Like most every stylish girl out there, I’ve been anxiously anticipating the Sex and the City movie release. In my day-life I’m a clothing stylist in a vintage store, and I’ve earned the neighborhood nickname of “Carrie Bradshaw”. Let’s see if I can live up to it!

This was my most challenging shoot to date. From the styling to the setting, I really wanted to do the city and the clothing justice, and I hope I accomplished that. This look started at the top, because I originally wanted something like the opening sequence in which she wears a tiered skirt and casual tank. When I realized I didn’t have the right skirt in my inventory, I got creative and discovered the bottom of Ingenue’s Lady Stardust might just have the right amount of glitz. I layered a Celestial Studios tank over the undershirt option, edited the straps, and raised the hem of the tank enough to give a pretty high-waisted effect. Of course, the truly fashionable woman knows it’s all in the details. Carrie always knew just how to accessorize, and I’m paying homage to that memorable season in which she often wore big, statement-making flower corsages. The ruffled socks and white gloves add the touches that truly make personal style. I knew I needed Cake’s slightly wild volume to pull off her trademark tousled curls, and it just wouldn’t be Carrie without that perfect pair of pumps, and a great purse.

Van’s photo was a tough one - Big needs a black car and a city street at night, and there weren’t too many of those waiting for my camera. In the end I turned to the trusty black Shadow, attached it to his avatar and managed to take a picture next to the “Candy Club”, which I found to be cutely appropriate. Deciding on a suit required some discussion, but we settled on a true oldie-but-goodie, Van’s very first suit from SF Designs. The included prim cuff-links and tie-pins are favorites of his, and emphasize the power and class that Mr. Big always exuded. It was hard to talk him out of his Scorpio skin, but he agreed that businessman don’t tend to wear eyeliner, and donned a Minnu Model skin, a past group freebie. (I don’t know if the current controversy extends to freebies, I’ll read up on my scandal lit and get back to you.) Likewise, he traded his longer locks for a well-manicured effect, and tried a new sexy amber eye-color.

Stay tuned next week for Smith and Samantha!

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In Japan, spring is cherry blossom season. I have a deep affection for Japanese culture; the animation, the food, the bustling city life and beautiful country shrines… and of course, the fashion.

My inventory overflows with kimonos. I once read a quote by Iris Ophelia (editor of Second Style and a serious crush of mine) in which she states that she prefers a kimono over a ball gown at a formal - it has always inspired me. This beautifully vibrant design was only $30 Linden at Milk Latte, an amazing shop I discovered on the indispensable Free*Style blog. I am a bargain hunter in both lives, and proud of it. Both this stunning Geisha hairstyle and the intricate fan were limited-time freebies, and essential to my virtual closet. This bright yellow Bare Rose obi proves mixing and matching isn’t just for western-wear, and my geta sandals are from a separate Milk Latte kimono outfit.

But the true star is this beautiful skin. This Geisha makeup creation by Miss. Ophelia has been softly brushed down the back and neck in swirls and flower patterns, and came in 6 eye makeup colors with names like “lacquer” and “tea”. You can see why I secretly admire her. The flowers of a Baiastice nymph costume add an exotic and vivid emphasis, by a rose bath in the Bare Rose Spa.

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If you couldn’t tell, I am big on double entendres. Today I’m raising a sticky-sweet torch in memory of the Cotton Candy sim, with a little city girl toughness and some sugary pastels.

The summer concert season is picking up, so I decided while Van is busy programming spotlights for Was Not Was (Remember “Walk the Dinosaur”?) I’ll do a few individual posts. It was an easy progression from the idea of city style to this sexy and unbelievably current tank top design by Kotobuki Jewell of Bijou. The stocking suspenders, oh my god, my ass is kicked by their greatness every time I glance down. I chose to wear them mixed with her Linda outfit leg-warmers instead of the included pair, because I liked the more “effortlessly cool” effect. My Free Speerit hairstyle is another great example of that, with the sexy asymmetrical pony I tend to see at parties with hipster girls. The vest is an all-prim wonder from Bare Rose, freeing up all other layers for mixing, and as usual comes in many colors. My bad-girl gloves are also included in the Linda outfit, and the wrist bandana is another from Tonic. These Risky Business shades are a serious STEAL at $1 linden at the Decollage sale, and my cutesy hair clips are from an Old Gravy style (they are still un-packing in their new Retrology location, so it may soon be available). I chose my skin for it’s pouty red lips and ready-made nail polish; it’s an Eloh variation by Betty Doyle of Ingenue called “RetroDoll”, one of my treasures from Another Fundraiser. And the shoes, which just might win in a contest of my favorites, are the luscious Laque platforms by Storm Schmooz.

Skin: Another Fundraiser - RetroDoll by Betty Doyle (No Longer Available)
Hair: Free Speerit - Lyrlia in Sangria
Tank Top and Shorts: Bijou - Brakeshot Outfit
Vest: Bare Rose - Lady Short Vest in Pink Shine
Leg-Warmers and Gloves: Bijou - Linda Outfit
Shoes: Storm Schmooz - Laque Platforms in Black
Shades: Decollage - Risky Business Shades in Terq ($1 Linden!)
Bandana: Tonic - Arm Bandana in White
Barettes: Old Gravy - Q-T Clips without Hat
Cotton Candy: Candyland Sim - 4 Colors!

As always, for full pictures and Slurls, See Red-Headed Step-Child and my Locations and Designers Page

Forgive the pun, it could be worse. Spring is a transitional season - a rhyme about April showers and May flowers spring to mind. Whenever our windlight threatens inclement weather, we reach for our Bare Rose folders and mix up a little style.

Van chose the long over the short version of this coat, which developed into a classy film-noir look. Mixing attachments is one of easiest ways to personalize an outfit, and his favorite combo was this neutral grey trench with the cuffs and collar in white. He is TRULY passionate about these and all shoes by Eponymous Trenchmouth, launching into a descriptive monologue with snippets like “most articulated and beautifully rendered footwear” and “I’m jealous of my virtual wardrobe”. What -I- liked about them, besides the vintage charm, is they allowed me to finally talk him into wearing a hat! Urid Dal’s Jackson Smooth is such a perfect match, even Van’s grumping about SL hats was silenced. A pair of leather gloves from Shai completes the rainy-day accessories, and looks great with her Alpine Man tweed slacks. The shirt and tie are by Versu Richelieu, whose store VR Phlux still exists, but unfortunately I could no longer find the outfit. (It’s a bit of a shame, as Van won the opportunity to be the first male guest star on Closet Crisis with pieces of it!)

My look is softer and sweeter, because I wanted to showcase the versatility of these coats. And, I just loved the color options :). I followed Van’s example with one of Armidi’s tousled, prettily imperfect hairstyles, and tried on a few of GiGi Couture’s past freebie skins before deciding on her Easter makeup offering. (It’s no longer available, but an equally lovely substitute is.) I found these lashes on my pilgrimage to Detour, aptly named “Candy”, along with a few of the hairdos I had been coveting like most everyone else. My shorts are from an infinitely mixable outfit at G.L.A.M., one of my summer staples, and I think they bring out the white in my new UBU cupcake rain boots nicely. These edgy striped socks from EtchD are tamed by wearing them prim-less, and I added a pair of dangly pastel heart earrings for a little extra girlyness. I finished the look with a cherry blossom parasol purchased in Tableau’s Odds and Ends, a store cleverly set inside the sunken airplane. My original vision included one of Tweet’s gorgeous plaid umbrellas, but 300 lindens and no item later, I reconsidered hehe.

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Well hi! This will be my first of what I hope to be many posts here at iheartsl.com. I’m a fledgling blogger, and I’m happy to be a part of this diverse group.

Spring has always felt a little like a 1950’s date to me. A walk in the park, a ride in a convertible, a picnic on the grass. These looks were inspired by that vintage state of mind, when holding hands was going steady and collars were always buttoned.

When I bought the Beatha outfit from Artilleri months ago, I was already mentally pairing it with my wardrobe in preparation for Spring. So when Aoharu released this summery yellow shirt to their group, I knew the layer options were just what I needed to pull this look together. I only recently discovered that all of my white modifiable clothes and accessories are tintable, and have been having a blast adding pinches of color like this tank top colored to match the aqua tones in my skirt. To play up the retro-sweetness, I attached one of Artilleri’s hair lillies to my chest for a prom-night corsage, and wore little understated opal studs in my ears. This skin is one of many Eloh edits I am obsessively filling my inventory with, available at Mela’s, which I particularly like for her soft shading and sugary colors. A long, feminine ponytail seemed the perfect match.

Van’s look started at the top, with the nice-boy haircut and Buddy Holly glasses. I usually suggest eye-wear when he wears his Scorpio skin, because he’s too damn pretty, and Artilleri has the best retro frames I’ve seen. The yellow-striped polo from Paper Couture actually has a hand-drawn bowtie, but I thought a little punch of color from a Shai bowtie tinted pink made a fresher look. The Armidi sweater brings a little pale blue to the mix, and there’s a matching yellow belt hiding just beneath it.

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