“He was no dragon. Fire cannot kill a dragon.” ~ Emilia Clarke as Daenerys Targaryen (via Jane Espenson, David Benioff, D.B. Weiss, and/or George R.R. Martin)

Daenerys Targaryen Tames the Drakyns

It all started innocently enough. Sax Shepherd Designs finally released their Animated Drakyn companions and I wanted to write a follow-up to my video blog preview. Lately due to fever, I’d been catching up on Game of Thrones. Yes, I know, Martin lacks a certain amount of creative talent and is devoid of any gift with prose… and he blatantly steals draws significant inspiration from every major fantasy series that came before his, but HBO and Jane Espenson pairing was enough to make me give it a go.

And of course, the moment I realized I had pet dragons to play with, I had to play dress up as Daenerys Targaryen.

Large Drakyn

I really didn’t think it would be so hard. And it started well. I took a trip to Truth and a purchased two “light blonde” packs — one that would suit the character and one that would allow for proper display of jewelry and upper body purchases. That took two minutes. Next, I remembered that my Shiny Things Boho Sandals are still awesome and up to par for even a Dothraki khaleesi. Next, for the trappings, I thought, no problem. In writing his novels, Martin leaned on existing fantasy tropes like a drunk on a sagging bar, and as we all know, John Norman’s Gorean environments thrive in Second Life. So I’ll just find some Tuchuk/She-Urt/Panther wrappings and be done.

Daenerys Targaryen Outfit

Three hours later, I finally had an outfit I felt comfortable with. Before I continue, it’s important to realize that I am both spoiled and picky. I don’t spend a lot of time in stores that fall below market standards these days, and a vast majority of creators for fantasy/costume wear of this sort are not up to the standard a fashion blogger would be accustomed to. Items do not come on multiple layers. Resizing scripts (if they exist) are badly scripted and not as customer-friendly as the more current offerings. Skirts in general are skirts only in the sense that they go around the hips and sort of dangle. The vast majority of “skirts” offered in the Gorean costume markets I visited were just badly textured scraps of flex prims. But that’s okay because most of the tops covered only a single breast if you were lucky. I get the impression the avatars that purchase these types of outfits aren’t wearing them for long or for the purpose of taming dragons.

The bulk of the outfit above comes from Torvis Gorean Weapons and Bina.

Let’s go over the Torvis stuffs first. The top was the main reason for the purchase, but the outfit seemed a background offering meant to be a bonus for the sale of the dagger included in the outfit (at least the dagger seemed to be the main focus of the advertising). The full skirt is actually better done than most, but it’s no-mod and the resizing scripts were obnoxious. Because of this, I couldn’t get the belt narrow enough for my hips without exposing my ass. So, I shopped and shopped and shopped until I found something else. Also, the top by itself exposed my left breast. Because it’s on the shirt layer (and only the shirt layer) it was a little frustrating to mix and match with.

Yes, I know. If I were using 2.0 it wouldn’t matter because I could have multiple things on the same layer. Imprudence isn’t offering that yet.

Daenerys Targaryen Support Outfits

On the left is the “Tende Slave Rags” outfit from Bina. Bina is one of the very few stores I visited that offered what I consider to be market-worthy products. Their prims were nicely done and nicely textured. There was some creativity in the pieces offered and most of them were on multiple layers. For medieval costuming, Bina and Vigo, were the best costumers I found (although nothing at Vigo struck me for this outfit – maybe a later entry). They’re not quite up to the quality of Evie’s Closet, but they’re close with lots of potential. The slave rags outfit has what may be the best all-prim waist sarong ever. It’s modify and copy (I re-tinted it in the previous photo) so the right textures could make it perfect for a swimsuit wrap for your beachy wear. Or, if you wanna play a little “You Tarzan, Me Jane” in the backyard, this outfit works for that, too.

On the right is the “Panther Scout” outfit from May Tolsen of May’s Soul. I wanted this for the leather straps that go around the top (they are a different layer from the shirt beneath) to hide the previously mentioned exposed breast. Unfortunately they only came on the shirt layer (suddenly, I’m shopping in SL 2007). I IMed May and she was an absolute sweetheart. She uploaded them for me on an undershit layer and then fought with me over trying to pay her for her time (I think she finally let me give her L$250 over the cost of the outfit, which is not NEARLY enough for a custom request, but some designers are just too kind for their own good).

And I was *so close* to being done.

Daenerys Targaryen Jewelry

Luckily I knew just where to go for jewelry. Previously, I had discovered TRIDENT while seeking dock supplies for the Freudian Slip. These “Lunnuitsa” bronze and ivory pieces are beyond perfect. I’ve always loved ivory, but it’s, of course, reprehensible to own any in reality. So being able to slip some on in the pixel is a nice treat. Plus, wearing bone helps keep the drakyns under thumb. If they get cheeky you can just tell them you’ll make a necklace out of them.

Where Does She Get Those Wonderful Toys?

Drakyn Animated Dragons – L$1475
Sax Shepherd Designs – Here Be Drakyns
Creator: Sax Shepherd
SLURL

SHAYNA PACK (Top & Big Skirt) – L$375
TORVIS GOREAN WEAPONS
Creator: Torvis Rainfall
SLURL

Panther Scout – L$250
May’s Soul
Creator: May Tolsen
SLURL

Lunnuitsa Necklace & Earrings – L$350 / L$250
TRIDENT
Creator: Rossana Llewellyn
SLURL

Tende Slave Rags – L$365
Bina
Creator: Cymoril Lightfoot
SLURL

Boho Sandals – L$250
Shiny Things
Creator: Fallingwater Cellardoor
SLURL

“I often think that a slightly exposed shoulder emerging from a long satin nightgown packed more sex than two naked bodies in bed” ~ Bette Davis

I think I was five the first time I remember hearing my grandmother use the word “peignoir” to describe the frilly little nightdresses I preferred to wear. From that moment I was hopelessly in love with the word and it occupies that special place in my heart reserved for deliciously feminine vocabulary treats like boudoir and décolletage. Yes I’m aware that a traditional peignoir is more of a dressing gown, but in my mind, it always means the little girl shortie not-quite-negligees that I used to twirl about in.

As such, there was much squee to be had when I slogged through the lag at Culture Shock and laid eyes on this:

Pretty Little Peignoir

Isn’t it just too cute to bear? Atomic isn’t one of my favorite stores, but there is nothing to complain about in this piece. The prims are well done with a soft movement; the “skirt” is layered to give that illusion of sheer crepe over lustrous chiffon. The sculpted prim chest bow is especially charming (and it’s also copy/mod, so if you want to add it to your favorite hairstyle or other accessories, you can). I would have liked to see a little more effort put into the textures on the prims. Second Life fashion has gotten to the point where just repeating textures on skirt prims isn’t going to cut it anymore. But this isn’t a complicated piece and it’s easy to forgive, especially with the insanely low price tag of L$100.

Because this is intended as an a la carte item, you’ll need to find something to appropriately cover your naughty bits (well, depending on your location and company that is). I chose a sweet pair of satin panties from the Caroline Ensemble by Insolence and the polka dot tights from Gawk!. The Caroline Ensemble is worth an entry of its own, make no mistake, but I needed bottoms, so I mixed and matched. The tights come in a nice pack on multiple layers with seam and torn options. If you don’t like the polka dots they also come in plain tights and striped tights.

Finally, at the tips of my stems you’ll spot Maitreya‘s Scrunched PrimSocks. I really don’t want to go off on another rant about the shamelessly grubby exploitative tendency of certain content creators to take one well made item and break it down into a million colors / combinations to bilk shoppers. I don’t begrudge anyone making a buck, but it irritates me that just because someone spent an extra twenty minutes in PS playing with the Hue/Saturation settings they think it warrants making ten times the price on a single creation. It’s especially disappointing to see a good creator cling to this practice when they must be aware that stores like [GOS] are happily providing consumers with far better options.

So, do yourself a favor. If you want the socks, pick them up in whichever pack has white. Adjust them to your size, then rip the resize scripts out of them and tint them as you need.

Then go enjoy playing dress up and remember to twirl.

Where Does She Get Those Wonderful Toys?

Hair: Cleo – L$250 (Colorpack)
Truth
Creator: Truth Hawks

Glasses: KRO Sunglasses – L$400
K_gs Kumaki
Creator: koguma Kumaki

Panties: Caroline Pink Satin Ensemble – L$290
INSOLENCE
Creator:camilla Yosuke

Peignoir: Lovely Chiffon – L$100
Atomic
(currently at Culture Shock)
Creator: Ivy Graves

Tights: White Polka Dotted Nylon Tights – L$180
Gawk!
Creator: Mell McMahon

Socks: Scrunched PrimSocks – L$450
Maitreya
Creator: Onyx LeShelle

“Vanity, I am sensible, is my cardinal vice and cardinal folly; and I am in continual danger, when in company, of being led an ignis fatuus chase by it.” ~ John Adams

*Evie's Closet* Willo O' The Wisp in Lament (Soft Lilac)

It was pointed out to me that I didn’t make mention of the fantabulous little number I was wearing in yesterday’s video post.

The Willo O’ the Wisp outfit by Evie’s Closet is a faetastic fairy ensemble (it comes with lovely wings that are not pictured in my photos, but you can see them in the store promo below) that really does everything right. The system layers are scant, but cover all they should. The textures aren’t just mindless repeats edited here and there, but shaded and blended to give a convincing tattered and patched look. The overall effect is stunningly lovely while still remaining delicate.

The use of prims is both practical and effective. The little hip frill on one side has different flex movement than the longer veil-like silks that drape from the shoulder, hips and chest. This lends an airy feminine allure that you don’t see enough in fantasy and lingerie pieces. That sense of being wrapped in a whisper of fabric translates here. There are sculpts where there need to be sculpts and regular prims textured expertly where they need to be. In the overly sculpted creations that dominate the market these days, this type of outfit stands out, proving that you can use multiple techniques to produce a superior effect.

*Evie's Closet* Willo O' The Wisp Store Promo

Prior to March of this year, I hadn’t been to Evie’s Closet in a long while (I think it was 2009 the last time I visited) and I was delighted to see how sophisticated the stock was. Evangeline Miles is a content creator who has developed herself in the format, skilled up with the market, and learned to employ layers and other multiple elements to give her creations an edge over most of what you see in the fantasy offerings.

While you’re at the store, you’ll also want to explore the rest of the Oubliette SIM. It’s a nicely done little fantasy realm.

Where Does She Get Those Wonderful Toys
*Evie’s Closet* Willo O’ The Wisp – L$350
Evie’s Closet

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Oubliette/184/189/249

We have no reason to harbor any mistrust against our world, for it is not against us. If it has terrors, they are our terrors; if it has abysses, these abysses belong to us; if there are dangers, we must try to love them. And if only we arrange our life in accordance with the principle which tells us that we must always trust in the difficult, then what now appears to us as the most alien will become our most intimate and trusted experience. How could we forget those ancient myths that stand at the beginning of all races, the myths about dragons that at the last moment are transformed into princesses? Perhaps all the dragons in our lives are princesses who are only waiting to see us act, just once, with beauty and courage. Perhaps everything that frightens us is, in its deepest essence, something helpless that wants our love.

So you mustn’t be frightened, dear Mr. Kappus, if a sadness rises in front of you, larger than any you have ever seen; if an anxiety, like light and cloud-shadows, moves over your hands and over everything you do. You must realize that something is happening to you, that life has not forgotten you, that it holds you in its hand and will not let you fall.
~ Rainer Maria Rilke, Letters To a Young Poet (Letter Eight: August 12, 1904)

Lately, my SIM, Seven Veils has been undergoing major changes. After six years, I’ve closed my texture store, Esprit Decor. I haven’t the desire nor inclination to keep the products from getting stale. While I’ll be keeping them on the marketplace, there are simply better things to be done with the real estate.

Case in point: Drakyn Statuary from Sax Shepherd Desings (whose creations are slowly taking over Seven Veils)

Chernobog Boneback Drakyn Statue From Sax Shepherd Designs

Each Drakyn statue is based on a creature of its own lore – like this Chernobog Boneback atop an ancient temple which is only twenty four prims and textured in a rich aged bronze. I love the spikes down the neck and spine and the fact that you can see the arm/wing skeletal structures that frame the webbing of the wings. The texture is magnificent, employing a mix of rust and patina effects and set to a very slight shine which lends the illusion of old metal that has been polished.

Tricerat Drakyn Sculpture From Sax Shepherd Designs

My next favorite is the Tricerat Drakyn on its floating island which casts its shadow on the ground below. This little trick is only eighteen prims (woot!) and textured in lavish sard (carnelian) which is complex, lush and vibrant. Like all the statuary by Sax, it’s modify so you can leave it floating, or incorporate it into a structure or fountain if needed. Sax also sell his textures in his shop so you can build complimenting structures and accessories, too.

And just because the from-a-distance shot doesn’t do the thing justice, here’s my closeup, Mr. DeMille:

Tricerat Drakyn Sculpture From Sax Shepherd Designs

As for what I’m wearing, I finally trotted over to Gizza where I haven’t shopped in (I want to say years, but that seems impossible) a very long time. Gizza tends to be hit and miss with me. Some items are tres delish while others just don’t hit the same quality in terms of prim work and/or texturing. And because their stuff is copy/no-trans I am cautious about what I buy because if I have to mess with it too much, it gets annoying to edit no-copy objects. Still, their prices tend to be quite fair for no-copy, so I don’t have a whole lot to complain about.

And sometimes they knock it out of the park; such as with this pairing that reached high on my squee-o-meter.

Gizza Fashion - Chiffon Shirt & Floral Jeans

The Chiffon Shirt and Stretch Jeans do not come as a set, so you have to find them separately (they’re on the second floor not too far from each other). As you can see, the colors are vibrant and the prims are very well done. I did a little fitting but didn’t have to fuss too much to get them happy on my shape. The textures are sumblime and unapologeticly feminine. The semi-transparent system layers on the top give you a flirty little glimpse of navel, while maintaining modesty, and the prim textures manage to be gauzy without that annoying trans flicker that is the bane of SL fashion existence (of course it helps with that to wear an updo). You can also see the detail in the photo, how the shading gives the perfect illusion of gathers and ripples in the delicate fabric.

Gizza Fashion - Chiffon Shirt & Floral Jeans

I don’t wear jeans a lot IRL, but when I do, I prefer them dark and these are perfect with a deep rich denim and light stitching to punctuate the seams. The floral patterns are bright and lovely and manage to be chic with a hint of throwback flower girl. The prim cuffs are well done, easy to fit and boast a lazy curve and fold that I prefer to a straight turn-up.

As sexy Summer casual goes, you can’t beat sweet chiffon and floral jeans — even if they don’t offer much protection against Boneback Drakyn spines.

Where Does She Get Those Wonderful Toys:

Chiffon Shirt [Pink Roses] – L$200
Stretch Jean [Pink Floral] – L$200
**GizzA**

http://slurl.com/secondlife/GizzA%20Creations/126/131/22

Chernobog Boneback Drakyn Statue – L$750
Marketplace
Tricerat Drakyn Sculpture – L$750
Marketplace
Sax Shepherd Designs – Here Be Drakyns

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Seven%20Veils/64/207/21

Usual Suspects:
Shoes (Maitreya)
Hair (Truth)

“The only constant is change.” ~ Heraclitus

I decided to see what the oldest outfits were that I could find in my inventory. In preparing for a new culling, it was fun to take one or two last shots in some of my favorites.

Hint: If your avatar looks in any way like these photos, you are sporting 2005 pixel vanity. Upgrade now. You may think it makes you seem cool and aloof, but it really just makes you outdated and out of touch.
Extra Hint: If the stuff you are making looks anything like these photos, stop, drop and skill up (this means *you* hair designers).

It’s worth noting that I no longer seem to have my old glasses, eyes, or stockings from that era, so I’m sportin’ current eyes and glasses and sans stockings.

Throwback SL 2005 Look

2005: Part I
Hair: Lash Xevious (Flower Child in Bronzed)
Skin: Starley Thereian (CS Passport Skin – Paris/Brown Torrid)
Rose: Forseti Svarog (Roses For Hair – Scarlet)
Top: Nicola Escher (GK – Red/Black Lace Corset Top)
Skirt: Janie Marlowe (**Mis** Lil Ebony Ruffles)
Shoes: Fallingwater Cellardoor (Mary Jane Mules)

Throwback SL Look 2005

2005: Part II
Hair: Lash Xevious (Flower Child in Bronzed)
Skin: Starley Thereian (CS Passport Skin – Paris/Brown Torrid)
Dress: Nonna Hedges (Thank You India)
Shoes: Jackal Ennui (Taupe Brocade Mules)