I find new-to-me stores all sorts of ways, from FashCon notices, reading about them here on the fashion blogs, or just wandering around a shopping district and discovering their fashionable goodness. But now I have a new way to find out about designers and creators – tips from our blog readership. I got such a tip from regular reader Reverie Boucher who wanted me to check out her favorite store – Black Moon – as she felt it and its designer Vanilla Sola deserved more attention than they receive.
Now I don’t know why, when the store is chock-a-bloc with outfits and accessories that are reasonably priced and affordable, I was drawn to one of the most expensive items..the 1920’s Art Deco fantasy called Grand Opera. Wouldn’t Jospehine Baker have loved this dress? It comes with the works, 2 hats, shoes, a necklace, earrings and bracelets, three glitch options, 4 system skirt options and two pairs of stockings. The prim skirt comes with a resizer script and it worked beautifully. However, for those who find them difficult and annoying (me, usually) she offers a custom fitting option as well. There are several iterations of this outfit – though not all – at my Flickr.
I thought the 1920’s decadence of this outfit called for shooting an appropriately decadent den of iniquity like the opium-eater’s lounge choice, Flashman’s. If only they would take care of the rat problem.
Now I wore Yak & Yeti’s jewelry and enkything’s shoes. I liked the necklace and earrings well enough but SL was misbehaving and ignored my bling off instructions – though she included a notecard with bling control commands in the folder. The shoes were well-made and I would have worn them but for a personal taboo of mine. They are embellished with the crescent and star, the religious symbol of Muslims. Ever since the Dalai Lama made a personal plea several years ago asking non-Buddhist to stop wearing Tibetan prayer beads, I have made a point not to wear religious symbols whose significance and meaning are not authentically my own. I am not suggesting that everyone adopt that guideline, but for me, it’s a personal rule.
So, I wore YAk & Yeti’s lovely jewelry – all of which is free at their marvelous Tibetan store. Sadly, I noticed after I shot this outfit that I had not removed the bindi – a symbol signifying that one belongs to the Hindu faith – making me an accidental hypocrite. I thought I had removed it. If I were really as vigilant as I should be about avoiding such religio-cultural appropriation, I would reshoot the photo. Alas, I think laziness will trump anti-colonialism today.
BLACK Moon
Photography by Cajsa Lilliehook MDR Photo Studio
****STYLE NOTES******
- Eyes: IC-Eyes Soulful Hazel
- Skin: PXL Creations Crys Sunkissed Ice Lips
- Lashes: CyberNetic L3B1
- Mani: bijou turquoise
- Hair: Bishwear Toss Me Around
- Dress: Black Moon Haute Couture Grand Opera Gown
- Shoes: Enkythings Baba Yaga Syntipas
- Jewelry: Yak & Yeti Bollywood Turquoise