Opium’s Closet is – as the name implies – not just about new releases, but it gives us an opportunity to look at fabulous designs of the past as well. Thus, today I would like to introduce you to a wonderful gown from a designer who, sadly, has not been seen or heard from since the summer of 2009. We can only hope that Samsara Nishi and her great talent for unique, at times quirky, yet always elegant and classy designs are doing well and will return to grace us with more new releases soon! Until then, her store Sam’s Secret remains open for business, and as I am about to show you, her designs are of a timeless quality and will never go out of style. Take a look at her December gown:

This formal gown is simply gorgeous – it was a year ago that I saw Samsara herself wearing it during an event at the Patch Thibaud auditorium, and it was love at first sight. Though more conservative in design than most of her other outfits, it noneless bears her unique signature in the form of a big, multi-layered laced chest ruffle, an absolutely adorable touch, as well as her detailed textures, giving the bodice and skirt a sort of crumpled appearance with a sparkling shine covered by streaks of thin black lace. Brilliant in every sense of the word:)

A deep cut-out in the back of the shoulderless bodice makes heads turn toward your sexy skin and highlights your feminine elegance, adorned with two glittering straps, one tight, the other somewhat loosely draped across.

And as if this was not enough, December also includes a fashionable cape in a style closely matching the gown, and the cape can be worn on its own or in combination with the white chest ruffle (unfortunately, that combination leaves no room for a necklace or choker). And this is no ordinary cape worn around the neck – rather, it attaches to the bodice and cleverly still leaves your lower back visible! See for yourself:

As you can see, the cape is thick, fluffy, and amazingly comfortable – a perfect way to add extra fullness to this versatile gown. As this month and the entire year are drawing to a close, it becomes clear that the gown of the same name can be worn not just in December, but all year round. Sam’s Secret offers many colourful designs and styles that practically beg you to wear and accessorise them in many ways. Are you ready to discover your secret?

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Photography and modeling by Rhonda Pennell.

Outfit: December gown from Sam’s Secret Boutique

Skin: Judy elegant shaved (with hairbase) from Staged Skin and Fashion

Hair: Ylena updo in umber from **Pocket Mirrors**

Shoes: Eiris classic pointed pumps in black from HAYSURIZA

Jewelry: Anastasia jewelry set in jet from Virtual Impressions

Again I have the great honor to show you a few of the latest releases of 3636 Hair.

First I would like to start with “Angela”:

This style is not only a simple hair style the purchase also includes the scarf and the purse. The hair it self and the hat are one piece, so you will not have any trouble with other attachments like eyelashes, facelights, or jewelry. As usual dianny36 did this long hair style in many amazing colors.

In complete this long hairstyle without any face parts is available in 8 great colors. The fur parts are not colorchangeable but for that 3636 Hair provides a few other styles like for example “Dina”:

This one is a shorter hairstyle with a littlle hair part on the fore head. The hair also comes with scarf and purse but this time in a red tone, but for every hair color also!

Last but not least we have a third hairstyle with black fur parts also..so every outfit can be matched with and you will always be dressed for the cold season.

Here we have “Love”. A half long hair cut with playfully curls who frame the face like little waves. The forehead is blank but the waves go round the whole head. The hat, scarf and purse are kind dark brown with black to fit even the darker outfits you wanna wear. With this haistyle you also have not to forego to all the great hair colors

After all I think there is some for anyone to match every outfit you like for the season

So go down and make your way to 3636 Hair to get your style!

Details:

Hair, Hat, Scarf and Purse: 3636 Hair

Model & Photographer: Wicca Merlin

As a photographer I am always on the hunt for new and unique poses. One of my favorite haunts is Essential Soul Poses. Not only do they have really creative poses they are affordable in priced. I like multipurpose poses because not only am I a photographer but I model as well and want poses that transition well from the pose stand to the runway.

Shown is samples from 3 different sets offered by ES… Feelin, Her Walk and Sole Recollection. But these are just a small sampling of the many sets offered. Group members get quality free offerings as well as everyone gets to benefit of their Dollarbie posestand. When you walk in the store poses are to your right, you can’t miss them. They are a benefit to anyone who likes to take pictures or walk the catwalk.

Essential Soul Poses: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Essential%20Soul%20Studio/134/154/37

I had the honor and pleasure to be in a show presented by Opium Fashion Agency this past two days called NOIR COUTURE: The History of Baiastice. It was a terrific show with an amazing set. Most of all, I love the designs I modeled from the clothing to the hair. I’d like to show them to you just in case there’s still a gentleman with exquisite taste on your Holiday Gift list that would love to wear these outfits and be the center of attention…

1.BE seen in this black ensemble from Baiastice: Nathaniel Suit in black.

It is elegant and just commands attention wherever you go.

Complete the look with Tukinowaguma’s Apex White Hair.

2. This ruggedly handsome outfit is from Baiastice: Bistre Brown Leather Jacket coupled by  Grey Regal Wool pants.

It just screams ADVENTURE especially when you wear the Ebony Cactus Hair from Tukinowaguma.

3. Set the RUNWAY on Fire with this Baiastice Nathaniel Suit in Lilac.

It’s a sure fire way to get all the attention. The sleek hair is from Tukinowaguma: Ebony FORTE SH.

So, What are you waiting for? Run to Baiastice and Tukinowaguma for that guy with impeccable taste.

There’s a Lion in my closet!   I’ve had a two-plus year love affair with Lionskins.  They’re simply delish!  Pictured below is Dollhouse #1.

Lionskins Dollhouse 1

Lion is a generous soul, especially this time of year.   I snagged some free skins hiding in some snowflakes.  If you hurry, you might find some, too!  Pictured below is Yang Pale 9, which I found a couple of days ago at … get this, 1/2 price!  400L ~ a roarin’ good holiday bargain!

Here’s how to get there quick: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Smaug/145/210/37

With Every Good Wish, I’m Hollee Zhora ~

I’ve had the privilege of knowing and working for Mystical Demina for over a year now and I wanted to take a moment to share with you all a little about this multi talented guy. Mystical is most definitely an ideas man who has a fantastic mind for finding a niche market and creating innovative products. He started his SL Designer journey developing a range of skins

Recently though Mystical has moved more into techno circles and has a very keen and active interest in developing a bot/avatar range that can be scripted and or programmed in a certain way to suit the user’s needs

Though the fashion world is not primarily his pinnacle, Mystical took on his own challenge to create a collection of skins that are known today as Xtreme Reality (XR) Skins. Using a multi-layered texturing technique combined with an integration of photorealistic textures and hand painted detail XR Skins were born and are still available to purchase in world at Xtreme Reality Skins. …. My “favourites” selection from Mystical’s XR Range are shown here below

The palest of all Marie and the fair skinned Heidi

Adrianna Romantic in tan and fair were Mystical’s last skin project… I’m secretly hoping that he will find some time to develop more skins

Let us find out a little bit more about the creator of these skins…

Avona : When did you start designing?
Mystical : Don’t exactly remember but was around 2 years ago, that I started working on skins.

Avona : What was it that made you want to design skins?
Mystical : They seemed like a good challenge. If I was to do it again I would not have started with skins.

Avona : Are you self taught or did you learn from anyone?
Mystical : Yes, I did not take art in college or work professionally. The biggest challenge was learning Photoshop. Also I tried to use 3D graphics techniques and that took a long time to learn Maya.

Avona : Was skin designing your first content creation experience in SL?
Mystical : For the most part, I did some web stuff but not a lot.

Avona : What was the first skin that you created?
Mystical : The first skins I did were the French female. I was going to do international themes. They were based on the single base color technique. But what I really consider to be my first real product is Heidi. In Heidi I used color layers like how 3D shaders work. That was how I was able to have the body more naturally colored and different coloring, amount of blood in the skin, different skin types for the different areas of the body.

Avona : Which is your favourite skin to date?
Mystical : Adrianna is my last project. She has the most highlights and details in the face.

Avona : When did you get your first store?
Mystical : Don’t know, been a while, maybe 2 years ago.

Avona : How does it make you feel when you see your skins out there in SL?
Mystical : Love it!! …Love it when someone IM’s me. Love it when I go somewhere and someone has my skin.

Avona : What do you think is the key to being a successful designer?
Mystical : Well, from a designer standpoint, I think it is a great skill technique that gets you 90% of the way. But there is a certain eye for balance and a sense of creativity that you get I think from being a good observer.

Avona : Do you think skin creation has changed since you first started designing?
Mystical : Yes, most definitely. More photorealistic skins and they are getting better at working the images to not look like pictures painted on the skin. Really is hard to make picture look real on the skin. The lighting and shading has to be corrected.

Avona : How do you see XR Skins developing in the future?
Mystical : We will probably move to more of a full character theme and since we are using bots in Enterprise Applications like a nurse training simulation and a project to have avatars as pets, we will focus more on these markets.

Avona : Mystical I know that you are a man of many talents. Do you have any other exciting projects that you would like to share?
Mystical : Mostly we are starting to use bots, avatars that are run by programs for training and corporate applications. Also the use of programs logging into the avatars to be pets I am really excited about. Can also be used in lots of recreation simulations or role playing stuff. For instance creating a restaurant where you have waiters and other avatars making it look more like a real place to dine out. Monsters or other things in role playing sims.

Avona : If there’s one piece of advice that you could pass on the any up and coming designers.. what would that be and why?
Hmmm, I guess keep it simple to start, focus on one very specific market and make something really really good. Once you have a brand and word of mouth going to get new business you can grow into other areas.

Avona : Is there anything else that you would like to add?
Just it is really amazing on what has been done so far. I look forward to the enterprise starting to use virtual worlds in applications. I think that will drive the content market and increase the demand for the new kind of graphics artist virtual worlds take. People that can do textures, modelling, animations, etc.

Avona : Thank you very much for your time Mystical.. it was indeed a pleasure

Mystical showed me some of his new projects.. one of which I thought could be a wonderful future idea for the modelling world. It’s still a work in progress so watch this space and maybe one day we’ll see this product in some shape or form hit the runway!!

Xtreme Reality Skins

Every year we go out on shopping.. Trying to find THE outfit which makes you look like a real Snowqueen. Well, a few days ago I found that outfit. Let’s meet one of Raven Pennyfeather’s – House Of RFyre – latest release; SnowQueen.

This amazing lightblue dress, with a shimmering of white and silver, looks absolutly goreous on every woman. The feathers are all flexi and swirls around your body, with full of grace and elegance. The beautifully embroidered light blue top leads to a jeweled collar and a white feathered stole which also covers the shoulders (the stole isn’t showned in the blog).

I want to go extreme, so matched the outfit with hair from “Exile”, called “Breeze Remix/Blizzard”. Wild and really feminine!
This skin from “Red Queen” really gives me a mysterious and cold look. She really needs a cup of hot chocolate and a warm blanket! I always go to Red Queen when I need an unusual skin, you really should check them out!
The cute, tiny crown comes from Onigiri, by Maegen Parvenu (part of an outfit)

Model and Photographer: Melanie Sautereau

Spotlighting SL top designers and their wonderful creations is a special part of blogging for Opium.  I am proud to bring to you some of the creations from the imagination of Tukinowaguma!

Arashi SH

A little wild, a little off the charts, but this number is definitely a head turner.  Done in black and white, it is dramatic and wonderfully styled.  Sure to make a hit with just the right outfit, this is one only for the brave of heart to dare to behold!

Galiena SH

Another black and white vision, this style is braided up the head on the right side in a combination of black and white and flows to the left side.  Just gorgeous and definitely meant to make a statement.

Mari

A little more on the tame side, Mari is a style that may appeal more to your everyday senses.  A very nicely put together look.

Roman style A

Finally, Roman, seen here in style A, is a beautiful long wavy type of style that is slightly gathered on the top and falls in cascades down the back.

You can catch Tukinowaguma at their main store or come to the Opium Fashion Agency show being presented the 22nd and 23rd where these styles, and many more, will be presented.

Tukinowaguma Main Store

The gown?  Gabriella.  A new release from Bliss Couture and a simply stunning gown that definitely carries an air of regal beauty about it.  It’s available in many colors, shown here in a white as snow color.

Complete with long train, fur stole and fur hat, you will look simply stunning and feel like the belle of the ball.

Did I mention this is just one of the beautiful creations available at Bliss Couture?  TP to the main store and pick one up just in time for that beautiful holiday party or to give as a gift for someone special that you want to treat special!

Bliss Couture Main Store

Did you know you could look very stylish in mohair? – Well look here! This is the *Bliss Couture* Posh Mohair Dress in black. The top is made of raw mohair and it looks perfectly styled with the included shiny leggins with fishnet optic on the front.

For the skirt part you have two options: You can wear it as shown in the picture above or you can change the lower mohair part with a sculpted mini skirt as shown below:

The *Bliss Couture* Posh Mohair Dress is a real eyecatcher!

Bliss Couture Mainstore: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Gown/148/141/282