Jewelry Expo Picks

Jewelry Expo is here at last. So much gorgeous jewelry, and so little...... cash. My picks are therefore very much limited by my budget. I was drooling over everything in the Lassitude and Ennui stand but alas, had to leave empty handed. Somehow I think I will be going back though.

Fortunately, there are lots of great freebies - Alienbear, Cailyn's, Caroline's Jewelry and Amaretto are just a few of the stands I can think of offhand that are worth a visit for the freebies alone. Elusyve Jewell has highlighted a few of the best freebies on the FTH inc blog.

Congratulations to Miriel and everyone who has worked so hard to make this a successful event. Compared to other events of a similar scale, the lag was minimal.

All of the releases at Paper Couture's stall are exclusive to the Expo. This is the stunning Antique Pearl Choker set, and there a quite a few impressive rings too.

From boing fromage, the Lady Cameo set. Affordably priced, the set comes with gold and silver cameos and in two styles.

From Illusions, the "Gothica" Earrings and Necklace in Tarnished / Cherry Amber. Siyu Suen is a freaking genius, and I defy you to walk away from her stall empty handed (well the freebie on offer there will prevent that anyway!).

Also from Illusions, the Sacred Heart Set in Sterling (worn with the matching Goth Cowboy Hat which I LOVE)

Everyone is raving about the Chatelaine Shoulder Brooch and Chain from Muse, and rightly so. This is quite possibly Caliah's best work yet.

From Miam Miam, the Charm Medallion Necklace. It's adorable AND big, gotta love that. Click it to cycle through four different metal options.

Naturals from Caroline's Jewelry

Caroline's Jewelry recently released the Natural Collection, and this is quite possibly the most delicious use of sculpties in jewelry that I have seen so far. Luminous tones and organic shapes - the design is simple but the prim work is perfect. The fluid lines of the necklace definitely give this set a real life feel. This particular set is available in three colours - I couldn't go past the warm natural tones of the brown set, but ended up going back for the brighter green and blue sets as well. You can check out the rest of the pieces on Caroline's blog. If you drop by the store now you can also pick up a matching ring for free, which is a limited time offer.

Sale at Second Mirage Darlings!

Hello dears, Swirly here. Many of you, no..... ALL of you would have been wondering where Swirly has disappeared to of late. Following her spectacular modelling debut at the Paper Couture show, the entire grid has been abuzz with rumours ......... did Swirly suffer a nervous breakdown from the stress of playing such a critical role in the debut of the PC Fall collection? Did the pressure of knowing that her performance could make or break the Lu Sisters result in Swirly spiraling into deep depression, leading to her driving recklessly whilst under the influence, getting charged for possession of a small amount of cocaine, spending time in jail before having her sentenced commuted to house arrest, then shaving her head and booking herself into an exclusive rehabilitation facility for several hours? These, and many other questions, will not be answered here darlings. Swirly is, after all, an intensely private, withdrawn and reclusive individual who never likes to air her dirty laundry in public unless it involves that CHEATING LYING BASTARD Stephen Bentham who, incidentally, is lower than a diseased sewer rat.

Anyway darlings, on to the tedious business of fashion. Swirly says tedious because as you would all be aware, the ongoing grid problems are making simple tasks such as changing one's wig result in embarrassing problems such as the sudden growth of excessive untamed pubic hair. Now there may be nothing wrong with that for all you unwashed, hairy lesbian types, but for a man-eating red blooded woman like Swirly, this is a devastating social faux pas! Would Philip Linden himself want to see Swirly baring anything other than a pristine Brazilian wax? Swirly thinks not darlings!

Second Mirage makes FABULOUS jewelry and Swirly has been meaning to write about this store for quite some time. But what better time for Swirly to wax lyrical about this marvelous store than when they are having a half price sale? Yes darlings, everything at their main store is currently 50% off, but do hurry, this won't last much longer!

What Swirly LOVES about Second Mirage is that many of the designs feature top secret, patented, bosom enhancing technology. This technology is SO hush hush that even the designer herself was not aware of it until Swirly revealed it here! But as the pictures below will confirm, if you want to draw attention to your best assets, Second Mirage should be your first port of call.
Better than breast implants - don't Swirly's bosoms look ENORMOUS when highlighted by the Raven Gold Necklace with matching earrings? That fabulous hair is Evelyn Existentialist by Marlys by the way dears.

Forget the Wonder Bra my loves, all you need is Second Mirage's Tory Triple Necklace in Gold. Yes, that's three different strands there darlings, count them if you don't believe Swirly. Don't ask Swirly about the hair, it's only for very special people. Smooches Lu Sisters!

The Tess Diamond and Platinum Necklace is placed just a little high up to offer any bosom enhancing benefits - in fact, you cannot see Swirly's bosoms in this photo at all. It's still a stunning piece though, especially worn with the matching earrings. Swirly loves this set because it makes her look like the special princess she truly is. The stunning Shazy's Congo hair is from Marlys, so it is available to you lesser mortals. You can also pick up the Deco Eyelashes from Cake if you so desire, but just remember - they won't look as good on you as they do on Swirly.

Alright darlings, stop staring at Swirly's bosoms for a minute and get your emaciated little backsides over to Second Mirage for their FABULOUS sale!

*smooches*

Boho Wood Jewelry from EARTHTONES Boutique

Lucas Lameth is one seriously talented guy, as this latest release from EARTHTONES Boutique shows. Lucas has designed 3 sets of bohemian / gypsy style wooden jewelry which you can mix and match. I watched Lucas work on these in his studio and couldn't wait for them to be released, the prim work and texturing is superb as you would expect from EARTHTONES jewelry. All items are sold separately and are very reasonably priced at 179L for the necklaces and 69L for the earrings.

My favourite piece from the collection is the Boho Gypsy Necklace in Mixed Cherry Woods. Lucas describes it as "messy and very random". I love the contrasting shapes and textures; wear it with something low cut and this is one very eye catching necklace! Also shown here are the Boho Big Loop Earrings in Cherry Woods; I LOVE the size of these.


The Boho Triple Layer Wood Beads Necklace is a simpler piece comprised of 3 interwoven strands which would look great with casual or beach wear. I would love to see this made for guys as well. The sculpted shape of the Boho Figured Wood Earrings is very delicate and pretty.


Lucas has gone all out with the Boho Extra Long Necklace in Mixed Woods, this is really something quite different and impressive! The Boho Earrings Wood Wave in Mixed Woods are textured similarly the Boho Big Loop earrings with contrasting wood tones, but are carved to wave out.


Clothes: Aphrodite from Last Call
Hair: Crave in Mocha from Naughty
Skin: Alina Vintage Singles Fair "Dangerous Eyelashes 1" from Naughty

Skanky Updates

Yay! Poe Tatum has made jeans, and yes, they are truly worthy of the Skanks R Us label. Ripped and worn, shredded and stained, they are perfect for all social occasions. These are available in light and dark denim, with detail shown below. On sale right now.


Not quite released are the Gothic Crossed Earrings and FlashTatum Crossed Collar. These appear to be a collaboration between Poe and her sweetheart sweethate Flasheart (say that real fast) of SweetEdge Jewelry...awwww. Poe says these should be out in a couple of days at Skanks R Us. Usual originality and high quality you would expect in jewelry from this pair, 'nuff said, just buy 'em!

This Trashy Life

Swirly seems to have already given me a fairly decent introduction so I don't really see a need for me to give the obligatory self-intro. I am Dakota Buck and you should already know the rest.

In Second Life, where anyone can have all the most fabulous clothes, it would be easy to assume that those with the best clothes will be the best dressed. At a glance it's fairly easy to see that this is not so. Nothing's stopping you from buying every item ever blogged (congrats' if you can, but try to do it without ending up in jail – the food isn't too crash hot) but this exercise is close to pointless if you can't rock your look.

There's a trashy craze emerging from our little virtual fashion world, now this is not the Club Arsheba escort service kind of trashy, this is fierce and colourful and inspired by trashylife.com. Items are being released by content creators like Arbel Vogel (Winter Moon) and Pandora Jensen (PanJen) as the charge is lead by the perma-fierce Ms. Satine Dot (Old Gravy). These girls have got it, but unfortunately simply wearing their stuff doesn't mean that you do. Exploring your trashy side can be a dangerous business for the junior fashionista when you take into consideration how easy it is to look like a dirty dirty cumdumpster in sl – not a challenge to be taken lightly. I've put together some hints for trying out this trend before you start ripping your tutus, tanks and tights.

Just say no to hooker heels. You know the one's I'm talking about, Trashiness calls for some impressive stilettos but once you cross that line into stripper shoe territory you'll be filling in a GOL (Goddess of Love) application form in no time.

Ban the bling and other faux-glamorous jewelry. If your body is blingin' you have no right to be within a four sim radius of me or anyone else for that matter. There really needs to be a separate blingtard section as with the smoking and non-smoking sections in real life. Relating this back, the other prevalent jewelry sin is that hideous white/silver texture, accessories crafted from this will not work with your trashy life look (or any other time while I'm on the topic). If you want to work this look try brightly coloured plastic - like hat you used to wear as a little girl. Get multiple bangles, the type that clack together when you move, and link them together. Layer your necklaces. Mismatch your earrings.

Mix and match until you find the trashy look that works for you. Be theatrical and glam.
Scum
Scum Set from Winter Moon.
Vogue Skin (Last Call-Babydoll) from Last Call.
Custom Tattoo from Bellish Ink
Trash (Brown Streaks) from Old Gravy.
Trashville 5 Star Boots from Jeepers Creepers.
Fairy
Sticky Fairy from Winter Moon.
Trasher Skin from PanJen.
City Blossom Set from Earthtones Boutique.
Shit Kicker Boots from SiniStyle.
Guns Tattoo from Lush.
Christina (White Frosted) from ETD
Wrist Wrap Ribbon Watch from Tickled Pink.
Daring
Dare Pumps (Teal) from Shiny Things
Snakeskin Wrap Belt (pink/blue) from Shiny Things.
Dark Sticky Fairy Tank from Winter Moon.
Lamina Bikini Top from Winter Moon.
Leopard Pants from artilleri.
Honey (Brown October) from artilleri.
Ganguro Skin from PanJen.
Buncha Heart Bangles (Pastels) from boing fromage.
Retro Heart Earrings from Kitty's Rampage.
Winged Heart from Yummy.
Body Graffiti (Suicide Girls) from Canimal.

1. Buncha Heart Bangles (Pastels) from boing fromage.
The buncha heart bangles by elka Lehane are one of my favourite accessories whether I'm trashily dressed or not. They come in several colour combinations and can be teamed with most outfits.
2. Wellies (Blue) from Jeepers Creepers.
3. Dare Pumps (Teal) from Shiny Things.
Proof that you can be glam and sexy without the use of hooker heels.
4. Elizabeth Button-up Boot from Lassitude & Ennui.
5. Cassette Earrings from Happy Junk.
I'm a BIG fan of Happy Junk. There's not too much in the store at the moment but what is there is fantastic. Natalie Defiant does some rad tiny prim-work.
6. RaGe Gloves from SiniStyle.
Trashy is fierce. The RaGe Gloves by Krius Misfit are a great way to get that hard edge without changing out of your fairy wings.

So remember:Photo by Menno Ophelia.

Fabulous new hair from Chicanery

Chicanery Turnbull is best known for designing..... well, Swirly doesn't actually know, but that doesn't really matter. Chicanery has branched out from whatever it is he normally


does into the fabulous world of hair design, and Swirly is thrilled to review his first hair release, "Bartley Head". This hair is unique in that it covers your ENTIRE head and replaces your face with a series of images, shown here is a little smiley face with lots of static. It also has some long flexi strands that are vaguely reminiscent of television antennas.

Chicanery has also released some jewelry to match his hair, though why you would want to wear something on your shoulder that resembles a parasitic creature with a television on its head is beyond me.......
Chicanery

*smooches*

Featured Designer - SweetEdge Jewelry

sweethate Flasheart is the designer behind SweetEdge Jewelry. This isn't your standard, pretty blinging jewelry that will go nicely with the new frock you just bought. SweetEdge focuses on punk and gothic designs, and we are talking serious spikes and heavy chains here. Shown above are the appropriately named Insane Spike Bracers - I wouldn't recommend hopping on a pose ball with your nearest and dearest whilst wearing these (well, unless you are into that sort of thing of course...) The Steel Spiked Thigh bands feature flexi chains and look amazing when worn with a latex catsuit, which I somehow neglected to wear in this photo above. sweethate also makes some wicked looking boots and shoes, and I am wearing the very spiky and sexy Blood Spillers. Ahhh, for a pair of these in real life!




sweethate has just released some awesome razor blade designs, to the left is the Punk Razor Dog tags, which I just love! Also shown are the Punk Razor Earrings.







Shown on the right is the Razor Punk Choker, which is a very detailed barbed wire choker with a dangling razor blade - nice! There are several other new items in the Punk Razor series as well.

sweethate does sell a number of "prettier" items as well, including some finely detailed heart jewelry which I didn't buy because of, well, the hearts :P

SweetEdge Jewelry

New Designer - Bitter Thorns

OK, before I do one of my SERIOUS reviews which highlights the work of a talented SL designer whose work I admire, I need to make a few things clear here. Fashion Victim is a serious blog, we aim to directly compete with more popular blogs such as Linden Lifestyles, PXP, Appearance Mode, Style Disorder and Second Style Fashionista. Except of course, we will bring you BETTER content. Think cyberpunk accessories, goth and punk clothes, weapons and other stuff that I personally like. None of this pretty pretty crap by the big names that OTHER posters here seem to want to inundate our readers with. Who is interested in that stuff anyway? No sucking up to designers in the hope of getting free stuff, that is NOT what we are about. And definitely NO blogging stuff cos "Oh my best friend made it and I want to help promote their store"......... that shit just reeks of nepotism and Fashion Victim is designed to give honest, unbiased reviews of unique and cool stuff that will interest our readers. Just objective journalism here people.

Right, now that I have laid out the ground rules, let's get on with what Fashion Victim is all about as I present you with a review of my wife's new jewelry store.


Bitter Thorns is the brain child of the beautiful and talented Juliet Ceres. Hi wifey! Juliet is not only the hottest piece of ass in SL, but no-one else can turn a simple handful of prims into a masterpiece of design the way she can. Every single one of her pieces is a work of art. I really did not feel that I could do justice to her work by modelling it myself, being far less beautiful than my wife, so my precious darling has kindly allowed me to use her own pics to showcase her work here for you. I could just look at these for hours *sighs contentedly*. Shown above are Juliet's Dark Claws, and aren't these just the BEST thing you have seen? I love it when she runs her hands slowly down my back whilst wearing these..... OK, you can stop looking at my wife's tits now, get your own wife if you wanna do that sort of thing please.


These are Juliet's Forearm Claws. She designed these specifically to be worn with guns, pretty evil looking, huh? Damn wifey, you are just so talented and look SOOOOOO hot with those guns. Oh, by the way, these claws are retractable. Ain't she clever?


This is quite possibly my favourite picture of my wife, doesn't she just look so pretty and sweet? Oh yes, and she is modelling her Dark Spiral Bracelets here which I just LOVE! Nearly forgot about the jewelry while I was looking at that pic, doh!


These are Juliet's Dark Gyro Earrings. This picture, whilst being a tantalising closeup of my wife's ear that just makes me want to nibble on it, doesn't really highlight how cool these earrings are. They are animated and the red centre piece actually glows.


Juliet also makes some stunning and highly detailed necklaces. The prims on these are SO tiny. I asked Juliet how she does it and she said never mind, I wouldn't understand. This is the Silver Cyber Cross necklace. I am not sure if it is her BEST necklace because she has made quite a few of these, in a variety of designs. But I do know that her face looks really pretty in this photo :)


This last piece, the Silver Heart necklace, is my favourite because Juliet made it just for me for Valentine's Day! :D She is, um, selling it in her shop though.......

Juliet makes HEAPS more awesome stuff and I would show it all to you here except Swirly would kick my butt. So you MUST go and check out Juliet's store Bitter Thorns NOW and buy lots of stuff :D Please? Oh Juliet also has a group called, um, Bitter Thorns and right now she has a gift for her members, so join up if you like free stuff.