April is the cruellest month, breeding
Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing
Memory and desire, stirring
Dull roots with spring rain.
~ T.S. Eliot, “The Waste Land”

Aphrodisia Outfit From Wishbox

*Editorial Note* Although I generally try and photograph review outfits in the studio, it is difficult to get good studio images with white dominant outfits. In this case, I felt using display images that demonstrate the effects of different daylight settings would be more helpful to consumers.

One of the reasons I’ve rejected the label “fashionista” in SL is because, although I enjoy wriggling my avatar into virtual fashion, I am far more interested in playing pixel paper dolls than I am in paying attention to trends and latest styles. I do believe that fashion – good fashion – can be both a visual art and an act of meaningful expression. Like most commercial arts, however, too many people think they’re good at it when they’re not and everyone from producers to promoters to critics to consumers wants to claim authority over it. Factor in the whole gaggle scrapping to remain relevant in a competitive market and you’re going to get the inevitable mediocrity of mainstream and drama.

The reason I know I’m not a fashionista is because my first priority in playing dress up is “pretty” rather than “compelling.” Sure, ideally, I aim for a marriage of the two, but if I have to choose, I take pretty everyday of the week and twice on Sunday. Compelling can be thought-inspiring and stimulating and controversial, but it can also be ugly. When it comes to such things, I lean heavily toward the Oscar Wilde side of vanity and weakness. And if you think that is slightly shallow the only response I can offer is…guilty as charged.

However, it is this playful attraction to dress-up pretty that brought me to the absolute delight that is Wishbox‘s Aphrodisia.

Aphrodisia - Front View

Although intended as a fairy or elf outfit, Aphrodisia is so unabashedly Spring-friendly that I don’t think just the mythical folk should get to lay claim over it. I opted for the white and pink which consists of the ruffled top and cascading half-skirt generously garnished with a plaited sash and belt of sculpted flowers (I suspect, but cannot say with complete authority that these are roses and lilies from the full-perm Arctic Garden flowers line).

The movement on the flexi bust ruffle and skirt drapes are nicely done. The ruffle on the top breathes and floats lightly, as do the upper layers of the skirt, while the lower layers of the skirt have a bit more bounce and wiggle. The overall effect is well done and makes it surprisingly suitable for dance or frolic animations.

Aphrodisia - Risque Side

What makes the outfit risque is the fully exposed slit up along one side of the skirt. While I have no problem with wearing personal outfits that offer glimpses of deliciously bare skin, I generally don’t wear them in pubic. However, even if you are a hint on the modest side for your public clothing, the execution of the Aphrodisia is still on the “good girl” side of public decency. It gives the impression of vixen with a brazen display of inner thigh and *ahem* cheek, but it completely covers all the key bits, even during movement.

Aphrodisia - Modesty Layers

Stripping the outfit down to its modesty layers allows you to see how the nips and bikini areas are sheltered in the perfect way to provide a semblance of scandal, while keeping your personal secrets well under cover. Granted, the ensemble will never pass for prim, but it’s Spring and even the trees are flirty, so why shouldn’t supple pixel flesh get a little time to strut its stuff?

Aphrodisia - Back View

The outfit comes with a modifiable complimentary shape, but I had no problem fitting it to my existing shape. All the sculpts have touch-to-resize scripts that allow you to +/- in intervals of 1, 5 or 10 and they also feature a “restore” feature that resets them to the out-of-box sizing. They do not allow you to modify prim by prim, however.

Along with the outfit itself, there are two accessories that are “must have”s in my opinion. They can be found in a different part of the Wishbox main location near the Thumbelina fairy outfit. Both of them are flower accessories that use the same roses and lilies employed in the Aphrodisia sash and belt.

Wishbox - Fairy Garter

First up is the “Fairy Garter” which attached by default to the upper left leg. It can also be resized, but doesn’t appear to have a restore function. The white/pink version of the garter matches perfectly to the flowers in the “Blushing Ivory” version of Aphrodisia, but I didn’t see flower sets that would match the other two Aphrodisa options called “Paradise Green” and “Blackbird Pie” so you might want to check on this for yourself prior to purchase.

Wishbox - "Happy Foibles" Wreath

The “Happy Foibles” wreath attaches by default to the mouth and can be resized, but not restored. It also has a feature to remove scripts once you’ve sized it, but always be careful and remember to take a copy before removing scripts. The wreath can be found in the same section with the garter and has the same color combination options, as far as I could tell.

In closing, let me just say if you’ve ever had the desire to look like a girl out of a Mucha illustration, I suggest you skip your happy pixel toes over to Wishbox and give Aphrodisia a long, considering look.

Detail Items
Hair – Maitreya Green II (Pecan)
Shoes – Shiny Things SM Jane wedge (White)

Where & How Much
Aphrodisia Outfit (Blushing Ivory used in review) – L$550
“Happy Foibles” Wreath (Pink used in review) – L$175
Fairy Garter (Pink/White used in review) – L$150
Wishbox

http://slurl.com/secondlife/BraveHearts/194/161/30