Lazolli's "Devon Aoki" Skins: A Review

So I'll be honest with you all, and maybe I've been living under a rock, but up until a few weeks ago I had no idea who Devon Aoki was. I started seeing a couple of places release Devon Aoki-inspired skins. I Googled and found a page with some pics of the American-born supermodel/actress-- and immediately saw why someone would want to create a skin inspired by her.. shes got a really unique look, style, and beauty-- so it comes as no surprise that many content creators have used her as their muse.

Then, by chance, Loring Halsey of Lazolli made a set too-- and she passed me on a few makeups to take a look at. Please click the image below to enlarge :)


As with all Lazolli skins, Loring Halsey has provided a huge range of makeup styles which I think will appeal to just about anyone. Usually her eye makeups are pretty bold-- but I like bolder eyes iRL too. As a shapemaker I've started to notice that the bold eye makeup can make your eyes look HUGE, so I took a little time to modify my shape so that the eyes still looked proportional to the face. I'm a big fan of the eyeshadow color variations-- of the ones I pictured up above they can range from subtle to bright and colorful-- and the eyeliner comes in various styles and thicknesses.

I can appreciate that the lips and eye makeup are hand drawn and well-blended. I'm not a big fan of obviously-photosourced lips (or any other body part for that matter!). A lot of photosourcing in the lip area tends to look stretched out and, to be honest, kinda freaks me out. But the lips on these skins are really crisp and the colors are beautiful-- check out the two-toned lips above! LOVE that! :)

If I had to complain at all about the skin, I would say I had minor issues with the nose. It's the only place on the body where photosourcing didn't seem to be very well blended, and in-world it gives the tip of the nose a flat, slightly glitchy appearance. It's something you dont really notice in photos unless you look at the nose from an angle, again I think it's pretty minor-- especially if what youre looking for is just the overall Devon Aoki "look". Its definitely manageable with the right shape!

Overall, I'm a fan of the body style, there's a lot of detail in the shading and highlighting, not overly muscular in the abdominal area-- and no noticeable seams that I could find.. overall a really nice body that comes off looking really cute and youthful.

So head on over to Lazolli and try on a demo of these cute skins for yourself-- and as a special offering, Loring has placed out the shape I created (the one I used in the picture) and it will be available for FREE for a limited time inside her store, as well as in the past notices for the Lazolli in-world group!

Enjoy!
~Averie~

TP to Lazolli Skins!

Hair Fair 2009 - Averie's Favorites

I was lucky enough to gain access to the Hair Fair a little bit early, got a chance to shop around, and wanted to show you some of my favorite pieces from designers so far :) I'm including direct SLURLs to the booths so you can find the styles easily if you like them! Enjoy!

(Please click image above to enlarge!)

Pictured from Left to Right:
-- [Decoy Hair] Zoey - Golden Brown
-- Lamb - Babys on Fire - KitKat
-- Find Ash - Innocent Phase - Light Brown/HF'09 Limited
-- Truth - Esme - Cocoa
-- Curio - Paper Tiger 1 - Light Brown
-- Raspberry Aristocrat - Adora Hair - Brown Driftwood

Also pictured:
Skin: Gala - June
Eyes: Zanzo - Diyu Eyes in Youming
Tank: Whippet & Buck -Hykova Buttoned Tank in Peach

The hair fair opens in less than an hour!!! Have fun shopping everyone!
~Averie~

NEW "Lila Striped Tops" from Decoy

I'm always on the prowl for casual, versatile tops to wear around everyday. When I heard that my longtime friend, Annette Voight of Decoy had a new set of tops among her new releases this week, I excitedly TPed over to her shop! There, I discovered the Lila Striped Tops --available in 16 different bright, summery color combinations.

Please click the images below to enlarge!

From left to right: Blue/Green, Classic Beige, Classic Blue, Classic Green,
Classic Navy, Classic Purple, Classic Red, & Classic Yellow

From left to right: Forest, Grey/Pink, Grey/Teal, Pink/Orange,
Purple/Pink, Yellow/Blue, Yellow/Orange, & Yellow/Pink

Like all of Annette's work, the designs are all hand-drawn, so no photosourcing here! Additionally, the stripes are really well done (I can appreciate the work that goes into a striped shirt, I know its really hard to execute well when you go from photoshop to the avatar mesh). The cut of the neckline with the exposed shoulders is really flattering, and I also love the button detailing in the front! There's also probably a color here that will satisfy just about any need you could possibly have!

So if you're looking for a great colorful summer shirt or outfit, hop on by Decoy! You're sure to find something fabulous :)

~Averie~

Photo credits:
All shirts from Decoy
Hair: Exile "Jade" in Cheyanne
Skin: Gala Phoenix (Curio) "April" in Redbud 1
Eyes: HooT "Smolder Eyes" in Muddy

Painting SL Purple

When I heard that today was "Paint SL Purple" day, I couldn't have been more thrilled. Purple not only is my favorite color, but also represents the amazing cause that is the Relay for Life (which I'm proud to be a part of this year!).

To celebrate, I've put together my ode-to-purple, with some very special pieces from around the grid.

The stunning violet dress pictured above is from Thimbles and I've had it in my inventory for a while but found this was the perfect time to dust it off. What better occassion then a day devoted to purpley goodness? I love how the skirt poofs out and the detailing of each prim as they overlay. The scarf with the bow is a really beautiful touch as well.

I was delighted to receive the gift pack of purple hair styles from Violet Morellet of ::Inorite:: via her Subscribe-o-Matic. Not only did the hair match the Thimbles dress perfectly, but it came in a ton of different styles, all totally beautiful (some not released in her store yet!). If you'd like the hair too, hop on over to Inorite and check the past notices in the subscribo!

Incase you haven't heard, the new skin brand ::L'ORING:: is the resurrection of Lazolli (formerly owned by Nariko Shinn, now Loring Halsey-- same person, different name!). With her new brand she's made some beautiful new skins, but has also brought back some of our old favorites. Shown above is the beautiful Takako skin that she's got up in her store for free--- an absolute steal for such a cute face! I can't wait to see what she comes up with next!

Take a closer look at the pic above (click to enlarge) and notice the fantastic purple eyes from Zanzo. They just released a new line of men's skins, inspired by Edward Cullen of the Twilight series, and alongside the skins they also released a beautiful line of vampire-worthy eyes called "Diyu". The entire range of eyes are colorful and bright, great for those of you looking to stand out--- I've found theres a pair of eyes in this set that can go with virtually any color combination of an outfit I put together! So extremely versatile, deep rich colors. Definitely check these out if you love eyes!

So what are you waiting for? Put on your best purple today and support the "Paint SL Purple" initiative and the Relay for Life!

~Averie~

Outfit details:
Hair -- ::Inorite:: Masumi - Start Wearing Purple (Subscribe-o-matic gift!)
Skin -- ::L'ORING:: Takako(re-release) 01D (free gift in-store)
Dress -- Thimbles "Half For Me" dress + scarf
Eyes-- Zanzo "Diyu" Eyes in Abi

Sneak Peek: Infinity Skins "Ava"

Annyka Bekkers, known for her super cute, detailed, hand-painted skins at Blowpop, has been super busy creating new skins under a new brand, Infinity Skins! She kindly passed on some of her latest work, soon to be released-- and I instantly fell in love with the "Ava" line! Take a look :)


Annyka is known for her attention to details, and she really does not dissapoint with "Ava". My favorite things about the skins are the gorgeous highlights that leave a soft glow over the face and body, the adorable button nose, and the complimenting makeup combinations. The makeups aren't over the top, can be worn day-to-day, and are in a style that can easily be dressed up or down, for daytime or evening looks!

If you like what you see here, definitely keep an eye out for the grand opening of Infinity Skins, coming VERY soon! Check the Infinity Skins blog for the latest updates.

Enjoy!
~Averie~
Color Me Beauty; Discover Me Reverie

Also pictured above:
Hair by Maitreya "Apple" in Ash Blonde
Eyes by =HooT= "Fantasma Eyes" in Earthen Retreat (soon to be released)
Shape by ~Hourglass Shapes~ "Infinity-Ava" (soon to be released)

Discovery Series: The Starlust Motel's Melatonin Hax & Apatia Hammerer

If you're looking for spunk, personality, and fun in SecondLife, Apatia Hammerer and Melatonin Hax are probably the ladies to ask. The two are widely known for their management of the Starlust Motel, as well as for their partnership in Thimbles (and individual ventures with their stores Pig and Split Pea). Perhaps most of all, though.. what makes these two stand out is that they are unique in truly being themselves. If you ever have the pleasure of meeting either Apatia or Melatonin, you'll have the pleasure of seeing their true selves, NEVER trying to be or portray someone they're not. Their personalities shine through in everything they do. And in SL, that makes them truly unique, and very special.

Apatia and Melatonin, lounging together on a tree branch at the Starlust Motel.

I've been priviledged to get to know these ladies as a shopowner in the Horst von Starlustinberg State Penitentiary, and I'm really excited to get to introduce my wonderful friends to you. These quirky gals are more than meets the eye, constantly dreaming up great new ideas to shape (and clothe) our virtual haven. I present the two to you as a pair, because this is how, so often, they are found.. and it would seem strange to me to not mention one without the other. The two have forged a friendship so strong, it carries into their RL as well!

Shown above: The shops of Thimbles, Pig, and Split Pea.
Please click image to enlarge.

Melatonin Hax is from a small Southern town in the United States, where she lives on a farm.. and in a town with people, whom she claims were "bred by bears." She describes her personal style as really casual and comfortable, oftentimes wearing a housecoat bearing evidence of her cats' love. In SL, she mirrors that casual comfort, and really rocks the vintage look! When asked what inspires her, she states that sometimes she's inspired by guilt itself. In SecondLife, she spends a great deal of time managing the sims of Starlustland, building "secret" projects, finding random things to sit on, alongside co-owning Thimbles with Apatia, and owning her own store, Split Pea.

Apatia Hammerer, from the eastern coast of the US, describes her personal style as casual in real life-- she loves staying warm in hooded sweatshirts. And in SecondLife, she's all about wearing hands! (Yes, hands! Haven't you seen the infamous handypanties?!) When asked where her inspiration stems from, if you've ever wondered how on earth she names the clothes at Thimbles (I know I have), she notes her inspiration can come from "oddities, trash, satan, raw meats and of course... my gut." Something you might not know about Apatia.. actually, I'm sure you probably don't know this, but she's got a fetal shark in a jar on her bookshelf, aptly named "Carmine the Fetal Shark on my Bookshelf". She claims she's not good at naming things, but I think that's brilliant.. :)

Pictured above: Mel, Appy and I... striking a pose, with visions of the Starlust behind us!

As far as their stores, here's what you'll find. At Thimbles, it ranges from casual shirts to dresses, and you can find things for both guys and girls! You can find some of the best plaid on the grid here!! Apatia Hammerer's Pig Shop has a variety of hand-drawn shirts and other casual outfits, many of which are unisex! Melatonin Hax's Split Pea has some of the most adorable, inventive and creative hats and other miscellaneous accessories I've seen-- so much personality!! There are also a series of hats that match special dresses from Heart Attack & Vine!


For me, personally, it's hard to imagine my SecondLife without these two fantastic people. They inspire me constantly with their creativity and can always make me laugh, I'm so happy and honored that I've gotten the chance to get to know them and learn from them. They're both really friendly and approachable, so if you're ever in Starlustland and see them, don't be shy, say hi!

So what are you waiting for? Discover Apatia, Melatonin, and their stores at Starlustland!

TP to Thimbles
TP to Split Pea
TP to Pig Shop

~Averie~
Color Me Beauty; Discover Me Reverie

Meet Phoebe!

Meet Phoebe!

If you haven't met Phoebe yet, perhaps you should! "Phoebe" is the newest line of skins released from Lazolli-- and in my opinion, some of the best skins the store offers! Owner Nariko Shinn has created a beautiful radiant skin with 26 different makeups!

Some of the great features of this line include:
-MANY options of eye and lip colors (lips range from natural, to deep crimson red, to gold, to Asian-inspired with a stripe down the center--- eyeshadows come smokey, glittery, glowing, and colorful!)
-A killer body! I found no seams to speak of, the skin over the body actually glistens, gives off a glow, which I find really beautiful. The shading is perfect!
-Great teeth, for those of you wanting to show off your pearly whites!
-Will work with a wide variety of shapes, and still look unique and adorable!

Shown below are just a few of the offerings from the Phoebe line! Please click the image to enlarge.

From left to right: 02- NaturalA; 07- hot cherry; 013- lady night; 023- I love you; 019- rose garden

So what are you waiting for? Discover "Phoebe" from Lazolli!

TP to Lazolli

~Averie~
Color Me Beauty; Discover Me Reverie