Purple Calm

Friends of mine will know that I have often mourned the loss of one of my former pastimes; it's a hobby that I list in every 'interests' field on every social network I've wormed into, and it's shopping.

I still buy new clothes of course, often a few times a week, if I can afford it. My puppeteer is only human. The difference between that and true shopping however, is that I have never just sat in a place and let ideas wash over me. Instead I have gone looking for specific items from my wishlist, or been alerted to a new look in similarly specific fashion. I decided to change that today, being in an explorative mood. My stop was Illusions, in Carnivale.

I'd come to Illusions many moons ago, back when my second life had no income to speak of at all, and the temptations of the shop's carnival masks and harlequin gear were just too far out of reach. I'd drifted apart from Madame Suen's product updates and such too, but on my return today I found a shop that was both warm and familiar. Browsing her wares is such a delight, and the decor is plush enough to have encouraged me to stay long after I'd claimed my masked teddy, witch's hat and a sexy satin blindfold.

While contemplating the Venician carnival masks that Siyu is best known for, I even happened across that most rare delights from shopping - a charming and helpful, well-dressed fellow shopper. Certain stores' clientelle are often very well-turned-out, and I've been known to politely ask folks where they came by certain garments. My newly-acquired hat is tipped to Boozy Forcella, who kindly passed me details of a fabulous dress she was wearing - for a date, no less! That brief encounter is what I realise now as a perfect exchange of beauty. A handsome woman in an appealing dress catches my eye, we share compliments, and I'm set on a path to attain a bit of that for myself.

Hm. I'm beginning to sound like Torley Linden now. Ace.

So, here's to quiet, measured indulgence, and to purple - Illusions' colour of choice, my favourite colour in the world, and that hue which has a most delicious association with vanity.

Links:

• Visit Illusions
• Siyu Suen's blog