Tya Fallingbridge of Pixel Mode is one of those designers who have been around literally forever, but she’s still on top of her game and keeping up with the latest trends and techniques.  Her latest release, the Jori sandals, are absolutely stunning and well worth the heaps of praise I’ve seen all over the blogosphere during the past few weeks.

The Jori sandals come in two styles, with either black soles/heels or colour-matched ones.  You can also choose from a bunch of nailpolish colours, a dozen or so metal accent colours, and you can resize if you’re a man into ladies shoes, or you just have bigger ankles than Miss Tya (like myself).  It was remarkably easy to adjust my skintone to match one of my current favourites, the Tuli Audrey skin, and if you’re not so hot at the matching, you’ll be pleased with the included notecard that has numbers for a lot of popular skin creators.  It actually doesn’t include Audrey, but it was still easy to do myself.

I know that these feet have been slaved over, and while they’re not quite as detailed as Maitreya’s in the toe area, they’re still really good.  The heels in particular are incredibly good-looking.  I like a little realism with my prim feet, since I don’t generally wear them with entirely handdrawn skins anyhow.

So these leopard-print ones…to be fair, I don’t think they’re available.  They were a special creation for the winner of one of the Blogger category contests we held for the Shoe Fair.  But I got them too cuz, well, I put out.  And I adore them and had to put them on and show ‘em off.  Neener neener? Just kidding.

There are a billionty colours available, so you will not have any problem matching whatever you need to match.  Or not match, if that’s your thing.  These shoes are quite simply gorgeous, and in fatpack you save 50%!  Fatpack is my favourite colour, so I’m always very excited when it’s a really good deal.

I always think it’s nice to view the HUD before you buy it, because you want to know what you’re getting yourself into, right?  You see that little help button at the bottom? That’s what you click if you want the skintone preset notecard.  When you adjust the tone with the HSL buttons, it makes a little dinging noise, which is actually quite satisfying and not at all annoying.  I am acutely aware of annoying sounds in SL and do my best to make sure I don’t hear them, so this is a big thing for me.  There’s another HUD included where you can change the metal accents, and I like that it’s two separate HUDS so it’s not all cluttered onto one.

You definitely want to get yourself down to Pixel Mode where these are now available in the mainstore, after being exclusively available only at the Shoe Fair for the past couple of weeks.

Teleport to Pixel Mode!

Credits:

Hair – Truth Midori in Chocolate Streaked (with light brown) \ Skin – Tuli Audrey 01 in Tone 1 \ Top – Surf Co. Hermana tank in Beige \ Skirt – Maitreya Viento in Black Satin\ Bracelet – Zaara Ritu Painted Cuff in Gold \ Earrings – Zaara Panchali Earrings in Gold \ Ring – luc Opal Knotted Nest Ring in Gold \ Pose – Reel Expression Shoe Fair 201o #17.

Emma Gilmour is one of my favouritist creators ever.  Combining the casualness that I love with surfer chic, it’s a perfect blend that looks just as great on the beach or the boardwalk.  The Summer Stripes Skirt is gorgeous, I love that it is ever so slightly high-waisted.  I am a huge fan of the tank also, and I love ruffles on tanks, but so often the ruffles are just painted in.  While I can appreciate that chest ruffles would be difficult to fit the many varied shapes in SL, I do love love love that Emma has made one with sculpted ruffles.  It’s just more real to me!

Credits:

Hair – Truth Tilly in Streaked Chocolate \ Skin – Tuli Jade 03B in Tone 3 \ Eyes – Poetic Colors Summer Storm \ Lashes – Cake Pillow Lashes \ Shape – my own (not for sale) \ Top – Surf Co Hermana Tank in Tomato \ Skirt – Surf Co Summer of Stripes in Black \ Shoes – SLink Mikaela in Black \ Earrings – SiSSi Squarish earrings in Dark \ Bracelet (left) – Armidi Pyramid Cuff in Silver \ Bracelet (right) – Zaara Vyomini Chained Bracelet in Onyx/Silver \ Poses – LAP & Diesel Works.

Now, the shoes are my favourite part of this photo – they’re brand spankin’ new, coming out today as part of the Tableau Festival, which officially started about five minutes ago!  This particular colour is for charity (The Center for Biological Diversity), so I’m going to be going to the festival to donate some cash.  And they’re only L$200 – shoes that awesome are never that inexpensive anymore.

The shorts and the grey tank are part of Surf Co’s latest release.  I love the casual-ness of them, but eek, the top is a little too casual – my nips were showing!  So I put on an undertank for my own modesty…amazing how I can be modest about pixels, eh?

Credits:

Hair – Truth Nicola in Espresso \ Skin – Tuli Jade 01A in Tone 3 \ Eyes – Poetic Colors Summer Storm \ Lashes – Cake Pillow Lashes \ Shape – my own (not for sale) \ Top – Surf Co Coastal Tank in Dark Grey \ Undershirt – Fri.day Scoop Layering Tank in White \ Shorts – Surf Co Cafe Shorts in Yellow \ Shoes – Surf Co Nantucket Spectators in Black \ Necklace – Maitreya Coin Necklace \ Bracelet – Artilleri Wooden bracelet\ Poses – Diesel Works.

These tops are also part of the Tableau Festival.  The top on the left, the Canvas Garden top is so gorgeous!  I love the flowers at the shoulder, it’s a perfect touch for summer.  And if you want to be a bit more casual, but still not look like you rolled out of bed in the tank you were wearing, you can pick up the Sundrop V-tanks with the spaghetti straps.  Is anyone else as excited for this festival as I am?!

Surf Couture Mainstore

Surf Couture at the Tableau Festival

Credits:

Hair (left) – Truth Sylvia in Streaked Chocolate \ Hair (right) – Truth Bethany in Chocolate \ Skin – Tuli Jade 01A in Tone 3 \ Eyes – Poetic Colors Summer Storm \ Lashes – Cake Pillow Lashes \ Shape – my own (not for sale) \ Top (left) – Surf Co Canvas Garden tank in Palm \ Top (right) - Surf Co Sundrop V-tank in Ocean Blues \ Shorts – Surf Co Shack Shorts in Original \ Poses – Diesel Works.

Luth Brodie of Reel Expression, who was possibly the first maker of model poses in SL, or at least the first one I was ever aware of, is back to work and making poses!

One of the new releases is the Fashion Series 8 set, twelve poses geared for fashion.  It has some great poses in the set, and the switching is smooth and easy.

Credits:

Hair – Truth Paige in Night \ Skin – LeLutka Lola makeup 8 in Light (currently unreleased) \ Clothes – Fri.day Paradiso Romper in White \ Boots – Bax Prestige Boots in Metallic Gold \ Belt – Fri.day Cinch Belt in Gold \ Necklace – Mandala Hannya Necklace in Gold \ Bangles – Mandala Takara Bangles in Inca Gold \ Poses – Reel Expression Fashion S8.

One of the other new releases is the Sex Sells V3 set.  Of course she’s right, sex does sell.  I love the poses that kinda hide you from prying eyes, peekaboo!

Credits:

Hair – lamb Soma in Ink \ Skin – LeLutka Lola makeup 8 in Light (currently unreleased) \ Lingerie – Whippet & Buck Effie in Antique \ Shoes – Maitreya Gold Shanti in Black \ Earrings – Zaara Urvi Chandelier Earrings in Silver \ Poses – Reel Expression Sex Sells V3.

And finally, there is a new pose prop, 12 poses in the ladder.  There are some great poses in there, I definitely recommend heading down to Lalique and checking them all out.

Teleport to Reel Expression

Credits:

Hair – Fri.day Michelle 2 in Jealous Red \ Skin – LeLutka Lola makeup 8 in Light (currently unreleased) \ Top – Pig Sing Sing \ Jeans – Armidi Grace Jeans in Grit \ Boots - Coco Riding Boots in Black \ Pose Prop – Reel Expression Ladder.

Last Friday, Reek released a bunch of new beachwear options, and yay it’s love!  We always need new cute boardshorts and bikini tops to match, and if there’s a third option in cute bikini bottoms, so much the better.

There are several different styles of tops, including floral, tops with a pretty bird on one boob and then just gradiant solid colours.  They can all be mixed and matched with the boardshorts, and then if you like, there are solidly coloured bikini bottoms, with very cute sculpted ties on each side.  This is a can’t-miss for the summer months coming upon us (sorry, Southern Hemisphere).

In keeping with the Summer Is Upon Us theme, Glitterati has released some new pose sets, including this set with wearable Beach Balls.  With poses ranging from simply holding the beach balls to laying on them, it’s a fantastic prop set for the season.

P.S. I know it’s only April, but it’s damn sunny where I live!

Visit Reek’s mainstore

Visit Glitterati’s mainstore

Credits:

1st Photo: Hair – Fri.day Carrie in Timid Brown \ Skin – Belleza Elle 04 in Pale \ Earrings – Mandala Takayama in Turquoise \ Pose – Long Awkward Pose (Sweetheart Pose Set).

2nd Photo: Hair – Maitreya Green in Coffee \ Skin – Belleza Elle 04 in Dark Mocha \ Sandals – Surf Co. Freedom Flops in Black.

Camile is a sexy sequined minidress which will surely turn some heads at the club (are there any good clubs these days?  Damn I miss Seven Ultra Lounge) or wherever you happen to be.  The huge sleeves too are an eye-catcher.

Laure is an empire-waisted flowy top over some crazy cutout leggings.  I love these leggings so much, I hope they come out in more colours!

Mindy, the craziest ballerina outfit ever, with virtually no top above the corset (just X’d out nipple covers) and a tutu gone loco.  The flower-shaped collar balances out the tutu very well indeed.

Visit Glam Affair for these and more stunning outfits!

Credits:

Hair – Waka & Yuki Agata Model o5 in Pack A \ Skin – Dutch Touch Keira D Trouble in Cream \ Shoes – Maitreya Gold Allure in Black \ Jewelry – Mandala 7Luck Bracelet (top photo), Zaara Kashiti Bobble Ring in Onyx (top photo), Rozoregalia Rosenkavalier Bracelet (centre photo) \ Poses – Torridwear.

Belleza has recently released Elle, the third skin in what I like to think is a group of sisters.  Elle seems to be the middle sister, not quite as sophisticated as her big sister Jesse, and not quite as innocent as her younger sister Alyson.

Elle also offers more skintones than before, with two tones more than the last release, Alyson, and five more tones than what was offered with Jesse.  A new Fair tone has been added, which is more pale than Pale, and a new Mocha tone, shown above.

Also, I want to show off the new “Katey-kini”, Nayar’s latest release named after his partner, and it’s a super-cute bikini.  Yes, there are minor seam issues but they’re not generally too noticeable with your average AO.  I think the good points of the bikini far outweighs the seam issues, and the huge back bow is the best part.  Except maybe the halter top that creates killer cleavage, even if your boobs are tiny!

Worn:

Hair – Truth Sehra in Cocoa \ Skin – Belleza Elle 3 in Mocha \ Bikini – Nayar Katey-Kini in Tropical \ Bracelet – Muse Kailena in Ivory/Amber \ Pose – Long Awkward Pose.

Designer Tricky Boucher is a pretty generous guy, always offering group gifts to his subscribers.  I need to keep remembering that, because for some reason I keep leaving the update group when I need room (though once it was completely by accident), and I absolutely hate paying the L$250 group joining fee more than once.  I think I’ve paid the Belleza one three times now, and I’m not ever leaving again!

I also believe it’s a great way for all of your subscribers to try on all the skintones and check out the body without having to venture down to the store to pick up demos.  Don’t get me wrong, trying on demos to look at all the makeups is essential for me, but I like to have a starting off point too, to decide which tone’s makeups I want to see.  I am wearing the group gift in the Medium tone above.

The Nayar Katey-kini comes in nine prints/colours, five of which are sparkly for those who like to shine.

Worn:

Hair – Maitreya Green 2 in Chocolate \ Skin – Belleza Elle Group Gift in Medium \ Bikini – Nayar Katey-Kini in Blue Plaid \ Jewelry – Sigma Opus in Sea \ Pose – Long Awkward Pose.

Look at this bow?  Isn’t it gorgeous?!

The back of the Elle skin is no less impressive the front, either.  From the random mole placement on the right shoulder blade, to the truly rockin’ ass shading, this is a body you’d not only be unreserved about showing off, but you might even look for opportunities to do so!

Worn:

Hair – Truth Nicky in Swedish \ Skin – Belleza Elle in Pale \ Bikini – Nayar Katey-Kini in Bumblebee \ Pose – Long Awkward Pose.

Purchasing Options:

I know that some have expressed disappointment that you can’t get the multiple brow options in each skin purchase, but for the most part, I think it’s a fairly good way to do it.  Most often, people do not change their hair colour in SL, or at least not their hair colour family (like if you’re a brunette, you’re usually always a brunette, even if the actual shade changes sometimes).   So having the skins and skintones separated by brow colour is pretty smart.  Obviously, a dark mocha skin will not look good with blond brows, so that is not on offer if you want blond eyebrows.

Blond Eyebrows:

Skintones – Fair (new tone), Pale, Sunkissed, Medium, Tan.

Makeups – 12

Prices – L$1200 per skin, L$2500 per line of four, L$5000 for all makeups.

Brown Eyebrows:

Skintones – Fair, Pale, Sunkissed, Medium, Tan, Deep Tan.

Makeups – 12

Prices – L$1200 per skin, L$2500 per line of four, L$5000 for all makeups.

Dark Eyebrows:

Skintones – Fair, Pale, Sunkissed, Medium, Tan, Deep Tan, Mocha

Makeups – 20

Prices – L$1200 per skin, L$2500 per line of four, L$8000 for all makeups (except Fair has 12 makeups, and costs L$5000 for all).

Teleport to Belleza

Teleport to Nayar

I love these poses!  There’s something unique and fresh about them but I can’t quite pinpoint it. The switching between poses is smooth, but slightly too slow for my taste.  I like to go faster, I got things to do!  But at least they’re not jerky.

All of these can be found at the Pose Fair, where they’re displaying a brand new Coco set.  Super sexy and perfect for showing off your latest anything!

VISIT MIAMAI AT THE POSE FAIR!

Don’t forget to hit up the 5th & Oxford sale going on, where practically everything is 50% off!

Worn:

Hair – Fri.day Summer in Timid Brown (flower from Fri.day Marie hair) \ Skin – L.Fauna Lapine in Pale 2 \ Lingerie – 5th & Oxford Little Miss in Apple (includes stockings) \ Shoes – Maitreya Slinky Stilettos in Black Patent.

The Smexy pose set is just that, a full set of 10 poses designed to show off your sexy and sultry side, and the switching between poses is standard & smooth.

5th & Oxford has put on a sale for nearly everything in their store at 50% off!  This is the biggest sale they’ve ever had, according to the information given and it’s a great time to stock up on skins and clothes if you’ve been holding off!

Worn:

Hair – Fri.day Melanie 2 in Passionate Red \ Skin – L.Fauna Lapine in Pale 2 \ Clothes – 5th & Oxford The Tease in Sapphire (including gloves & stockings) \ Shoes – Maitreya Slinky Stilettos in Black.

The Diva set (10 poses) doesn’t really seem to be named correctly to me…it seems a lot more fun than Diva-like, but I guess everyone has their idea of diva-tude, right?

VISIT ADORKABLE AT THE POSE FAIR!

Worn:

Hair – Truth Heidi in Cocoa \ Skin – Laqroki Ania in Fair \ Striped Tank – Fri.day Striped V Layering Tank in Pink \ Under-tank – Fri.day Boyfriend Beater in Pink \ Shorts – Maitreya Jeans Shorts in Vintage Blue \ Shoes – Shiny Things Supernovas in Pink Bloom \ Necklace – Muse Claire Ballet Slipper Necklace in Rose \ Bracelet – Mandala PearlRain Bracelet in Pink.

Don’t Freak Out is an awesome name for a store!  These poses are from the Full of Secrets series, and I like how they are a bit freer with the arms.  I sometimes grow weary of either the legs or the arms being the focus of a specific pose, but hardly ever both, and these work well with my avatar which is also a huge bonus.  The switching between poses was smooth too, a requirement for poses I use.

Visit Don’t Freak Out at the Pose Fair

Also Worn:

Hair – Truth Elysium in Chestnut \ Skin – Laqroki Elena 04 in Fair \ Dress – Nyte’N'Day Prost in Black \ Shoes – Maitreya Shanti in Black \ Jewelry – Sigma Lumina in Silver.

Everglow has tons of poses tailored for modeling, and these are but just a few.  I’d never heard of this store before the fair, but I’m looking forward to seeing what else comes out of that store.  I like the placement of the legs a lot, kinda cute and awkward and splayed.

Visit Everglow at the Pose Fair

Also Worn:

Hair – Truth Bailey in Chestnut (I think) \ Skin – Laqroki Elena 02 in Fair \ Dress/Leggings – Elymode Bandwagon in Red \ Shoes – Maitreya Esprit in Black \ Jewelry – Sigma Opus set in Charcoal.

Grazia Horwitz is premiering her second (that I know of) pose store in the fair, called Geez.  I used to buy some of her poses when she had Grapevine at Rue d’Antibes, but then it sort of disappeared.  Luckily, you can buy all of those old Grapevine poses at the fair for L$350, over 50 of them, and check out her new poses while you’re at it.  She has several mini-sets of poses available, mostly for the girls but one for the boys too.  These are my favourites, but from the various sets on offer.  I always like a good ass shot!

Visit Geez at the Pose Fair

Also Worn:

Hair – Truth Audrey in Almond \ Skin – Belleza Alyson in Pale \ Dress – Decoy Hot Addiction \ Shoes – Maitreya IXkin in Champagne \ Bracelets – Zaara

MAD Designs mostly has stuff for boys, but for the pose fair they’ve come out with a modeling set for the girls too.  They’re fairly basic but just fine for blogging, with poses that work to show off your clothes to their best advantage.

Visit MAD Designs at the Pose Fair

Also Worn:

Hair – Fri.day Joanna 2 in Passionate Red \ Skin – Tuli Eva in Tone 3 \ Dress – Kyoot Celebrity Harness Dress \ Shoes – Maitreya Esprit in Nude \ Jewelry – U&R Dogs Rigoletto bracelet, Isolde ring.

P.S.  Makenzie, I totally stole your photo labeling idea.  Thank you.

When I received the latest notice from G-Field, I opened it expecting to not like it, since the colour/style was listed as “shamrock”, but I generally like stuff from G-Field, so I decided to try it on.  OMG was I wrong!  I absolutely love this dress, and even though it’s specially made for St. Patrick’s Day (my favourite holiday since I cling to any bit of Irish like a drowning leprechaun) and covered in shamrocks, it’s hardly your typical tacky attire.

You can get this at G-Field in their group Subscribe-o-Matic notices.

Make sure to take a look at the rest of the store too because besides beautiful dresses, they make gorgeous shoes!

Also worn: Hair – Maitreya Green II in Caramel \ Skin – Laqroki Pearl 10 in Fair \ Necklace – Zaara Parnini necklace in Clear.