling to go from blog to blog seeing the same new release over and over again. It starts to make all of us SL fashionistas look like we were cut from the same cookie cutter. The same hair; the same skin; the same clothes - and there's nothing really distinguishing one avatar from the other. I don't know if my style is really that distinctive from everyone else's - I like to layer; I like high quality; and I like to look fantastic. But I'd also like to think I can insert the same originality into SL Kristianne's appearance that I do in real life. So let's see if venturing back in time a little bit helps me accomplish that!

Now, this entry just took on an entirely different spin than I originally intended and it has NOTHING to do with the cute little look I put together last night as I braved the clubs all by my lonesome.

I wanted something that was cute and a bit different but not too "I'm a sexy tramp," if you know what I mean. I dig the leggings I picked up from Armidi Limited. I like that they look a bit thicker and do a great little gathering thing around the knee and top of the calf. It's not as easy to see in the black, but I still like them. I decided to go for a bit of a vintage-y look in the bold color combination of black, white and red. The great men's white button down from Blaze offers the sexy spin with its open buttons. And you gotta love the Fat Belt from caLLie that offers a color punch and the finishing touch.

I kept it simple on the details. A fun necklace from Lassitude & Ennui and the "Love Conquers All" bracelet complete the jewelry. They're subtle enough details to pop the whole look and tie the accessories together. I love the messy hair with the crisp white men's shirt... it almost gives that illusion of hopping out of a day in bed and throwing on his shirt and some quick details to dash out the door. The peep toe heels add to the "vintage, Sandy post make-over in Grease" look. Fun and different for a night on the town.

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Shirt - Boyfriend Button Down - Shirt and Skirt Layers *free giveaway to group members* Blaze http://slurl.com/secondlife/Blaze/71/118/23/

Pants- Metallic Tights, Black - Underpants or Pant Layers Armidi Limited http://slurl.com/secondlife/Armidi/132/104/26/

Belt - fat belt, bright red - Jacket, Shirt or Undershirt Layer caLLie cLine http://slurl.com/secondlife/caLLiefornia/224/194/22

Shoes - Vidalia Pump, Metallic Noir - Foot Base and Prim Foot Attachments Armidi Gisaci http://slurl.com/secondlife/Armidi/128/140/26/

Necklace - Irina, Black and Ruby - Prim Chest Attachment (feather color edited) Lassitude & Ennui http://slurl.com/secondlife/Nouveau/65/63/30/

Bracelet - Amor Vincit Omnia, Silver and Moonstones - Prim Forearm Attachment Lassitude & Ennui http://slurl.com/secondlife/Nouveau/65/63/30/

Hair - Eva, Mahogany - Prim Head Attachment (glow and non-glow styles) Maitreya http://slurl.com/secondlife/Superieure/94/43/451/

Skin - MM-Light SkinGloss-OhWow Minnu Model Skins
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Glam World/118/136/23/

Pedicure - Pedicure 04 - Sock Layer RaC
http://slurl.com/secondlife/RaC City/187/136/27

Petroleum

I've had a couple days of frustrating outfits. You know how sometimes it just comes together perfectly and then other times, you don't have a shirt on the right layer; the glitch pants aren't editable but for some reason are too long (or short) for the skirt; the prim belt won't stretch or shrink to fit your hips; the stockings you want to wear are on the pant layer and the glitch pants with the perfect waist band are ALSO on the pant layer and neither one is available on the underpants layer? Yeah, it's been two days of THAT. Designers, please hear my plea:

Glitch pants -

Please make them so I can change the length. Nothing frustrates me more than pants sticking out from the bottom of my skirt.

Please, please, please provide them on both the pant and underpants layer. I have so many skirts I want to wear with other pieces and I just can't.

Shirts -

Please provide them on all layers - jacket, shirt and undershirt. Again, there's so much layering I want to do but can't with the limited options presented.

Follow the lead of some of the inventive designers out there who provide longer shirts on the shirt and undershirt layer by providing a corresponding underpants that fills the gap between the bottom of the shirt and the top of the pant.

Pants -

Please provide pants on both the pant and underpants layers so that a longer baby doll with glitch pants (on the pant layer) can be worn. My favorite jeans get minimal exposure under some cute longer prim shirts and sweaters because I need the glitch pants on the pant layer.

Stockings -

Please provide the stocking tops on both the pant and underpants layers, too. See reasons listed above. To wear them with a babydoll, you gotta be able to wear the glitch pants, too.

Belts -

This is just a general comment - belts that are offered on the jacket layer are really great. There's no need to mess around with prims and the disappearing edges in to my (not THAT wide) hips.

Okay, my complaining is over.

All that said, I did manage to put together a pretty cute outfit. A few days ago, I was wandering through Shiny Things trying on fabulous sculptie demos and wondering just how many pairs of tuxedo heels one girl really needs (answer: all of them) when I "overheard" a conversation between two other fashionista shoppers. They were both wearing the same shrug in different colors and I eyed it up and down and decided I had to have it and jumped in to their conversation to inquire about its location. They directed me to MG Fashions and I scooped it up in, well, every color. And I love MG's "Petroleum" color that is featured in a few of her designs. And I love how it looks with the black and white of the rest of the outfit. While at MG, I also nabbed a few (okay, all) of her t-shirts. I love the detail on them... the neckline and sleeves, the drapey fabric around the stomach. And, you can't see it here, but the hem does this awesome little lift and fall. Here, though, I paired a white undershirt with the t-shirt to close the gab between the waistline of my skirt and the bottom of the t-shirt. The exposed skin didn't look right with the covered legs and arms.

Speaking of the legs and arms, the skirt from Devilish Cupcake is fantastic. It's available in a few different muted colors and comes with both the "smart" skirt and the regular skirt option. This, however, is the skirt I was mentioning where the glitch pants are too long and not editable. It's hardly noticeable with the fun "Weird Plaid" socks from Shiny Things and I did drop the skirt down a little bit to compensate as well. The belt is from the Last Call Sweater dress I wore in the last blog. I have to say that I love the look of it with this outfit, but it was one of those miserable headache inducers that actually prevented me from wearing it with the dress it came with. The black of the skirt absorbs some of the issues I had fitting the belt, though, so it works here. The detail of the leather straps and the charms is great - but the prim shape makes it really hard to fit on a girl with a bit of hips and butt. The belt and skirt also both attached to the same point (pelvis), so I had to attach the skirt to my stomach and move it down.

Maitreya's Blossom Boots are just indescribable. The detail is truly amazing and I spent a few minutes camming around them to take in the texture of the suede... the finishing touches on the buckle... and even noticed the scuffed soles under the toe of the boot. Maitreya also does a perfect heel, in my opinion. It's the right height, the right thickness. Just all-around gorgeous. (And, I second Iris Ophelia's comments here that this is a shoe designer who should "get real".)

I'm addicted to my Armidi SoHo hair. I can't seem to take it off. It's just the perfect casual hair look and I like the color of it very, very much. I'm trying to broach back in to my old standards, but this one is just too good.

Last Saturday night, in a fit of boredom, I headed out to Talisman for a "witch" hunt of free stuff. Last I heard, there were upwards of 50 funky witches hidden all around the area with free stuff from all of Talisman's vendors. (I was there for an hour and found less than 20 - seriously.) While there, I nabbed these awesome silver bangles. I've worn them almost every day since.

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Sweater - Crocheted Shrug, Petroleum - Jacket Layer, Prim Upper Arm Sleeve Attachments MG Fashions http://slurl.com/secondlife/Portucalis/64/166/22/

T-Shirt - Line Flower Tee, White - Shirt or Undershirt Layer MG Fashions http://slurl.com/secondlife/Portucalis/64/166/22/

Undershirt - Kadesh Sheer Tank - Shirt or Undershirt Layer combined with Pant or Underpants Layer Last Call http://slurl.com/secondlife/Dazzle/68/11/27/

Skirt - Claire Tiered Skirt, Charcoal - Glitch Pants, Pant Layer, Prim Pelvis Attachment (attached to stomach for this outfit) Devilish Cupcake http://slurl.com/secondlife/Talana/220/42/26/

Socks - Weird Plaid Socks, Black - Sock Layer, Prim Thigh Bow Upper Leg Attachments Shiny Things http://slurl.com/secondlife/Shiny Falls/173/181/37/

Belt - Starley Charm Belt, Noir - Prim Pelvis Attachment Last Call http://slurl.com/secondlife/Dazzle/68/11/27/

Boots - Short Blossom Boot, Black - Shoe Base, Prim Foot and Lower Leg Attachments Maitreya http://slurl.com/secondlife/Superieure/94/43/451/

Choker - Chasm Necklace, Silver/Black - Prim Chest Attachment Lassitude & Ennui http://slurl.com/secondlife/Nouveau/65/63/30/

Bangles - Lady Thin Bangles, Silver - Prim Forearm Attachment (both Right and Left arms available) Talisman http://slurl.com/secondlife/Talisman/106/160/97/

Bracelet - Single Checkered Bangle, Black - Prim Forearm Attachment (both Right and Left arms available) Woo's! http://slurl.com/secondlife/Stadtrand/28/207/21/

Hair - The SoHo, Sangria - Prim Head Attachment Armidi http://slurl.com/secondlife/Armidi/135/127/26/

Skin - MM-Light SkinGloss-Blood Minnu Model Skins
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Glam World/118/136/23/

Copacetic

There's something about a fall Sunday that makes me wistful. The leaves changing; the days shortening; the weather turning... and all the rest of those Fall stereotypes we're all so familiar with, fill me with a sense of longing. I'm not sure for what, exactly, but it happens every year about this time. I turn to the warmth of a familiar sweater and the company of a mug of coffee or cup of tea. While it's unsettling, I also find something vaguely comforting in its repetitive presence. As the weather droned on outside my window today - first the sun was shining brightly in the crisp blue sky before being swallowed by another convocation of gray clouds that quickly commenced with their all too familiar rain - I concocted my own cliché, watching the rain coat the outside of my window as I sat opposite the pane. I shivered in my long sleeve shirt and reached for a thicker sweater; one that would provide not only comfort from the cold but also from the craving for something unknown. And before long, SL Kristianne needed the same. While stylish in her red tuxedo heels and matching shrug over a white tank, we both needed something more. I remembered the folder of cozy dresses I scooped up from Last Call recently and pulled out the oatmeal color and slipped it on. The brilliantly soft texture was exactly what I needed to warm the chill. The prim turtleneck and cuffs are reminiscent of a sweater of sheer perfection the likes of which I slid from a shelf at J. Crew a few seasons ago and happily wore out of the store after its purchase and reach for consistently when the leaves begin their slow decent. Cinched with the rich toffee belt from Ms. Callie Cline that draws on the brown of the opaque tights and leather boots, it was an outfit that depicted precisely what I needed it to. Accessories are minimal because, really, where would they go? Messy mahogany locks, soft make up and the simple glimmer of my diamond ring and I was ready for a nice Venti Latte and an afternoon matinée with a close girl friend.

While the dress is a bit shorter than one I'd don in Real Life probably, it works with the opaque chocolate tights that are included in the pack. Because it's a system skirt (that seems to fit just fine), the dress could also be layered over a pair of jeans as well. The new belt from Callie is perfect on its jacket layer. While I didn't love the silver label adornment on the back at first glance, I do understand the desire for branding and brand recognition. And as the day wore on, I decided the metal plate gave the belt even more texture and depth. The tonality of the oatmeal sweater and the browns of the belt, tights and boots create a warm, rich color palate that compliments the colors of the season quite nicely.

I'm in love with the prim sleeves that attach seamlessly higher up on the forearm to give the cuffs of the sweater some bulk. They balance the weight of the heavy turtle neck and the texture of all the pieces is to die for. I jumped for joy when I traipsed through Maitreya last night to find the hair that I loved under the Jam hoodie in its own version now. Her mahogany color is my favorite and I would personally drop to my hands and knees and start kissing feet if it were adopted by other hair designers. For now, though, I'll stick to the Eva and the Mica as my primary styles. While it's more fixed (sculptie) prim than I usually go for, I like the tousled look of the curls around the face and can deal with its lack of movement because of them.

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Sweater Dress - Starley II Mini-Sweater Dress - Jacket or Shirt Layer, Skirt Layer, Prim Neck and Sleeve Attachments (comes in five colors and includes two colors of tights and two prim belts) Last Call http://slurl.com/secondlife/Dazzle/68/11/27/

Belt - fat belt, caramel brownie - Jacket, Shirt or Undershirt Layer caLLie cLine http://slurl.com/secondlife/caLLiefornia/224/194/22

Tights - Starley II Mini-Sweater Dress, Noir - Underpants and Sock Layers Last Call http://slurl.com/secondlife/Dazzle/68/11/27/

Boots - Melisande, Chocolate - Shoe Base, Prim Foot and Lower Leg Attachments Last Call Vamp Last Call http://slurl.com/secondlife/Dazzle/68/11/27/

Hair - Eva, Mahogany - Prim Head Attachment (glow and non-glow styles) Maitreya http://slurl.com/secondlife/Superieure/94/43/451/

Skin - MM-Pale SkinGloss-Smokey Minnu Model Skins
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Glam World/118/136/23

Undo Pressure

Well, I've gone and put so much pressure on myself with this blog that I've been virtually unable to write! It's not that I don't have anything to say (of course that couldn't be it!), but I've gone on this mad SL Blog reading frenzy and there are so many great (and not so great) pages out there that it's hard to even fathom a comparison. What is it that you all are wanting to see? More of the same? What I've found is the same stores... the same clothes... the same accessories all appearing on page after page. And in some ways, that's not a bad thing - there is of course going to be a "best of the best" - just like Gap, BCBG, Louis Vuitton, Givenchy, Versace and Prada can be seen on Real Life style mavens the globe over. So instead of running away from the popular, I'm just going to try to put my own spin on it. Give you a daily look in to my virtual closet and hopefully compile some "favorites"...

In order to start this adventure, I had to do a MASS inventory cleaning. I started on Friday and am finally finished with clothes and accessories. My "objects" folder is still in need of an OCD mood to hit, but at least my closet has been cleaned out. I was holding on to folder after folder of those freebies that I spent my first week accumulating. You know, the designer cast offs and screwy prims... the mismatched seams and (horror of horrors) system shoes. Well, I tried on every last one of them and got rid of the things that I was saving for that elusive "some night." (You know - "I may need this some night!") Well, trust me girl, there was NO way I was going to need the dress with a prim skirt that attached somewhere above my breasts and stuck out like the petals of a daisy. I did prance around my living room in it for a little while just to giggle at how ridiculous I looked. But, once I hit that "detach" button - in to the trash she went. I did contemplate the virtues of a "yard sale" - but let's face it, everyone's selling the same crap as I would have been... and I just can't bear to send any of that back on to the grid for some poor, unsuspecting newbie to pick up and start wearing. I'd rather pluck one from the ranks and take her shopping instead of subject her to the hideousness known as "Freebies".

Don't get me wrong, there are some great give aways out there and I did save quite a few. Some good camisole/undershirt layers... a few interesting pieces of jewelery that are actually bearable after a couple minutes on a pose stand with an edit window and a couple other treats I'm sure you'll see gracing the pages of this very blog sometime in the near future. So, don't fault me when you see "Freebie" in the credits... I couldn't get rid of it ALL, you know.

So, after I lightened my inventory load by a good 3000 items (um, I'm not exaggerating), I set out to find THE outfit to debut on my blog. Well, I got myself so deep inside the pressure cooker I caught myself exclaiming to the poor boy who entertains my whimsical ways on a daily basis "I just don't have anything to wear!" I heard the intake of breath on the other end of the voice line and I could see the words formulating in his head. "How can YOU... not have... anything to wear?" I whimpered and whined that it was true and declared a shopping trip as the event for the evening. "Right after I get dressed," I said. (God love him, he didn't even remark on the irony... because, after all, if I were able to get dressed... that would of course mean that I had something to wear now wouldn't it? Shhh, I didn't point it out, either.)

So, off we went. I felt this need to expand my "Accessories" folder. I have a few tried and true jewelery pieces that I turn to often when I need an extra "punch," but I find that SL Kristianne treats accessories much the same way RL Kristianne does. I'm all about the shoes - JUST GIVE ME MORE SHOES... but I'll settle in to a nice, simple necklace that has some deeper meaning and diamond studs; a watch when I'm not playing the "I don't care what time of day it is" game; and maybe - MAYBE - a ring. I'm the same way in SL. I found a necklace a few weeks ago that fits that "deeper meaning" model and I wear it, or some iteration of it, daily. It didn't take me long to find my good old trusty diamond studs that I also wear when my hair demands a little something extra. I just can't get in to the watch thing in SL - where time never really DOES matter - so I've opted for a bracelet when my arms are bare... but it just wasn't the right set of accoutrement that I've seen some of my peers do... and so off to shop I went.

I took a spin through Miam Miam (love the charm bracelets!) and stopped off at Charmed (such a cute little monogrammed ribbon choker!) before passing through Shiny Things (mmm, chunky bracelets... yummy!) and then headed to Paper Couture. "I'll take that, and that and that...."

And then, I experienced the humiliation I'll now refer to as "The PC Stairs". Good LORD am I the only one who felt like a prize needed to be waiting for her at the top of that staircase? Stairs in SL are hard enough - but a little, itsy, bitsy spiral staircase? Let's just say it took, um, a few tries. But man am I glad I made it to the top!

Because there I found... the outfit that will now mark the debut of Life by Proxy.

It's Fall and everyone's wanting something a bit warmer to mark the season. I've found a few cute turtlenecks that I throw on when it gets cooler and I've tried a few of the sweater dresses out and about. But none have hit quite the style mark as this one did for me.

It did come with a chunkier turtleneck prim attachment that looked like I wrapped my duvet around my neck and so I opted to go without.

Not bad for a system skirt and the texture of the leather is just delicious. I love how thick and cozy it looks and it does do nice things for the derrière.

The back detail on the sweater is nice and does give the illusion that one is not wearing a baggy sack but instead a fabric that accentuates her physicality nicely.

A few of my delectable new accessories to accent the detail of the bustier and high leather waist and my perfectly messy super-flex pony tail, and I'd say I did pretty well for my debut! Welcome to the blog! More to come!

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Dress - P.C. Leather and Wool - Shirt and Skirt Layers, Prim Turtleneck Attachment (not pictured) Paper Couture; House of Lu (Barcola 80, 125, 26 (Mature))

Hose - Pantyhose - Ebony - Socks and Pants or Underpants Layers 1-800 Bettie's (Roosa (235, 21, 28))

Boots - Melisande - Onyx - Shoe Base, Prim Foot and Lower Leg Attachments Last Call Vamp (Dazzle 68, 11, 27 (Mature))

Earrings - Black Pearl Drop Earrings - Prim Ear Attachments Paper Couture; House of Lu (Barcola 80, 125, 26 (Mature))

Necklace - Black Wrapped Bead Necklace, Low Shine - Prim Chest Attachment Bonita's Jewelry and Furniture Shop (, Malra (45, 86, 66))

Hair - Pony Tail - N Flip Brown - Prim Head Attachment Bang - 11pm Bang Wavy Brown - Prim Chin Attachment (sold with the "Lexy" UpDo) Analog Dog (Triggerfish (28, 27, 21)) Shoulder Length - Mica - Mahogany - Prim Head Attachment ("glow" and "non-glow" styles) Maitreya (Superieure (94, 43, 451))

Skin- MM-Pale SkinGloss-Old Hollywood (not available for sale) Minnu Model Skins (Glam World (118, 136, 23))

Poses - Luth High Fashion Poses Reel Expression (Lalique (219, 92, 26))