This isn’t a subtle dusting of sand. It looks like Gogo has been stranded on a deserted island or crawling through the desert for three days. Compared to Izzie’s previous Beach Sand tattoo add-on, this one has a much finer texture, and I think it’s cuter too.
Each Sandstorm tone comes with four different shades, ranging from a light coating of sand to a much darker, grittier look. The darkest shade is my favorite. If you’re into roleplay or just want your avatar to look like they’ve been through something, this is a fun little add-on. Pair it with some dirt or blood layers and you’ll fit right in. There’s a whole segment of Second Life residents who seem determined to look like they’re permanently in combat.
My outfit today is another free find. Analogic has the Grazy Set (top and skirt) available as a free group gift, and the group is free to join. I’m also wearing the Abby Headband, which is another free gift. I only found this store because I follow TeleportHub on X, where they post freebie updates all the time. Freebies have always been a big part of Second Life, and sites like TeleportHub and FabFree have been covering them for years.
Which is why I still don’t understand why Linden Lab thinks access to freebies is a worthwhile Premium perk. It isn’t. I’m already drowning in freebies. This was my first time visiting Analogic, and I found around 30 free group gifts that I could grab immediately. The store looks like it’s built around full-perm mesh products from a bunch of different creators, so the branding is kind of all over the place, but there’s a lot of stuff. I’m not really a snob about whether something started as full-perm mesh. It was free, and it was cute enough.
There was an attempt to give George, my male alt, a wardrobe refresh because I realized I haven’t shown him on the blog since… probably last year. I logged in with the simple goal of changing his outfit and taking a few photos, but instead I was greeted with an update for the Signature Gianni body. George was happily wearing Gianni v6.1, and the new release is called Gianni X v7.5. I really should have known that the “X” meant “none of your old clothes are going to fit anymore.”
After trying on a few things and realizing that most of his wardrobe barely worked with the new body, I did what any reasonable person would do and switched him right back to Gianni v6.1. I don’t have time to rebuild an entire closet from scratch, so I’ll either wait for brands like Deadwool to add Gianni X sizes or George will just be living his best life on v6.1 forever. A friend suggested that I switch him over to Belleza Jake because it has better clothing support, but I honestly can’t remember why I picked Signature Gianni when I made him last year. I’m sure I had a good reason at the time. Legacy isn’t even a consideration because… reasons.
So instead of writing the blog post I had planned, I spent the evening wandering from store to store trying to figure out male fashion. I even stopped by Man Cave to grab the latest freebies and didn’t see much for Gianni X there either, which left me wondering how men in Second Life deal with all of this. Women’s bodies are already complicated, but I’ve been shopping for them for years and know exactly which creators I like, which bodies they support, and where to find things. Male clothing feels like learning a completely different game, and I am absolutely a noob who has no idea what she’s doing.
The whole experience reminded me of a funny story from last year when I first made George. I was teleporting around men’s stores and IMing well-dressed avatars to ask where they shopped, and one guy replied, “I don’t have time for this,” before brushing me off. At the time I thought it was unfriendly, but after spending an evening trying to dress a male avatar, I completely understand. I’m not even mad because, honestly, I don’t have time for this either.
Today’s photo brought me to another realization that somehow escaped me until now: couple poses don’t seem to fit anybody. Why can’t we edit multiple avatars with the built-in Second Life poser and actually see those adjustments in-world? Every pose edits fixes only my avatar while my alt just had to make do the pose he was in. By the time finished editing the photo, I realized George’s hands were still locked to the hand pose selected on his body HUD instead of the animation I was using. Oops.
If you have any shopping recommendations for male avatars or some secret trick that makes couple photography less of a headache, please share, because I feel like I’m starting from zero and could use all the help I can get.
I stopped by Shop & Hop to pick up some of the latest free gifts. At this point, it’s become a bit of a tradition for me. Every time the event comes around, I’m always curious to see which creators put real thought into their gifts and which ones are simply tossing something out to satisfy the participation requirements. There were quite a few pleasant surprises this round, and if you’re a fan of freebies, it’s definitely worth a visit. As always, FabFree did a fantastic job covering all the gifts, so be sure to check out their SL23B gift guide for a complete look at what’s available.
I didn’t make it to every booth, but after spending way too much time teleporting, touching vendors, unpacking boxes, and trying things on, these were the gifts that stood out to me the most:
• LeRoux – Lois AO • SLC – Bento AO Doubleyou • Softie – Nylah Skirt • Ade – Sunny Hairstyle • Alaskametro – Gemini 2K BOM Makeup Set • MUHO – Deva Shoes • Seeker – Remy Shoes • Cococat – Store Credit • Navy+Copper – Store Credit
As I was making my way through Shop & Hop, I found myself thinking about how many free gifts there are in Second Life these days. It feels like every event has gifts now, whether it’s because they’re collaborating with Linden Lab, celebrating an anniversary, hosting a birthday round, or simply running a promotion. Free gifts have become so common that I don’t really understand why Linden Lab still seems to view them as a major incentive for Premium memberships or resident engagement.
In fact, I sometimes wonder if all these gifts are starting to work against the events themselves. Right after leaving Shop & Hop, I teleported over to ACCESS and discovered their birthday round was packed with gifts as well. I happily collected them, took everything home, unpacked it, tried it on, kept a few items, deleted the rest, and never felt the need to actually shop. The gifts became the entire experience, and I still got that little rush that comes from finding something new without spending a single Linden dollar.
That’s why I’ve never been convinced that giving away more gifts is the answer to attracting new residents or keeping existing ones engaged. Second Life already has an incredible freebie culture, and anyone willing to spend a little time exploring can put together a fantastic avatar without opening their wallet. If Linden Lab wants to attract and retain new users, I think their resources would be better spent making the platform easier to understand, improving the onboarding experience, and connecting newcomers with friendly, knowledgeable residents who can help them navigate the world. New residents don’t need another gift bag nearly as much as they need guidance and a positive first experience.
Maybe that’s what’s been frustrating me lately. From my perspective, Second Life feels a little directionless. So many of Linden Lab’s recent efforts seem focused on giveaways, promotions, and perks for people who are already here, while some of the issues that residents talk about year after year continue to linger. I don’t think most long-term residents are asking for more gifts. We’d probably rather see faster support response times, better covenant enforcement, stronger account security, and leadership that demonstrates a deeper understanding of the people who continue to invest their time and money into this platform.
Of course attracting new residents is important, and every online world needs new people to thrive. At the same time, it’s hard not to notice that some of the residents who have supported Second Life for years are becoming increasingly frustrated. The people who own land, maintain communities, support creators, pay for Premium memberships, and spend thousands of dollars annually are just as important to the health of the platform as the next wave of signups. Sometimes it feels like Linden Lab is working very hard to attract new residents while overlooking the people who have already proven, year after year, that they’re committed to staying.
What makes this change difficult for me to accept is that the core benefits haven’t really changed. The stipend is the same. The land allowance is the same. While there are some additional perks and gifts being added, they’re not benefits that I personally value enough to justify paying more each year.
Whenever a company raises prices, I take a look at my spending and decide what’s still worth keeping. That’s exactly what I’m doing now. Over the years, I’ve accumulated several Premium accounts, mostly to hold extra Linden Homes. After thinking about it, I’ve decided I don’t really need all of them. I’ll be keeping the two accounts that I previously upgraded to Lifetime Premium Plus, but the extra accounts are becoming much harder to justify.
The same goes for land. I’ve acquired quite a bit of mainland recently, and this price increase has me reevaluating how much I actually need versus how much I’ve simply gotten used to having.
One thing about me is that I’m usually willing to spend money on Second Life. I enjoy supporting the platform, and I’ve never been afraid to invest in the things I love. But I also believe it’s important to periodically review our subscriptions and spending habits, especially when prices go up.
If you’re maintaining multiple Premium accounts, now might be a good time to ask yourself whether you’re getting enough value from each one. Do you really need that extra Linden Home? Do you use all of the benefits you’re paying for? Maybe the answer is yes. For me, the answer was no.
At the end of the day, every resident has to decide what makes sense for their own budget. My decision is to scale back a little. Not because I’m leaving Second Life or because I suddenly dislike the platform, but because I don’t think every account I currently pay for is worth the new price.
Sometimes the most effective feedback we can give isn’t posting on the forums or arguing on social media. It’s simply reevaluating our subscriptions and spending accordingly.
Most people know this iconic line from Gone with the Wind, but have they actually sat through all four hours of the movie? If you haven’t, you should at least once. Scarlett O’Hara isn’t exactly likable, but she was a survivor, and that’s probably why she’s remained such a memorable character all these years later.
I recently rewatched Gone with the Wind to get in the mood for photographing my current obsession from this round of The Arcade.
My friends were absolutely gushing over the Monique dress from PurpleMoon, and of course we all wanted the rare Floral version. With the right styling, it looks like something Scarlett herself might have worn while dramatically descending a staircase at Tara. As you all know, I have a weakness for period-inspired fashion, so even though the print does remind me a little bit of a floral sofa, I was willing to overlook that minor detail. The gloves are a lovely touch, and I’m even wearing the matching heels underneath the dress, though you can’t see them in these photos.
I normally don’t pay much attention to gacha these days, but once in a blue moon I’ll keep playing until I get exactly what I want.
Speaking of that famous line, let’s circle back to it for a moment.
The thing amusing me this week is watching some designers encourage other creators to drop support for LaraX, while also suggesting customers should simply switch bodies instead.
This dress is made for LaraX. I bought it because it’s made for LaraX. If it wasn’t, I wouldn’t have.
I’ve never switched mesh bodies just to wear a particular outfit, and I probably never will. If something isn’t made for the body I’m using, I move on. There is so much talent in Second Life that no single brand is irreplaceable.
Until something better comes along, I’ll continue wearing Maitreya LaraX. It does everything I need it to do. It’s funny to me that there are still residents happily wearing system bodies, yet some people act as though using a mesh body that’s still one of the most widely supported on the grid somehow makes you outdated.
I’m not resistant to change. I’m not afraid of trying new things. I’m just not interested in switching to something that doesn’t offer me anything better than what I already have.
I remember when Hair Fair was the event to look forward to every summer in Second Life. These days, with shopping events happening every month, it doesn’t quite have the same sense of anticipation. Back then, by the time Hair Fair rolled around, everyone was absolutely starving for new hairstyles.
You can join the Hair Fair Demo Group (secondlife:///app/group/2e30d166-f3e5-e2de-ff72-b3da2d06ded2/about) and have all the demos delivered to you, but I actually prefer walking the event and visiting each store. I like browsing the booths, collecting demos manually, and discovering the gifts along the way. One thing I also appreciate is being able to see exactly how much each hairstyle is donating. Every participating hair contributes a percentage to the charity, but some creators go even further and donate 50% or even 100% of their sales.
There are a lot of charity events in Second Life throughout the year, and I think it’s wonderful when communities come together to support a good cause. At the same time, I think residents should pay attention to where their donations are going and how transparent an event is about its fundraising. That’s one of the reasons I’ve always appreciated Hair Fair. The event’s relationship with Wigs for Kids is publicly acknowledged by the charity itself, and every year Hair Fair posts the donation receipt and thank-you letter after the event concludes. I like that level of transparency. It allows residents and designers alike to see the impact their generosity is making, and you can feel confident that your shopping is supporting a real-world cause.
Kuni – Manu
Exile – Never the Same
I was excited to see some of my favorite brands participating this year, including Truth, Kuni, and Exile. It was also interesting to see Truth represented solely by hairstyles and accessories created by Litterbug. I noticed fellow Truth Collective creator Wasabi at the event as well. One thing I like about collaborations such as Truth Collective is that the individual creators are acknowledged for their work. There are plenty of brands in Second Life that describe themselves as a team, but you never really know who created what. I like following creators and recognizing their individual styles, even when they’re creating under a larger brand.
I also can’t leave Hair Fair without mentioning the Bandana Booth. I picked up this adorable bandana by Alaskametro, and there are several other prints available as well. Pretty much everything Alaskametro makes is beautifully textured. If you’ve followed my blog for any length of time, you already know I’m a fan.
Alaskametro – “Bling” Bandana for Hair Fair
Another new addition this year is Linden Lab’s contribution to the fundraiser. Residents can purchase three exclusive last names: Style, Strand, and Salon, with proceeds benefiting the charity. If I wasn’t already having an identity crisis with my avatar, I’d probably be changing my last name to Style immediately.
Linden Lab will also be auctioning off Premium Lifetime memberships during the event, with more details coming soon. If you’re someone who gets a lot of value from Premium benefits and plans to stick around Second Life for the long haul, it’s definitely worth keeping an eye on.
I’ve been watching Second Life residents showing off all the features on this new Third Party Viewer based on the Firestorm code, and the main thing I care about is this:
IT FIXES HAIR ALPHA GLITCH.
For a virtual world built entirely around visuals and eye candy, why have we all just been suffering through this for decades? Suddenly out of nowhere, AYAstorm comes along and delivers us from the alpha glitch nightmare. Did nobody else want to fix this? Did Linden Lab just not care? Because this changes EVERYTHING for in-world photography.
I love landscaping, plants, trees, dense nature scenes… and all of that has always been a complete nightmare because of alpha rendering issues. Hair breaking. Layers flickering. Photos ruined. And now? FIXED. OMG.
As much as I still love Aperture Viewer, it hasn’t been updated in forever and it doesn’t have this fix. This alone is enough reason for me to switch immediately.
And beyond that, there are actually a bunch of really cool features if you’re into lighting tweaks, so definitely check it out. Since it’s based off Firestorm, most Second Life residents will already feel familiar with the layout.
Also, if you end up loving this viewer too, please go thank the creator of AYAstorm either in Second Life or over on X/Twitter, because this is one of the most exciting viewer improvements I’ve seen in years.
If you get motion sickness, go to the AYAstorm menu – Motion Blur – and uncheck Enable Motion Blur. Go to SSR – uncheck Enable Screen Space Reflections to remove glitchy water shadow too.
Update: Some of you commented on the quality difference between the viewer and I just wanted to note that I forgot to change the texture resolution to 2048 on AYAstorm (it was shot at 512 by accident). Go to Preferences – Graphics – Texture Rendering – Restrict maximum texture resolution to: change to 2048 pixels.
Every couple of months, Belle Epoque gives out a L$500 store credit. It’s generous, but also smart marketing, because it doesn’t just bring traffic back to the main store, it gets people posting on social media too. I always rush to spend mine the second I get it because I’m paranoid I’ll forget and it’ll expire, assuming it even does.
I picked up the Floria dress from Belle Epoque in Beige. I normally never wear beige or brown tones, but something about this screamed Montana-inspired look to me.
And yes, I used AI to edit the photos. I’m shameless about it now. But the photo didn’t magically appear out of nowhere either. Every item I’m wearing was still created in Second Life.
I normally don’t edit my photos much at all and usually just post raw SL screenshots, but part of me wanted to push back against the anti-AI stance from the vocal minority. You really can’t tell other residents what they can or can’t do in this game, especially when it isn’t against TOS.
I’m still amused watching Second Life residents argue endlessly about AI while brands quietly use it all over their advertising and profit from it. If people want to lecture residents about using AI, maybe start by asking your favorite brands to stop using it too.
I went to Elope Expo a couple weeks ago and ever since then I couldn’t stop thinking about doing a wedding look in SL. The problem is I didn’t feel like hunting down the perfect chapel backdrop just to take one photo, so I just added one with AI instead. I think enhancing SL photos with AI is fun, and clearly a lot of other residents do too because I see it everywhere on Social Media now. Some people are still loudly against it, but most people really don’t care. They just want to relax, be creative, and have fun. I’d rather someone recycle in real life than make “not using AI” their moral high ground.
Anyway, back to Elope Expo. I’m genuinely impressed by all the beautiful wedding content SL creators come up with. Even though partnering in SL has never really been my thing, I still love the whole wedding aesthetic. AI altered some of these details a little in my photo, but I’m wearing the Aveline Cathedral Veil from Purple Moon with the new Yara hairstyle from Mina, and they go perfectly together. Both are available at Elope Expo.
I also picked up this gorgeous Seraphina Dress from Eternus for only L$90 at the weekend sale. I always need more gowns, and I couldn’t pass up a deal. Now I kind of wish I bought the fatpack too, because this dress is seriously beautiful.
Should you still credit SL items if you used AI to edit the photo and things got altered a little? I think so. You can still judge the items for yourself and recreate the look if you want to. The final image is still like 90% the original styling anyway.
Exile quietly released new textures! I tried on the latest Signe hairstyle and immediately noticed the redesigned HUD too. Obviously my favorites are the Blondes pack and the Fantasy pack. The Choice pack is great too if you’re indecisive and constantly bouncing between hair colors. I couldn’t decide between light pink or light blonde today, so I just wore both.
I always let my hairstyle lead the way when it comes to building an outfit. This whole look started with this playful hair. I wanted a giant bow to finish it off, and the Vale Headband from C’est La Vie ended up being perfect. I’m also wearing colors I normally avoid. Does orange and teal actually work together? I think maybe it does.
My last post about using AI to judge my face caused quite a stir on Facebook. I think Second Life residents on Facebook can be especially rude compared to other social media sites. I don’t know if it’s the demographic, and I don’t necessarily mean age, but something about Facebook makes people react with hostility to absolutely everything.
Moments like that make me appreciate the genuinely nice people I’ve met in Second Life over the years. One of those people is Kavar Cleanslate, the creator of Exile. A lot of you probably don’t know this, but Kavar has been my friend for a very long time and is honestly one of the nicest people ever. We actually live on the same region. Well… technically one day he told me I could rez my house there, and I just never left. It’s been decades now. LOL. I don’t think he knows how to ask me to leave, but honestly, would he even? He’s that nice.
And since this is a a hair-themed post, would you like to win early access to Hair Fair? You have six chances to win. Just follow Hair Fair on social media and like/comment with your SL username for a chance to get in early. I’ll be at Hair Fair before opening, so hopefully I’ll see some of you there!
