Xen's Pen
Fashionable ramblings from Xenobia Foxclaw's virtual pen.

In real life, my hair is more white than the dark brown I was born with since a year ago I gave up dying it and let it go natural. I know I would look younger if I went back to dying it, but I taught for 41 years and I earned everyone of those white hairs—I wear them like medals.

In SL, I really like Dura Hair. chiaki Xue, the owner and designer of Dura, always seems to come up with hairs I like and go back to time after time. When I opened the two newest ones, I knew immediately I would wear these a lot because they are great hairs for hats. Let me show you.

Dura Boys & Girls 29

I actually reduced the size of the hat I donned from my inventory by clicking on it, tilted it a bit and moved it over a smidgen. No editing of the hair was needed.

Dura Girl 33

I left the hat exactly as it was above and changed hairs—there is one very tiny spot just above the hatband that shows. I may be able to move the hat forward a tad to take care of it or increase the hat by one.

You can see what I mean about being great hat hair. I like it so much that I took the manager of Xen’s Hats, Calico Silverweb, over to Dura and got her seven-packs of the hairs. Go get your own Dura Hair and then pop over and get some of Xen’s Hat—they are great matches.

What Xenobia Is Wearing and Other Credits

Hair in Top Photo: Dura—Boys & Girls 29 (Butter Rum)

Hair in Bottom Photo: Dura—Girl 33 (Butter Rum)

Hat: Xen’s Hats—Andre (Color-change)

Jewelry: FineSmith—In The Flash Deco Broach (Texture Change) (Reduced and moved to lapel)

Jacket & Blouse: My Precious—Agnes With You Jacket & Top (Indigo)

Slacks: My Precious—Agnes Calm Tweed Pants

Shoes: G Field—Short Lace-Up Boots (Moss)

Skin: Belleza—Erika (Sk 2)

Lipgloss: blackLiquid MAKEUP—Vixen Gloss (Not yet available, but soon)

Fingernails: FineSmith—Solid (Red)

Eyes: Amacci—Emerald Eyes 1

Eyelashes: Miamai—No Alpha Lashes N0. 6

Poses: oOo Studio

Model & Photographer: Xenobia Foxclaw

Location: My Precious

What I like about winter in SL is that it isn’t unpleasantly cold. Although, it does look like I’m hugging myself in an effort to stay warm. Darn—I wanted to look cool, not cold. Well, that’s Second Life, I guess.

(I know the hat is a little off on the color, but it looked right in SL. It wasn’t until I took the photo that I realized it was too brown. With a little time I could have match it perfectly; I just didn’t have the time.)

What Xenobia Is Wearing and Other Credits

Hat: Xen’s Hats—Quaker Hat (Color-change)

Hair: Dura Hair—Emo 07 (Ash Brown)

Sweater:  Rebel Hope Designs—Tymus Sweater (Burgundy)

Necklace: FineSmith— Snowflake Necklace (Platinum)

Fingernails: Finesmith—NailsR 20 Holiday Nails with Snowflake Ring (Red)

Pants: Vive Nine— Legal Attention [burgundy] Pants

Boots: FineSmith—Journey Boots (Cheetah)

Skin:  Belleza—Erika (Fair 7)

Eyes: Amacci—Gaze Eyes (Brown Steel)

Pose: Avante Poses

Background: PNP

Model and Photographer: Xenobia Foxclaw

The other day chiaki Xue of DURA dropped a fat pack of her newest hair into my inventory. Frankly, I don’t think I can have too many hairs, so I’m always tickled to try on new ones. My RL jaw almost dropped open when I saw the latest as it looks so much like the way I wore my hair for many years that I was astounded. (It makes me think about getting my RL hair cut like that again, but I’ll have to let it grow for a while before it gets long enough to cut into this style.)

I’m so comfortable in this hairdo that I could wear it almost constantly—this will be one of my frequently-worn hairs. I hope you like it as much as I do.

What Xenobia Is Wearing and Other Credits

Photo 1

Hair: DURA—Boy 21 (Sienna)

Earrings: Finesmith—H2O

Dress: Gizza—Gardenia Coctail (Sequin)

Skin: Belleza—Erika (SK 3)

Eyes: YS&YS—Intense Eye (Brown)

Eyelashes: Miamai—No Alpha Lashes No. 6

Photo 2

Hair: DURA—Boy 21 (Black)

Earrings: Finesmith—Lacie

Dress: Gizza—Gardenia Coctail (Pinky)

Skin: Belleza—Erika (SK 11)

Eyes: YS&YS—Intense Eye (Brown)

Eyelashes: Miamai—No Alpha Lashes No. 6

Photo 3

Hair: DURA—Boy 21 (Blonde)

Earrings: Finesmith—Magic

Dress: Gizza—Gardenia Coctail (Cream)

Skin: Belleza—Erika (SK 7)

Eyes: YS&YS—Intense Eye (Brown)

Eyelashes: Miamai—No Alpha Lashes No. 6

********

Poses: PNP

Model and Photographer: Xenobia Foxclaw

After making my last post mere hours ago, I was standing in the far section at DURA when I happen to glimpse an upstairs. This should give a hint about how observant I am–I completely missed the set of stairs leading up. In my defense, however, the lower part of the stairs is hidden behind a rock wall, and it all sort of blends together. However, once I ventured up those steps, I discovered a whole new section, most of which was hair for females with a few cross-gender styles.

I bought several to show you some more of the range of Chiaki Xue’s hair designs. If you love them as much as I do, you can hope over by following this link.

Girl 01 (Dark Brown)

Girl 03 (Red)

Girl 05 (Light Brown)

Girl 09 (Pink)

Girl 10 (Soil)

Girl 11 (Mocha)

Girl 14 Flower (Dark Blonde)

Girl 16 (Strawberry)

Boys & Girls 05 (Hawaiian Tan)

Boys & Girls 08 (Dark Blonde)

Boys & Girls 11 (Black)

What Xenobia Is Wearing With DURA Hair

Jewelry: FineSmith Designs – Diamond Earrings & Collar (Silver)

Skin: Belleza – Erika (Deep Tan 16)

Eyes: Amacci – Insight (Dark Brown)

Eyelashes: CCD – RealLash Prim Lashes #02 Normal (Brown)

Pose: Morgane Batista Poses

Model and Photographer: Xenobia Foxclaw

I was recently reading a blog and spotted a hairdo that really caught my attention, so I hopped over to the store, one with which I was not familiar–DURA. It was love at first sight, perhaps because in real life I have very short hair, and the hair in DURA was mostly short. Although many of her hairs are designed with males in mind, I don’t think there is a single one that wouldn’t look equally as good on a female. However, while not all of them come with hairbases, I always wear one, borrowing from another set if necessary. The hairs come with two versions, one with a menu to change sizes easily, and one without. I personally prefer the menu driven one because I can copy it, set it to the size right for me, and delete the scripts, reducing lag for fashion shows and other areas that are rife with lag.

I wore two of the hairs below for an “I Love Japan Auction” that was sponsored by Opulent Magazine and that raised 179,021L in about 4 hours on April 2. (You can read more about that here.) I was happy to see Chiaki Xue, owner of DURA at the show. She was one of the many designers who made generous contributions. Let me show you some of the styles so you can see for yourself. If you love them as much as I do, you can hope over by following this link.

Boy 01 (Black)

Boy 02 (Auburn)

Boy 3 (Blonde)

Boy 06 (Light Blonde)

Boy 07 (Dark Blonde)

Boy 08 (Spice)

Boy 10 (Onyx)

Boy 13 (Hawaiiantan)

Boy 16 (Gold)

Boy 17 (Ash Brown)

Boys & Girls 15 (Chocolate)

ARAI & DURA Kimukimu (Dark Brown)

DURA & ARAI 02 (Flower Strawberry)

DURA & ARAI 02 Flower with Long Wavy Extension (Strawberry)

DURA & ARAI Curling Hair (Black)

What Xenobia Is Wearing With DURA Hair

Skin: Belleza – Erika (Deep Tan 16)

Eyes: Amacci – Insight (Dark Brown)

Eyelashes: CCD – RealLash Prim Lashes #02 Normal (Brown)

Pose: Morgane Batista Poses

Model and Photographer: Xenobia Foxclaw

They’re classic–just the kind of pieces you’ll go back to often. A simple, long row of diamonds at each ear and at the throat. Yula Finesmith calls them Row Necklace and Row Earrings and you can have either for 55L from Thursday at 7:00 a.m. SLT until Friday at 7:00 a.m. SLT. EXCEPT the price is still set at 55L and I happen to know that Yula will not be back in world until Saturday, so that means you can still find these pieces set at 55L each.

Styling Credits

Necklace: FineSmith Designs – Row Necklace (55L Thursday Purchase)

Earrings: FineSmith Designs – Row Earrings (55L Thursday Purchase)

Fingernails: FineSmith Designs – Snowflake Nails

Skin: PINKINNIK – Yoki (Happy New Gift on Lucky Board)

Bodysuit: Nicky Ree – Dragon Princess Body Suit (black)

Eyelashes: Miamai – No.6 No Alpha Lashes

Eyes: InSight – Dark Brown Eyes

Hairbase: Amacci – Hairbase Tattoo (Dark Brown)

Hair Atachment: Miamai – Xeena Tail (black)

Poses: Body Talking

Photographer and Model: Xenobia Foxclaw

I’ve spent two days looking and buying at the UNICEF Project September 4-19 fundraiser organized and sponsored by Truth Hawks of TRUTH Hair. All of the funds raised by the UNICEF Project will go toward the UNICEF’s efforts in Pakistan. (You can read the vendors to find out what percentage of money from that item will go to the project.) I wish my pockets were deep enough to buy everything. It’s not that I need anything, but I really like supporting the efforts of the amazing and unfailing generosity of SL designers. I’m just going to share a couple of things I bought.

I don’t have a lot of long hair, but I couldn’t resist TRUTH’s contribution (besides the sim on which the project is being held). For a mere 500L, you get a fat pack of hair (A) upper hair, (b) upper hair with shells, (c) A+ lower hair, (d) B + lower hair, (e) all-in-one, and (f) all-in-one with shells. This color is almond, my personal favorite, but you get all of these pieces in 52 colors! Now that’s one heck of a deal.

My eyes also came from the UNICEF Project. They were in a set of 6 eyes that had nice natural colors. I love eyes, so I just had to have them. I chose the nice green Inwoods version to wear with my new hair. They look great.

The shirt also came from the project. (Okay, it took me a few minutes to get that it was a pun and not a shirt about vegetables, but I bet I’m not the only one.) When I purchased the shirt, SL was being contrary, and I only got a folder with a notecard. However, I copied my transaction history and put an explanation and the transaction information in a notecard and sent it to the designer. Within a short period of time, I had the shirt, so I have no complaints and a great looking t-shirt.

Finally, I’m standing in my new skybox. You only see a smidgen of it in the photo, but it’s got great graphics on the walls and I suspect you’ll be seeing lots more photos of me in that skybox.

So, if you haven’t been to the UNICEF Project, it only lasts until September 19, and  there is no time like the present. Pop on over and buy, buy, buy. Expect to spend a good two hours shopping. Here’s a taxi for your transportation needs.

Style Sheet

Hair: TRUTH – Aloha (almond) from the UNICEF Project

Eyes: Avantgarda Creations (Inwoods from pack 2) from the UNICEF Project

Skybox: Modest House – Monochrome Skybox from the UNICEF Project

Skin: CUPCAKES – Seduction v.2 (Copper/Glitter)

Jeans: Style Starts Here – Burned Jeans (black)

Pose: *ELISA* casual6

Model and Photographer: Xenobia Foxclaw

There are two very frustrating things about the annual Hair Fair: (1) crowds and (2) lag. The large crowds make it very difficult to get into the fair the first week. If you are patient, you can usually get in fairly easily the second week, but none of us really wants to wait–we want to get in as soon as it opens. (Be honest now–don’t you want to get in there as quickly as you possibly can to buy new hair?)

Once you finally manage to get into the sims, you can barely move. Part of it is due to all the prims everyone seems to think they need when looking for hair, many of which have scripts in them. All of that affects the performance of the sim and slows things down so that it seems like you are trying to walk through thick gelatin. Good grief, people, wear the bare minimum and leave your high-prim-scripted-hair at home. If you must have hair and your skin doesn’t have a hairbase, get one of the hairbase tattoos. (Amacci, Miamai, Tiny Bird, and W&Y have tattoo hairbases.) If everyone would do that, it would be easier to get around and you might be able to get one of the demos to rez in less than half an hour.

I recently joined the Hair Fair DEMO Group. It’s a group that is free to join but, of course, requires that you have a group space available. The wonderful benefit of this group is that you get a lot of the demos of hairs that will be available at the fair. That means you can try them on at home where they will rez quickly and go to the Hair Fair to buy them. I love that! All of the photos will feature demos.

I’m going to do a few short blog entries that feature hairs I think I have to have. I’m making my list and checking it twice. (I got that line from Santa himself.) When the Hair Fair opens, I’ll be there–as soon as I can get in. I’ve been saving my Lindens just for this event. Here are the first two on my list.

!Ohmai Salon

!SyDS! Hair

Style Sheet

First Photo Hair

Second Photo Hair

Both Photos Other

I wanted to go to ::69:: (Sixty Nine) to get a new hairdo I had on my buy-someday list, but I couldn’t transport there. “What?” I wondered. “Is it gone?” I dropped Kumii Yoshikawa, the owner/designer, a notecard asking what had happened. Those of you who keep up with these things may have realized that if you joined the group for 300L, you got access to the new items 5 days earlier than the rest of SL. Hmm, I love her hair and I know most such groups get free items that more than make up for the cost of joining the group, so I decided to spend the cash and join. I was, of course, immediately able to get in. I tried on all 12 of the new hairdos. There is something about that woman’s hairstyling ability that is so amazing. I couldn’t afford all 12, and I model so I want hair that doesn’t stick through my body when I change poses, so I bought the 4 short styles. I wanted them in all of the colors, but that was out of my price range, so I settled on the light blonde set from each.

These hairs will be available to the general public on October 15. I’m glad I got mine now, because that sim is going to be swamped on the 15th. You might want to wait a day or two, but not too long. Be the first one in your region to get the new hairdos from Sixty Nine. Oh, and you’ll want some of those long hairs too–they are amazing. I never did get the hair I went after–gosh darn, another trip to Sixty Nine

Blush 30 in Pale Blonde

Blush 50 Blonde

Neguko in Palest Blonde

Sultan 30 in Blonde

• Hairdos: ::69:: Sixty Nine (300L/3-pack)
• Skin: CUPCAKES MAINSTORE–Seduction (Copper/Gift 10) (250L)
• Eyes: InSight–Dark Brown Big Eyes (125L)