But, what can I say, I’m a sucker for trends.  The cowgirl boot is in, and maybe I’m grown up enough (or immature enough) to accept and enjoy messing with peoples’ assumptions.

So, here are three cowgirl boots in SL.  First, about their SL-shoe-ness.  All three styles attach the boot at the ankle, rather than the foot.  This is good for photos, as you won’t get wonky broken ankles, but bad if you were planning on wearing pants with a cuff attachment.  The three boots fit differently — if you look at the comparision photos, you’ll see that the Adam n Eve boots sit very high on the leg, while the Kalnins sit rather low.  All three use sophisticated sculpt shapes, and all three are meticulously textured.

Now, about the boots.  The above criteria are really specific to the virtual world we live in; the next comparison points apply equally to non-virtual boots.  The most obvious difference in the boots is (...)
Read the rest of Cowgirl boots (412 words)

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Post tags: Adam n Eve, booN, J's, Kalnins, Little Rebel, Sand Shack Surf Co., Tyranny Designs

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The lovely and talented Emma Gilmour of Sand Shack Surf Co recently asked if I’d be interested in doing an in-depth, proper review of her latest shoes — the Elsa boots.  I was a bit hesitant to do a comprehensive review, as the potential for drama isn’t worth it for me.  Anyway, as Emma and I chatted, we reminisced about the early days of SL fashion blogging, when a reviewer was supposed to be thorough, and include both strengths and weaknesses of a particular item, and their own experiences with the item — when we expected bloggers to educate us on what we should be looking for when we evaluated things.  I decided to rise to the challenge — though in this case, it was easy, as Emma is an experienced, talented designer, and so there’s little need for constructive criticism.

So, these are the Elsa Boots, available from Sand Shack Surf Co.  First, let’s look at the features available with these boots, and then we’ll analyze them more closely.  There are essentially three (...)
Read the rest of Review: Elsa Boots from Sand Shack Surf Co. (596 words)

© SarahTheRed for Red and Re-read, 2009. | Permalink | One comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: 5th & Oxford, Blowpop, Chronokit, Error, Fri.day, League, Mechanized Life, Niniko, Reel Expression, Sand Shack Surf Co.

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I seriously love shoes; just ask my husband.  You may have noticed I’ve blogged one or two pair of shoes for the Footwear Expo.  It’s closed now, but all the footwear is available at the designers’ shops.

I’ve saved my favorite footwear grouping for last.  The thing is, sometimes you don’t want to wear shoes.  Sometimes it’s nice to be barefoot.  Sometimes being barefoot is the best design decision, for a particular look.  But, but, the system feet are so hideous!  Don’t get me wrong, I’ve seen some very well-done skins, but skin creators don’t have a lot to work with, when it comes to our sad club feet.

Siddean Munro, creator behind SLink, has delivered us all from system feet.  I’ve been enamored with her bare feet since they were released; they were my first adventure in prim feet (I fought them for so long!)  For ladies, we have a choice of four foot silhouettes, from flat-footed to tiptoe, and the recently released extreme pointe foot.  (Gentlemen also have a few barefoot options, so men, you’re not left out!)

Now, I’m still not as good as tinting the feet as I’d like to be, but practice will make perfect, and the tinting HUD is very easy to work with.  The shading on the foot is incredibly detailed, with shadows between the toes, where light wouldn’t hit, and highlights indicating the underlying tendon structure.  Delicate subtle veins trace the top of the foot.  There are of course a variety of toenail options — both colored nail polish, and a range of natural nail shades to suit different skin tones.  I adore these feet, and if you’ve even once considered going bare-foot in-world, I’d suggest you give these a try.  Demos are free, after all.

Feet, left to right:
SLink- Jolie Pied Bare Feet, from left to right: Flat, Medium, Tiptoes, Extreme Pointe

En Scene Credits:
Hair: Tiny Bird – Precious Things – Stein Silver (tinted)
Skin: Imagen Skins – Irene 2.0 – Este – Natural (promotional sample)
Bubbles: Reasonable Desires Strippable Bubble Costume
Feet: SLink – Jolie Pied Bare Feet Tiptoes
Bathtub: The Loft – Oriana Bathtub

Disclaimer: Medium feet, Extreme Pointe feet, and Imagen skin are promotional samples.  I’m acquainted with some of the designers shown here.  However, I only blog things I like, regardless of affiliations or gifts.

© SarahTheRed for Red and Re-read, 2009. | Permalink | One comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Imagen Skins, Reasonable Desires, SLink, The Loft, Tiny Bird

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I like ankleboots.  They’re comfy.  Neither as blatantly trendy as the bootie, nor as sexy as the knee-high boot, the ankle boot is a versatile in-between, working well with a variety of looks. That said, they’re still fabulous!  The selection shown here is from the Footwear Expo, which ends tonight!

Oh, and I know the last pair aren’t really ankle boots.  But they’re cute, aren’t they?

Credits, left to right:
Decoy Jully Boots in Ivory
Anexx FiveBeltsBoots in Gray
Nova Suede Ankle Boots in Espresso
Periquita Lolipolita (color-change)

Disclaimer: All boots shown here are promotional copies.  I’m acquainted with some of the designers shown here.  However, I only blog things I like, regardless of affiliations or gifts.

© SarahTheRed for Red and Re-read, 2009. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Anexx, Decoy, Nova, Periquita

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Clock’s a-tickin’, folks, Footwear Expo ends tonight!

There are several shoes styles that defy easy categorization, like these two.  Sure, technically, they’re flats and boots, but really, their unique function means they don’t quite fit in.  The pointe shoes on the left include prim feet, allowing the ribbons to really form to the foot.  The shiny rubber rainboots had me itching to find a nice rainy sim to splash around in.

The three shoes above also don’t fit nicely into standard categories, but then, normal isn’t really (...)
Read the rest of Footwear Expo: Specialty Shoes (261 words)

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Post tags: Aitui, Armidi, Creamshop, Demina Design, G Field, Imagen Skins, Kari & TW, Kitties Lair, Lazy Places, Philotic Energy, Pulling Strings, SLink, Smile Shop Fukuoka, Sn@tch, Surf Couture, Tooter Claxon

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The pointy pump is such a classic shape — so polished, so versatile.  Some are suited to elegant dresses; others finish a professional suit.  Some are just plain fun. Each of the pumps shown above, from the Footwear Expo, are, I feel great examples, and each shows a unique style.   Sure, you may already have a few pair of pointy pumps in-world already, but do you have any like these?

Shoes, left to right:
Baiastice Claire decollete – fucsia
Baiastice Crystal – Ruby
House of Curios – MIB Stilettos (colorchange – both solids and patterns)
Periquita Chicky Chic (colorchange)
Periquita Q-Steps (colorchange)

Disclaimer: All shoes shown here were received as promotional samples.  I’m acquainted with some of the designers shown here.  However, I only blog things I like, regardless of affiliations or gifts.

© SarahTheRed for Red and Re-read, 2009. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Baiastice, House of Curios, Periquita

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I’m not quite sure why we collectively equate shoes with sex, but we do.  And no shoe screams sex more than an over-knee boot.

These are, of course, three examples of knee-high boots at the Footwear Expo.  Structured, slouchy, or skin-tight, these boots will add sexiness to any look.  You know you want some — over-knee boots, that is!

Credits:
Shoes, left to right:
SLink – Sydney Overknee Boot – 50L Friday Gold Edition
Coco KneeHigh Boots
J’s Thigh High Boots – Black

En Scene Photo Credits:
Hair: Truth - Marianne – Copper
Skin: Sn@tch – Plush Skin – Tone 2 – Babydoll Fr
Jacket: part of iBizarre Soraya Bolero Jumpsuit – Blue
Leotard: Elymode – bodysuit – wine/blue
Tights: Sn@tch – Cheetah Tights – Black
Boots: SLink - Sydney Overknee Boot – 50L Friday Gold Edition
Pose: Long Awkward Pose
Photographed at the Kyoot Mainstore

Disclaimer: Promotional samples: Coco and J’s boots, Sn@tch skin, Elymode bodysuit.  I’m acquainted with some of the designers shown here.  However, I only blog things I like, regardless of affiliations or gifts.

© SarahTheRed for Red and Re-read, 2009. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Coco, Elymode, iBizarre, J's, Kyoot, SLink, Sn@tch, Truth, [LAP]

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Have you heard that the Footwear Expo ends today?  If you’ve not been yet, perhaps these booties will tempt you.

First, I must say, booties are generally terribly unflattering to most of our RL figures.  The solid structure, ending abruptly where foot meets leg, destroys the leg line and makes you look short.  That said, I adore them.  They have a certain je-ne-sais-quois that just screams chic.  And of course in SL we can just make our legs a bit longer to compensate.

What I find most striking about this set of booties, all available at the Footwear Expo, are the(...)
Read the rest of Footwear Expo: Booties (196 words)

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Post tags: Adam n Eve, Baiastice, Casa del Shai, Cipria Couture, Coco, Dark Mouse, Glitterati, Nardcotix, Periquita, Punch Drunk, R2, Sheer, Tiny Bird

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I have a total weakness for round-toed pumps.  The rounded toe reminds me of the fifties, when being graceful and ladylike was paramount.  The heel, of course, brings sex and power and killer legs to the picture.  Pictured here are seven of the styles available right now at the Footwear Expo — with a variety of different heel styles. fabrics, height, and trim, (and a bit of arbitrary categorization on my part), there’s likely a heel here that will make you drool.(...)
Read the rest of Footwear Expo: Round-Toe Pumps (80 words)

© SarahTheRed for Red and Re-read, 2009. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: G Field, Hays Uriza, Nova, Periquita, YourSkin & YourShape

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Winter has arrived in Second Life.  Delicate snowflakes drift down to coat the trees and we get to pull our our coziest-looking winter wear. This of course also means cozy shoes, from little booties to fluffy snowboots.

These four pairs are a few of the offerings available at the Footwear Expo, ending today.  The first are perfect for curling up in front of a fire with your honey; the others are adorable outerwear choices.  In RL, I worry about wearing these types of boots, but in SL, I’m safe — dirty slush can’t soak into my cozy boots and ruin them!

Footwear Credits, all available at the Footwear Expo:
Decoy – Nash Bootie – Brown/Pink
Lazy Places – Knuffel Boots – Grey Chocolate
Miau Haus – Snow Boot – Tan
Surf Couture Parker Knit Boots – Yellow (with color-change slouchy socks)

En Scene photo credits:
Hair: Tiny Bird – Precious Things – Stein Silver (tinted)
Skin: Minajunk Skin – Cry – Pink
Scarf: Artilleri – Sue neck scarf – Pink Polkadot
Sweater: SWA – Cropped Sweater – Yellow (came with the Siren Sundress)
Dress: SD Wears – Bubble-Poo Dress – Pink Peppercorn
Tights: Bijou – Stocking C – White
Boots: Surf Couture Parker Knit Boots – Yellow (with color-change slouchy socks)
Pose: Long Awkward Pose
Photographed at fri.day

Disclaimer: All footwear was received as promotional samples.  I’m acquainted with some of the designers shown here.  However, I only blog things I like, regardless of affiliations or gifts.

© SarahTheRed for Red and Re-read, 2009. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Artilleri, Bijou, Decoy, Fri.day, Lazy Places, Miau Haus, Minajunk, SD Wears, Surf Couture, SWA, Tiny Bird, [LAP]

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