Country Chic: Florals

The excitement continues at Ivalde and L`Abel as the word of the special new L`Abel Country Chic Summer Collection splashes on the fashion scene like a beautiful sun shower offering refreshment for the body and soul. Cool comfortable lace, ruffles and florals are the order of the day this summer fashion season. We have already highlighted a some of the lace frosted and hemmed confections of this collection, now let’s have a look at two of the delightful florals.



Seq predictably grabbed the Summer Pantsuit in seagreen floral print and is stunning and at ease in the knee length loose-fitting pants and layered strapless top. The picture hardly does justice to any of the Country Chic Collection you must see the impeccable detail to really appreciate ! Tosy Xue really seems to be on a roll creatively as his nails most often are the manicure of choice, this time Seq is wearing the Magna Mater in platinum from WTG. Ever alert to spot a special exquisitely made jewelry design, Sequoia also discovered a wonderful bracelet called Friendo at The Hive when she was buzzing the grid. Of course she bought the necklace too but will save that for another time 🙂

Model – Sequoia Nightfire
Photographer – KymSara Rayna
Wearing – Summer Pantsuit in SeaGreen- NEW! from L`Abel
Skin – Najeenda Pale from Deesse’s Skins
Hair – Sara Hair – Wheat from CaTwA
Jewelry – Friendo bracelet from The Hive
Nails – Magna Mater platinum by WTG
Shoes – SLink Jolie Pied Achillia Gladiator Silver from SLink
Poses – Glitterati



As you may have already guessed, when it comes to florals Kym would seek the sweetest and loveliest flowing full skirted dress. Savanna features all the summery hues of pink, purple and blue that are certain to capture the attention of the entire garden grid. Cool comfort is a bonus feature of this lovely dress. It moves with the softest summer breezes to reveal the delicate Belgian lace underskirt. This, of course, was the perfect excuse for Kym to run to Hatpins for a new summer hat to match! (as if she really needs an excuse!) Reghan Straaf always has a super selection of vintage inspired hats which work beautifully with actual period dresses or as a special finishing touch to todays most modern ensembles. It was a challenge to decide, but the Lady Zarah seemed a perfect choice for a midnite stroll in the meadow.



Model/Photographer – KymSara Rayna
Wearing – Savanna Dress – NEW! from L`Abel
Hair – Evi by Maitreya
Skin – Emma by Tuli
Hat – Lady Zarah by Hatpins
Poses – Glitterati

Country Chic: Summer Lace

Yesterday was a big day on the Ivalde sim, the first part of the NEW summer Country Chic Collection from L`Abel was released. Neferia Abel has brought an attitude of style that is both flirty, feminine and way cool comfortable. She has brought a contemporary update of a classic look and feel to her L`Abel Summer collection using the coolest summer-weight cotton fabrics to include such wearable, lovable, fashionable, adorable, covetable and most comfortable pieces that i hardly know where to begin 🙂



We were struck at first by a few highlights of this collection right from the outset. Nef has used an absolutely dreamy collection of finely tatted lace fabrics as accent and focal points. This provides a connection to her vintage styles, but with a totally fresh and sassy perspective that is perfect for this season’s fashion trend of Boho Chic. Neferia’s colour palette is perfect to bring out the soft lines of these special pieces! We have been waiting so long for a collection that could offer so much in the way of soft pastels and distinctive bright florals, with a bonus of lace embellishment, to mix and match our to our attitude and style.

The Enna in lavender is so perfectly Kymmie! Soft and crisp in pastel with fine lace accents, you will have the option of a full skirt which could be worn at the waist or babydoll style or the adorable tunic top for a more casual look with the bloomer style pants. Kym was able to, of course, find the perfect hat in the GoS floppy hat with colour change scarf she has turned to the lavender to match.

Sequoia is all in white, wearing the Jessica White Lace in the long skirt version. What wonderfully fine detailed work on the bodice and well along the waistline and hemline of the 100% lightweight cotton dress. This set is full of finely hand tatted lace overlay and fringe from the long skirt version, seen here, to the many other options including baby doll version and lace cuff bloomers version with a both a long and short tunic. Soft cool feminine sass! complete with a bit of “tude”, which was easy for Seq to manage with her additions of the G Field Short Western Boots and Western hat from Hatpins.Tosy Xue has just released the NEW Kaleidescope set from WTG, in various colours and metals, Seq is adorned in the long silver and beaded necklace with a filigree pendant, a perfect length for this summer look. The nails are also from WTG, called Magna Mater.

Style Cards

Model/Photographer – KymSara Rayna
Wearing – Enna from NEW L`Abel 2011 summer Country Chic Collection Part 1
Shoes – GoS Espadrilles
Hat – Gos Floppy hat with Scarf
Skin – Emma by Tuli
Hair – Evi – by Maitreya

Model – Sequoia Nightfire
Wearing – Jessica White Lace Set from NEW L`Abel 2011 summer Country Chic Collection Part 1
Boots – Short Western boots by G Field
Hat – Heather Western Hat – White from Hatpins
Skin – LAQ
Hair – Maryam by CaTwA
Jewelry&Nails – WTG Kaleidescope necklace and earrings & Magna Mater nails

52 Weeks of Color Challenge: White

Luna Jubilee’s 52 Weeks of Color Challenge to come up with something white should be easy right? Well maybe! Definitely needs to have the feel of Spring. My first thought turned upon one of my very favorite hats, the Lady Delia by Reghan Straaf of Hatpins. With all the light spring rains i need something delightful to protect me as i go from the garden to the gazebo and back again.

With the choice of chapeaus resolved there seemed to be more of a challenge than i had first thought. I knew something fresh and spring-like was needed, and not any old thing or a dress that might be mistaken for a wedding dress. Then out of nowhere it hit me! There it was! Jojo Runo’s little lace Hyperkinetic Dress from RunoRuno. Very nicely finished in layers of lovely soft lace it offers the ideal blend of formal sophistication and and demure sexiness (is that an oxymoron?)…Nah no more than natural make-up. Alienbear Gupte’s pearls add some lustre and my new Sydney Stilettos from SLink look slick and voila i was ready to dance between the raindrops!



Model/Photographer – KymSara Rayna
Wearing – Hyperkinetic Dress by RunoRuno
Hair – Xaria by Elikatira
Skin – April by LAQ
Hat – Lady Delia by Hatpins
Shoes – Sydney Stilettos by SLink
Poses – DieselWorks

52 Weeks of Color Challenge : Blue

Neferia Abel is back, and in a 1950’s groove! We are loving it! Luna Jubilee’s 52 Weeks of Color Challenge offered us the perfect opportunity to showcase one of Nef’s newest releases in her collection is the charming little Maggie dress. It’s available in a number of terrific pastels but, since the Colour Challenge this week is blue . . . . and since that happens to be my favorite . . . off we go! When I think fifties I always think of the super period shoes from Evoke, Here we have their Chunk Heel Mary Janes – they not only look good and right for the era but they are sooo comfortable for those long hours on the stand 🙂



…And I just couldn’t resist a bit of departure from era to match up the totally delightful Lady Carrie Hat from Reghan Straaf of Hatpins. It may be a Victorian design but, I really loved the color match and the lace accents, which go so well with the bodice overlay of the Maggie dress. And, it is rather fun to borrow from various eras sometimes! ~kym

Photographer/Model – KymSara Rayna
Wearing – Maggie Dress from Ivalde’s 1950’s Collection
Skin – Julie by LAQ
Hair – Ryleigh by Dameslfly
Hat – Lady Carrie by Hatpins
Jewelry – Adriatic Sea Vintage Beads by Aurora Borealis Jewelry (ABJ)

52 Weeks of Color Challenge : Grey

Luna Jubilee has issued a special opportunity to bloggers to participate in weekly challenge. Luna Jubilee’s 52 Weeks of Color Challenge will have bloggers respond each week with a featured outfit in their own personal blog in the Challenge Color and leave a comment linking back to each weekly challenge. Week #1’s colour is GREY. I thought immediately of Neferia Abel’s elegant Elsine Victorian Gown and one of my favorite hats — the Lady Geneva – from Reghan Straaf of Hatpins. Grey seems most appropriate for the Victorian era and, the designs of both this gown and hat are clear examples that grey need not be drab! Watch for our future responses to the Colour of the week. ~ kym

By The Rockets Red Glare….

KymSara is looking rather patriotic in the “Lady Endora Hat” which is a Fourth of July Special Edition by Hatpins designed by Reghan Straaf. Perfectly colour coordinated are the earrings of Vintage Beads set from ABJ ~ Aurora Borealis Jewelry available in a myriad of colours.

The Erin Wreath

I confess – I do love hats! And I love discovering wonderful hat-makers. Reghan Straaf of Hatpins is one of my very favorites. Her Victorian hats especially, are always amazing. She surprised me recently with this most lovely wreath design. The Erin is one of several wreaths available in a variety of flower and color combinations. How fortuitous that her release just happened to coincide with Neferia Abel’s release of the Annalee sundress from the Ivalde 1970’s collection! ~ Kym

Sugar and Spice

Some fashion looks seem to stand the test of time so well. So it is with the Ginger Gown from Ivalde. Drawing inspiration for the elegant gowns of the thirties, Neferia retained her traditional authenticity while creating a gown which is still stunning in today’s most elegant ballrooms. The rich embroidery work on the bodice contrasts beautifully with the soft folds of the chiffon shoulder pieces and the delicate movement of the expanded skirt flowing from fitted upper skirt. Rehgan Straaf’s delightful Lady Delia hat from Hatpins completes this timeless period look. ~ Kym