Because I’m An American!

Happy Independence Day, y’all!
Hot on the heels of Canada Day, it’s Nic’s turn to celebrate. And since he was such a good sport on the 1st, I held up my end of the bargain and joined him in a little star spangled splendor.

I took a literal approach to the theme playing up red, white, and blue with black accents. Some time ago London Dailey dropped a review folder on me with a range of skins and designs from her store, Pink Outfitters. I rarely wear outfits “as-is”, not because I don’t like them, but more as a way of challenging my own creativity in fashioning something different. London’s designs are certainly conducive to my penchant for mixing/matching. I love the daringly deep scoop neckline of the shirt, and how perfect are those red and white stripes for this holiday? I plucked the skirt from her Innocent Dress and unified the upper and lower pieces of this ensemble with my favourite belt from M*A*ii*K*I. I love the way this came together to create a dress worthy of an all-American girl, even if she is Canadian.

Nic is using today’s occasion to blurt “Because I’m an American” as his answer for everything, much to my amusement:

Dahlia: Why didn’t you wake me up when you got up?
Nicolas: ‘Cause I’m an American.
This was the start of our day…

Anyway, he took a slightly more interpretive approach when creating his outfit, of which I’m a big fan.
Let’s rattle off Nic’s Independence Day must-haves head to toe.

• American flag shemagh. Political and stylish.
• Military style camo t-shirt.
• American manufactured Colt .45 holstered to the hip.
• All-American fashion staple, rough and tough ripped blue jeans.
• Rugged ready for action combat boots.
• Obama ‘08 flexi flag accessory.

Why does he look so good? Because he’s an American!

PHOTOSHOOT MUSIC: Creedence Clearwater Revival - Fortunate Son

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Canada Is For Lovers

Canada… it’s better on top.

Some of you know that I’m Canadian, and so July 1st is the day my nation and I celebrate Canada Day!
While Nic is situated a bit too far south to see the fireworks, he still dressed the part. For that belt buckle alone, I’m thinking honourary citizenship.

The outfits are pretty simple, though I’ve always found that the patriotic colours of red and white made for a bold pair. Also, I’ve had this obsession lately of mining outfits for anything that could be edited to create a hair accessory. As so, it would seem last season’s Paper Couture held my latest discovery (more details in style sheet).

The weather in my corner of the country is forecasted to be HOT (34 degrees Celsius) for the better part of the holiday week so that calls for Slurpees. I’ve never been a 1-flavour per cup kind of Slurpee girl so I will leave you with the recipe for the flavours du jour as Nic and I sip away.

Dahlia’s Slurpee cocktail:
Equal parts Canada Dry Gingerale and Nestea Raspberry Lemonade. (Malibu Rum optional)

Nic’s Slurpee cocktail:
1/2 part Monster, 1/4 part Amped, and 1/4 part Rock Star. (Captain Morgan Extra Dark Rum optional)

Happy Canada Day - Don’t Drink and Drive!

PHOTOSHOOT MUSIC: Beulah - Canadian Girls

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Designer Arithmetic

Introducing our first installment of summer school. Duly noted that the phrase “educate the fashion community” tends to strike a nerve with people. Don’t worry. We aren’t going there. Rather some simple designer arithmetic:
Maitreya + iki Ikarus = M * A *ii* K * I
I know, I know, we’re a bit late handing in our homework, but we thought giving a little more insight into the latest designer blend might award us some extra credit at least.

MAI (Left)
Maitreya’s shoes have gained grid-wide acclaim, their poses and animations are a runway staple, and the newly textured blonde hairstyles are among some of my favourites (what a knack for bangs!). Aside from this, Maitreya is also home to what I was afraid would become an all but forgotten clothing line due to a lack of updates. I asked Onyx LeShelle what her personal favourite clothing creation was. One of the items she mentioned was the Sendal Dress which I wore last December in the Aubergine hue featured above. This outfit was one of the first I owned with multiple sculpted attachments and this talent for sculpts is certainly reflected in the Maiiki line. Her only regret is that she made the skirt flexi… a regret not to be repeated with Maiiki’s Streep ensemble (shown below).

IKI (Right)
Dutch Touch is home to a selection of clothing for men and women with marketing geared toward a more alternative, borderline grunge scene. Perhaps this is why I was so surprised to find what is still my most favourite skin to date there, the Amy series. She hasn’t updated any Dutch Touch skins in a while, and between her original clothing line and her business partnership in Maiiki, the wait continues. Luckily, iki and I are both of the opinion that hand painted skins like hers have a longevity much greater than that of their heavily photosourced counterparts. Lucky for everyone this means iki can concentrate her hand painted flair and texturing expertise on the fashion (worn over those fabulous skins!).

MAIIKI
What a perfect example of synergy. Together these two create posh, versatile, technically perfect ensembles. Honestly, I too guffawed at the price tag upon our first visit, but these outfit investments easily become separate wardrobe pieces giving anything you wear a style boost.

Armidi, Maiiki…

/me wonders what the next designer ménage will be.

PHOTOSHOOT MUSIC: Leona Lewis - Better In Time

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‘Skin’ny Dipping

To those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, Summer is finally here!

For Nic and I, Summer is typically marked by the luscious smell of coconut sun lotion, the taste of BBQ masterpieces, and the feel of that first toe dip into the nearest lake/ocean (a sprinkler or wading pool counts).

While we are deprived of those senses in Second Life, the new skins across the grid are a sight to see!

There is no better way to show off your Summer skin than in a bikini (stay out of that NSFW zone people!). Pictured are some of the bikinis that accumlate in my inventory year round, from my oldest, Last Call’s Cyrene, to my newest, Veezy’s Moo-print. The red Kenzie bikini has the cutest derrière going, check mine out here. Note the bare feet…Summer is definitely here (Thema, the revolution is now!).

I’m not sure if the perception is the same in SL, but typically one’s body appearance is of utmost importance. I find the nuances in this area change slightly from skin to skin, but the face is really the area where the artist gets to shine and set their skin apart. As such, each of these skins has their own standout feature or quality. I adore the powder pink vertical splash of blush on the blowpop skin, the absolutely electric pink lip of the Trendy & Co., sooo MAC lipglass (available Monday), the perfectly downturned pout of the Renegade, and the meticulously hand painted emerald eye of the Fetch Alternative skin. That being said…the bodies are pretty nice too, right Nic?

So, here’s wishing you postcard perfect days and nights as we ring in the start of Summer from our Hbox beach home. You didn’t think I would forget about my tried and true Dutch Touch skins did you? Nah my Smokey Smooth is pictured above. And remember what I said about those bikinis? Screw it. Live, love, laugh, and ‘skin’ny dip!

P.S. Tangles strike again! Maitreya’s Natural Blonde colour blends really well with ETD’s Sunny hue.

Fun Fact: Blowpop’s Keeping up with the Rossini’s Collection are a Kim Kardashian inspired request from Portia Rossini.

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Gbber Jabber

We’re talking fashion Gbberish. Literally.

Nicolas and I came upon Gbberish when it was merely two weeks old and were pleasantly surprised with the small, but promising line from the beginning. That being said, we felt it was time to re-visit the store and see how it had grown, especially since Nic caught wind that Girlspeedo Latte had released a line of men’s sweater vests. Much more than vests though, the addition of various dresses, short suits, tank tops, pants, and accessories show that while she is beginning to embrace the men in her fashion market she isn’t forgetting the women (plus her men’s items are unisex!). She has certainly found her niche on the Knightsbride, London sim where her shop resides and the English influence in her creations is thoroughly enjoyed.

Recently we’ve spotted a handful of blogs (Deja Vu Int’l, Fallobst, SLaundry, Kairis Style, any more?) that have done a great job showcasing complete Gbberish fare, but we thought we would mix it up with some closet staples to illustrate the versatility of these outfits.

I turned to Armidi to serve as my Gbberish counterpart. Much like the colour black, Armidi just seems to go with everything.

The things I love most about Girlspeedo’s outfits are the little extras she throws in for us girls. Corsages (which I’ve found double wonderfully as a hair accessory), Ribbons, Headbands, etc., really add a bit of whimsy to her creations.

Nic chose the now vintage Moderno jeans (a favourite of his and mine!) to compliment his Gbberish attire along with one of his many Urban Bomb Unit footwear musts.

He favours the texturing on Gbberish’s expanding men’s line, especially the realistic wool effect on the vests… who knew something so intangible could looks so touchable?

If this is what you call Gbberish, Nic and I are fluent.

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Sirens of the Deep

Nex-Core presents…

Sirens of the Deep.

Nic and I recently joined Nex-Core Modeling Agency and I am so excited about tomorrow’s show!
The aquatic set design will take your breath away and the aquarium runway will have the models holding theirs. I may have walked a few, but I can honestly say I have never swam a catwalk.

When: Saturday June 14, 2008.
12:30 PM SLT
Where: Nex-Core Model Management Office
After Party: Bonny Cove

Come get some tail. Get tanked! Have a swimmingly good time… leave your punny aquatic slogans in comments and we hope to see you there.

UPDATE: Click here to see the Nex-Core’s Sirens of the Deep fashion show video by WBA advertising.

P.S. For those of you that couldn’t attend the most recent RFyre fashion show, you’re in luck! WBA-Advertising caught it all on video and you can watch the movie right here (fashion show June 2008 link).

Just Deserts

Ethnic prints (batik, tribal, etc.) have been very prominent on countless 2008 fashion trend lists bringing some diversity to runways and closets on an international scale. Nic and I chose to adapt this key style element and create two Middle Eastern inspired looks using region/culture specific traditions paired with standard fashion fare for an entirely wearable look at home and abroad. Patterns need not apply.

Our first look is a cool blend of black, gray, and white for those hot desert days…

Nic had been on the prowl for a shemagh (a headcloth/scarf designed for a desert environment to protect the wearer from sand and heat) to diversify his fashion portfolio and finally came upon one, colour change no less, at TonkTastic. Reminiscent of his time spent in the Middle East he chose to wear the complete version, but it can be worn without the headpiece such as my desert scarf from Canimal to achieve varying levels of ethnic flair.

My top was a warmly received review copy from Shir Dryke of Ornamental Life. She announced her retirement from blogging today with the purpose of focusing on her growing clothing line. Though her clear, concise, and informative posts will be missed, she is taking her impeccable taste with her and the Penguins and Wagons top featured in this post (my fave from her line thus far) is one of many helpful reminders of her other talent, content creation. After wearing this shirt with it’s sexy peekaboo layering and contrasting, yet complimentary colours, I can surely say that I look forward to seeing more of Shir the designer.

Our second look is all about bold Bollywood inspired colours, perfect for blowing off steam at night…

It’s true. I am a fan of Bollywood. Well, at least the “Americanized” Bollywood which received great exposure in 2004/05…Bride and Prejudice anyone?! The bright swirling colours, song and dance, and plenty of overracted drama surely has a place in our fashion world, right? The same tops in our daytime look were able to take us right through to the nightlife with splashes of richly saturated orange, purple and pink. And I FINALLY found an outfit for my lime green ankle boots, which I adore.

I should mention, the shorts seen above are from the greatly missed D!FF. Good news though! Itny Lisle has plans to open a solo shop and already has a fat pack worth of coloured skinny jeans in her trademark hand-drawn style… to be seen in an upcoming post

UPDATE: James S. reminded us that the Shemagh, or Keffiyeh (native to Palestine), was recently worn by Rachael Ray in a Dunkin Donuts ad seen here. It stirred up quite the controversy as people apparently identified with Arafat upon seeing the ‘highly offensive’ scarf and subsequently the ads were pulled. Talk about extremist…

FUN FACT: The lovely Zaara Kohime of Zaara Indian Couture pointed out that in our second shot Nic looks A LOT like Mr. Bachchan of Coolie, an 80s Bollywood flick. I have never seen the movie but after doing a bit of Google image searching I have to list this as fact because it’s true! See for yourselves here and here. Haha sorry, love.

PHOTOSHOOT MUSIC: Klaxons - Golden Skans

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Brought To You by the Letters V and G

Viva La Glam (formerly G.L.A.M.) is back with a brand new ode to Greece sim and an ode to style relaunch that was well worth the wait, and just ask Nic, I’m impatient.

I have a personal affinity for G.L.A.M. that goes deeper than my usual hanger hopping flings. It’s where I met my friend, BoRee Vella, who I know is missed by many and I’m sure she would approve of this latest in fashion. It’s also where I got bit by the modeling bug after winning an impromptu “walk-off” hosted by Chloris Hathor many moons ago.

Personal anecdotes aside, it was also one of the first places I saw true quality designs and textures at such relatively low prices, and from my first purchase the brand became an inventory staple (i.e. G.L.A.M. tintable lycra tights). I’d seen the teasers and previews for the new line and was honestly a little worried that the prices would reflect the hype, but I assure you, the designers stayed true to the essence of G.L.A.M.
VG is best described by Chloris herself as “quality without the high price tag”.

So we have quality - check. Cost efficiency (clothing 150L or less) - check. Of course my next point of interest is versatility. Each item you buy comes with all revelant layers which makes it easy to stack on the style as you can see with my triple layered outfit above. And while my outfit is very neutral, there is a wide array of brights available and a green skirted dress I will be heading back for! Shoes and accessories too!

More good news - for those of you that didn’t grab everything you wish you had during the final G.L.A.M. sale, fear not. There is a separate building which houses previous designs, though they may face extinction as the new line grows so don’t wait too long.

Now in honour of my counterpart, here comes the bad news. No new stuff for guys that Nic could spy with his little eye. However, the top floor of the new building is empty and we’re hoping that is to leave room for a growing Indigo men’s line. In the meantime, Chloris, if you could put a sulk poseball just outside of the doors for Nic to stand on while I shop that’d be great

P.S. Don’t forget to find the freebie!

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Yacht Club

First rule of Yacht Club - always talk about Yacht Club. Nicolas and I decided to wrap up the end of a busy week in one of SL™’s many bustling marinas and play dress up invoking a stereotypical Palm Beach yacht club couple.

Armidi’s latest collection certainly made stepping into the virtual threads of the upper echelon easy with the rich textures and sculpted realism I come to look forward to with each release. Normally this would be my segue to complain about the lack of new Armidi hair, but luckily I found a classic ETD style in my inventory that was so port posh it made me forget about the aforementioned, if only until Armidi’s next release.

Poor Nic… no new Armidi for him, however he still managed to look harbour handsome with tried and true Armidi slacks and a Redgrave sweater and silk scarf ensemble. His dockers loafers were a last minute Horenbeek find and serve as the perfect deck shoes, completing a seaworthy look.

The Yacht Club, where high tide meets high fashion.

P.S. Speaking of “sale-ing” don’t forget to check out Ghost’s closing out 50% off sale (ends tonight), Stiletto Moody’s 40% off old stock sale (ends tonight), and Random and Camie Cooper’s Appearance Mode sales. Phew…ahoy!

PHOTOSHOOT MUSIC: Mark Ronson - Stop Me (radass Smith’s cover)

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Voi e Nessun Altro

Competition can be healthy in a relationship, especially when it comes to gift giving occasions. So for our latest anniversary (7 months!) Nic and I did our best to impress the eff out of each other, with a little help from our friends.

For those of you that read the blog, you’ve probably seen Nic sport a rosary or two and while he loves them dearly he was on the look out for something more. Enter Lucas Lameth of Earthtones Jewelry.

He’s crafted a silver necklace with a Catholic Saint pendant, in this case, St. Nicolas. Yes, I had Nic sainted for our anniversary.
Lucas is planning to release a line of necklaces featuring more of the Saints, but Saint Nicolas is worn only by me… erm I mean him.

Some of you that know me may have heard me humorously pining for a designer item named after, well, moi. There are a lot of amazing things on the grid bearing the name Dahlia, and while I jokingly claim they’re all mine, deep in my little pixel heart I know they aren’t. Lucky for me Nic was listening. He also knew exactly which designer to go to. Enter Giana Paine of GiGi Couture.

She has created not one, but an entire line of Dahlia minidresses! Ranging in styles from sailor to sparkly they really can suit every one of my moods and there is certainly something for everyone. To celebrate this launch, the ever generous Giana has offered a freebie version to her group members (the middle dress shown above). Freebie!? It can’t be!? If you don’t believe me, check out the hotness on Creamy over at Free*Style.
Look for the rest of the line to be released this weekend.

A BIG thank you to Lucas and Giana for helping make this anniversary so perfect. The other perfect parts will remain unpublished

Score: Tie game.

<3

UPDATE: They were officially released on Saturday!

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