Down Memory Lane - Arundel Designs

Rust Watering Place Day Gown - Cost 50L

Do you have a gown by Arundel Designs tucked in your virtual closet? Many of us do have trunks full of Arundelain Dumart's historical designs.

 Melody Garden Party Gown - Cost 50L

In my early days in Caledon, I fondly called her gowns my "cupcake" dresses.  I would dress in flowing bustles, ribbons, and flowers - a fantasy Victorian creation.  Since Ms. Dunmart has quietly ceased designing for Second Life, one tends to forget about her gowns that really were way ahead of many other designers.

 Meghan Spring Polonaise in Peach - Cost 50L

As I cleaned out my closet, I discovered I even had unopened gowns still sitting in their shopping bags.  To assist with sorting, I took a chance of going to Arundel's Main store in Antiquity.  There it still stood - vendors displaying their wares for ladies and gentlemen.

Rylie Steampunk - Cost 50L

(includes Steampunk top hat, jewelry, boots, and hair)

The good news for all new residents of the Steamlands who need historical gowns for Steampunk, Victorian, Elizabethan, Regency, and Pirate Attacks is that every single gown, suit, and outfit is for sale for only 50L each.

 Molly Roberts' Pirate Costume - Cost 50L
(includes pirate hat, jewelry, and boots)

Yes, the boots may be "old school" and the shapes and hair included with many of the gowns are not current with today's Second Life avatar standards.

 Rylie Steampunk accessories includes top hat with brass decorations, necklace & earrings with spinning cogs, and the gorgeous steampunk goggles in blue to match the outfit.

However, the gown's textures are still beautiful with the accessories such as top hats and jewelry are well worth the purchase price alone.

 Gentleman's Formal Victorian Suit - Cost 50L

If the lag at the Fashion Fair 2010 is too much for you, 

take a step back into the past for a glorious gown for only FIFTY$L.

~ Credits

Gowns - Arundel - Main Store - Antiquity Township

Hair - Truth - Lillian - Chocolate (Victorian Gowns)

Hair - Argrace - Soft Breeze - Dark Brown (Pirate Costume)

Skin - LAQ - Pearl - Fair 01

P.S. Just in case you wonder about the good ol' days, here is the link back to one of Caledon's Companion's past postings. Love those cupcake dresses!

Walking around Caledon

First things first! The clothes are pretty, the gardens wave in the breeze and the homes are cooler than anything I will ever live in. However, for a "shoe person," Victorian and other period shoes typically leave something to be desired in SL. I spent days hiding my feet underneath my bustles since the occasional shoes included with an outfit were pretty bland.

Taking myself to Google, I researched period costumes and footwear. Research showed that the proper Victorian miss wore half boots or high lace-up or button leather boots for everyday wear outside. Proper shoes included a mule with low heels usually decorated with buttons, bows, and embroidery. For formal dress, shoes could be satin flats tied about the ankle or just slip on's.

Shopping for shoes to match period costumes now became a treasure hunt - for there are some treasures hiding out there.

Victorian Boots @ Shiny Things
All the shoes at Shiny Things are treasures! Wish I could find shoes this nice looking in Real Life. For those "shoe people" (you know who you are!) you will love these models to peek out from under your crinolines or swaying gowns.

Lady Victorian Boots - These half boots come in several colors plus basic black. Leather with brocade inserts with buttons plus an ankle ruffle that hides the weird ankle effect in SL. The neatest trick is that these boots are one piece - no adjusting between the boot and ankle sections.















Ruffle Boots - These leather half boots also with buttons come in black, red, coffee, and chocolate. These were the first shoes I purchased! I needed to find boots for jeans and pants that didn't have the calf section poking out of the pants fabric. (Of course, now I know to look for jeans that have the two layers - pants or underwear.) These worked beautifully! Of course, now they go with those lovely Victorian walking dresses.

















Ballet Slippers come in multiple colors such as these flats also from Shiny Things. Several shops sell variations of this style. Just like brides or prom girls in RL, the stylish miss in Victorian or medieval play can wear these for dancing slippers.