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The onset of Summer weather delivers invitations to related events such as: Cruise Ship festivities. I am faced with one such invitation this weekend. As an elegant gothic gentleman, what to do, what to do?

I considered a full Steampunk diving suit, but that really isn’t ship deck worthy. And I rather suspect my friends would anticipate such a choice. Although I did torment the party’s hostess by informing her that I would arrive in a Borat-like swim-thong. There are some dares even I will turn down.  I did take a gander at the couple of Victorian swimsuits for gentlemen available, but even I have my limits insofar as dedication to one my favourite periods in history.

After trawling through the men’s swim suit and shorts section on XStreet, as well as delving into some serious diviniation (via SEARCH), I really could not locate anything that satisfied me. I decided to throw caution to the wind and visit one of my favourite shoppes along with some inventory diving. You must understand that for me to say “I have nothing to wear”, it is a very serious proclamation indeed.

In the end, I do believe I have cobbled together a satisfactory ensemble, one befitting of my personality, preferences, favourite creators, and event.

My signature monocle and powdered wig are a must — even for a cruise ship, beach or any informal gathering.

Schadenfreude’s Noir Webbeater sleeveless shirt by Allegory Malaprop was just the thing for my gothicly inclined persuasion. Realistic fabric and a most excellent web pattern appealed to me immediately.

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Once more Insania Aeon’s ~SA~ Another Poison – blue dagger & syringe grace my thigh. I am, after all, a most unusual apothecary.

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I am pleased that Silent Sparrow’s(bluesky) belladonna:lepidoptera tattoo will finally have a wondrous purpose. I’ve had this tattoo since hyasynth Tiramisu first graced SL with this one, but have not yet had a reason (beyond private showings) to sport them until now.

The ring is a gift from my lovely Lady, and while I do not wear it often, I did feel like doing so here. The creator has long since left SL, but the ring, of course, holds special meaning.

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I had tried a couple pairs of shorts but they… fell short… of my expectations and style. I returned to Schadenfreude and snapped up these Ash Stripe Pants, shortening them for my digitigrade legs. Casual, yet classy. Perfect.

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Little Boy Blue creates some very fine, fun and exotic jewellery. If you’ve never had a chance to enjoy Tomoyuki Batra’s creations, I urge you to do so now. This piece was gifted to me by my Lady, and therefore has special meaning for me — not to mention that this vial of wearable cyanide is especially appealing to my poison-loving sensibilities.

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Yes, I do believe I will enjoy the cruise ship festivities on the ‘morrow. Prepare the iced tea, the apothecary cometh.

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Other Details:

Monocle: GC-Monokel (Dark-Knight clock) by Grazioso Alekseev of Crie Style

Photos taken at Syzygy Pyxis: FREE Photosphere for all to use

Fox avatar

• Avatar – Male White Fox by Mephitis Jezebel of Aventity
• Hair – The Dauphin (Powdered) by Siyu Suen of Illusions

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Name of Ensemble: belladonna:lepidoptera

Creator: hyasynth Tiramisu

Shoppe: Silent Sparrow

Comments:

Today Silent Sparrow released another fabulous tattoo. For the ladies, of course. But during the course of a conversation with Hya, we pondered whether or not my fox self could successfully wear one of the tattoos.

After selecting the bluesky colour, I teleported home, disrobed and investigated my folder.

I have never worn any tattoos in Second Life, nor had I really intended to, so this was definitely a moment of whimsical fancy. But I also try to never say “never.” And if I was about to “get inked”, I might as well do so in style.

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There are decidedly two options for the tattoos — one with and one without an abundance of curly vines. I discovered that despite my appreciation of the full curly vine ink, this option did not seem to suit me as much as “with less”.

There is no doubt that the tattoo is feminine with its lovely flowers and butterflies, but I also feel that given the right male avatar, could work equally as well as on the ladies.

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The playful skull motif lends itself well to the overall design, which is definitely appropriate for an apothecary (at least this apothecary).

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The arms are just fabulous (particularly the blue against my grey fur), and even after donning some clothes, I found myself enjoying the visible blue ink bleeding across my hands.

Perhaps there will be some wondrous masculine tattoos, courtesy of Silent Sparrow, in our future.  I certainly hope so, for I feel this test was definitely successful.

Other Details:

Photos taken in My Photosphere

Fox avatar

• Avatar – Male White Fox by Mephitis Jezebel of Aventity
• Hair – The Dauphin (Powdered) by Siyu Suen of Illusions

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Name of Ensemble: =IZUMIYA=Fashion Set NO.M11

Creator: Izumi Homewood

Shoppe: IZUMIYA

Comments:

I am seldom one to back down from a challenge, and this was the gauntlet thrown down before me by my lovely Lady earlier this week: “I challenge you to use (the pink Hello Kitty) background in a blog picture.” I believe this is an extension of our courtship phase over two years ago when, knowing of my allergy to pink, Lady offered me a view of her shapely ankles if I would be seen in public wearing a pink shirt. I am hoping this photo series nets me more than an ankle viewing this time. /me smiles

So… has this Gentleman Victorian Goth apothecary lost his mind? Not only is he using a PINK HELLO KITTY background, he is attired casually (in ripped jeans no less). Yes… and no. And here is why.

I have a love of many things Japanese and visit Tokyo in RL as frequently as I am able. During my first visitation to the land of the rising sun I realized that Japanese men were perhaps more fashionably attuned than any other country’s male population. I believe they even had more hair products than the Japanese ladies. A stroll through the vibrant districts of Harajuku and Shinjuku brought male fashion plates right to the forefront, although most men took their attire seriously regardless of their locale (except perhaps Akihabara where  Otaku fashion reigns).

Therefore, if I was to meet this challenge set forth by my Lady, I would do so with panache, and choose for my ensemble a fun and casual creation by Japanese designer, Izumi Homewood.

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I attempted to find some suitable accessories, but due to lack of attachment points and not being satisfied with what I unearthed, no accessories this time around. The gloves are from Silent Sparrow and the Oxford shirt (tinted grey to match the ensemble) by Schadenfreude.

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And yes, real men can wear fur. Especially in Tokyo. I quite like the fur trimmed hood of this jacket and the clean look of the scarf, which coils so nicely around my neck.

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Kitty-chan has infiltrated every aspect of Japanese life and living imaginable, from apparel, household goods such as toasters right through to adult industry accessories (and yes, you can buy those in Japan). The Japanese love their cute, and no culture does it with such style and wonder. How do I survive all the Kawaii, you might wonder?

Despite the darker side of fashion and accouterments also being intertwined with “cute” (Vivienne Westwood is the darling of punk and haute fashion in Tokyo, but even she wraps some of her offerings in Kawaii), there are brands and manufacturers that release cute-free product lines.

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Although, that is not to say I do not suffer my moments of “Stop with the Kitty-chan already!”. A night in Shinjuku, especially Kabuki-cho, is a fantastic rejuvinator.

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But I digress. Returning to the ensemble at hand. While not absolutely astounding in terms of quality, the outfit has a style that I can enjoy and that suits my tastes. As far as a casual outfit is concerned, this one from Izumiya may see some mileage on me yet.

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The prim work and texturing is nice. I particularly like the cuffs (there are two different cuff options, in fact). The lining inside the coat is a great detail (“detail” follows hot on the heels of “cute” insofar as Japanese virtues are concerned). The belt hangs well and while the coat tails do not flow as fluidly as I personally prefer, their tension suits the style of coat so no real complaint from me.

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In addition to a selection of inexpensive ensembles, Izumiya specializes in modelling poses (which I have used for this entry), and offers some very Japanese fun accessories.

And so, my Lady, did I rise to the occasion? /me smiles

Other Details:

Shirt: Schadenfreude White Oxford, undershirt by Allegory Malaprop of Schadenfreude
Shoes: Laudanum black by Jackal Ennui of Lassitude & Ennui
Gloves: Aconite Gloves ~silentsparrow~ by hyasynth Tiramisu of silent sparrow
Glasses: primOptic Plume glasses by Nibb Tardis of primOptic eyewear
Socks: (ashes) nemu suit socks ~silentsparrow~ by hyasynth Tiramisu of silent sparrow
Photos taken in My Photo Planetoid (open to the public, please enjoy if you wish)

Human avatar:

• Hair – Elliot (LightBlond) by Six Kennedy of GuRL 6
• Skin – Scorpio Revelation (3A Smooth) by Khai Sinister of The Abyss
• Eyes – Blue Opal by Miriel Enfield of Miriel (sadly, retired)

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Name of Ensemble: Severin Suit

Creator: hyasynth Tiramisu

Shoppe: Silent Sparrow

Comments:

Hya teased me relentlessly during the creation of this suit, and I can see why. It’s definitely now in my top five of all Silent Sparrow Suits to date. The attention to detail in this ensemble is astounding. And I’ve never seen any suit provided with so many options!

Two different sets of cuffs, three different jabot, two different trousers, six different shirt styles, and two different jacket styles. Hya is both mad and genius — meant with the utmost respect.

The luxurious and rich jabot simply ache to be touched. The detail of the jacket in particular is stunning.

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The cuffs are incredibly luxurious. While playing with the options and this ensemble I was searching for appropriate accessories, and really, I came to the conclusion that the real strength of this suit is that it stands alone. Accesories are really not required.

Unfortunately, due to SL glitches, I did not realize that the buckle of the belt did not rez in when I was taking the photos. Believe me when I say there is a gorgeous belt buckle here!

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The coat tail style is completely one of my favourites. The trousers — I’m an absolute sucker for. I think Hya knows my weakness in pinstripes. The two tone styling is both playful and elegant.

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I just can’t get over the trim detail on the coat. Honestly, I’m utterly entranced. I do not think I need to speak of the fabric quality — it should be quite evident.

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This is the silvery jabot and one of the shirts. The versatile second pair of trousers is a very fine addition.

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Contemplating acquiring two more sets (the blue and black). Actually… contemplation not required, they will be aquired.

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The other jabot! I must say, this style is fabulous and surpasses all other jabot I own.

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Pure elegance and absolute beauty to behold and wear.

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And so very real.

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While this suit will spoil you for almost anything else, it’s worth owning at least one!

Other Details:

Shoes: “L&E” Laudanum men’s shoes – black by Jackal Ennui of Lassitude & Ennui
Gloves: FallnKingOfHeartsSuitGlovesBlack by Azriel Demain of Falln
Socks: voltaire socks ~silentsparrow~ by hyasynth Tiramisu of Silent Sparrow

Photos taken in My Photosphere

Human avatar

• Hair – Elliot (LightBlond) by Six Kennedy of GuRL 6
• Skin – Scorpio Revelation (3A Smooth) by The Abyss
• Eyes – Blue Opal by Miriel Enfield of Miriel

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Name of Ensemble: Aesthete Waistcoat

Creator: hyasynth Tiramisu

Shoppe: Silent Sparrow

Variations Within Ensemble: Buttons in copper, jet and silver

Comments:

I have just returned from an expedition to Tokyo, Japan, and to my surprise, returned to a lovely gift of waistcoats from my Lady, Pipsqueak Fiddlesticks. I do have quite a number of waistcoats in my collection, but am always eager for more.

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To my delight, I was gifted with a fatpack! Colours galore (rose, sea, soot, verdant, and violet) with so many options. Each wondrous waistcoat comes with three different button variations (copper, silver and jet), which is absolutely perfect. Being an accessory fiend, it is crucial to have this variety.

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Also accompanying the waistcoat are two additional pieces per colour of waistcoat — a cravat and collar set, and lapels.

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The prim lapels crest perfectly along the waistcoat, for a very natural fit. The cravat’s collar, a splendid shape, is host to a coordinated gem, nestled at the throat.

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The cravat & collar as well as the lapels are copy and modify for any changes you might require to fit your avatar.

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The natural tug of fabric along the buttons of the front of the waistcoat lend to a very realistic appearance, as do the subtle folds of the exquisite fabric. Jazz the waistcoat up or dress it down. It is up to you as to how you wish to complement these very necessary pieces of your wardrobe.

Other Details:

Trousers: ash dominion suit’s pants by hyasynth Tiramisu of Silent Sparrow
Shoes: Toltec Black by Eponymous Trenchmouth of Jeepers Creepers
Socks: Toltec Black’s socks by Eponymous Trenchmouth of Jeepers Creepers

Human avatar
Undershirt: Dark poet undershirt by Darwin Mizser of AVID
Gloves: Fur gloves by Darwin Mizser of AVID
Shirt: ash dominion suit’s shirt by hyasynth Tiramisu of Silent Sparrow
Shirt cuffs: Falln King of Hearts Suit Red’s black cuffs by Azriel Demain of Falln
Cane: Falln King of Hearts Suit Red’s Cane by Azriel Demain of Falln

Fox avatar
Undershirt: Falln King of Hearts Suit Aqua’s white shirt by Azriel Demain of Falln
Gloves: Falln King of Hearts Suit Aqua’s white gloves by Azriel Demain of Falln
Shirt cuffs: Falln King of Hearts Suit Aqua’s white cuffs by Azriel Demain of Falln
Cane: Falln King of Hearts Suit Aqua’s Cane by Azriel Demain of Falln

Photos taken in My Photosphere

Human avatar

• Hair – Elliot (LightBlond) by Six Kennedy of GuRL 6
• Skin – Scorpio Revelation (3A Smooth) by The Abyss
• Eyes – Blue Opal by Miriel Enfield of Miriel

Fox avatar

• Avatar – Arctic Fox by Cheetah Kitty
• Hair – The Dauphin (Blonde) by Siyu Suen of Illusions

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Name of Ensemble: Valerian

Creator: hyasynth Tiramisu

Shoppe: Silent Sparrow

Number of Pieces: 15 (Varying pieces for men and women)

Variations Within Ensemble: Shirt, Jacket or Shirt & Jacket, men’s and ladies Jabot, Tails and variants.

Comments:

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The last few releases by Silent Sparrow have not been entirely to my personal taste, but the Valerian more than makes up for this. So much so that I purchased three colours (ash, scarlet and fog). I do miss the lighter shade of blue found in Silent Sparrow’s older releases, but am slowly growing accustomed to the new brighter blue and enjoy the new wardrobe versatility (thankfully my fox avatar’s two eye colours allow for options). The crimson and ash are exceptional in colouration.

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There are numerous noteworthy details in this ensemble, from the cuffs to the inner coat tail fabric…

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…and my personal favourite — the jabot.   I needed to adjust the jabot collar, but that is not uncommon for me, and as the pieces are modifiable, such adjustments are easily performed.

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Valerian’s rich fabric and exquisite design are truly exceptional and I foresee that this will become a long lasting favourite in my collection. The back of the jacket provides a continuous, elegant appearance.

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As I almost always wear gloves, I was saddened that no gloves were included in this ensemble. However, digging through my inventory, I unearthed a couple of Silent Sparrow gloves from previous ensembles (chapparal and mille-feuille) that I managed to tint and match accordingly.

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The Valerian is a wondrous piece of art for the body, and I am hopeful to see future suits incorporating similar collar/jabot styling and cuffs, for they truly make this ensemble stand apart.

Other Details:

Shoes – Laudanum black by Jackal Ennui of Lassitude & Ennui
Gloves – (sea) chapparal [tinted] and (blood) mille-feuille by hyasynth Tiramisu of Silent Sparrow
Cane – Stanley’s Silver Cane by Albus Weka of Stanley’s Emporium
Pocket watch – [NE]pocketwatch silver by Rhana Sands of Never Ever`s particular corner

Photos taken in Muse Majestic Homes

Human avatar

• Hair – Elliot (LightBlond) by Six Kennedy of GuRL 6
• Skin – Scorpio Revelation (3A Smooth) by The Abyss
• Eyes – Blue Opal by Miriel Enfield of Miriel

Fox avatar

• Avatar – Arctic Fox by Cheetah Kitty
• Hair – The Dauphin (Blonde) by Siyu Suen of Illusions