UPDATE 2: I’ve changed the windlight archive location, since it seems to be gone from the old location. It’s now here.

UPDATE: I’ve added a script to install the windlight files on Mac OS X to the package below. It’s “install_wl.bash”

Today Strawberry Singh posted a video tutorial about how to enable shadows and use Windlight on her blog for Viewer 2.5. About two years ago I released a simple batch script to automate installing a single windlight setting file by Caliah Lyon. Now in 2011, there are over 75 different Windlight settings in this collection at the bottom of this post!

To use it all you need to do is:

1. Quit Second Life (if necessary)
2. Download and unpack the ZIP archive at the end of this post somewhere on your Windows computer
3. Open a command prompt and go to the directory where the ZIP was unpacked
4. Execute the included install_wl.bat file
5. Restart Second Life – you will find the new settings in the Advanced Sky dialog (as shown above)

Get the archive here. There’s also a README.TXT file in the archive with more information about installation in case you need it.

Saya Littlething has a store called Schön and right now has a special gown called Gebet available in two colors. They’re available for free, but Saya is asking for a free will donation to the Hope4Japan charity (minimum donation is US$10). Now I know that there has been a lot of charity for Japan in Second Life and maybe you’re all charity-ed out. But if you haven’t given anything yet, and you can afford it, the gown and the cause are worth your attention and your money.

You can get your copy of Gebet at Schön J paradise island (205, 79, 30).

Full outfit credits available on flickr.

Do you Rebake? It’s a new weekly fashion newsletter delivered by email, right to your inbox. I’m one of the editors. My partners in crime are Elusyve Jewell and Ryn Starfall. Every week we rotate the “feature” look of the week. This past issue was my week and I chose to build a look around recent releases from Calypso Clip’s brand Nemesis.

We cover a select assortment of sales, contests, fashion events, news items (both fashion and of general interest to Second Life) and between 6-10 recent release items handpicked by the editors. We include both SLURLs and Marketplace URLs (when they’re available) – it’s the ultimate in a convenient way to keep up with fashion news around the grid. So far we’ve published two “official” issues and 4 pre-launch issues (see all of our back issues here.) We publish on Thursday, so you are ready to rock the weekend or impulse buy on the spot if that’s what moves you.

Our next issue comes out this Thursday. You can subscribe on our website. I hope you’ll join us.

Usually I like to focus on one or maybe two creators per post, but there’s so much exciting stuff out there right now I had to bunch five into a single post: Adam ‘n’ Eve, Perse, AddiCt, Nemesis and Maitreya.

From the inside out, we have a beautiful new Adam ‘n’ Eve skin release named Paige – she comes complete with two cleavage options, three different brow options (including redhead), six different mani/pedis, six coordinating lipstick colors, and six different eyeshadows.

Next is the incredible new Maitreya hair, Jordyn. Something I didn’t realize until last night was that the crafty Maitreya team made the hair fatpacks only L$150 more than two color packs. Here I’m wearing the super pale Platinum from the ‘peroxide’ collection.

The top is AddiCt’s new(ish) Summer Boho Tube. This is one of the best pieces of sculptie enhanced clothes on the grid right now. It’s always fun to see what other sculptie shapes Kianna Noel is cooking up in her workspace.

On the bottom is the Jungle high waisted skirt from Nemesis – this skirt color is currently L$60 at the Fashion Garrett, but there are a bunch of other color options at the Nemesis mainstore if you’re not keen on lavender.

Finally, these boots from Perse were recently released into a set of fun spring-y colors (one of which is this more neutral silver-grey). Also available are the more traditional suede colors.

Shop Adam ‘n’ Eve at Genesis (103, 78, 43).
Shop Maitreya at Maitreya (50, 50, 50).
Shop AddiCt at Heartless City (119, 81, 44).
Shop Nemesis Tropical Bliss (124, 212, 22)
Shop The Fashion Garrett at Barcelona Virtual (235, 37, 24).
Shop Perse at Rigby (71, 219, 23).

Tomorrow, April 26, is the last day of the final cycle of the Chic Limited event. The theme is “Cherry Blossoms” and there are some really amazing pieces in the collection. If you’re a fan of pink, this is the Chic event for you!

First, check out this beautifully textured and very pink prefab cottage by Ulaa Coronet of Funky Junk. It’s part of the Chic collection and the perfect venue to showcase the other pieces I picked – Tami skin from Candy Doll (available in 4 skin tones including this “dark” tone I’m wearing).

In the top photo I’m showing off the sur+ dress called hanami (also available in a shorts version). I really like how the halter piece flows into the skirt with its high waistline. In the bottom photo I wanted to show off the Magoa Laura tops, which I matched up with the Purrfect 10 Cherry Blossom Gemini heels. These heels are really gorgeously constructed and it was fast and easy to match my skin tone – simply click the shoe, rez a color match ball using the normal edit interface and click OK. It took all of 15 seconds.

Chic Limited runs through April 26 and then it’s gone (for good? at least for a long while) as organizer Keira Seerose focuses on other upcoming projects and events.

Shop Chic Limited at Tropical Bliss (221, 237, 4080).

Glam Affair’s latest skin release Monica is fantastic in all of its tones, but my preferred look tends toward the darkest tones available in a line. That’s why I was so happy to see that aida Ewing has continued to create a beautiful dark tone which is not too orange or too yellow in its undertones.

Monica is available with two different brow color options (a lighter and a dark option) and 10 different on-the-skin makeup styles. My favorite lipsticks on this skin tend toward the darker ones, rich plums and deep reds but it’s just as much fun to use the “natural” skins and add your own makeup layers. As part of this skin release Monica Outlander of MIAMAI released a set of makeups that coordinate with this skin line.

If you enjoy wearing darker skins, this skin line should be on your demo list.

You can shop for Monica at Glam Affair in world at Beauty Avatar couture (169, 134, 24).

Full outfit credits are available on flickr.

The subtitle to this post is “Why customer service is important.”

I am really loving the way the new Hucci Jalston jumpsuit looks over Ryker Beck’s April VIP gift skin tone, Cafe. I am really hoping that Ryker decides to expand the Cafe tone into a full complete line of skins.

Anyway, I bought the Jalston outfit a few days ago, and before I even unboxed it, I got a replacement outfit and a complementary L$250 gift card from Eboni Khan because she had noticed a small flaw in the original I purchased. I can count on one a single hand the number of times a creator has gone out of her way to proactively provide replacements to her customers. It was really a pleasant surprise! I thanked her in IMs, of course, but I wish that more creators would take customer service as seriously. I am aware, too, of “problem” customers who are special entitled snowflakes, but the vast majority of buyers abide by store policies and are just looking to get their Lindens worth from their purchases.

Shop House of Hucci in world at Luck Inc 2 (68, 208, 22) or on the Marketplace.

CHIC Limited closes today (March 26) but there’s still a window for you to get over and check out some of these amazing creations before they’re gone gone gone. The theme for March is Elements – and it’s pretty cool to see how various creators have interpreted that concept.

Mynerva created a set of 4 skins representing the four elements: Earth, Wind, Fire, Water and added a set of glowy blank prim eyes to really add some extra awesome to an already great design. The intricate filigree design and the painted on jewels are fantastic.

On the left, is NEMESIS Air Top with pearl prims – one of four in the same elemental family, paired up with a beautiful hair design by [Shag] called Siren. The texturing on the hair is really lovely – I’m very impressed with how it looks.

On the right is totally chic pair of quilted pants by PIDIDDLE called NY Underground. They’re so fabulous, you don’t even need to wear a top with them.

I saved two of my favorite items for last – this beautiful dress design by [Kyoot] paired with one of the most innovative pose props I’ve seen in Second Life from aDORKable Poses called “Petals In the Wind” – there are four different props and four different poses, each one providing a realistic sense of kinetics even though they are completely stationary.

If you haven’t been to CHIC Limited yet, don’t wait – head over and check out some of these incredible creations.

CHIC Limited moved to a new venue – so make sure you update your landmarks. The new in-world location is Tropical Bliss (219, 238, 21).

Hard to believe, but the 9 sim Fashion For Life extravaganza closes tomorrow, so this is your last chance to stroll through these amazing sims and pick up some incredible pieces by many of Second Life’s top fashion creators. Shown above is Affinity II by Nyte ‘n’ Day Helmut Newton (80, 63, 23).

Next is a three piece selection from -Glam Affair- including the incredibly beautiful Mary skin line. Shown in the photo above is the FFL Mary skin “Ice” along with the Primula group gift sweater and Jolanta khaki pants. Their FFL store is located on Stieglitz (178, 25, 23).

Next comes an intricate design from Miamai named Anita shown over a skin a special FFL skin set from Heartsick called Breathe. Visit Miamai’s FFL store on Stieglitz (192, 162, 24) and Heartsick’s FFL store on Mapplethorpe (128, 159, 23).

SySy Chapman has been a long time supporter of RFL and the American Cancer Society in Second Life. Here is one of her FFL dresses, named Hush, which is available from her FFL store on Helmut Newton (81, 184, 24). Also shown here are the exclusive pink [Gos] Booties for the Pacific Crisis Fundraiser.

Finally, I wanted to close out with another elegant gown named Yvonne from (Clio) by Clio Cardiff. Visit her FFL store on Ansel Adams (174, 134, 24).

Also, if you’re low on Lindens, make sure you check out the store Gacha and Hunt items. Almost all of these items are under L$100, most of them under L$50 – they’re remarkable bargains and time is running out to take advantage.

I’ve been enjoying wearing the newest skins by Ryker Beck, the Sylvan line from the Exodi brand. The evolution from the Genesis brand to this skin line today is nothing short of remarkable. Ryker’s skins have always had a very strong distinctive face shape, and Sylvan continues that trend with very defined brows and well shaded cheekbones.

Like the other Exodi skins, Ryker has thoughtfully included a range of light, dark and — new for this release — red brows, along with hairbase, freckle and cleavage enhanced skin options right on the skin. Bonus touches include four different hair base colors, pubic hair options and no less than 15 different makeup selections from a ‘nude’ skin base perfect for third party tattoo makeup layers to dramatic red lips to subtle glossy lips and smoky eye shadows.

Let me spend a moment to recommend you check out the Fashion for Life offerings from Dark Mouse – this Emma hair (I’m really impressed with the quality of these hair textures!) and the black and white jewelry shown above are among the pleasant surprises still available for your shopping pleasure. Fashion for Life recently passed the L$4 million threshold but they have a day and a bit left to raise funds for the American Cancer Society.

Shop Exodi at Exodi and WoE (82, 132, 25). (Note: Exodi recently relocated to a new sim – make sure you use this updated SLURL.)

Shop Dark Mouse at Fashion for Life at Bourke White (192, 127, 23).