The Pack-Rat's Lament

Just when you thought you needed one more gown like a hole-in-the-head-with-a-great-big-arrow-sticking-out-of-it-that-just-happens-to-be-on-fire ... umm - where was I?  

Anyway, I've gone totally off clothing, but still drag my arsvatar to The White Armory to see what prim nightmare they have on offer as a group gift that will add another forty-leven items to my inventory.  Oh, sheesh - lookit this.   Yet another gorgeous gown, this time based on one of my favorite artists, designed to look terrific on a model standing around and gently sifting poses, but causing an ice-nine of lag on a dance floor, which is where my avs usually hang out.  Now what?  Put it on, take a picture (or twelve), and sort it into the Siberia of sorting folders (Clothes>gowns>blue gowns ... or would it be black? multi-colored? GAH!), leaving it to take up room like all the rest of them (one a week for how long?)?

Monet's water lily inspired gown from The White Armory

My avs wear these outfits once and then they are forgotten.  Who has the virtual social schedule to wear a hundred gowns?  Not me!   I'm still working up the nerve to go through the White Armory dresses, look over the POS* texture thoughtfully included (thankyouthankyou) and delete, delete, delete. ... But I caaaaaan't!  I can't delete these creations any more than I can leave the group.  I spent a couple of hours this morning blue penciling stuff in my inventory I figured I didn't really need and when I emptied the trash, it turned out to be less than 400 pieces, leaving my inventory still over 40,000.  How many times have I said, "I need to keep my inventory below 40,000/38,000/36,000/30,000/25,000," etc.?

This year I avoided the Ivalde Advent extravaganza for the sake of my inventory.  I did relent today and went to see what the last one was (because it was right in the box and you didn't have to search for it).  Oh, noooooo.  [head-desk, head-desk]  Oh, wait!  Look at that system skirt stretch!  This dress will never dance!  /me's finger lingers over the delete ...

Last advent gift from Ivalde

I didn't even make it out of the building without picking up something else.  They would put the Peace On Earth hunt thingie right out in the open where anyone could find it.  Oh great, this should be easy to get rid of.  I don't have any shoes to go with this ... Oh, wait.

Ivalde POE hunt gift

Arrrrrrgh!  However, the search for "emerald" in my inventory pulled up three hairs that I'm pretty sure I'll never need.  I can delete those.  I should probably go through all those hairs that came with all the colors of the rainbow in them and delete all but white and black ... and maybe some chestnut or warm browns or ... GAH!

Oh woe is Kathy!

You know what the worst part was?  I was cycling through the poses and this skirt, a normal un-meshy one, can take anything you dish out.  I have a leaping splits pose and it went all culotte on me instead of shreddy system skirt.  Oh, pook.  I guess I'll have to keep this one too.

Brilliant skirt action!

*That's "Point of Sale," not the other one.

Again, The White Armory

I'm not sure why Lludmila had to find out about the latest group gift from The White Armory from one of the freebie blogs (see list at right - subscribe, subscribe, subscribe), as she is a group member.  The best we can figure is that the notice is hidden deep in one of the group messages/notecards or they just show up every Sunday.  How can this be?  How can they put out freebies like this so frequently?!

Anyway, Lludmila was so excited, she forgot to put her flies back on.  Just look at the textures!  This, like, totally assuages my Barbie-jones.

Gown by The White Armory
Coral hair by Hairy Situations :(((
Shoes by - "Shoes?  What shoes?  I don't need no stinkin' shoes!"

Fey and Feisty

Hunt gift from Paris Metro

 Paris Metro blabs the whereabouts of their hunt gifts to their subscribo folk, so this dress was super easy to find.  It's part of the Flighty February Hunt and absolutely shimmers.  Lludmila flits by, a fairy hiding in the grass.  Who is that searching for her back there?

This week's group gift from The White Armory

At the other end of the spectrum is this bellicose confection from The White Armory.  Just wearing it makes Kathy's pectorals bulge.  No, wait - that's just some shaded pixels.  Catch some attitude!

Many thanks to Paris Metro and The White Armory for cheering me up.  I couldn't believe that the 60L weekend list came out and I couldn't find anything I really, really wanted.  Not even for 60L!

The White Armory

Lludmila did not believe the group gift from The White Armory, so she had to go look for herself. It is every bit as beautiful as its hyperbolic name (Soul Eternal) and comes with tintable pasties, in case it's cut too low for some, which appeals to Lludmila's sense of propriety. The hair, Quaint - White Queen from !SyDS! is a lovely style, but Lludmila didn't care for the blue cast to it - which is a shame because it flows so nicely. The Quaint - Red Queen has the same blue - not sure why that is. The blue doesn't seem as noticeable with this dress. It looks like it's picking up some of the blue-grey color near the hem. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.


The Fann's Touch dress, one of three cheapies from Phoenix Rising, provided an opportunity to show off more GaNKeD innovations with this Goldblooded in Iced Onyx set. The skirt to the dress has black feathers cut on the diagonal. The silvery bodice is detailed and understated for an elegant look.


Intentions was not Lludmila's favorite of the three cheapies - she didn't quite understand the white lacy bra thing that showed, but it was on another layer and could be left off. The petticoat is a puffball of white feathers (I'll not share the handstand shot because that would be slutty) that shows better with movement - which I caught just a smidge of here. This also exposed the fact that Lludmila sneaks about shoeless - but the toenails on the new Absentia zombie/undead skin are very nice!


Lludmila loves the contrast of the white brocade on the bodice and the black of the Edo's Onjah dress. It comes with a more slender skirt option, but Lludmila loves poofy! The more slender skirt shows off her "back shelf" too well, which is fine in pants, but the prim skirts don't work as well with it. Lludmila can adjust her posterior for such things, but, she loves the poofy.

Short hair worn with the Fann's Touch dress is Kissy, Kissy from Tiny Bird.
The updo is Adena from Amacci - nice and messy. All colors have been available for this free hair since May.
The long mermaid tresses came from the late, great Hairy Situations that closed its doors in June.

Dream in Lavendar

Kathy models The White Armory Group Gift for this week.

... And it comes with shoooooes!  Also shown:

Lua Smoke hair from Analog Dog freeball

Elsa earrings from MIAO  (who currently has a 30L sale going on some clothes and jewelry)

Trinity Moon Enchanted Teardrop necklace - just because that cleavage needed a focal point (heh!) but I can't find her store anymore.

And, of course, Luthien's Dream gown from The White Armory 

The Ball Is In Your ...

Renaissance Man Cal buckles his swash
in this White Armory Courtier's Tunic.

The White Armory, while putting out a gorgeous gown every Sunday as a group gift, has put out a fabulous Courtier's Tunic outfit for men as well this week! What's more, it comes with the hat, the boots, and the (non-combat) sword! Group membership is free, but you have to ask for it. Drop them a notecard. You have all week.

Reveal and Conceal

Kathy in freebie from Paris Metro

Lludmila wasn't interested in this outfit, but Kathy didn't mind showing a great deal of midriff and some bra.  The pants (cut a bit on the low side, hence the pose) and top (with varying degrees of exposure from absolutely sheer to opaque with and without bra) are a freebie from Paris Metro.  They are outside the gallery where there is an interesting installation that is not only striking but thought-provoking.
Kathy's hair is from Clawtooth, the 60L Friday edition.  The shoes were from Duh!

The White Armory group gift for this week

At the other end of the coverage spectrum is this elegant gown from The White Armory.  It has blue shadings on it, so the blue-black hair from SYDS went with it perfectly.  All Kathy needs is a tiara.  She's wearing navy blue heels from Duh!, but you can't see them in the swirl of fabric.

Undead and Beheaded

So, it's just boring to show the same old gorgeous White Armory gowns each time the same old way ...

Here's the Venus gown, this week's group gift ... the perfect thing for that haunting you've been intending to get around to.

Dead Clown Parade skin: very old gift from Ken's Store
Dress: This week's group gift The White Armory
Halloween pose with head: freebie from Kabuki Creations.

Waving the Flag

July 4th hat from Hatpins

For a short time, some patriotic top hats available at Hatpins for only 5L each.  They also emit Patriotic Particles, if you are so inclined, but you can turn them off if you are not
.

Canada Day hat from Hatpins

Can't resist The White Armory Group Gift

And, of course, here's what you're missing if you don't belong to The White Armory group.

This Weekend's Haul

Cocktail Dress from The White Armory

 It's true, I've been lax about posting lately, but that has as much to do with my health issues as my general disappointment in the land of cheap couture.  Things have improved greatly in the latter, because I'm still suffering in Real Life (tm) but I have lots to share.  Above is an unusual offering to the White Armory group: a short cocktail dress.  Sure, their gowns are gorgeous, but after a while you run out of places to wear them.  This black and pink confection, however, you can wear almost any time.  It comes with the black stockings and the pearl parure.  Kathy dug out some Baby Monkey slingbacks to wear with it, but she might go bare-legged next time and wear some pink heels.  Her hair is a brilliant freebie called Sophia from Vignette and the skin is Pure Morning from Heartsick.

Artilleri Sale

 It's an ill wind that doesn't blow someone some good.  We have a Blue Screen of Death to thank for the 50% off sale at Artilleri.  I can't express how happy Lludmila and Kathy were to see this, although we deeply sympathize with the need to buy a new machine.  Artilleri is a haven of high-waisted trousers.  Those Nina black jeans will go with anything and the retro shirt fits great right out of the box.  Lludmila couldn't resist the Buddy glasses with the tape.   Just add the pocket protector (got one from Croire) and she's all set for one of those Science Circle classes!  Hair is from Clawtooth, darling.

Artilleri Sale

Both my avs and I love capris.  If only I could find some in Real Life (tm) that fit this well!  Ruby Capris, Paula glasses, and the Othelia blouse from Artilleri.  The kitten flats were from Ztique ages ago.  The skin, of course, is Lludmila (light lips) from Absentia.

Fire Good Supernatural Hunt Gift

Cal got the notice on this hunt gift from Fire Good.  For some reason he wasn't interested.  Not sure why Lludmila isn't subscribed to them, but as long as Cal is willing to pass on the information it isn't necessary.  The Supernatural Hunt starts May 1, which, according to my calendar, was today.  There seems to be a discrepancy in dates in the virtual world, but the last time I checked, we in this hemisphere were the last to rip the sheet off the calendar.  Doesn't really matter - we have all month to hound these shops for hunt gifts.  Fire Good, however, has theirs out.  And isn't it cute?

I don't know how other people's avatars have morphed over time, but Lludmila always had elf ears, even though they rarely showed.  I had some odd idea in my head that she had a secret elf half.  Then at some point I fell in love with the green zombie skin from Absentia.  Now I guess she's part elf, part human, part fairy, and undead to boot.   

This Week at The White Armory

Ratcatcher's Daughter Protectorate Gown

The White Armory - their mission: to make your avatar look awesome. At least it makes Kathy look awesome.  Well, that and that Aeva/Heartsick Halo skin.

The White Armory and Paris Metro

The White Armory switched from a weekly gift to a 50L group bargain (which was confusing because I don't recall getting the notecard) for two weeks, but has since added a freebie as well.  Spending 50L makes me a little more choosy (even though these gowns originally went for 899L) so I didn't get all the bargain ones, but this was luscious with its red and gold oriental pattern, and I am my mother's daughter after all.

Paris Metro has a new hunt item out that blew me away.  Something about dark blue (although the name relates to black snow) makes gowns my favorites and it goes great with that Clawtooth hair.  It could be my sapphire engagement ring.  It doesn't come with the wings.  Kathy was wearing that for Wings Night at Grizzy's.

Duke, Duke, Duke ...

Duke of Earl freebie from The White Armory

Lludmila dropped by The White Armory to pick up her weekly group gift (imagine, just imagine the size of her inventory now) and spied this. She immediately contacted Cal. He needed this freebie, The Duke of Earl. Hahaha!

Not sure, but I think he got the boots from L'Emporio di Bru. They've really come in handy.

Short N Sweet

Although we still can't pry the sparklers out of Lludmila's cold, dead hands, we did get her out of those G Field rompers long enough to try on the White Armory group gift for this week.  It's a cute, frothy confection in black and dots and tulle.

The White Armory
Shoes by Nardcotix
stupid sparklers sold separately.

White on White

Woman with Attitude (and cleavage).

The Calliope gown is this week's group gift from The White Armory.  Kathy is wearing the Love Like Winter skin in Aether from Heartsick and borrowed Lludmila's casual updo, Adena, from Amacci.  Yikes, I need a hot cocoa just looking at this outfit.

The Weekend Haul

"Shh! Just between you and me ..."

 Paris Metro has a gown for those who just drop by Santorini ... and, while you're there, vote for the location. It took a while for the gown kiosk to show up, but it was worth it: our end of the color spectrum and the lovely frill around the top. Both our faves!

Tempus F-f-f-fugit.

 Time sure flies when you're on the You Go To My Head Hunt.  Look for the little straw hat at BrainCircuit Inc. to get the steampunk tophat with the spinning clock hand!

Incan somethingorother

This week's group gift from The White Armory is a fantasy in white.  Lludmila wishes she had occasions to wear these gowns, but we're content to do the adult Barbie thing and just gaze at the details, adjust the prims, take photos, and sigh.

Looks like a white peacock, dunnit?

Don't Annoy the Blogtographer

Lludmila sends sucking-up note to a shop.

 Recently, Paris Metro thanked the bloggers who have featured their creations and invited more to send information.  I sent mine in (see notecard) gleefully and then went on an extended RL vacation with no virtual contact.  I returned to find that my blog had been passed over.  This has p'd me o to no end and I almost didn't even go to pick up their latest ratty old freebies - except that the photos were really nice, not ratty at all, and in the end ...

We relent - here's a lovely freebie for the Santorini Group.

 ... dropped by and picked them up anyway.  So much for pride.   The gown for the Santorini Group (at the Paris Metro shop there) is a superb shade of blue (mediterranean?) with the frill at the top that I love so much.  Pretty belt as well.  And this is what they give away for free, folks.

Nice billowing of fabric on the 5000 members freebie

This summery outfit at the main store comes with the bangles and belt.  The skirt billows like a very light muslin.  I love the movement of the fabrics, which is why I freeze them in mid-poof.  This one is especially poofy - I can see it flouncing in the window underneath my blog, even though my av is not doing more than just shifting positions.

Okay, so I'm a little annoyed with PM for not taking me seriously, or losing my notecard, or I'll even give them the benefit of the doubt and ... no.  I sent it - I know I did.  Grr!  This is just another example of prejudice against the Undead!  Now I'm really going to apply for that Miss White Armory 2011 Modeling Contest!  And they, too, will feel the teeth of my wrath (ummm, speaking metaphorically, of course - we don't really eat brains ... very often) if Lludmila doesn't win!   [Shakes her little green fist at the Vivist Elitists.]

A Gallery of Gowns

The long and the short of it.

There's a new exhibit of photographs at the Paris Metro Gallery and two new commemorative gowns!  We always enjoy the art exhibits there and they have some magnificent photographs this time.

You can usually tell how much I like an outfit by how many pix I take.

Below a just a couple of the photos - what is this obsession I have with morning?  Ask my husband, I'm the one always sleeping in.  I love the grey and the fog!*

Photo of Paris in the morning by Relay Caedmon

Another morning photo, this time by K T Syakumi

And no Sunday post is complete without The White Armory Group gift.  Love the coloring on this!  Goes nicely with those morning photos!  

More photos of this one on my Flickr  page.

*

Morning fog from last October.

Sunday Best

Gift from Paris Metro.
Some parts are mesh.

This gift from Paris Metro is a nice use of mesh.  We're Phoenix users and there are only so many alpha bits we can wear at one time.  Consequently, I complain (mostly to myself) about mesh and grouse when I try to get on a V3-style viewer - and spend all my time crashing and relogging.  Gah.  And then we try to squeeze different avs into the mesh clothing and it either doesn't work or ... it's just lame.  So far the experience with mesh at Paris Metro (and G Field) has been good.  It's worth wearing shoes with invisiprims again. 

This week's group gift from The White Armory.

No worries so far about mesh and TWA.  Just one gorgeous gown after another.  Ho-hum.  Oo! but this one has wings!  There are fairies at the bottom of our garden - and they sure are overdressed!  There are little blings painted on the decolletage to draw attention to where the outermost edge of the areola might possibly be lurking but actually isn't.  What a nice touch and just avoids sluttiness (mostly by covering up the rest of the torso and all of the legs and arms).

Hee hee hee!

I'm tired of including slurls.  For heavenssake, just look it up in search!

Rhymes With "Loch"

Lludmila's complexion blends right in.

This week's The White Armory group gift is the van Gogh sunflowers and iris dress.  Those of us who toured the western art world with Kenneth Clark know to pronounce it "Gawkkhhhh" to the disbelief and unintentional moistening of others.*  Anyway, along with a stunning gown and a perky little headpiece with veil comes a framed reproduction.  Now, if only Lludmila had room to display that.

This only makes us miss the Virtual Starry Night Exhibit even more!  We visited multiple times and played in all the exhibits of three-dimensional representations of van Gogh's paintings.  Brilliant!  Another creative use of interaction in virtual space!  Oh well, there's still Art Box.

OMG! Save Art Box!

*I make up for it by stubbornly mispronouncing Bruegel when I see it spelled "Breugel."