Gold & Dark Chocolate

My friend, Star Fairymeadow - designer of Wretched Dollies - has always designed the kinds of outfits that I can change from gothic to historical to funky.  I'm sure sometimes she thinks I've lost it when I show up in a Dollies dress with uber spiked heels with my prim toes polished in funky colors. I'm so honored her latest dress is named Eleanor after myself.  Bless her, she managed to combine all the goodies I love in one outfit that I can mix and match to my heart's content.

 

Eleanor in Gold just suits my Steampunk side.  Gold brocade for the corset and ruffling the skirt combined with the warm gold dusted brown of the full skirt, corset ruffle, shrug sleeveless jacket, and cameo collar option is just great for wandering the garden or dancing the night away.  Add the delicate lace of the modesty shirt just because who can resist lace.  With Star's attention to detail, one can also wear the lingerie version with the lace and corset and ruffles.  It looks fantastic as a top to any pants you have in your closet. Did I mention there are darling cameo earrings included?

Options include two hat styles. A straw sunhat edged in white topped with peach roses and cream ribbon can be found in this classic black.  Bless Star - she also included 4 shades of hair just perfect to tuck under the hair. Love the look of hair that is tumbling out of what could be a "pinned up the back" hairdo. I always have trouble moving hair around to fit under hats like this and now I have "hat hair"!

Don't miss these shoes! Darling round toes with a chunky curved heel.  These are the Gold Dust Bow Pumps version.  Give Eleanor in Gold to yourself - besides who can resist gold covered dark chocolate goodness!

~Credits

Gown - Wretched Dollies - Eleanor in Gold

Hat - Wretched Dollies - Eleanor Hat

Shoes - Wretched Dollies - Gold Dust Bow Pumps

Skin - LAQ - Phoebe Peach Glow

 

Weekend Shopping

How does a quick trip for a pair of shoes turns into a major shopping expedition?  I had found *G Fields during the Shoe Fair at their cute boot display.  Two pair of cute shoes and several shopping bags of outfits later I had done some major shopping therapy the other evening.

 

Off-Shoulder Chiffon Top- "Gerbera Orange"

Capri Jeans - White

Strap Sandals - "Floria" - Yellow Tulip with matching Bangle

Since the weather was warm today, a display of pretty chiffon blouses just charmed my bustle right off.  Solid colors, tiny flower prints, and then these tropical springtime prints are offered. The blouse has off the shoulder ruffles with a bow string tie.  The peplum ruffle bottom just floats around as you walk. My feet had been tapping for the strap sandals in flower prints - in this case the Yellow Tulip pattern. These cute sandals also come with two matching bangles.  Just in case I needed them, the whole pack of capri jeans was added since I couldn't decide on a fabric.  The roll-up cuff was easy to size with no problems getting it right under my knees. Now just hoping for a beach party sometime this spring - maybe Caledon will have a RFL beach theme party.

 Maxi Dress - "Mellow" - Rose:Apricot

The "Mellow" gown is available in several prints with shades of colors from springtime pastels to darker evening colors. If a pattern says "rose", that is usually the first one I pick.  This one is in shades of apricot roses with touches of sage green leaves.  A rose corsage gathers the strapless bodice while another rose headdress can be tucked in your curls on either the right or left side of your coiffure. 

The back shows the designer's attention to detail with precise texturing with an adorable bow holding the top together.  There is also an alternate look with an extended bodice with the skirt flaring around your legs from the hips down.  That would make the gown into a vintage look just perfect if you want to be Dorothy Lamour.

Classic Dress "Julie" - Old Rose
Ribbon Sling Back Shoes - Rose

With a nod to historical fashions, this dress is a cupcake of lovely fabric, ruffles, and bows.  To make sure the ruffled shoulder that goes all the way to your waist fits, there is a demo in the shop to try on.  The actual gown comes with three sizes to fit your figure.  Love the fact that it is "not" scripted! The white ruffled corset underlayer is accented with little buttons. The ruffled petticoat and the ruffled bloomers contrast with the skirt and ruffled cute bustle layer. Again, the rose colored gown ended up in my shopping bag, but the choices include spring colors as well as darker shades including a lovely black and white combination. The ribbon sling back shoes are the reason I went shopping in the first place! You can wear the shoes with toe bows, heel bows, or no bows! You can show off your ankles or just peek your toes out from under a floor length gown.

Finally, the "Julie" dress can be changed into a springtime party dress. Drop some of the ruffles and bows and you have a dress ready for dancing.  Enjoy a visit to G Fields soon - even if your only reason to visit is to shop for shoes! (Did I mention her accessories are really cute?)

Gowns:  *G Field*
Shoes: *G Field* 
Hair: Truth - Lilllian Coffee
Skin: Tuli Hope Sunkissed Blush
Poses - Striking Poses - Ballgown Elegance, Full of Grace, and Eye Candy

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!

Victorian Purples

 After a suitable period of mourning, Victorian ladies could gradually leave their blacks for subdued colors such as gray, mauve, and purple.  Being a Merry Widow, my closet seems to have several mourning purple gowns.

Gown:  Goth1c0  Ophelia Victorian in purple and black.

Love the striped corset with the belts circling the waist. Includes a high collar with a bow plus the top hat decorated with flowers and ribbons.

Gown: Grim Bros - Miss Vapeur Plum

This gown definitely has touches of steampunk brass and cogs on the collar and sleeve cuffs which come in two options of purple to match the dress or steampunk brown.

Steampunk Library Collection - Work in Progress

Not enough time! I have been limited for time to "play" due to RL obligations and the summer calendar has just about run out of days. Sir Drinkwater and I are both juggling our schedules to get the steampunk reference collection out for the public to see. Crunching minutes here and there, posters are almost are finished. A big thank you to Mr. Hassanov who dropped some images on my head. With those images plus his suggestions, I managed to come up with research leads on other images to match the collection sections.Check out the Caledon Library airship anchored to the ground below.