Congrats designers on surviving your first challenge! All the judges were impressed by the work this week, and you should all be proud of yourselves. I do want to make sure everyone has seen this amazing guide that ThoughtsofaDame put together, and to keep it in mind for the next challenge. A clear entry vs a fuzzy one can make a big difference in scoring. Also be sure to read the whole challenge. A lot of you missed out on points because you just worked with your birthstone but didn't really get personal with this. Those are easy points to pick up in the description going forward. heart
kaekie — Willow • You nailed every element of this challenge, but especially getting personal and telling us more about you. Representation is so important and one of our judges saw themselves in your culture and story and was so moved by it all. • Something about it came off as a little plain? Maybe something green on the arms or legs would have been the extra something special the look needed.
immortaljelly — Vanity • The judges were in love with this look, and the strongest part? The description. It justified things and brought the look to life more and more with every detail. Also love that you chose a different stone to not only flatter Vanity more, but also stand out from the pack. • The gold is a great element and adds dimension to the top part of the look, and we missed that on the bottom. The black pants just feel very flat compared to the top. Would be nice to have a little differentiation between Vanity and the background as well.
Sleepy Luna Moth — Tara • Tara looks great, you were very smart to adapt within the stone options to suit your model. This was also one of the best descriptions, so kudos on that! • The wings could have been a little bolder, but the biggest weakness for the judges was the equipped list. We all thought the look used more items than it did, and seeing how few were used killed the magic.
J810Princess125 — Solveig • You are among the many March babies this cycle, but we loved that you stood out as an Aries aquamarine baby, and your look really stood out among the others. The color scheme was great. • Your description gave us some insight into you, and we love the influence your necklace had on the look, but tell us more about why you chose items and design decisions you've made in the look.
torimani — Mathilde • This color story is fantastic on Mathilde, and we admire that while this is similar to the audition look it is also distinct. Strong description as well, told us everything we needed to know. • You are a returning designer, so the bar is higher. Some of the judges were underwhelmed with the look. Push yourself. Also while blue eyeshadow was right to avoid, Mathilde's face seems plain.
xXAcid_FreeXx — Emerson • Contra Luz was such a smart choice of inspiration and focus for Emerson, the story in the description really sold the mood and this was just a really strong entry among the crew! • In future descriptions, we want to hear more about your process building the look. And while the background makes sense here, be careful of your looks blending in with the background.
Endless Endeavors — Jae • We loved getting to know you through the description, and also loved that it brought details in the look to like and explained some of the choices you made. • While the description definitely told us about you, please shorten it in the future. A story can be told in an optional spoiler, but when they're this long the judges just don't read them every week.
John — Moxie • Moxie is an ethereal space mermaid, and the judges were living for it. You met the challenge as far as conveying both Pisces and aquamarine at a glance. • You did not meet the challenge on getting personal, tell us why you did and chose things you did. Also the eyeshadow was very heavy compared to how light the rest of the look was.
Arielso — Marilou • We like that you took opal in a different direction, and you definitely made a bold choice with so much white. Love the facts you included about yourself! • The biggest question the judges ended up having is...why is Marilou in a cave while dressed like that? We also loved the idea of streetwear, but wanted to see more of it in the look.
lucifer eats pizza — Tamara • The idea of an underwater look was a very creative way to approach this challenge. Having the floating elements made for a dynamic pose and silhouette. • This was very middle of the road. The sash clips under the crown incorrectly which was very distracting for a lot of judges, and the description also could have told us more about you.
nyphente — Sunny • This was a pretty look with a great concept, very ethereal and there is no doubting that Sunny looks gorgeous. Well done with item layering and creativity as well. • Despite being pretty, it doesn't really meet the challenge. It doesn't read turquoise. And nothing about the look matches the description talking about traveling and wandering.
SoggykittenART — Olivia • Amethyst comes through on your look and it stands out well from the pack because of the color story going on. Good background the compliments without distracting. • Your description gave a lot of vibes without really telling us anything about the look, though we do love hearing you're a leap year baby! Also there was just way too much on the face.
Eziara — Delilah • We love that you chose tanzanite for Delilah, it was a creative choice and really suited her well, made her stand out from others. Love the aesthetic of the look. • The biggest issue came with layering, and that we lost too much of the body. Delilah is a lovely floating head with some shoulders. Skirt blends too much with the background, losing more shape.
Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2025 7:45 am
Designer: John Challenge #2: They See Me Rollin' Model: Moxie Title: Moxie Makes a Friend Status: Complete on 9/4 (Slight update to fix the eye mod - sorry!)
A slightly different version with her bright pink jacket! I realize I can only submit one avatar, but I wanted to share this version as well as I love how the pose came out! I'll say it's one of the many outtakes from Moxie's photoshoot with the chick haha
Zooming down a sunbaked highway in her bright pink convertible, Moxie had one hand on the wheel and the other adjusting her sunglasses, the horizon shimmering ahead. Her playlist pulsed with synth beats as the wind tangled in her hair. Suddenly, a lone chick strutted across the road, utterly indifferent to the glamor that was Moxie. Slamming the brakes, Moxie skidded to a stop. The chick paused mid-road, locked eyes with Moxie, and waited to greet her, as if it knew she'd want a selfie. She got out of the car, posed with the tiny chick, and made sure to get multiple photos before watching it strut off like a runway model. Laughing to herself, Moxie shook her head, muttered, "Iconic," and peeled off again toward her next photoshoot.
With the number of different wheel and vehicle items Gaia has, I had no idea where to start! But the moment I found the background I ended up using, I knew I had to reference the age-old question: 'Why did the chicken cross the road?' In this case, well, the chick just wanted to strut like a model! A random fun fact about me: I've only ever had three pets, one of which was a chicken named Gurgi! Unfortunately I no longer have him (I couldn't bring him on the plane with me crying), but I can confirm he's doing well! For the outfit itself, I wanted to incorporate one of my usual styles that I refer to as Rally Girl, as I feel Moxie can quite literally pull off anything. My Rally Girl style usually consists of belts, buckles, straps, makeup, and some sort of hip accessory. I felt obligated to add two versions of her: one with a jacket, the other without. I low key gagged myself with how natural the posing looks on both! Go ahead, Moxie, give us everything!
𝕴 am filled with such anticipation as this locomotive carries me ever nearer my destination – 𝕮𝖆𝖎𝖗𝖔, 𝕰𝖌𝖞𝖕𝖙! Adventure awaits, for soon I shall be in the good company of my brilliant uncle, an archaeologist by trade, who is deep into an expedition and no doubt brimming with thrilling tales to tell.
𝖄esterday, my two-month voyage across the sea came to an end, and I boarded this most handsome railway. As I gaze through the coal-smeared glass, I am reminded that it is autumn. The leaves back home must already be turning to gold and rust, but here there are no trees shedding their foliage – only warm, clean sand blurring past my window.
𝕬s I write this beneath the flickering oil lamps, nestled comfortably in this richly upholstered carriage, I cannot help but think – there is no finer way to travel. The pyramids, they say, rise from the sands like ghostly sentinels of forgotten kings. I long to see them for myself – not as sketches in a gentleman’s book, but with my own mismatched eyes.
𝖄ours in excitement, 𝓞𝓵𝓲𝓿𝓲𝓪🪶 ════════════════ஜ۩۞۩ஜ═══════════
⋰❉⋱⋰❉⋱⋰❉⋱⋰❉⋱⋰❉⋱⋰❉⋱⋰❉⋱⋰❉⋱⋰❉⋱⋰❉⋱⋰❉⋱⋰❉⋱⋰❉⋱⋰❉⋱⋰❉⋱
Equipped Items:
Briar Rose Petal (true loves kiss) Light Curled Up (Wheat) Zodiac's Eyes On You (Hersey's Heterochromia) Pale Humaniki (Tone B) Kindred Quixi the Shooting Star (Blush) Express Sleepy Season(Blushy Blushy) Everybody Nose (Skintone B) Pastel Enticing Eyeshadow Silver Champagne Party Neck Ribbon Classic Priestess of Aurelian (Chest B) Rosamund's Yearning (Constricting Undergarments)
The View From Abroad Lady Jayne and the Mummy (...To be continued) Aocha Lost Unmurin (Mist) Poison Sucre Patisserie (Corset Dress) Light Witchy Aesthetic (Corset) Serenade for the Withered (Skirt) Adventurous Reikalusi (His Resolution) Beastly, but make it fashion! (Pocket Watch) Purified Beastly Wonder (Earrings) Withered Void Vessel Rustic Overcast Sun Hat
Creator's Notes: 𝕋he very moment this challenge was revealed, I pictured Olivia in the Victorian era, stylishly traveling in the cabin of the hearty steam engine from The View from Abroad. The look came together from there – and where better to be headed than Egypt, land of pyramids and mystery?
For such a voyage, Olivia would need an outfit both practical and elegant: • Her broad-brimmed hat provides shade from the desert sun and protects her golden hair. • Sturdy boots ensure she can walk uneven terrain. • And naturally, she’s brought her luggage – it’s a long journey, after all.
To achieve the layered silhouette of a Victorian travel gown, I began with the Poison Sucre Patisserie Corset Dress as the foundation. It was charming, but needed more structure and visual interest. The Serenade for the Withered Skirt added a proper bustle – offering a pop of color that flatters but doesn't compete with her gemstone eyes, while cleverly concealing an awkward knee gap.
To enhance the skirt further, I layered in the Light Witchy Aesthetic Corset – its delicate ribbons helped tie the lower half together (both literally and thematically) with a touch of feminine drama.
Puff sleeves, lace accents, and a hip-mounted timepiece complete the ensemble – a look fit for a lady of style who never misses her train. ________________________________________ The Look’s Evolution
When I originally designed this outfit, I leaned into a darker palette and focused on layering textures rather than colors. However, I soon realized the deep tones were blending too much with the dark cabin background.
As I reconsidered Olivia's setting – traveling in desert heat – I pivoted toward lighter, cooler tones that would make more visual and thematic sense.
This redesign brought new challenges. I selected a cool white cotton base with beige bows that provide definition without pulling attention away from her face or accessories. I opted for plum wine tones instead of vivid royal purple.
Ultimately, I’m so glad I reworked her gown. The final version truly feels like a Victorian traveler, while the original was giving more gothic steampunk vibes. I'm proud of the growth this redesign reflects and I love it all the more.
Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2025 10:47 am
Designer: Eziara Challenge #2: They See Me Rollin’ Model: Delilah Status: Completed!
🎪 🎪 🎪
This week, Delilah is feeling a little whimsical. She's been reading some passages about the heyday of circus in the 1800s and you know what? She wants to be a part of it too! Delilah transforms her broom into a Penny Farthing in a snap. As she passes through the time portal, she is ready to put on a show in her bicyclist performer costume!
Delilah and I are aligned on one thing: we both love vintage topics! Going through the vehicles that Gaia has to offer, I naturally sided with the penny farthing bike. It's fun, quirky and definitely adventurous (just like my girl). I took a lot of inspiration from Victorian era circus photographs + illustrations for her visual. Not exactly striving for historical accuracy, but I wanted everyone to get that Ringling Bros kind of vibe! I see her using her chosen vehicle as a medium for her trapeze artist performance, with a little help from her light magic. Don't tell anyone that last part though...
Overall, I'm going for a traditional red/blue combination, with hints of purple and gold to match the bike. I started out with her hat, naturally (Delilah and her hat obsession!). She's wearing an accessorized top hat, a crown capped on to show she's the top performer. Next was her leotard! I tried to recreate the outfit from my Victorian references, using some layering of a bodice and a collar. I struggled with her legs; should I keep them bare, or tights? It's important to see how Delilah interacts with her bike, so in the end I chose to have her wearing these leggings, half posing (almost floating) from her vehicle. She wears white gloves, the better to wave to her adoring crowd!
To further sell our circus theme, I had to do quite alot of layering for the background! Buntings, spotlights, stars... It was quite tough to figure out how to keep both Delilah and her penny farthing in the limelight!
Historically, the penny farthing didn't last very long in the public's mind initially. A fad, just another toy for the idle rich. But I'd like to think that Delilah will wow the audience with tricks and magic a (secret) witch could offer. This is a one night only show, so don't you look away...
When Bobbi was younger, her mama shared with her a tried and true piece of wisdom: "When you travel anywhere, anywhere at all, be sure of two things. One, make sure that you travel safely, and two, that you look cute doing it!"
Bobbi took her guidance to heart when she was of age to drive. Though anxiety kept her from learning to drive a car, she found her confidence in a used but well-maintained yellow scooter passed down from an old family friend. Reaching a speed of only 15 mph (on a good day), Bobbi finds the pace manageable and soothing.
On a bright Saturday afternoon, with the air having a faint taste of fall and the salt brine carried on the wind from the oceanside, Bobbi whisks into the farmer's market in the main square of her town. She coasts to a gentle stop beside her favorite garden stand.
With a pink helmet cleverly designed to look like a cap and her trusted pair of goggles now carefully propped up on her forehead so as to not muss her bangs, Bobbi takes a moment to breathe. She hears her mama's wisdom bubble up in her mind. Practical...the helmet, goggles, and backpack securely anchored to her back relieve her of anxiety when riding, reminding her that she has taken what she needs. Cute? Bobbi rests a hand on her cheek, feeling wind-warmed skin. She smiles, looking at the flowers cresting her shoes and feeling pleased with the outfit she picked out that morning.
Soft pink and plaid tunic (shorts underneath, of course, when travelling via scooter), with a smart fitted bodice and sweet green ribbon tied in a bow.
Practical...and cute. That'll do just fine.
What's in her look?
Nartian Rock (star scooter) Aria's Holy Invocation (lips) Donut Split Inquisitive Mona (Hair) Here’s Looking At You Love (Honey) Rabu Rabu Deito (Location) Peony Camomild (Legs) Snip Snip Scissors Bubbly Heavenly Post (Hat) CoverFox (Larkspur) Grassy Sparkle Hunters (Backpack) Blushing Gladiolus (Arms v1) Adept's Legacy (Seashore View) Sunny Afternoon His Reserved Reign (Nose v.1) Skintone C Body Dye ❈ Demure Spring Time ❈ (Bodice) Witch Princess N (Sweater Dress) spwite machine (Blush) Sweet Magical Date (High-waisted Shorts)
Designer notes:
With this week's challenge, I wanted to explore more of who Bobbi is as both a person and model. How she would move from place to place in life, and what that means to her, and how it would look for her. I didn't want to add an "actual" helmet to the look, because I thought it might obscure her lovely hair too much, so I tried to imitate that kind of appearance.
Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2025 11:18 am
Designer: lucifer eats pizza Challenge: They See Me Rollin' Model: Tamara Progress: Complete (Sept 3)
· The Greener Choice ·
· About ·
Tamara is continuing to work with environmental groups, because she loves nature obviously! This look is for a bike company, promoting their new bike line that is made from recycled metals. Tamara didn't have to do anything outside her comfort zone this time as she already bikes most places, especially to the local coffee shop for her morning vanilla latte (made from fair trade beans and in her reusable of course).
I wanted to go with a cute and flirty look to compliment the romance of the setting around the bike. I was going to go with a "s*x sells" concept, but it was coming off too lewd so I went more coquettish instead. I also really wanted to work a bustle skirt in, as I thought that would be cute for a biking outfit (shorts to not flash people, but bustle skirt for some wind swept looks) but a lot/all of the bustles that I liked with the look either completely covered the bike or got rid of the fence in the setting. Overall though, I always love layering belts and hip accessories in Gaia, so I like that I was able to do that here. And I think the way the flowers sit really make them seem incorporated into her hat.
Overall, I enjoyed this challenge and I was able to work it into my theme of Tamara being a green queen. I would love to continue working into this theme, as last season that I participated in I felt some disconnect from my model. This section I feel that Tamara has given me something cohesive to work with.
During the covid lockdown, many people picked up different hobbies and learned new skills. For the first few months, Emerson was not one of those people. Instead, she spent way too much time scrolling TikTok and vegging out on the couch.
But one day she came across “Best Dances for Jam Skating”- A 5 minute compilation of people dancing around on roller skates, moving to the groove of disco. She was hooked.
Emerson ordered her skates, and practice began. Emerson spent countless hours in the park working on her footwork and weaving around cones, until she finally felt confident enough to do a few dance moves. In the park, there were others doing the same thing. They built this community of roller skating and dancing, and it was blissful.
Fast forward to 2023.
Event spaces are open again. The local skating rink is hosting a disco night. Emerson dons her booty shorts and matching jacket, a fit she got specifically for these moments. With her accessories, the final look is giving Amina Mucciolo’s Cloudland meets 80's roller disco fashion. With her skate park friends, Groove is in the Heart and they are in a Boogie Wonderland.
The Process:
For this week’s challenge, I immediately knew I wanted to play around with skating poses.
My influence was the culture of "jam skating"- a combination between break-dancing and roller skating. There are so many videos online of people weaving their legs seamlessly, dancing in place, despite being on wheels, and it’s hard not to watch over and over again. I imagined Emerson also being lowkey obsessed with this and other skate videos.
I looked into skates, and found the “Dancing Lights Roller Skates” line. I decided to use the ■■■■■■ Sherbert Color Scheme, involving ombre and pastel colors that would work really well with Emerson's features.
Since I had the skates and the color scheme, it was time to build the whole fit. I chose short shorts to show off her legs, and a white crop top that would match the socks, but not bury her figure.
Next, I wanted a dynamic arm pose. I got really lucky and found a jacket and gloves that not only matched the whole outfit, it helped show that she’s dancing. I loved the look at this point, but she still looked a little bare for someone dressing for a disco themed skate night.
I found a necklace that reminded me of those light-up necklaces you have at skate rinks, and the headband helped tie everything together.
Finally, for the background, I was able to recreate the vibe of being on a dance floor, with the sparkles and colors shining from different directions, and I made sure there was a crowd in the background to really sell that this is in a public space.
For timeline, this could've been the 70's (highlight of the roller skate disco scene), but Emerson is a modern girl, and so I put her in a modern setting. (I really want to go skating, now!)
Designer: Sleepy Challenge #2: They See Me Rollin' Model: Tara Title: Future Dreams Status: Complete
For this entry, I wanted to tell a story of events that, one day, I hope will happen. My friend Dri and I have hopes that, once our kids are grown, we can travel. The plan is to get a sizeable vehicle, grab our dogs, and just go! So, here is a story, of a dream for the future.
The sun was starting to descend, the sky turning a gentle shade of coral. Dri and Tara had been driving for a while now, having just left a craft show somewhere in northern Washington. The pups were getting restless, wanting to stretch their furry little legs and run around, and Tara and Dri felt the same. Consulting a local travel guide, the girls set up their cozy little camper van in a campground. This time of year there werent a lot of campers around, so they had the open space all to themselves! Winchester, Dri's Aussie, and my sweet baby Whiskey, a Sheltie, were quick to jump from the vehicle and start chasing eachother through the fields. While Dri set up the campfire and grill, Tara grabbed their shared bag of yarn and crochet hooks. That last craftshow was a huge success, and they needed to resupply their little impling dolls and bags. Tara grabbed an apple from a nearby tree, the fruit was bright red, perfectly ripe and ready for snacking! Seeing the scene before her, Tara decided to crochet a granny square instead, capturing the moment and adding it to the ever growing blanket she was making of the adventures she had been on with her best friend. They have been to so many places, made so many memories, and there were many more to come. As the chill set in, replacing the warmth of that beautiful September day, Tara added her newest square to her blanket, gave Whiskey some gentle scritches, and looked to the stars wondering where they would end up next.
This challenge was really fun for me, and my friend and I actually just talked about this future dream of ours the other day! How badly we want to just pack up our things and hit the road, see the states and more while selling our crafts and picking up the occasional odd jobs. I also really love this flower van item, I have 2 colors of this item in my personal inventory and its just so cozy and cute! I kind of imagine it as a really fancy camper van, where there is an awning that you can roll out and a counter style window for setting plants on or eating at like a kitchen bar. Dri has also been teaching me to crochet! She is far more talented than I am, making some cute bags and little dolls, she even made an adorable top! Im still getting the hang of it myself, but it is a very relaxing hobby that I deeply enjoy! Lastly, I wanted to dress Tara in an outfit like what I usually wear around my house, as well as when I go on long road trips: leggings, cozy boots, a tank top and a cardigan or housecoat. I find myself at my most comfortable when I can move freely, and I wanted to capture the overall feeling of "Comfort" in my submission. Colors wise, my friend loves Pink where I prefer Green, so I wanted to show us and our friendship in my color choices.
