Hope Your Holidays were Festive and Light!

Not sure why I'm waiting until the final weekend of my vacation to write something up as I've been off forever lol but eh whatever. I'm rested now and actually have news so I guess that could be part of it too. I was feeling a little housewifey so this picture is from my kitchen. I love the fact that the colors can be changed whenever I want them to be different or to not clash with my outfit for example. It's been a good few weeks. I got to go visit family over the holidays which was great. My niece is adorable and I hadn't seen her in quite some time so that was a blast. Well except the 15 times I had to watch Wall-E but even that had a nice moment cause she basically used me as a chair most of the time and got cranky when I moved. She was exhausting though so I'm not sure if I'm ever gonna want to be more than Auntie Rouge. The trip down was kinda hectic and because of it I realized pretty quickly I wouldn't be able to do a fashion show that Sami was nice enough to invite me to do Sunday after the holiday. We got home super late on Sunday and then stayed up even later but it's been a quiet restful week with more good food and really just good times all around.

I've got my name in for a few other contests. Didn't place in My Precious Princess contest with Agnes Finney which was slightly disappointing because I thought the pictures Maddy took were fantastic but I did add to the portfolio/flikr and that is never a bad thing. And through some weird fluke there were only like 10 contestants in Angel Dessous for January and while I didn't place there either that meant I got an outfit again so yeah free stuff lol. I have entered Mon Amour's covergirl contest which seemed to just consist of submitting a picture but I'll have to check on that. I submitted pictures for the Face of Beningborough and was slightly shocked truth be told that I was selected but uber happy about it. Didn't know we got paid to be there too so perk lol. I'm still waiting to hear about Miss Fashion 2010 as to whether I've been selected as a model or not. If so yippee as it sounds like and interesting contest. If not eh, it's another chance to get my face out there. And there's a Maniera casting tomorrow so yeah for that too.

Anyhoo, I hope all of you really did have a great holiday and that things are as wonderful as you imagine in 2010.

Love ya
Rouge

In case you are wondering what I'm wearing

Hair: Flapper in Chocolate by ETD
Jewelry: '30s Art Deco Set by Dark Mouse
Shoes: Toe Cap heels in Terra Cotta by Maitreya
Skin: Jewel Skin in Ebony by Laqroki
Dress: Goodnight Sweetheart in Burgundy by Vita Bella
Furniture is by Blonde

And the metaverse pauses..

Well not the WHOLE metaverse. The fashion world of SL took a mostly day long pause as the festivities of the annual Miss Virtual World pageant took place. My praises to all the finalists because I'm not sure I mentally could have taken all the crashes, delays and glitches that were present today. Heck I left halfway through because I was feeling another crash almighty approaching. Whomever won the MVW placement contest rocks because I will honestly say I didn't expect the top 10 or 5 to come out the way they did let alone the eventual winner. Call me a skeptic but my brain tends to think having a well known name in the end will likely win out for you. And it might have helped but it most definitely was not the only thing that contributed to the winner taking the crown. For the parts I could see and admittedly that wasn't everything, the results were justified and great all around. Congratulations to Miss Virtual World 2010 Miaa Rebane who was representing Puerto Rico and all the other finalists.

Cha cha changes

So here were are and I should spank my hand again. It's been a few weeks since I've posted but please forgive me. I've been busy with RL work and shopping for Christmas and birthday and anniversary and baby gifts. Yeah there's a lot going on RL for me right now. It's just that time of year and for the people in my life I'm truly grateful. That includes all the nifty folks that I've met in SL too especially as I'm nearing my 2nd rez day which is not too long after my RL birthday. There are too many to properly thank but to the folks that have reinforced my love of fashion and friendships across the grid a special shout out to Maniera, Model's Workshop, Miramar, JCNY and my good friends who keep telling my pictures are cute and they love what I'm wearing and come to the shows to support me. As well as to Skip and Maddy for taking really great pictures of me lately that win or fail work with the strange ideas I've got in the way of styling or daydreaming.

For those of you that actually read and pay attention to the blog rolls on the right side of the page you'll notice a slight shuffle. I readded SL Fashion Critique because well I still read it and it's easy to get to when it's linked on the page and I do believe that someone has been causing unnecessary grief in their name on Agency Report. Whether you believe the recent post from the blogger using Fifth Avenue as a handle or not, it seems to make more sense than the whole disjointed thing did in the first place. I have removed from the blog, and myself from the agency groups, all links to ModelPages International. I apologize to the wonderful women who were chosen to participate in the Miss Refined International Pageant. The former staff/staff of MPI have not a clue where things stand with that or if it will be revived. You all did an amazing amount of work of which you should be proud. We were left in the dark with you so I can't provide any insight as to what has happened with the owner but if I hear anything substantial I'll be sure to at least attempt to post it.

And final updates before I sign off and try to take care of this monster headache. I didn't place in Blacklace's contest or Agnes Finney but I loved both shots so I can't be mad at myself or the photographers. Contests are highly subjective and what works for one person just doesn't pop for another. I've reentered Angel Dessous with the outfit I won and another outfit. Imagine me staring at myself wishing for something different and you'll get that shot. I'll also enter Agnes Finney again and hope for the best. I am debating CCD and HOB even though I have great pieces for both of those already put together. You never know with me ha ha. The plane still isn't ready but it looks like that might lead to pinups in a hanger for me and several other girls. Wouldn't that be cool? All right, I'm out of here.

See ya later
Rouge

Okay wow, bad Rouge

I kept meaning to come back and post but SL and RL have been kicking my butt. Not sure what you don't know so I will try to go over as much as I remember lol. Ok since the last time I posted a few things have happened. The issue of Maniera that I was lucky enough to do the photo shoot with Sami and Mikey has come out and I love the picture. Sent the issue to as many friends as I could lol and encouraged them to go ohhh and ahhh. Not really they all seemed to like it on their own so yeah Atomic, pic was lovely. Which made me wonder again about taking my own photos all the time. Depending on the contest and timing not really a choice with my schedule but I made the choice to look for a few photographers to try to catch new images of me for three contests I wanted to enter and then ultimately a fourth I did enter.

The very nice lingerie shot Skip Staheli did for Angel Dessous garnered me fourth place for their December Angel of the month. Congrats to the winners and as I moved from no place (my first entry lol) to 4th I can't be entirely upset about that. I've entered the Blacklace Model group contest as well with a photo done by Maddy Michalski. Think bombshell on a bomber, which for those that know me know I adore vintage wear and sometimes make things vintage when they aren't really lol, and you will know know what we ended up with. I love the shot and the guys that help run the airfield we were at were beyond helpful rezzing new planes for us to use. They were actually kinda thrilled we were there and have asked Maddy and I to find a shot to put on the side of a plane they are making. So while I would also love to win the Blacklace contest (or at least place) I get to be immortalized on the size of a bomber. Woot bombshell on a bomber. Oh and he's willing to give me a copy of the plane. Isn't that cool?

Maddy also did a shot of me for Phoenix Rising in a lovely purple dress and gave me sort of a somber end of the night Blues club shot. I love it, the tones on it are fantastic. I realize as I'm rambling that I'm not posting the pics but go to my flikr page or wait for the application on the side to change randomly. If you click it you can get to the stream too. Anyway, the contest is being delayed a bit but the picture is being held until they resume. Hopefully it registers for people the same way it did for me but even if it doesn't I love the picture really. I have two sets of shots for Agnes Finney so I can enter this month and next month too. Skip did lovely vintage shots in black and white and splash of color and Maddy did more of a princess feel in a great blue dress and big blue jewels. I know we can't always afford to pay for pictures to be taken but sometimes the ideas we have in our heads can't always be translated to visuals because heck I'm not a Photoshop wizard and don't always have access to the things I need to capture a certain look. It hasn't been an inexpensive endeavor but win or lose I have great new pictures of myself and have developed new relationships with great photographers who totally rock.

The Sensations Shows were great. I saw wonderful designs from some unknown to me before the show designers. Great looks that I was wanting to buy immediately. The lag on Sunday was out of control but Monday I got to wear the favorite of my outfits from my designer, Serina Lacava, and got a very nice shot from Brock Sabra for my trouble. I need to add that to my stream too so you can see it. After all that was done I could see the light at the end of my tunnel so to speak and just had the Fashion Showdown to take care of before I could go on a focus on my hiatus. It was chaotic due to some unforeseen complications and I had to actually miss the show due to scheduling conflicts. From all reports the show went relatively well after massive lag spike at the beginning. The issues that came later are just part of the learning curve that happens when you do shows like this for the first time. I'm sure they can be ironed out if phase two happens in and 6 months I'd be good and rested lol.

Other than that things are going fine. Just waiting on contest outcomes and casting calls and the like even though I will really enjoy the calm down if it happens over the next few weeks. Plus there are a few other contests I need to decide if I want to enter and what I want to do with photos and how I can just keep moving myself forward with this whole modeling thing. Be good everyone. Have a blessed Thanksgiving if you celebrate and just a good day overall even if you don't.

Love ya
Rouge

What is Rouge Wearing Episode 3

I much to my chagrin have been shopping my little, well not so little, butt off. When I saw these skirts on a blog or two I wasn't sure I'd love them on me because of that aforementioned backside. But really the flow so nicely that it's hard not to be totally enamored of them. Very girly and flirty and flattering. I bought the fatpack and I'm glad as I was amazed by the number of shoes I had to go with them. I paired the skirt with a very basic black top from W&B which gave me the casual vibe I was going for without being unflattering to the skirt. Hair from fri.day and shoes from Maitreya. The toe cap fatpack has been working it's way through my wardrobe quickly. I LOVE them. The other packs are equally adorable but these screamed out to my inner vintage diva and I couldn't help myself. For complete credits read below.

Hair: fri.day Jasmine2 in Thoughtful Brown
Skin: laqroki Imani in Ebony
Top: W&B Cole Boatneck Top in Black
Skirt: Zaara Larin Skirt in Ash
Shoes: Maitreya Neyya Toe Cap in Caramel

the skin i'm in phase 2

Hey everyone,

I know you've heard me complain about my face looking weird to me in new skins. But I've never really shown you what I mean. I am a demo queen because I have no idea how much different I'm going to look from the display model when I take them home. Some alterations are minor for me and others just make me cringe when I'm in them in the safety of my home. I rarely pay much attention to freebie skins for this reason but after seeing everyone just rave about the Fionna skin from Free Spirit I did check it out. The group seems great and the other merchandise is cool there too, however, after trying on the skin (featured in the middle) I wasn't sure who I was looking at. The tone is fantastic and the shading on the makeup is quite lovely too but my face had little in common with day to day me. And yes I know I could do some alterations and go from there but I like to see how close I am from the start before I decide to tweak at all. Great skin just not my new skin, and I have been looking for a new skin in the tone I normally wear because well it's just getting a little old. The skin at the bottom is the new LeLutka skin Eclat in dark umber. Now I love the tone again I think it's great and this is much closer to daily me (which is Imani from Laqroki in ebony for those that might be interested) but everything felt a little too big. Fantastic skin just again not one I was ready to convert for.

I went through a few others but didn't take any pictures and as I was prepping to go back on my self imposed skin hiatus I got a new texture from Laqroki. Woot new brown skin came in and I scurried my little touchie right on over to check it out. Again love the tone, it's a little darker, not majorly so though, than the Imani skin and the shading around the nose is a little harder but I didn't look so dramatically different that my head hurt or was I slightly saddened that another skin wouldn't work. The Jewel skin (on the bottom) gives me a few different options for looks (well more than a few it came as a 10-pack) in a tone I love and that didn't make me unrecognizable all of a sudden. I wore it in a shoot last night and can't say that I am at all unhappy with it. Go Laqroki and I do have to mention Mallory was very cordial when I asked when the new ebony skins would be released and promised it would be in a few weeks. And boom Jewel is here. Thanks.

I promise to keep this next part brief. French Vogue is catching some flack because they published images of a very blonde very Danish model in what amounts to Black face. Their defenders are saying the images are not derogatory because they portray Black beauty in a positive light. That might be true if it was actually a Black model but it's not. It's a very White model who in no shape or fashion should have been made up this way. It brings up horrible, painful images to Blacks in the US and those around the planet who have been victimized and told they were somehow inferior because their skin was darker. There are too many fantastic Black models available for this to have even been a thought. It wasn't cutting edge, it wasn't high fashion, it was insensitive at best and downright rude at its worse. I won't republish the images but if you want to see them please click the LINK here.

beginning of the onslaught

Okay I have about 10 posts ready to pop out of my brain but finding time to sit down and write instead of shopping, styling an outfit, doing rehearsal or something has been fleeting in the last few weeks. And really a LOT has happened so I have got to update you on all of that of course. The last time I wrote I was getting ready for graduation and thought I was getting ready for the Halloween shows lol. That would have been silly since Halloween was so far off but hey I was tired. Graduation went mostly smoothly. I had a slight tumble off the stage after I got my shiny cap to go with my loverly diploma. The overall experience with Maniera was great and really it hadn't dawned on me that not all of us would be hired or that any of us would be hired. Most academies aren't making promises to students anymore because they would just end up with dozens of models more than they need. So let's say I was a little surprised to put it mildly when the topic of who was going to be hired came up at all and even more surprised that only a few of us would be brought into the agency. I didn't think it would be me at all so I guess that's why I was stunned literally into a giggle when Sami contacted me a short time later about joining Maniera. I would have done a dance of joy at that precise moment but I was in the middle of another project that I have to update you about. Let me just say that I am thrilled to be apart of the Maniera team and can't thank them enough for training me and seeing something in me that they wanted to work with.

The thing I was in the middle of was a runway show only for once I wasn't the one out front hoping not to crash or fall or screw anything major up. I along with slowly Bury coordinated the Maternal Instincts runway show for MPI. Thankfully I had someone who was willing to dabble in script writing because it would have been horribly dry if I had written it all alone. For my part, I mostly handled the styling of outfits and poses and the rehearsals. Right before the show started I got the energy boost that slid me through the show with a few glitches--one was totally my fault as I had a model walk last and then in a group walk a few moments later--and the normal lag fairy that descends on shows. The girls were great and I appreciate all the hard work they put into selecting poses, styling themselves, coming to rehearsals and just going with the flow. They will always be the bestest to me cause they were my first show behind the scenes so thanks Vich, PureBeauty, sereana, Jacinta, Keeley and Rachel. Thanks to Jason and genie for allowing me to try my hand at that and EXTRA big thanks to slowly for working on the script. It was truly a pleasure working on the show.

I've also taken on a few other roles and I hope to do a good job in all of them. I am one of the new instructors for Miramar and I think from our conversations we'll have a good curriculum in place that will benefit everyone. The next runway show for Praga I'm working on the walk for the models and hope it all goes well. And I am blogging for JSE now and actually ready for the Halloween shows now as they really are approaching. Found the cutest costume a few weeks ago just gotta make sure it fits well.

And in a total different kind of shock, I made the initial cut for the SuperElite Supersearch 2010. The lag at the casting threw me for a total loop but I felt the outfits were styled well. Looking pretty and not walking well don't work together though so I'm not holding my breath to make it to the top 10 for this season and I'm not sure what happens if we're eliminated this round as far as applying in the future. Ahh well. It was nice to be called to the casting. I'll keep working on everything no matter what the results are. I'll try to get pics posted to flikr soon so you can see what I was wearing.

See ya later
Rouge

bad rouge

I keep saying I need to post but then I get distracted or get sick and it just doesn't happen. There have been a few changes going on since the last time I posted. For one thing I have a new official job, two technically. MPI is allowing me to work as one of the the stylists that consults with new hires and I'm on the team to organize new shows but I need to actually sit down and go over that with the rest of the team who have a slate of things in the works. It's been interesting and fun to help the girls I've spoken to work on their looks and try to help them out the same way folks have done with me over my time in the industry. I hope they are getting the most from it and we are building a strong agency as a result.

My TE Kingdom is sponsoring a fashion challenge in a few months and I have agreed to help out with organizing the models and the walk for it. We have had a tremendous response already and may just end up choosing exclusively from that group but I still want to have a formal casting to make sure we have the best selection for the designers. But it's giving me more exposure to the side of runway work that I wanted to gain. And after helping out with the Miss Refined International September casting with MPI I'm getting a better idea of timing issues and the importance of a good cue. Being in shows helps with that too. What's too long to pose, what's too short? Finding poses that complete in that time frame and still give everyone a good look at the clothes. I'll keep hammering that out as I try to get my hands in more and more things.

My graduation show with Maniera is this weekend and there's a Halloween fashion show with JSE this weekend. I'm waiting on my outfits to style for the graduation show but have a ton of outfits that I can wear for the Halloween show so that will rock as long as I'm not dealing with a crazy migraine like today. I am also now on staff with Model's Workshop which is cool. I'm looking forward to working with them and seeing different ideas come to fruition. I'll be leading a workshop or two eventually but want to get my feet set under me first. There is also an opportunity to help out with JSE's blog and Miramar as one of their academy folks. I'll try to get my applications in for those before I log off tonight but that's only if I can get the migraine to stay gone.

I've applied for a few more contests and didn't make the cut for two and haven't heard back on the third but hey taking new photos and trying new things out is super helpful in expanding my looks and my eye for detail. I think that's it for now. If I have time to take pictures once I get the outfits I will, otherwise you'll get them sometime next week.

love ya guys,
rouge

now introducing......

Okay so most of you coming here know me already so there's no need to introduce me but I'm tossing in some photos for ya of the runway shows I did the last weekend in August. Remember how I said I didn't understand how people booked multiple shows in a weekend without crashing and burning? Yeah well i still don't lol I was exhausted by Sunday night and granted the Miramar show was a total fluke in me booking it but that's what that whole networking thing played in. I've mentioned the Model's Workshop in the past. It's a great resource and I think I'll be helping out with it more now but the leader, Monica Balut-creator of the wonderful Balut huds, contacted me about filling a spot that had been vacated all of a sudden with a show three days away. I met with the agency owner and he liked me so boom I got a show on Saturday--except I guess I wasn't paying proper attention it was one routine for two shows a few hours apart. It was great honestly as I like being a part of different kinds of shows and this one was entirely in Spanish. The second show was much more crowded and thus more laggy but all was good. And I even managed to drag my partner to a show so he could see me be all adorable and cute or excuse me serious and sexy and selling my outfits.

The next day it was time for the much anticipated JSE Grand Opening show which was hit with an unusually off SL day in that nearly everything that could go wrong did and the lag got so bad the sim finally said no mas and sent us all back to RL for a bit. We made it back and had the finale and attracted new models to the crew and thoroughly impressed those who hung with us. I don't think I've been in a show that laggy ever so it was most definitely an experience. It was great and I think we did a fantastic job. So here are my outfits for that show. If you want details just visit my flikr page and you'll get all the info about them.














The shows were great and paid which was a double shock but it was also a good example of making sure that we are able to form good relationships with other models so that every now and then we can luck into another job or agency or whatever because making a name for ourselves doesn't just come from our ability to fill out an outfit or take a pretty picture. Thanks again to Monica and to Miguel who let someone he barely knew wear a bunch of pretty outfits for a big show.

Classes are going well at Maniera and I'm looking forward to our graduation show. We're focusing on things that I'm thoroughly enjoying and I think will give me more of an edge when I'm done if it comes from nothing more than confidence. We are each having a makeover refinement session with the CEO which is great because we make our avs to suit our needs but there are minor things that people observing us will see that we don't notice. Had mine and it was fantastic. I can highly recommend the courses there for anyone interested. Okay time for bed.

The World Keeps Spinning

So another week has come and gone and all is right in my SL world. Rehearsal is going well. I have a great partner to do my walks with and have already finished doing all the accessorizing for my outfits. I do need to work on poses and get used to timing each other to move as in sync as possible. Regardless, the show is coming along nicely and I'm enjoying the preparations. I have skipped a few castings as of late but it's mostly because I'm getting ready for my classes with Maniera which would conflict with a few tentative practice schedules not to mention the schedule of the show I'm already in. I should try to juggle them I'm sure but I'd rather be focused right now on one show instead of wearing myself thin and not really enjoying any of it.

I forgot to apply for the last week at JCNY so this will be my first month since I started applying not being involved in it at all. But a good friend made it back in and I can try to go support her depending on when the finale is scheduled for this month. I haven't really entered too many contests as of late. I did have a photo done for the Chanel BOSL contest and I'll try to post that before I end this entry but other than that I entered Miss Bliss Couture ages ago and I'm just waiting to see if I made the cut out of the 300 entries they received. Nothing much else is going on. And I'm a little sleepy so I'm gonna wrap this up. Have a good evening, morning and afternoon lol.

Rouge


Not that anyone would be wondering lol but the outfit in this shot is from Ivalde. It's in the L'abel section of the store upstairs and I bought it at least three months ago. The hat I stumbled across when I went looking for vintage hats. I tried the store that Ivalde mentions on several signs but they weren't the right era for what I was looking for. It's the Lady Emma hat from Hatpins. If you have never been there and are into vintage wear please check them out. I heart them.