Ground control to...

Yes... she'd taken her protein pills and put her helmet on...

This was no normal mission, no normal space agency. This was the 60s!  Bespectacled men packed into rows of consoles back at the rocket base had their ranks swollen by stylish female graduates. Some of the first of their kind, studying on par with the boys, maintaining their femininity and good looks all the while. Sophia was the first to join the cadets, those destined to pierce the firmament on a journey to the stars. No bulky spacesuit for her. The department had been flexible, as she offered to take the greatest risks, she got to have her say, in the science, and the stilettos. There was always the danger that Austin Powers would show up, and the launch would turn into a conga line.. but not this time.. as the countdown ticked to zero, she was up, and off into the darkness.

Tapping on the nosecone of the rocket, her message returned to earth, reverberating down the long string tying her to base. Through the vacuum of space, particles of dying star, of light and dark itself brushed passed her. But as her TV advertisement spots had shown the viewing public, the fabric of her suit was stain and particle resistant, and could be laundered at just 30 degrees! As the string behind her was payed out, and the reflected light of the earth faded behind her, she began to look around, searching the darkness, until.. making her kohl rimmed eyes flare open... the tap on the back of her helmet...

Austin!!!

The 60s were sexy, no doubt, as shown by this vintage space suit by [*RD*], available of course, at the Vintage Fair. You can just about see the globe of the helmet in the second image. There was no getting away from the Austin Powers silliness once that image got in my head of course, so going into space on the ride on rocket - a single pose free gift at the Vintage Fair from *~*HopScotch*~* is also available to buy, with more poses included. Here I've used the same eye makeup from Lovely Mi as in my last post, because I like it, and here you see it on a different skin. The spatter paint look of it is unusual to most makeups I've seen. The skin worn here is ::Modish:: Valena Fair, also a gift from the Vintage Fair. Its a sweet skin, almost porcelain in tone, with rosy pink lips. Could be ideal for doll joint tattoo layers! Those heels, I've been a big fan of N-Core heels for a long while, generally when buying any heels, having opted for the styles that include a foot. These don't and don't need to, as there's no warping of the foot which has put me off such styles in the past. The Vintage Fair runs until August 29.

From the Vintage Fair
Skin :  ::Modish::    Valena Fair {cleav} (Gift)
Hair :  Style by Kira    Rockabilly Hair - Black L$50
Eyemakeup :  Lovely Mi    Deep Eyes black [Eyes] L$80
Outfit :   [*RD*]   Vintage Space Suit-Red & Black-Cut Out  L$100
Shoes :  N-core   COQUETTE  L$295
Rocket :   *~*HopScotch*~* Rocket Woman - Single Pose Rideable Rocket (Gift)
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Retro/190/183/23
http://slurl.com/secondlife/CHIC/74/106/23
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Classic/95/214/23

Not from the fair
Tattoo :  Garden of Ku   Tattoo Neo3  Forbidden Planet  L$300
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Huggies/116/147/25

Smoking Soiree

The thickly carpeted halls of the exclusive establishment had been reserved only for men, the titled, the political, even an odd royal or two. It was not a place for an entrepreneur, much less a woman. Such imbalances, as any errant numbers on her books, were not to be tolerated. It was impossible they said. To admit her would be to break the bounds of tradition. She decided to make a new tradition. For each black ball sent her way, she added pressure here and there, bought up the land, soaked up the titles, manipulated the politicians. Feathers were ruffled, the clack of her heels on the marble floors raised eyebrows at each step.

They had threatened to leave of course, to desert their hallowed halls and seek refuge from the real world in some other club, taking their prestige with them. Few had followed through on these threats. This daring female, this threat to their old ways and challenge to their views rapidly became the principle reason for their attendance. The soft rustle of her silk dress set ageing hearts aflutter, the low cut style still emanated class, the softness of her skin wrapped demurely in lace. Stretching out in the fine leather armchair, supple through years of use, she slipped a cigarette into her favoured holder, never having to wait long for a light.

The Vintage Fair is a delight! As with all such events, the sims took some getting into, but it was certainly worth the wait. A MESH build, so make sure you are on an appropriate viewer when you go! I'm a big fan of various vintage styles, and the range available at the fair was surprisingly eclectic (as my next post will show). 

This dress by GIZZA is a wonderful look. From arriving at their store at the fair, the railtracks cutting across the floor, I was in the time of Dillinger and Capone. Of course, the peplum skirt is also bang on trend for current fashions, and so the dress could easily be made to work as a very modern look.

Paired with the Captivity Co Vintage Noir Chair, this look is a real favourite of mine. The chair has multiple elegant poses for females / males, and sits in a subtle pool of  light, making it a great focal point in a dark room. I particularly like the buttoned leather and beading textures.

Dress :  GizzA - Elegant Steps [Vintage Fair]  L$ 450
Chair :  Captivity Co - Vintage Noir Chair  L$ 400
Eye make up :  Lovely Mi - Deep Eyes black [Eyes] L$ 80
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Retro/190/183/23
http://slurl.com/secondlife/CHIC/74/106/23
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Classic/95/214/23

Items not from Vintage Fair
Skin :  : S u g a r :  -C- :3: Fireball {Like A Virgin} Currently only L$ 99! but you better be quick!
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/The%20Slums/147/73/70
Hair :  Pelle - Rori Black/blonde L$ 150
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Chamotte/115/104/21
Cigarette and holder : ER Cigarette Holder - Red L$ 75
https://marketplace.secondlife.com/p/ER-Cigarette-Holder/2535468 

Fantasy Faire 2012 Preview - Ullabellatrix

The memory of her nanny always made her smile. “You must be very careful, my sweet little Ulla!” – she used to say, with a grave expression on her wrinkled face. “After sunset, the woods swarm with the most dangerous creatures, people say... those lucky who have lived to tell the tale, that is. They speak of six-legged polecats that spit fire, birds with poisonous feathers, and...” – Nanny’s voice was usually reduced to a hoarse whisper by now – “... there are ruthless, walking golden statues, too, who will kill you in an eyeblink! Promise me you will never walk in the woods after dark, my sweet child!” And little Ullabellatrix promised.

Oh, poor Nanny... she was a foreigner who never truly learned to know and love her chosen homeland. Why didn’t she notice, then, that her ward’s skin was slowly turning into a pale gold, as it customarily happened to the princesses of her House when they approached womanhood? “... and I bet she never counted Fuzzball’s legs, either...” – Ullabellatrix chuckled, then she whistled to her faithful polecat, she patted the deadly feathers of the bird perched on her shoulder, and began her night patrol in the wilderness.

The 2012 edition of Fantasy Faire is around the corner, and look at these beauties that will hit the shelves in a few hours!

Elvenbreath by Selina Forder was among the very first fantasy shops I stumbled into in SL as a noob, and now I have the pleasure to show you one of her exclusive FF items, “Ulabeth”. It is a beautiful ranger/hunter outfit in soft fawns and orangey golds, rich in elaborate details such as the medaillons on the shoulder strap and the belt. The strap, the skirt and the boots come with a resize script, so be you tiny or tall, you’ll be able to wear “Ulabeth” as if it were your second skin.

Talking of skins, “Beatrice” in Gold by Lerochelle Destiny of De La Soul stunningly complements Selina’s outfit. I love the delicate tattoo pattern around the eyes, and I only added a lip tattoo layer of my own because I’m too much of a perfectionist, and not because De La Soul products need any correction. :) “Beatrice” will be available in other fantastic gemstone colours, too, of which I’m going to show you some more very soon.

You’ll find Elvenbreath and De La Soul on the “Shifting Sands” sim here, and here.

Outfit: Elvenbreath “Ulabeth” - RFL donation item (350 L$).

Skin: De La Soul “Beatrice Ikon” in Gold - RFL donation item (350 L$).

Crossbow: GTS Design “Viking Sniper Bow”, a fully functional weapon with HUD – Three Moons Hunt 2 gift (0 L$). The hunt is on until April 30th.

Hair: D!va “Mana” in Black Amber – group gift (0 L$), and it’s free to join the group.

Eyes: Sterling Artistry “Discovery Eyes” The Far Away - 65 L$; the 6-pair pack costs 260 L$.

Lip tattoo: Lovely Mi “Leafy Lips” – previous hunt gift, not available any more.

Poses: Embody “Supermodel” Get Down in the first picture, and Embody “Supermodel” Tough Girl in the second one. The “Supermodel” megapack is a previous discount item, now one pose is available for 49 L$ and a five-pose pack costs 199 L$.

The pictures were made at Enchanted Swansong.