“When envoys are sent with compliments in their mouths, it is a sign that the enemy intends a truce.” ~ Sun Tzu

So last Thursday at the Slip, I was doing the usual shuffle of trying to be all hostess-y during concerts balanced against the general IM parade when I received what can only be regarded as the most backhanded compliment ever. The gent to blame (nameless here to protect the anything but innocent) left for the night and bade farewell by sending me the following IM:

Nameless Non-Innocent: You really have a sexy avatar — there aren’t many who can pull off a tablecloth and make it look hot.

I fixed spelling errors, punctuation and capitalization, but otherwise that’s word for word.

So, let’s start with the fact that the guy is a sort-of-acquaintance-but-mostly-total-stranger. He knows friends I know, or seems to, but we don’t engage in more than hello and goodbye on occasion. So this comment comes 100% out of the blue. I’m pretty sure it was well-intended — which is kinda the most cringe-y part of the entire thing.

Also, how do you respond to compliments about an avatar being “sexy” or “hot?” I mean, I didn’t work out for this bod or spend hours on my hair and make-up. Do I think my avatar is cute and nummy? Yes — she fits my personal tastes. Do I appreciate other people may or may not feel the same? Of course. Would I take any feedback negative or positive personally? Um. How?

Don’t get me wrong — I appreciate it when someone says they like the sort of style I project, or when they squee over an outfit I put together. To me, that reflects a symbiotic pixel vanity and I do allow a smile here and there when someone compliments my aesthetic choices. But the “sexiness” thing always leaves me wanting to smirk and reply “thanks, your slider settings get me really hot, too.” But, you just know the sarcasm would be lost. To be fair, I don’t handle these sorts of compliments well IRL, either. Basically what someone is saying is they like the lot you drew in the genetic lottery. I suppose, comparing the two, at least I picked my own slider settings.

Most importantly of all, the dress I was wearing was a-fucking-dorable and deserves more than to be labeled a tablecloth!

One Shoulder Lace Dress from *COCO*

Meet the One-Shoulder Lace Dress from COCO. Yes, I know it’s shamelessly frilly and girly, but it’s the end of Summer and this breezy little number begged wearing. Admittedly, it’s not my normal fare (if for no other reason than I don’t generally like one-shoulder anything) but there’s something sweet about it. Fair warning — it was a bitch to fit to my fashion-waif shape; I had to shrink the lace ruffle sculpts quite a bit and I had to prim-by-prim fit the skirt.

As lace flirting with sheer goes, I appreciate efforts like these put out by designers because they cover all the important bits and allow for a delicate, feminine look that flashes a lot of skin, but keeps you on the “good girl” side of the tracks. As there are soon going to be a bunch of kids wandering around the grid next to us, I imagine that will become more important. Saints preserve us all.

The dress also comes in ecru/beige and black in addition to the white I selected. And the ruffles can be used as a stand alone top if you’re into that sort of thing.

Icing - Princess Pearls

I accessorized with the perfect-with-anything Princess Pearls from Icing — which I’m relatively sure every woman in SL must have in their inventory. If they don’t…I cannot imagine why.

As for the shoes, I’m doing a second entry on them. Stay Tuned.

Where Does She Get Those Wonderful Toys:

One-Shoulder Lace Dress – L$300
*COCO*

http://slurl.com/secondlife/COCO%20DESIGNS/86/118/521

Princess Pearls Set – L$195
Icing

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Mischief/126/175/25