Designer: xXAcid_FreeXx Challenge #3: Youโve Got A Friend In Me Model: Emerson Submission Status: Complete
Outfit Title: La Vaquera Pronounced "Lah Vah-Care-duh"
Mexican Vaqueros (vaqueras, for females) became the foundation of what we associate cowboys with today. They have denim jeans, leather hats, and can also be seen with large belt buckles and chaps as they herd livestock.
I loved the idea of Emerson being the type of โvaqueraโ (cowgirl), who wears all those features, but makes it pretty. I put special attention to detail in making the flowers on her hat seem inspired by the land around her, the embroidery feeling elaborate and rich, and the frills feeling feminine but paying homage to the folk dancer's outfits from Mexico.
The background was chosen because it looked like the western mountain towns I've grown up living in. This specific background feels reminiscent of Bisbee Arizona, a beautiful and lush artist's town that is a few miles north of the Mexican border. โ
My process: There was a design I had up all week that I really loved- it was white and blue all over, and had clean lines and felt dynamic yet simple. However, I feared the simple style was โtoo matchyโ, and when I sat down to write about my process, I found myself having to over-explain each design choice Iโd decided for the outfit.
I decided to go back to the drawing board, and I'm so glad I did.
I loved the hats in the Reve Rouille fashion line. I decided on a darker hat with gold and blue details so that I could step away from the light pastels Iโd been using the last few challenges, and I used those details as touchpoints for the rest of my outfit.
The arm pose was one that I found while looking at hat designs. Emerson looked super cool grabbing her hat and looking up at the viewer. Paired with a shadow under the brim, it felt like she was truly taking a photo outside, with the wind blowing behind her.
The shirt is flowy, which is an intentional nod to the folk dresses women wear in Mexico. I found a vest that looked embroidered, so I put that on over it, and decided on an overcoat and blue jeans that toned down the frills and made the whole thing look truly western to me.
Finally, it was time to layer with accessories. I wanted to go big with a buckle, so I chose a buckle that matched Emersonโs hat, and decided on a bola tie that matched the blue of her finer details, like her gloves and jeans. The chaps were white to match the shirt and make it all lighter. I didn't want to drown Emerson in dark colors, so the blues and whites helped compliment her natural features.
Please note, the shadows from Emerson's hat bring out her teeth. I have not added or messed with any items that would change her natural features, and the teeth are ultimately a feature of her natural design. I can provide more proof of this phenomenon upon request.
Fun fact about me: I am a 5th generation Arizona native, which means that my family is deeply rooted in Western heritage. I spent my childhood attending Western themed festivals, and going to rodeos for fun. In fact, the โbola tieโ was said to be invented in Wickenburg Arizona, a claim that has remained uncontested to this day.
Challenge #3: Youโve Got A Friend In Me pirate Status: Complete emotion_ghost Designer: Rosey yum_strawberry Model: Solveig Title: The Balled of Solveig gaia_gaiagoldgaia_diamondgaia_gaiagold โWeโre thieves, in a world that donโt want us no more.โ โ Arthur Morgan gaia_gaiagoldgaia_diamondgaia_gaiagold โOut here on the edge of the world, where the sun bleeds across the sky and the wind carries the ghosts of gun smoke, a figure steps into legend. She ainโt no lawmanโs dream, nor the kind youโll find sittinโ quiet in the pew on Sunday morninโ. Noโฆ this oneโs born of dust, leather, and iron. Rusty hair spills from beneath that hat, catching the last light of day, a flare in the dusk that warns: donโt get too close. That hat of hers, wide-brimmed and shadowing her face, dangerous as the twin revolvers resting easy in her hands. The glint of the golden sun rays on steel, promises trouble. The kind that writes ballads in blood. Her coatโs cut lean, strapped with buckles, each one a marker of a trail survived, a duel won, a life lived on the run. Across her shoulder hangs a satchel, heavy with secrets only the frontier could whisper. Saying she might have maps of lost gold, maybe, or the spoils of a score that left a sheriff cussinโ her name. Them boots of hers strike the ground with the rhythm of thunder, each step steady, certain, unshaken. She donโt walk the runway. She claims it. Every inch of leather, every glint of steel, every ounce of defiance in her gaze - this is the creed of an outlaw made flesh. Someโll call her a sinner, others a savior, but all will remember her as the storm that rode in at sunset, unbound, untamed, and unforgettable. And when the dust finally settles, folks wonโt ask who she was. Theyโll whisper in aweโฆ that they once stood in the presence of a legend.โ ~ ~ ~ ~ Every outlawโs story starts with a spark, and this one begins with mine. There are a few sparks that lit the fire behind this look. The most obvious is my long-standing love for the Red Dead Redemption series. Iโve watched my husband ride through every corner of both games. And when he finally finished the second one, I couldnโt do it. I couldnโt let Arthur die. Maybe thatโs where my story begins - because Iโve always loved a good villain arc. If I were in Arthurโs tale, Iโd be a Dutch. From the start of this challenge, I told yโall: I love making the villains. But Arthur is such a fantastic character. He deserves so much more. But Red Dead wasnโt my only inspiration. Time and again Iโve slipped into the โcowboyโ role across the games we play. In Baldurโs Gate 3, my Elf Bard found the most perfect cowboy hat in a barrel at the very start - and I wore it the time we played through the campaign. In Stardew Valley, a mod expanded the town - and my favorite sweetheart, Sophia, has this perfect little cowboy-themed cutscene. Every time, I make sure my farmer is dressed head-to-toe in her outlaw gear for that moment. And then thereโs real life. One of my oldest friends, some of you may know them as Soros, but to me theyโre Joey. See they have their own cowboy roots. Before my wedding, I learned they had actually worked with horses, rode in rodeos, and even had a saddle sitting casually in their house. That absolutely floored me. Not in a bad way, I actually was super excited to learn more about my best friend. Because the truth is, I wouldnโt be me without my friends. Like the challenge says, โYouโve got a friend in me.โ Every part of Solveigโs look was built on shared moments, late-night messages, and my constant spamming of โPlease tell me if this looks dumb!โ to the people I trust. Whether in a video game or in real life, I always seem to find myself chasing the "cowboy" - the hat, the grit, the myth of the outlaw. I didnโt want this outfit to just be โcowboy themed.โ I wanted her to be an outlaw. The kind of figure whose story ends with the sun dipping low, purple light streaking the sky, and the wind kicking dust around her boots. The background I chose had to feel alive: the grass bent by wind, dirt stirred in her wake, the forced stop at the rocks that makes her whip around - pistols raised at whoever dares chase her. All of them together brought Solveig's scene to life. Her vest? That was intentional. Cowboys wore them, but the chains across hers has that โtry meโ edge. Her belt? Two holsters. Because Solveig wasnโt about to settle for one revolver. When I stumbled across an item that let her dual wield, I scrapped everything else I had planned and rebuilt her look entirely. Now standing there, revolvers ready, cloak billowing against the wind - she wasnโt just in costume. Solveig wasnโt just the outlaw of little my storyโฆ she was the legend.
gaia_gaiagold What Solveig is wearing gaia_gaiagold
This week, I wanted to take Jae in a direction that felt quieter and more grounded. Something real. The idea came from one of my close friends, who grew up ranching. He didnโt go to school because his family needed him on the land, and he continues to help them, even in his adult life. It isn't romantic or cinematic; it's hard work. The kind that leaves you bone-tired. I remember him telling me stories about his cigarette breaks, not to look cool, but because he genuinely needed a second to catch his breath. That image really stuck with me.
Thereโs something really beautiful to me about honoring the real cowboy culture. Not the Hollywood version, but the kind that happens when no oneโs watching. The early mornings, the aching muscles, the tiny moments of pause that mean everything. Jae isnโt playing dress-up here. Sheโs part of the landscape, her face is covered in sweat, but there is still a brightness in her eyes that reflects her endless endeavors and refusal to quit.
Jae is wearing a sheer top tucked into a denim skirt with fringe, dark brown cowboy boots digging into the dirt, and a thick denim jacket that protects her skin from the sun. Thereโs no glitter, no neon this time... just denim on denim, sun-faded and sweat-soaked. But she still looks good, because it's Jae, and of course she does. Even in exhaustion, sheโs owning it.
I think what made this styling feel special is how simple it is. No spectacle, no fantasy. Just a woman doing hard work and letting herself rest for a second. Thatโs the kind of strength and resilience that I wanted Jae to embody this week
(As an aside, I heavily considered using the "sitting" pose for this instead to really show restfulness, but when she sat down, the fringe was really obscured. And the lack of good fringe items here is criminal, lol. I also didn't want to hide her outfit in any way because I love what she's wearing crying)
Designer: John Challenge #3: You've Got A Friend In Me Model: Moxie Title: Moxie Never Misses Status: Completed 9/18 (Slight edit to the background - sorry!)
Two shadowy figures stand back-to-back, silhouetted against a sky filled with hues of orange and yellow. A faint breeze passes between them, as if nature itself were signaling the start. Without a word, they begin to walk in opposite directions, each step widening the distance between them. Then, simultaneously, they halt. Tension thickens in the air. One second... two... three...
In a sudden motion, both reach for the holsters at their hips, spin around, and fire. A crack of gunfire echoes through the desert silence. The dust settles. Moments stretch like hours, until one figure falls to the ground.
The lone survivor, still cloaked in shadow, lifts the brim of her cowboy hat with the barrel of her pistol, revealing a glint of triumph in her eye. She lets out a low chuckle, whispers, โBang,โ and begins her victory walkoff.
โCut!โ the director calls out. โMoxie, that was incredible! I knew you had it in you, but nailing it on the first take!?โ
Blushing modestly, Moxie thanks the crew, then retreats to her trailer, already flipping through the pages of her next scene. The spotlight is hers in the brand new movie Ban of the Desert, and sheโs just getting started!
Absolutely lovedddd this challenge! While Moxie could make for a cute cowgirl, I knew she had to be an epic leather-wearing, gunslinging, vigilante baddie. I wanted to make her look like the character I would instantly select to play as in a videogame, mixed with a hint of Coyote Ugly on the bottom half. I originally wanted to go for more of a brown leather, but as soon as I started looking through some red items, I found the Gallant Leo studded jacket and fell in love. I was instantly reminded of Ban from the anime/manga Seven Deadly Sins, hence the movie name in my entry's description! From there, I knew I wanted to add more studs, which I ended up doing on the waist, chaps, and belt. While Gaia has quite a few cowboy jackets, I really wanted to craft my own as there are so many possible combinations that can look great! I'm obsessed with how it came out as it looks like it's flowing behind Moxie. I also added Wandering Dystopian Hero to emulate sand blowing in the wind in the same direction as her jacket! Lastly, it might take me pointing it out for it to be noticeable, but I wanted the bull skull on the front of the cowboy hat to match something else on the outfit, so I added the Edgy Dead Midnight Corset that comes with a belt that just so happens to also look like a bull! When it comes to fashion, Moxie never misses.
Posted: Sat Sep 20, 2025 8:37 pm
Designer: Sleepy Challenge #3: You've Got A Friend In Me Model: Tara Submission Status: Complete
"Sweetheart Hunter, Tara"
Tara is on the hunt for the famed "Humanoid Typhoon"! That $$60,000,000,000 (sixty billion double dollar) bounty on his spiky head would turn her dust bowl of a town around, buy a new plant, and save so many sick people! But Tara is gonna need all the help she can get, especially when she finds out shes been working with him the entire time!!
Sorry, i'm not gonna sugar coat it, this challenge was difficult for me. Country is a very difficult style for me to make a decent look for, and it took me until the literal last minute to manage this, and thats just me being transparent. I did manage to make Tara look like an adorable Bounty Hunter, and since i've been watching a lot of the 2023 Trigun anime, I thought why not? My original plan was to try and set Tara in the world of "Hunt Showdown", but I couldn;t make anything stick.
Designer: lucifer eats pizza Challenge: You've Got a Friend in Me Model: Tamara Progress: SORRY!! Sept 24th
ยท You Got a Friend in Not Eating Meat ยท
ยท About ยท
For this shoot Tamara has partnered with a meat replacement company that specializes in beef replacement (hence her cow buddy). Cattle is a hugely destructive industry, contributing to huge amounts of green house gases and large clear cutting of important forests (like the Amazon). Cutting out meat in general is helpful for the environment, but cutting specifically beef does a lot for your carbon footprint.
I foolishly went away for 12days thinking that luck would be on my side and I would be back before this was due and I was not. And I also foolishly didn't let anyone know I was gone. Here is my late entry. Apologies for that.
I wanted to go for a look that was pretty simple and cute, I do think Tamara works well for the prompt. I am a sucker for overskirts so the second I put her in shorts I feel the need for an overskirt. This look was actually really fun to do, and although I had to do it in a rush, I think I am happy with the results.
Yippe-ki-yay designers, we have all survived country week! Some lasso'd in great looks with ease while others got bucked off guard by the challenge. ..sorry. I promise to reign in the country jokes. We liked seeing the work and effort put into this week even though it was outside of most designers' wheelhouse. We do want to caution everyone to not only pay attention to your look, but also to the looks of your fellow designers. There were a few items that got used in a couple different looks and we started to get kind of burned out on them. Be sure to get creative and unique with your looks every time and stand out from the pack.
nyphente โ Sunny โข Your look this week stood out from the crowd; a breath of fresh air for the judges, which we could really appreciate. This was a great motif and you did some smart layering to help disguise the carousel pole on the pony. โข There was some weird layering in the torso and some judges had issues with the leg itemโ specifically with the socksโso make sure to watch for little details like that.
xXAcid_FreeXx โ Emerson โข We love this look; it stands out with so many excellent, thoughtful details. The pose was a particular bright spot for the entry this week, as well as a strong description. Love the colors too!! โข While we love the hat tipping aspect of the pose, the other arm could have been down in a more relaxed pose. But that is a small thing.
John โ Moxie โข Your attention to detail is immaculate, and every look you give us, we appreciate more details each time we look at them. You also give excellent descriptions that make sure we don't miss a single one. โข Nothing in the look said movie or film studio, and since that was part of the description story it would have been nice if there was something to convey that in the look itself.
kaekie โ Willow โข We loved the Annie Oakley older country influence, especially among the group of modern country takes. Great colors on Willow too, good composition over all. โข Not sure the stars were needed, and something about the pose is just a little too static.
SoggykittenART โ Olivia โข Rancher Olivia is adorableโher cow buddy might have stole the showโbut she looks classic. The story was clear from the image and only enhanced by the description. โข There were nice details, but some weren't so great. Description was a little too long, and the shadow on the face had the judges split. Some loved it, and some felt like it was in the wrong spot.
J810Princess125 โ Solveig โข You had the judges split on this one, but over all this was a favorite look of the week. It is a classic interpretation of country outlaw and executed so well. โข There were some clipping issues with the hat and the bag strap over the chest that threw us off, but the biggest downside was the description. There were a lot of words there in a pretty solid mass, and the judges just aren't going to read all that.
nenone โ Bobbi โข You had good creativity here with the story and thought behind this look, and it stood out from the others as a result. Good colors chosen and good details over all too. โข The flower in the hair wasn't needed, and don't do those freckles again. The biggest fault of this look though was it just...didn't stand out. We weren't excited, weren't bored, this look really just didn't make us feel anything. And your looks should make an impact.
torimani โ Mathilde โข Mathilde is a sexy badass cowgirl this week and we all live for it. This color story also really suited her well. โข You really need to coordinate with Dame to figure out how to upload your entries better because the pixelation on this one made it really hard for the judges this week, and it did cost you some points. The horse also wasn't enough of a benefit to be worth it.
Eziara โ Delilah โข This is another look that stood out from the crowd, and we liked the over all vibe of the look a lot, and some of the details you worked in. โข The over all look had problems. The hat cut the hair weird, and there are options available that wouldn't have. There were also weird things in the torso with shading and layering that all connects back to the rosary.
Endless Endeavors โ Jae โข This was a simple but effective look, and this was a great color scheme on Jae! The nose was a really good addition, and the sweat was a nice touch too. โข The skirt over pants tucked into the boots was not a good look. The judges were unanimous on not liking that. It was too bulky, and just too...odd. Not realistic when the rest of the look was.
immortaljelly โ Vanity โข This was a fine look. Vanity is going to keep this town in line and there are some nice touches to the look with things like the scar. Filter worked out well here. โข Your past looks have been stronger, this look was just...there. Nothing wrong, but nothing great either. I might suggest you use different brows next weekโgive us a different side of Vanity because they're all starting to feel very similar.
lucifer eats pizza โ Tamara โข You pushed through to submit an entry, and we respect that. It reads country with the classic red detailing and hat, background. It gets the job done. โข Obviously this isn't the look you would have chosen if you had all the time you needed to work on it. While we like the idea of the photoshoot/campaign you gave in the description, that doesn't really translate into the look.
Sleepy Luna Moth โ Tara โข You submitted a look that has country vibes. Judges liked where you were starting to go with the cute pink details. โข It felt like you gave up this week, and it really surprised us. There are always going to be challenges that challenge designers, ones that push everyone out of their wheelhouse, but we won't ever give an impossible challenge. There were so many places to draw inspiration, and even putting in the effort for a proper description could have helped sell the look and could have saved your place in the competition.
Description: For this challenge, I envisioned Vanity as a bomoh. A bomoh is a Malay healer and shaman who practices traditional medicine. In doing so, I gave Vanity a backstory to explain how she ended up in this line of work.
Growing up in a rural village in Peninsular Malaysia, away from adequate healthcare infrastructure, Vanity saw first-hand how her grandma, the village bomoh, was able to provide solace and solutions to those who needed her services, and in that, she saw herself continuing on with that legacy. So she took up the craft and eventually went on to start working as a bomoh in the city.
As times change, the role of the bomoh has evolved to better align with the needs of their clients, and Vanity is no different, walking the line between respecting traditions and embracing modernity. It is worth mentioning that she understands that bomohscannot and should not replace science, so her existence is merely a complement to it - she will never hesitate to recommend her clients to see a medical doctor if they are unwell, as the wellbeing of her clients is of utmost importance afterall. She is just here to provide reassurance and solace for those who believe in her.
In this scene, Vanity is seated and has a pensive look on her face. Incense in hand, she quietly prepares the room for the next ritual. Her client has been troubled with a series of unfortunate events and sought her services to cleanse their 'negative energy' to have a fresh start, so to speak. She works from home, as most if not all sessions with a bomoh are extremely private, which explains her plentiful books and pillows in the background, her shelf with her concoctions, and the sleeping kitty at her feet.
Gaia doesnโt really have many items designed with SE-Asian styles in mind, so I put her outfit together from scratch, taking inspiration from baju kebaya, one of the traditional styles of clothing that Malay women would wear. Specifically, I actually ended up referencing the silhouette of the Javanese variant due to what Gaia has to offer, and dressed her in a patterned floor-length skirt, a white tube top as a base, then a halter-neck top, and lastly layered a cream sheer cardigan that has patterns resembling embroidery. She also has a small tool belt around her waist that has a vial of herbal extract that she will be using in this upcoming ritual. In terms of the colour palette, I paired a sauvignon skirt with the lighter-coloured top, to reflect the serenity, sacredness, and mystical qualities that inherently surrounds this line of work. Her skirt and some elements of the background were a combination of sauvignon, withered, and vampyr. For accents, I chose to use items in the sincere scheme because I liked how the red brightens the entry and how the green leaves softly framed her face and her neck. To make the whole look more cohesive, I paired the headpiece with the sincere halter-neck top that has green straps and a red flower, and I layered the background to provide more greenery along the edges at the bottom of the entry.
Notes: My inspiration for the entry came about because like many Malaysians, I grew up hearing stories of my auntโs cousinโs neighbourโs friend who knows a certain someone who did something for them when they were in trouble. And thinking back to these stories as a skeptic, it gave me the core idea behind this entry - this isn't actually about magic. It's about the fact that a bomoh is significant for some people because to those who believe in them, they can help provide a sense of comfort and solace. And if they are getting the peace they need via such means, then who am I to judge?
To be honest, this was quite the challenge. Bomohs donโt exactly advertise their services on TV, there's also no youtube how-to videos to tell you how one becomes a bomoh. It is also admittedly, a very controversial line of work for many reasons. Additionally, like spiritual related jobs in other cultures, it's a field with its fair share of grifters. So, to reconcile Vanity's choice of wanting to become a bomoh despite these controversies, I chose to focus on her inspiration from her grandma as well as her goal to provide solace. This also meant that I took a lot of creative liberty when it came to making my entry, as due to the discreet nature of this position, there is little to no authentic pictorial evidence of what a session with a bomoh entails (even if there was, it is unlikely that bomoh sessions are universal). In the context of Malaysiaโs cultural landscape, bomohs arenโt just normal shamans - their practices often combine Islamic influence, Malay animistic traditions, as well as local cultural factors (e.g. if they have many Chinese clients, theyโd likely accommodate for certain Chinese customs).
My past 2 entries have been less than satisfactory for various reasons, one of which was that the tough brows I chose inadvertently made Vanity's looks appear samey, even if conceptually the ideas were all different. So with that feedback in mind, this time round I decided to opt for a softer, nurturing profession that would allow me to explore a different type of aesthetic for her, starting from her brows! In terms of her pose, I've always liked putting Vanity "on-the-go", so this week, in contrast to my past entries, I decided to let her sit quietly. This shift towards a different Vanity also guided my color palette. While I've used purples before, like byzantium in my audition, here I chose a cooler, more muted purple to create a mystical and solemn atmosphere that fits her role.
A bomoh's space for consultation and rituals would have to be private and comfortable for the client to open up, and that was my rationale for designing the background this way. I rarely layer background items extensively to build something from scratch so it was fun testing different item combinations to come up with the setting that made sense for this line of work, and this time round I used 6 items for the background which is a new record for myself! (outside of scenics)
I added the sleeping kitty to make the space appear more lived-in. But this is actually rooted in reality - in Islam, cats are said to be "ritually pure". Cats are a common household pet for Malays in particular because in Malaysia, Malays are Muslim by law. It is not unlikely that a bomohโs place would have a few cats lounging around.
*In the limited scope of the entry, I skipped over a lot of nuance so I just wanted to clarify that there's a lot that hasn't been said, including culture-bound syndromes, how trad. med evolves and works with Western med, as well as how my idea of "seeking solace" is only applicable to individuals who are seeking the services for themselves. There are a lot of tragedies of family members who force their kids to go to a bomoh due to lack of awareness on e.g. neurodivergence, etc. After consideration I chose to just talk about the aspect of individuals seeking solace from spiritual means, as this is just an avi-designing contest rofl There's really so much more, e.g. everything I've said here could be applied to Peninsular Malaysia, but East Malaysia has a more prominent presence of indigenous folks + other factors e.g. missionaries eroding local culture, so the way shamanism evolved would have been different there. SEAsia (Malaysia included) is often viewed in a particular lens and I hope that my entry doesn't fall into that problematic angle.
*There are many bomoh-equivalents in other SEA countries! Within Malaysia, there's also the Chinese equivalent e.g. tangki. These ceremonies are a lot more public and often male-dominated, whereas it's more likely that a bomoh would be a woman.
Javanese Kebaya Source: wikipedia article on Kebaya
wikipedia article on Islam and Cats a semi-related video of cats being dressed in Malay traditional clothing... XD
For further reading in case anyone is interested, this is a form of healing ritual from Kelantan. This is a bit more public in nature because it's ultimately a performance. main puteri
โEvery archaeologist knows in his heart why he digs. He digs, in pity and humility, that the dead may live again, that what is past may not be forever lost, that something may be salvaged from the wreck of ages.โ
โ Geoffrey Bibby, The Testimony of the Spade
What's something that both Delilah and I have in common, what do we both dream of? Definitely something adventurous, of discoveries and researching the many secrets that lie hidden from sight. After all, not even a witch like Delilah can conjure up any answers from nothing! Personally I love history โ it's basically a sprawling story about life itself, how it ebbs and changes across time. In the end, we both agreed to portray this week's look to honour the modern archaeologists of the world!
Initially I thought generally to portray a historical museum curator, since I myself am a huge museum-goer. Now that we're working towards the actual archaeology field, I had to figure out one thing: where are we digging? Obviously one thinks immediately of Egypt deserts and pyramids, but I thought what if I did a solarpunk sort of vibe? Think of the people who discovered the ruins of Isanapura, the Angkor Wat temple ruins... I switched the desert landscapes for these ancient ruins. I layered it with some stone grounds and added some ancient stones at the back. Wonder what those symbols mean...
Anyway, Delilah's working under the sun. Better dress for the weather! Even though a modern archaeologist's attire is not what you'd call 'fashionista' material, I tried to keep a bit of subtle pizazz to it. She sports a solarpunk-inspired gadget belt (totally not a magic item) by her short shorts, perfect to help buckle up some extra tools for the job (and so not actually a pocket dimension). I kept her blouse loose and light, straps on her legs, along with her laced boots. Her hat however, OH BOY. I think this is the hardest I've ever tried to satisfy Delilah's hat obsession. I looked through many hats but unfortunately either they don't fit well on her head or it doesn't have those strings I wanted. I ended up choosing this flapped cap, and used a headphones cord as the hat strings! Well, visually it does seem to work.
Delilah adjusts her glasses and smudges her face with dirt in the process. But wait, what has she successfully unearthed with her shovel? Hmm, it's glowing quite strong... something is coming out. Are we about to discover a new species?? I snapped this moment with my camera โ this is about to become a part of history, I noted in my field journal.
unearth her look...
โณ Steamgear Desperado (Overly Complicated Belt) โณ Buried Treasure โณ Faded Racer (dirt on face) โณ Astra: Golden Radiance (still) โณ Evening Chauffeur Kitty (Hat) โณ Get Bara (Headphones) โณ Whisker Me Away Spicily (Shirt) โณ Wyrd Collections (the ancients) โณ Withering Cattus (Glasses) โณ Agri Culture (Arms v1) โณ Spring Old Stone Walk โณ Your Fiery Angel (Bewere cutter) โณ Nomina Hymn of Faith (Legs) โณ Withered Witchy Aesthetic (Powers) โณ Lovely Lonely Land โณ Charred Back2k (Blush) โณ Desert Landscapes (Sandstorm Overlay)
๐ฟhis morning, I whisked my hair up into a tidy bun before opening shop โ itโs become a daily ritual to protect the arrangements. Fallen strands have no place among my cherished customersโ delicate petals. Afterwards, I tucked a few blossoms from this morningโs trimmings into my bun. I received so many compliments โ and noticed a spike in sales! Itโs quickly becoming my favorite way to show off the product.
I took my time watering today, as I always try to do โ itโs still my favorite part of the routine. Each bloom seems to greet me like an old friend, and I try to give them the same care in return.
My little flower boutique is thriving almost as much as the ivy along the windowsill! Iโll need to remember to prune it back tomorrow morning. With any luck, Iโll get several cuttings to propagate for curious customers.
Casually Adoughable Loaf (Bun) Light Curled Up (Wheat) Reve Vert (headband) Agape's Cut Consciously Magical Accessories (Flowers) Silver Eclipse (Crystal Earrings) Zodiac's Eyes On You (Hersey's Heterochromia) Everybody Nose (Skintone B) Briar Rose Petal (true loves kiss) Pale Humaniki (Tone B) Kindred Quixi the Shooting Star (Blush) I Had a Bad Dream! (Blushy Blushy) Across Blush (Light Pink) Yes Miam (Carnation) A Shade A Day (Bubblegum) Demon Side Vert (Bra) Jack's 2021 Homespun Bodice
Calm Sweet Pea (Apron) Portrait of the Sea (Belt) โงDemure & Severedโง (Belt) Peyokon (Watering Sleeves) Green Paawada Dress Kingly Aether Emporium (Legs) Dionaesil (ground sprout version) Prince Antoine (la fleur) Blooms on the Trellis (Flower Belt) Potted Array (Sea Bloom) Shy Gardener (Garden Path) Serenus Virentiis Medica (Arboretum) Sunny Afternoon (Hanging Roof) Adept's Prophecy (Seashore View) Fragrant Lost Unmurin (Fog) Blooms on the Trellis (Veranda) Witch Princess N (Flower Field)
Both comfortable and classy, Oliviaโs look elevates her Bloom Nook into a space where horticulture meets style.
Using subtle layering, I gave her work apron an embroidered appearance, complete with an ornate name plaque โ because every florist deserves a signature touch. And of course, no floral artist is complete without a trusty set of shears.
A soft pair of leggings keep the dirt off her knees, while deceptively comfy lifts add a touch of elegance. Her gloves match the palette and keep her hands soft, even after a long day of pruning and potting.
Her little corner shop is flooded with natural light, making it the perfect place to shop for floral arrangements or garden starters.
Olivia and I both share a love for fragrant, life-giving plants. Before I had my youngest, I spent a full year starting tray after tray of seedlings โ it was one of the best years of my life. I hope to do it again someday. Until then, I know where Iโll be shopping. ๐ธ
Jim: Coming up next, we have a special guest joining us with your weekly weather forecast. Over to you, Moxie.
Moxie: Thanks, Jim. This week, weโre looking at chilly temperatures and scattered heavy rain through the first half of the week. Starting Thursday, a series of severe thunderstorms are expected to roll in and continue through Sunday night. If you take a look at the map, youโll see the areas of the state most likely to be impacted. If you're in one of these zones, itโs best to stay indoors and avoid unnecessary travel. Back to you, Jim!
Jim: Thanks, Moxie. Y'know, despite the gloomy forecast, you look like a ray of sunshine.
Moxie lets out a sigh of relief, knowing she aced her weather report. Despite now being a household name, perfection is still important to her. This side mission was yet another check off of her bucket list!
As someone that loves putting a billion clothing and accessory items on my avatars, it was really nice dialing it down a little for this challenge! For starters, I really wanted to go for a color scheme that I haven't done yet, as I feel versatility is super important. Yellow felt like the perfect color to encapsulate the weather, as it can be indicative of sunny or stormy. While the outfit may look plain, it's actually a combination of quite a few items that started out as a dress! As for the background, whew, I knew that, if I wanted to do a meteorologist, this was going to be the biggest challenge. I can thankfully say I'm proud of how it turned out! I added mood bubbles to indicate an upcoming stormy forecast, as well as Memorable Summer Nights to not only add some sparkle to Moxie's face and hair, but also light indicators on the map behind her that signal affected areas! I also really wanted to take the feedback given to me last week and apply it here, making it more obvious that she's in a studio setting. "It's dangerous to go outside!" are subtitles, and I hope it comes off as obvious that that's what I was going for!
I chose meteorologist because I was truly fascinated by the weather as a child. I live in Northern New Jersey where we experience the best and worst of every season, from snowstorms to tropical storms. The fascination started when I went to visit family in Long Island and it was raining super duper hard. I got out of the car and went to run into the house in an attempt to avoid getting wet, but noticed that all it took was a single step to suddenly be out of the rain. It was the coolest, most confusing concept for my young brain to try to grasp, standing right in the middle of where the rain ended and began. Since then, I admittedly haven't pursued becoming a meteorologist, but to this day I'll still read up on the weather in other parts of the country just for fun. Y'all should give it a try!
Designer: torimani Model: Mathilde Challenge #4: From 9-5 Title: Blinded by Science Status: Complete
โAnd she was blinded by science!โ
I had so many ideas for this challenge, which is a challenge of itself, trying to pick ONE idea! I made completed avis for an art teacher, a coach, a zookeeper, and landed on Mathilde being a scientist. Scientists are so important in todayโs world, which is full of misinformation and ignorance. Scientists are the unspoken heroes that make sure our world is understood in a factual sense. There are many kinds of scientists, from biologists to ecologists, but I wanted to shout out chemists and microbiologists for this one, because they are the ones who understand how the human body works and how chemistry affects our daily lives. Without them, we wouldnโt know anything about DNA sequencing, about atoms and their purpose, about how we can use chemicals for food, building, and so much more.
Iโm not a scientist, and the only science I actually studied faithfully was social science which is what my degree is in lol. However, I have always been interested in it, and research so many science-based articles! So I wanted to do her outfit and look justice. You see the chemical residue on her coat, as she is testing out different chemical reactions. She has her PPA on, as you canโt successfully study anything without goggles or protective glasses, and a lab coat to keep your clothes from combusting or anything crazy! You cannot show much skin, because chemical burns on skin HURTS. So she has on black pants and boots to protect herself. Her hair should be in a ponytail though! But she knows what sheโs doing, we have to trust that itโs not in a ponytail for a valid reason lol.
Think back to when you were in science class in high school, remember having to wear gloves and dissecting Petri dishes? This is her lane! The background seemed pretty straightforward to do, as she is clearly in a laboratory, and she has her papers on the wall and by her side for any findings or research. Her other experiments are also in the background on the wall, in glasses and jars.
Overall this look makes Mathilde look very different than usual, but thatโs because when you are at work, and you have to wear a specific outfit with specific protocol, most people wouldnโt look the same!
Iโm fairly satisfied with this look considering all the ideas I had, even though any of them would have been fine with me personally! Also, I made sure to use Krita for image editing this time, since last time apparently my image resolution wasnโt up to par? Honestly that surprised me because I use the same image editing software (photoshop or procreate) and didnโt feel like I needed to download any others. Maybe I did it slightly differently last time, I canโt remember.
Well thatโs Dr. Mathilde, coming to a peer-reviewed detailed research paper near you!
Description: Iโve always loved the idea that memory can outlast time, that one image can hold onto a moment even after the world has moved on. In this look, Sunny becomes my traveling photographer self, wandering through faraway fields of flowers, chasing colors and light before they disappear. Every frame she takes is not just a picture, but a promise that beauty, once seen, can last forever.
Why This Items: I chose an outfit with neutral tones, paired with a touch of bright red and yellow, to show the balance between calmness and vibrance. The plaid skirt and beret give her that classic travelerโs charm, stylish yet practical. And of course, the small camera in her hands is intentional, because in real life my forever buddy is the Ricoh GR2: light, simple, and perfect for capturing fleeting beauty on the move. The bright, exotic background filled with flowers feels important too, it represents the distant places I dream of exploring, where every corner holds new blooms waiting to be photographed. It makes the scene feel alive and adventurous, as if Sunny and I really traveled somewhere new just to chase these blooms. Sunnyโs colorful touches are there to reflect her lively mood around new place. This is work, but itโs also passion.
About Me: Iโve always had many dreams growing up, I wanted to be a Florist, a Chemist, even a Lecturer at some point. But the one that never left my heart is becoming a Traveling Photographer. Iโve never stopped loving the idea of capturing new places, keeping their beauty alive in pictures even after they fade.
Making this entry feels a little melancholic because my real job is so far from this dream. Iโm a Statistician, working in an office counting GDP, economic growth, and poverty levels. Itโs important work, but itโs also such a different world from the one I long for, where I could be outside chasing light and blooms with my camera. Maybe thatโs why this entry feels even more precious, my reminder that beauty lasts forever, especially when you hold it in a photoheart
Designer: xXAcid_FreeXx Model: Emerson Challenge #4: From 9-5 Status: Complete
Title: The Blacksmith
I am flesh and I am bone Rise up, ting ting, like glitter and gold I've got fire in my soul Rise up, ting ting, like glitter ... and gold. - "Glitter & Gold" by Barns Courtney
This week I combined my love of fantasy with my love of interesting professions, and put Emerson in the forge to become a blacksmith.
I loved the idea of her being in what people think of a "male dominated" profession, but just like when Emerson was a Vaquera, I wanted her to make it "pretty." She has her own apron and goggles, and has earned the nickname "Fire Cat" by the other craftsmen.
The Process: The name "Emerson" makes me think of embers, and Iโd originally wanted something to do with welding. Welding is a family business that I grew up being familiar with. It was during my searching, that I found the Forged One series, that has a forge and hammer. I love fantasy and I love the idea of blacksmiths- If I had to have a job in a fantasy game, this is the job I'd want.
Since I had the primary hammer and background, I wanted to build out her stance. I liked the idea of her wanting to put her individual touch on a role that primarily is dirty work. The underclothes are dark so that they donโt get smudged from the ash. I put a black apron, and the grey and green piece of clothing over her clothes represents the long heavy aprons that fire wielders use, billowing with the movement of Emerson banging her hammer on the sword to create it.
Her face and shoulders are blushed red from the heat. Sheโs sweating. Itโs obviously hot. This is not the place for big heavy clothes. The string from her tanktop is falling down one shoulder. Around her neck is a tightly wound neckerchief that she would use to wipe the sweat away when sheโs done.
I chose to have Emerson wear boots from The Mistress, so she has a wide stance, but she looks strong with it. I also wanted to make sure I wasn't blending too many of the elements together, so you could clearly see what her clothes versus her work gear were.
Her goggles were intentional. Like a person who puts stickers on their laptop, I thought Emerson would want protective gear thatโs cute but practical. She would don them when dousing the sword, to protect her eyes from the smoke.
The leather belt across her chest holds the other necessities she needs for welding, like the little package of sand sheโd use to sprinkle on the hot item to give it color. They are from the workshop's supplies, and therefore a different color from the rest of her supplies.
