THE RETURN of SANTORINI @ CALAS PARK - An iconic tribute to Second Life with its innovative and deep connections to aesthetics, ambiance, charm and romance.

I have been enjoying Second Life for many years now.

Nowhere else but in Second Life can one experience truly enchanting virtual worlds -

and that very concept of enchantment belongs to a magical place called Calas Galadhon.

During my time here in Second Life,  I have seen many notable places 
rise and then disappear into the mist. 

The original Santorini at Calas Galadhon was one such place.

But to my glee, Ty Tenk & Truck Meredith have resurrected this  Second Life gem 

for us to once again experience. It is called "The New Santorini."

Ty and Truck have magically captured the essence  of Santorini’s Cycladic architecture.  

Extraordinary beautiful white painted villages, blue-domed churches 
and paved paths are all lovingly and painstakingly recreated 

here in Second Life for us to appreciate and enjoy.

Like Santorini in RL, the New Santorini in Second Life stands majestically 

on the top of high red-colored volcanic caldera cliffs. 

Exploring the New Santorini, I appreciate the thought and authentic level 

of detail that went into its design - not only its architecture but also in 

the beautiful artwork and the furnishings which completes the visual experiences.

Few islands are mentioned as often in ancient Greek literature and myths as Santorini.

Just about everyone knows about the fabled “Lost City of Atlantis" 
which fell into the sea thousands of years ago. 

It has captivated the minds of many historians and archaeologists alike.

Like any great myth or legend, questions about Atlantis continues: Did it ever exist? 

Where was it located? Who were the inhabitants? 

It is an interesting coincidence that around 1,500 BC, Santorini Island 

(known then as Strongili) also fell victim to an enormous volcanic eruption. 

The eruption was so catastrophic that many consider it to be the 

main cause of the destruction of the great Minoan civilization.

Theories and evidence suggests that Atlantis was real, and it was Minoan.

The Minoans were a seafaring culture with trade and contacts throughout the Aegean -
stretching to the Near East,  Babylonian, and Egypt.

The Minoan civilization was an intellectually, culturally and technologically 
advanced society with electricity and sophisticated plumbing systems. 

Then, suddenly it was all gone - sunken to the bottom 

of the Aegean Sea in a single catastrophic event.

The island of Thera, or modern Santorini, was part of the Minoan 

Empire during the Bronze Age of ancient history. 

That said, it is not beyond the realms of possibility that the 
Island of Thera was once a Minoan part of “Atlantis.” 

In some ancient myths, the volcanic destruction of 

Thera Island is closely associated with the legend of Atlantis.

Not only did Ty and Truck magically reintroduce/resurrect Santorini - they also 

treated us with the superbly conceived undersea archaeological ruins of Thera.

"Santorini" was given its' name by the Venetians during the  Crusades at the time when 

Constantinople fell in the early 13th century. It is named after Saint Irene - 'Santa Irini'

Today, Santorini it is one of the best tourist destinations in the world. Over 

the years, Santorini has also developed as a wedding and honeymoon destinations.

At the New Santorini, Calas Galadhon speaks to the love and the 
beauty of nature's biophilic experiences. 

It also stands as an important iconic tribute to Second Life - with its 
innovative and deep connections to aesthetics, ambiance, charm and romance.

There are very few places in Second Life remaining today that truly have meaningful existence. Calas Galadhon is truly a treasure here for all of us to enjoy, explore and keep.

These wonderful sims require your love and attention by your 

thoughtful and meaningful contributions. 

Please share this love letter blog with others. Thank you!

The NEW SANTORINI @ CALAS GALADHON

Designers: Ty Tenk & Truck Meredith

Visit The New Santorini (Click Here)

Swank Events July '19 Premiers the SAS Hawaii Breeze Blouse & Shorts (HUD) - It possesses exquisite HUD textures, colors and soft-looking fit which is delicate and very feminine.

This SAS Hawaii Breeze Outfit is unarguably among one of the most 

beautiful and cutest Hawaiian blouse and short combinations here in Second Life. 

This fabulous outfit comes with sunglasses and great Color & Print change 
HUDs for both the blouse and shorts - offering a variety 
of wonderful colors and prints to choose from. 

From a historical perspective, Asian immigrants have played a role in Hawaiian 

history and fashion. This SAS Hawaii Breeze style reflects this. 

Long sleeved shirts like this piece were based on Asian garment designs and 

made from pre-printed fabrics from China and Japan. 

This colorful Aloha wear blouse is undoubtedly influenced by this ancestry. 

Men wore a malo, or loin cloth, made of tapa cloth, which was fabricated from 

the inner bark of wauke trees. Tapa material was tough and very durable. 

It was also the Polynesian artist's canvas and people hand-painted 

their tapa creations with beautiful colors and exquisite designs, 

drawing inspiration from the world around them. 

Traditional Hawaiian women wore a skirt called a pa`u, which looked like a 

hula skirt. The patterns of this SAS Hawaii Breeze Blouse reflect 

the indigenous florals designs of the Hawaiian culture. 

Plant life, like the tropical flowers and lush green leaves as expressed in this 

SAS Hawaii Breeze Outfit, are commonly represented in the Hawaiian culture. 

The brilliant, colored patterns on today's Hawaiian clothing have their 

roots based on their ancestral Polynesian tapa prints. 

But it was during the mid-1930s that Hawaiian clothing manufacturers 

blossomed to produce cloth that was uniquely Hawaiian in design. 

Watumull's East India Store paved the way by commissioning artist Elsie Das 

to create fifteen floral designs, leading the way to what 

we now recognize as today’s Hawaiian print. 

Her beautiful hand-painted designs were sent to Japan where they 

were printed by hand onto raw silk and turned into clothing. 

This fashionable Hawaiian outfit by SAS is ideal for your leisure times here in 

Second Life - wear this fun Hawaii Breeze outfit when going to a party, out to 

dance, and of course a luau on the beach. 

Sascha Frangilli made this open, buttoned-down and knotted loose fitting blouse 

with just a glimpse of naughty but with overall decency in mind. 

Its’ Hawaiian tropical design print with flowers and lovely ferns calls me 

back to Maui. Her outfit definitely gives me island vibes! 

It looks and fits incredible! I love the cute buttoned and cuffed shorts 

of this outfit. Its texture and soft-looking fit is delicate and very feminine.

Store: SAS [Sascha's Designs]

Designer: Sascha Frangilli

Product: Hawaii Breeze HUD Blouse & Shorts

Release: July 2019

Available: Swank Event (Click Here)

Swank Events July '19 Showcases DE Boutique's Cannes Mini Dress - Celebrating Youth, Life and Femininity

Keep it classy this Summer in this stunningly beautiful DE Boutique’s Cannes Mini Dress. 

This dress features a slim mini fit with an asymmetrical hem, V shaped plunging 

neckline and halter string tie, knotted bow front detail and open back.   

As a fashionista, I am always inquisitive about fashion’s history, influences and how 

trends evolve. The origins of the mini skirt is one such phenomenon of fashion history. 

Today, we take for granted that our hemlines rise and fall based on the 

quirks and whims of fashion designers. 

However, back in the 1960s, the origins of the mini made political 

statements. In fact, the miniskirt had pretty controversial origins. 

By today’s contemporary standards the original mini’s hemline seems 

quite normal – but at the time, the baring of that much leg was considered 

brash, and was often forbidden by the parents of girls seeking to wear them.

Even countries such as Norway and Greece barred the dress for a short while. 

The Original "Mini" 

Mary Quant is considered the originator of the mini which she supposedly 

named after her compact car, the Austin “Mini” Cooper. 

In a 1995 interview with Vogue magazine she referred to the minis stating that, 

“They celebrated youth and life and tremendous opportunity. They had 

a kind of ‘Look at me’ quality. They said, ‘Life is great.’" 

Mary wanted the mini skirt to show femininity and sensuality rather 

than being considered too risque and tasteless. By design, 

it became a part of the sexual revolution. 

Not only did the birth of the miniskirt coincide with that of the Pill, 

but the added exposed flesh heightened the attention to a woman’s sexuality. 

When the “Laugh In” debuted on TV in 1967, Goldie Hawn inspired girls around the 

U.S. to don mini skirts and mini dresses to copy her signature mod style. 

This boho chic DE Cannes Mini Dress is a must have. The trend setting vibrant floral 

color patterns offered in the included HUD applier fits just about every Summer occasion. 

From brunches, to a girl's night out, to a farmer’s market trip, or even out 

to a simple get together, this Mini Dress collection says it all.

Store: DE Boutique 

Designer: Deborah Vos (missdeborah88) 

Product: Canne Mini Dress 

Release: July 2019
Available: Swank Event (Click Here)

Swank Events July Premiers JUMO Original's DALLAS Gown - This is the Gown that Shot JR with its Drop-Dead Gorgeous Looks

Throughout history, the concepts of comfort and modesty have always been 

relative and subject to the influence of fashion and the specific occasion. 

From a utilitarian standpoint, people need clothing for warmth and comfort.

However, those needs are subject to some sacrifice as fashion 
and/or the natural environment dictates.

When fashion dictated it, women would shorten their skirts to the ankles to simply keep their hems clean. 

During much of the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, women's
dresses were long and their sleeves covered their elbows; trains on
gowns were required by etiquette and current fashion.

As these regency styles evolved and the 19th century progressed, modesty gave 
way to practicality. Trains were worn largely on evening dresses and not so much 

daily attire. Gowns became more fitted, enhancing a woman's natural form.

Today, it is perhaps more empowering for the modern woman to don a 
wardrobe that is at once stylish and more expressive of her natural beauty.

Seventy years ago when Marilyn Monroe was questioned about her posing 
nude she responded, “The body is meant to be seen, not all covered up.” 

Monroe wasn’t the first (or certainly the last) to embrace this expression.

 The fashion world has been at it for centuries, coming up with new exquisite ways
to suggest our bare flesh without actually having us stripping and showing it off.

Today in Second Life, new era fashion trends like this fabulous sleeveless, figure-hugging Dallas Gown are emerging as the next generational artform of full length gowns. 

Representing the beauty of unconventional style, this gown is a mix of flowing

charmeuse satin fabric with beautiful sheer and floral patterning. 

This beautiful Jumo Original Dallas Gown comes with a HUD applier
featuring 25 new floral textures in rich colors with contrasting backgrounds.

Theses textures are classy and eye-catching, yet not overbearing.
The gown’s crisp and hugging body with plunging strapless sweetheart
neckline perfectly complements its open front belt-buckled skirt. 

The unusual dimensions and features of this sexy gown surely exudes an
edgy aesthetic. This Jumo Dallas Gown ensemble, with its avant garde
beaded pendent earrings, celebrates the charm of fashion forward styling.

Store: Jumo Originals 

Designer: June Monteiro 

Product: Dallas Gown

Release: July 2019 
Available: Swank Event (Click Here)

Swank Events July '19 Premiers the GAS Mariella Ruffled Denim Dress - It possesses an unmatched level of style and versatility making this dress quite unique.

Premiering this month at Swank Events July ’19, 

GAS is debuting the Mariella Ruffled Denim Dress.

When you first think of denim fabric, your mind probably thinks jeans.
After all, this fabric has long been associated with jeans, ever since 

the fabric was first introduced more than a century ago. 

Even though jeans today are typically made of denim still, this material has since made 

its way into other garments. This GAS Mariella Ruffled Mini Dress is one great example. 

Every season I find it most interesting that fashion trend reporters constantly 

claim that denim is coming back in trend again. 

Well, the truth of the matter is that denim has never been out of trend -

for this classic American essential fabric has its own history 

and denim-culture following throughout the years. 

Personally, I love denim dresses (and I always will). 

So, if you want to stand out from the crowd and express your Diva 

side, consider this sexy & chic piece. 

With all of the other dresses competing for you attention here in Second Life, 

this GAS Mariella Ruffled Mini Dress possesses an unmatched level of style 

and versatility — and that’s something which makes this dress quite unique. 

This 'edgy' denim mini look, with its underbust peekaboo cutout and ruffled 

seams, will certainly turn a few heads here in Second Life. 

Insofar as colors go, light blue and indigo blue have long been the 

two most popular colors in which denim is made. Light blue offers a 

more casual appearance, while indigo in my opinion is more formal. 

Regardless of your preferred color, GAS offers you a nice variety of colors 

to choose from in the included HUD. 

The rule of thumb is that you can wear light blue for just about any occasion, 

whereas indigo is typically recommended for slightly “dressier” occasions.

What I enjoy about this GAS Mariella denim ruffled dress and its Color HUD Menu 

is how fun it is to experiment with some of these alternative colors 

GAS has included to see what works for your personal style. 

While this sexy new Mariella Ruffled Denim Mini is worthy of raising eyebrows, 

it's far from being a piece too spicy to wear. The GAS design attributes 

of this denim mini are very chic and fashion forward! 

Leave it to GAS to make the denim dress look classier than ever, 

earning high marks today from me.

So what are you waiting for?!  Don't miss out. Get your virtual hands on this 
fierce GAS Mariella Ruffled Denim Dress and strut to your heart’s content.

Store: GAS
Designer: GAS Clothing Company (gascc2013) 

Product: Mariella Ruffled Denim Dress 

Release: July 2019 

Available: Swank Event (Click Here)