First when there’s nothing
But a slow glowing dream
That your fear seems to hide
Deep inside your mind
Irene Cara, ♫Flashdance… What A Feeling♫
Five years ago when I began blogging I told myself and those closest around me that this blog would be strictly male fashion and while it is primarily still focused on the male POV, I find myself challenging myself more. I do not consider these challenges as going back on my vision for this site but more of building on to what I’ve already accomplished.
I’ve thought about the conversation I had with Lucky about going outside of the box or basically just challenging me to do something that I haven’t. Seeing as how I’ve been blogging items that suit the fairer gender I think that it can’t be considered a challenge for me anymore and that put me on a path of trying something that was even more of a challenge.
As the only animation store that is a part of Pose Fair (as well as a sponsor to the event), Move! Animations Cologne has released the fourth volume of their “Alana” dance set. The challenge that I gave myself was to show you just a preview of what to expect out of this set for the club goers on the grid. I do not profess to be an expert when it comes to vlogging and this probably really can’t be considered one but I have attempted to make a video to better showcase this item.
Keep in mind that I’m a novice and that while I am not sure that I’ll blog animations much, this was a lot of fun trying to learn what I could. The video seemed a lot better in quality before I uploaded it to the TCK Youtube Channel but I think that somewhere along the editing process I may have mucked up a setting or something but I will consult some people that have more experience before I do another video.
Move! Animations Cologne – Alana Vol4 (FatPack)
Bento Animations
10 single dance animations (3 exclusives in FatPack)
Exclusively @ Pose Fair until 05/25/19
Stepping out of my comfort zone has really helped me in a lot of ways as it has opened up not only more potential opportunities but also opened up more ways to use the creativity I have tucked away in my head. It seems like I have maybe outgrown my outlook of just being a male fashion blogger and as scary of a thought as it was at first, branching out has given me a way to explore the virtual world even more.
As time goes on I am finding that the more I step outside of my box the more confidence I gain with each attempt at something new. It’s growth and I think we should all grow in positive ways.
“Dancing is creating a sculpture that is visible only for a moment.”
Erol Ozan
DANCE: Move! Animations Cologne – ALARA Vol4 (FatPack) @ Pose Fair ✦ NEW
HAIR: Lamb – Only Shallow – Pack 1 – RARE ✦ Gacha Prize HEAD: LOGO – Jolie SKIN: NYNE – Noel (Tone 00) BODY: Maitreya – Lara v4.1
BODYSUIT: Foxes – Feeling Myself (Black) ✦ Gacha Prize BOOTS: CUREMORE – Asylumvillians / Boots / Kitty ✦ Gacha Prize
Do or die, you’ll never make me
Because the world will never take my heart
Go and try, you’ll never break me
We want it all, we wanna play this part
I won’t explain or say I’m sorry
I’m unashamed, I’m gonna show my scar
Give a cheer for all the broken
Listen here, because it’s who we are
I’m just a man, I’m not a hero
Just a boy, who had to sing this song
I’m just a man, I’m not a hero
I
Don’t
Care!
My Chemical Romance, ♫Welcome To The Black Parade♫
It’s the end of March and coincidentally it is also the anniversary of when I posted “When The Saints Come Marching In” on “The Saints Of Fashion{ation}” blog 5 years ago. After 100 posts I felt that my creativity and identity began to mold and change into something else and in turn spawned the site that you are viewing now. It was a branding change I thought would best be done early because once I really took off (though I still feel that I haven’t) that it would be harder to do.
Befitting as it is, to choose a song that has so many different meanings to me…it could easily be said that like My Chemical Romance, this site could be considered emo. It’s not a term I’m in love with as it almost feels derogatory in context to describe music and musicians that express what they feel in a much deeper manner. As a blogger sometimes my scenes can be deeply personal or come from a source close to me (of which I’d never disclose). “The Black Parade” album definitely had an impact on not only me as a young adult but many in their mid to late teens.
It’s relatable in an unconventional way.
For longer than I can remember I’ve wanted to do a scene inspired by “Welcome To The Black Parade” as it’s a song I feel evokes a lot of emotion. The thing that was holding me back was that the style of clothing I wanted to make this work had not been available. My vision was to make this as accurate as possible but deep down I knew that I wouldn’t find clothing that was accurate to the band’s. The closest thing at the time was the dress by CUREMORE and this almost became a blog entry that was done as a female feature but ultimately I wanted to be myself in it as well in the worst way.
Then surprisingly the other day I was browsing Flickr and saw the “Military Tailcoat” by HotDog, which had not been released at the time but was coming to latest round of NEO Japan. The event opened yesterday and I didn’t walk, I ran to the event (metaphorically speaking) and it was the first thing I bought. The event has a lot of great items but this was the one thing I truly needed to finally put my look together and be able to create a visual for it.
My brother Lucky had a set on his land that he put together for anyone to use, so I jumped at the opportunity. I’m going to say that at first when I started taking pictures I was not happy with the results I was getting and sadly almost gave up on the idea. I’m not a big fan of doing re-shoots but I was determined not to let this go so to make this work I added the hearse and changed up the poses from what I had originally; I also tweaked the lighting and some settings in Black Dragon to get where I wanted to be.
Also you’ll notice there are two people in this blog but there actually aren’t, both of them are me and to preserve the magic of the photo I’m not going to divulge the way in which I was able to get this to work. Working this how I did really made the photo special and possibly one of my favorites of my most recent work. There are other things that I probably could have done with it but I’m satisfied with these results so I am not going to give any further thought to it.
If you like the look of HotDog’s “Military Tailcoat” I would definitely implore you to visit NEO Japan and see all the outstanding stores and products available. You certainly will not regret it and I can also tell you that you’ll see more from the event on this blog before the end of the event.
HotDog – Military Tailcoat
Original mesh
6 color changeable parts via HUD
Fits most major mesh bodies (Female version included)
Exclusive to NEO Japan until 04/21/19
Closing out this entry, I’m still very much in disbelief that 5 years has gone by and I am still doing this crazy thing. Blogging is a great outlet and a fantastic release to help deal with emotional things at times to also challenge myself creatively to see what I can do with the various parts and pieces provided to me by the Second Life grid and community. Like everything it’s had it’s ups and downs and has also chronicled different times in my life and looking at it now I know that all of it continues to shape who I am as a person.
If there is anyone out there who has been a reader since the beginning that I’ve not spoken to, you have my sincere gratitude. Over time I’ve said this and it’s worth repeating again that while I am the founder and author of this blog, when I hear from friends or family and even the random message or like on social media it validates what I do here. This blog also serves the owners of the stores I blog for or the events that I am a part of as well as those I just love to show my appreciation for.
On that note, it’s time for me to get this posted up and begin working on the next photo so I can start getting back into a routine. I’ve been a little lax as of late since the Skin Fair but that’s going to change (I hope). Anyhow hope everyone’s had a great weekend and until I’m back with some fun new (and not so new sometimes) items I’ll catch you on the flipside!
On and on we carry through the fears
Disappointed faces of your peers
Take a look at me cause I could not care at all
This is madness, madness
And you know that this is madness, madness
And you know that this is
Never changing, it’s always been this way
Consuming madness, madness
Today I’m channeling my favorite villain from the DC Universe once again. I couldn’t resist revisiting this kind of photo with both the backdrop I used and also the pose set as well because it fit so well; I have to admit that I feel these photographs turned out well and fit the mood that I was looking to achieve.
Starting out with the pose set, Animosity previously released a set of poses at the Fetish Fair and I got them right away but getting caught up in other things I completely forgot that I had picked them up. It wasn’t until I was looking through some of my unopened items that I remembered they were there (that’s the life of a blogger in a virtual world isn’t it?).
This set depicts the person who is posing holding a knife in various positions. I chose the pose that most closely resembled how my version of the Joker (which is not a cannon imagination of him, more of self thought version would be combining different looks) would give himself his trademark smile. I combined it with a gacha item from CUREMORE which is a carved in smile.
With the way the lighting worked with the backdrop it certainly makes for one of the top five creepiest photos that I’ve done but I am very proud of it.
Mesh knife included to work with poses (two different versions)
5 different poses to choose from
Pose stand included also
There is about a day and a half (give or take) left of the August round of The Men’s Department and the hair I am wearing from Burley is a part of it. “Peep” is a limited edition hairstyle that comes in only the FATPACK for a value price which made it a legit bargain for me. It’s patterned after deceased rap artist Lil Peep and is a medium/long length hair that is parted in the middle. After doing some research I feel that Burley did justice in honoring his memory with this hair even though I personally have never heard any of his music.
For fans of his and anyone who just likes this type of hair style you cannot go wrong taking a trip to TMD if you haven’t already because I feel with it being limited edition you may not find this style in their main store once the event ends. Head over there asap (you can even pause reading this if you want and I won’t be offended) because after tomorrow it’s likely to be retired.
Burley Peep Hair FATPACK Limited Edition features:
100% original mesh
Full FATPACK includes 15 different color HUDs)
Regular and materials versions included
Classic hairbases and HUDs for Omega, Signature and TMP hairbases included
Exclusively @ TMD until Aug. 31st (will not be offered after)
Paparazzi’s “Moody Sewer” backdrop is what really pieced this all together; if it had not been for this then I may not have found myself inspired enough to pull everything in and probably would have never taken these photos which were really fun for me and gave me such a creative charge. I think what really triggered my ideas the most is that one of the backdrops is purple colored which obviously is a trademark for my favorite man who laughs.
This backdrop is highly detailed with the lower tunnel and upper railings down to the floodlights that actually illuminate the set (they can also be modified if the light is too bright for the type of mood you are aiming for). It’s the perfect place for a nefarious criminal to be hiding out from the authorities and or carving smiles into their face (whatever works right?)
Paparazzi Moody Sewer Backdrop features:
100% original mesh
Resizable upon click
Purple or blue available
Built in lighting (modifiable via edit)
Exclusively (but not limited) @ Limit8 until 09/13
My wardrobe is fairly simple for this entry and one that I picked up during the Giz Seorn store sale a little while back. I couldn’t pass up the “Owen” blazer outfit that comes in Purple and Green. I knew from the second I saw it that I could find a way to use to for a look where I’d be inspired by the Joker somehow. This is probably more of a trendy current version of the psycho clown. It was just what I needed to bring my idea more to life.
I am also wearing bento gloves from Ignition, I picked these up because it has a color changing HUD that included a light and dark version of purple and thought that fit in with my idea as well. It was a good deal and helped keep this scene on a good budget as I try not to have pricey sets or scenes unless it absolutely warrants the it to capture the mood of what I have in my head.
That about does it for this blog entry and the next time I blog it will be September as this weekend brings in the changing of the months and I’ve enjoyed August and even though my number of posts was not as plentiful as they have been, I feel that I did create some really good photos with the different locations and backdrops that I used.
Quality over quantity right?
Until our paths cross again be well and treat those around you with respect as for me, onto the next conversation…
HAIR: Burley – Peep – FATPACK ✦ NEW @ TMD (08/05 – 08/31) HEAD: CATWA – Victor ✦ Previously Blogged FACE: Not Found – James (Tone 2) EYEBAGS: VileCult – Putrid Eyebags FatPack ✦ Previously Blogged WOUND: CUREMORE – Scar Tissue / Smile ✦ Gacha BODY: Signature – Gianni v4.6 ✦ Previously Blogged
These Conversations Kill 