Askari Designs – Clearwater Collection

standing next to my latest creation for Askari Designs. The last time I made something significant for my store was about 1.5 years ago

Yesterday I for some odd reason was inspired to make something new for my store. I hadn’t really messed with it in some time however when SL switched from xstreet to the marketplace several of my item listings got messed up. I had some time so I decided to do some repair work and in the process came up with a new idea for the store; furniture! Most of what I have made in the past are really specialty items related to Greco-Roman or outdoor themes. I don’t really sell a whole lot of these items since the market is so small for them. I can’t make clothing very well and as far as hair goes…well…I don’t think it would turn out well. I wanted to create a bedroom set and with a high market demand for furniture I thought I might have a sporting chance. The first piece of what I am calling the “Clearwater Collection” is a simple dresser. the handles are mesh which is really nice because it prevents them from derendering on farther zoom levels even though they are so small. At 16 prims I felt it turned out okay. Hopefully it’s priced right and I’ll make a few sales as I design and create new pieces for the collection. Check out the marketplace listing for more pictures!!

https://marketplace.secondlife.com/p/Dresser-Clearwater-Collection/3518496

Askari Style Files – Looking good with Aleida

Hello Blogging Folk!

Aleida Rhode, a friend of mine since I first started modeling about a year or two ago, has been busy expanding her line of clothing for men! Once focused on solely women’s fashion, she has started to use her creative talent to tap into the lucrative, and all to often skipped over, niche of menswear! With each new release she is improving with tighter fitting clothing that brings suggestive attention to the man wearing it. Recently in Menswear Fashion Week we saw more incredible clothing coming from my talented friend, it was difficult for me not to buy everything she was selling. One of my favorite pieces she had was the Ronaldo shirt featuring some military inspired mesh accents. With it’s deep v-neck the guys with a light dusting of hair on their skins will love this hot new piece available in a variety of colors. In this style I have also included a few other new items by Aleida including her Sousa tie and the epic new Dida glasses.

Hair: Entente – Tupelo
Glasses: Aleida – Dida fashion glasses
Tie: Aleida – Sousa fashion tie
Shirt: Aleida – Ronaldo; light gray
Pants: Connors – Vintage Jeans; double black
Shoes: SOREAL – Superstars

MWFW – Zenith and new Shag hair

The goods just keep pouring into my “object” folder and I can’t possibly keep up with all the amazing stuff that is coming out of Menswear Fashion Week 2012!! I was very impressed with the new Shag hair “Handsome Devil.” It certainly lives up to its title, likely to make many ladies (and men) swoon over the curly and flowing locks. I paired this great new item with another available at the expo, a pull over sweater (Merino sweater) by Zenith. I don’t know if it’s a newer brand, been off the radar, or I am just a newb, but I have never heard of the company before. They have some really good and amazingly crafted stuff that’s unusual enough to be fresh and perfect for any occasion. Together it’s an unstoppable duo that will make anyone week in the knees, at least in my opinion!! WHY WAIT go check them out before it’s too late!

MWFW 2012 – Askari Style Files – Lunch with a dash of Coco…

I received an interesting package from Ladies who Lunch a day or two ago who interestingly enough will also be participating in MWFW this year. When I opened up the box to my surprise I encountered a “skirt” and an assortment of belts. I soon realized that the skirt actually was a kilt with some other traditional elements of the oh-so famous and still acceptable “skirt” for men. I found it difficult to appropriately style the kilt as it would take a very specific style to make it work for a guy without looking too feminine.

I did however find that the belts (without the sporran) could actually provide a unique and different look to your outfit as I have shown in the top picture. For this particular style I used a few popular Coco pieces that most guys will have in their inventory, making this style quick and quite practical.

Jacket: COCO – Black Leather Jacket

Shirt: NSD – Baggy Shirt

Pants: COCO – Geometric Print

Ring: NSD – Emery

Boots: GOS – Aviator Boots; Amelia

Glasses: Entente – Bilblio

Hair: Entente – Tupelo

Necklace: L&B – Chinese Coin

Belt: LWL – McAlpin

Menswear Fashion Week 2012

Hello Blogging Folks!

I am so sorry to have abandoned you for these past three months! I have been in the process of applying for graduate school in RL and as a musician have been auditioning in several schools across the USA. I have been preparing music and playing for some very important schools and concerts and haven’t had the strength to apply myself to my blog, naturally it fell by the wayside. However I am happy to say that with auditions behind me I can now resume my blogging!

You’ll be happy to hear that I have been asked to blog the great products for Menswear Fashion Week 2012! This upcoming event is scheduled for March 23rd-31st and promises to showcase some of the newest and best products from some of the most elite designers of men’s fashion on the grid. I have already been swamped with some amazing items already!

First up is a sneak peak at the new hair from Dura (Dura-Boy 33) that will knock the socks off your date Friday night, literally! I really thought this was a creative look for hair, and it’s a continual example of why I always keep going back to see (and purchase) their new creations; it’s bold and fresh! You just won’t find hair like this for men elsewhere, it’s uniquely Dura.

Being a classically trained musician, I couldn’t help but being reminded of Beethoven when I wore this hair, I am sure he would have approved…

Keep an eye on my blog as I am going to be blogging most of the items that will be featured for purchase at MWFW2012. I’ll give you previews of some of the items so you can scope out your purchases early and get your list ready when the gates are open and these limited items go on sale!

Christmas at the Askari Home

Most of my close friends have been to my little home on the coast located on the beautiful Park Circle sim in the Grove community, however I know there are a number of you who have never seen where I live. I can’t quite remember when I started living in the Grove, must have been about 5 months ago. Before this I lived in an apartment in Boystown for about the same amount of time, and if you look back to my posts last year you can see my first SL home (a big skybox) decorated for christmas. So I thought this year I would share some pictures of my home all decked out for the Christmas through Epiphany (Jan 6th) season. I just love this time of year and I am deeply saddened that it has come and gone once again. I always feel such a close connection to myself and those around me at Christmas, sort of like this divine energy which brings love, joy, and peace unlike any other time. *sigh* So without delay here is my home at Christmas time!

Christmas is so magical, it was sort of simple at my home this year, I thought these hanging lights from “what next” were just enough for my coastal paradise.

Finally then we also have the inside on one half of the house where I have the living room. I found a wonderful tree this year, it sort of reminded me of an old world Christmas with the candles and everything. The tree was too big for my house so I literally must have spent an hour or two shrinking each individual part and readusting it all so that it would look right. Once it was all fixed though, I fell in love with it.

look at those presents... each present used up so much prim space I almost didn't put them out, but the looked so pretty.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL! 

New Tableau Vivant Skin – Adam

I purpose forth a question for other male models on the grid: why when you wear a Tableau Vivant skin do you make the most unplesant frown with the skin? It seems like this is some hidden requirement that makes no sense to me. Tableau Vivant skins have a certain “fierceness” about them to be sure but it’s not like you have to make them more fierce by adding an unhappy scowl. Generally since I use the Vincent skin from Tableau as my main skin, I leave a happy medium, a more serious face that while subtle it isn’t overly unhappy of a grimace. Anyways….I was pleased to be presented with the new collection of Tableau skins the other-day entitled “Adam.” I must say there doesn’t seem to be a lot that has changed with this skin in comparison to Vincent upon first glance. However if you compare carefully there is a bit more of facial detail as well as stronger highlighting of the eyes with darker shadowing. I just love that there are so many skin color choices, from very white to completely black all ranges of the spectrum are amazing. I am always pleased to see new things come from this great design house and it’s really a brand I have come to enjoy a great deal not only for their great products but kind owners and customer service. If you want a beautiful male skin that has more delicate qualities Adam is certainly the one for you!!

Mannerism – Mikey and Todd’s New Main Store!

Two friends of mine, Mikey Batriani and Todd Anton have opened up their new main building for their male pose business Mannerism! I was very excited as I know they have been working on this for some time. It really looks like all their hard work and effort paid off; the store is simply beautiful.

take a look at the entrance of Mannerism!

Mikey told me awhile back that they really wanted a high-end store for their products something with a lot of class; such a desire is obvious in the building. A neutral colors combined with the swooping waves of the architecture that greets you when you teleport to the store really makes you feel like you are in some place special, that this isn’t just any store it’s MANNERISM. It’s a very clean and organized layout which makes for a pleasant shopping experience.

The runway at the Mannerism pose store

The store also includes a beautiful runway which Todd and Mikey told me that it would probably be used for shows that display their new modeling poses as they become available. Leave it up to models to include a runway in their store. hehe Anyways do stop on by Mannerism if you can to buy up some great poses, really there is some amazing stuff to see and buy.

 

VISIT MANNERISM IN WORLD

What shall we call this look….Winter Casual?

You know, looking back at most of my style files it seems that all my styles are all sort of practical everyday looks. I look at some people’s blogs and there are all of these cutting edge styles that challenge our preconceived perceptions on standard articles of clothing; some that even challenge our normal way of thinking. Most of what I have shared with you so far are simply looks that are comfortable, looks that really don’t want to exactly challenge anything. Now, I often feel I am criticized for being boring, average, etc. in my blog styles so far, but to those people I say PHOOEY! What’s wrong with being comfortable in average? I expand my mind and my life outlook in many ways but must I be penalized for trying to share a portion of me with others that is relatable? I enjoy being etherial and mystical, but sometimes I find such expressions so personal that no one else even understands what you are trying to convey. “I feel as if this fashion represents a closed and caged inside yearning for freedom of the world” “Well to me I see darkness covered by clouds of the unknown waiting for the morning dawn to break the depression of the soul.” Opinions; dreaming and playing with our imaginations is fun, but every now and again I think we artsy people can go too deep into the metaphysical of reality and our own opinions…I am just as guilty as anyone else.

NOW without further hesitation, I present a casual winter look! I really liked the blond hair and eyes in this look, a friend of mine said I should turn blond forever but… I don’t think that will happen.

You can’t really see in this picture but the backpack from Mr.Poet is really a cool addition, one of my favorites.

Hair:             .::MADesigns HAIR::. ~ BOSTON flat cap (fabric) ~ Almond Frost

Eyes:            MOJO Blue Eyes 108 Small

Top:              HEDO Sauro Jacket

Backpack:  ::Mr.Poet:: Leather Backpack

Pants:          CHANTKARE Men’s – CKD JEANS [BLACK]

Shoes:         *COCO* Homme Engineer Boots – Black

An early goodbye to Fall

Standing in the fall fields outside LISP bazar.

I often feel sorry for Fall the closer we get to December. Some of us (me included) get so excited about the coming Winter and Christmas season we all to often leave Fall behind in a rush. Fall is a beautiful time of year, so many colors, the opportunity to see the world around you change in temperature and general atmosphere. Fall, as a transitional state in the environment, has also been somewhat of a busy time in my own life. So much has been going on in my RL that my blog has suffered the ultimate price; inactivity! The last time I posted on my blog was a month ago and I have felt so guilty and terrible. Here I was saying that I would be hopefully posting weekly and a whole month goes by. *Sigh* well here I am to say hello again to all my blogging folk and to apologize for abandoning you. As I mentioned earlier, with the upcoming Christmas season, prepare yourself for pictures of Christmastime at my humble home at the Grove. Last year you got to see my newb SL Christmas at my skybox, which I will admit wasn’t much. Since a year ago, my SL taste has evolved and I really think that Christmas at my place has turned out well this year. I can’t wait to show you because I am very proud of my decorating, so much so I want to have a party, hopefully that can be made a reality. I have a few looks backed up for the Style Files too and hopefully will be posting a few soon. Most of what I am wearing in this photo comes from Sartoria, arguably one of my new favorite places that caters specifically to male fashion! Anyways a happy early end to fall! And have a happy Thanksgiving!