Where it all began...

I can pinpoint the moment that cosmetics became important to me. I was used to my character's shabby armored appearance. I didn't realize there was anything different - that is, until this one day I saw a vision in gold and white. I was astounded. This person's character was beautiful. The character had a white dress on with gold trim (not this dress) and her cloak matched it. It was, at the time, the most beautiful outfit that I'd ever seen. I didn't know anything about cosmetics, but I asked someone how she could possibly look like that. I don't remember who I asked, maybe Darror, but whomever I spoke with gave me a quick run down on how to cosmetically equip something and how to dye something.

This outfit pays homage to that character and that moment.

And a view of the cloak:

This outfit is made from:

Ceremonial Dress

Dolen-Palvais (Dyed Gold)

Billowing Cloak of Kingstead (Dyed Gold)

Same Dress, Two completely different looks.

I didn't bother to pick this dress up last time the festival rolled around, but when I saw it a week or two ago in the Auction House, I snatched it up. I made two outfits with it. One for the little hobbit hunter, and one for Andadrien.

When I looked at my hobbit, it just screams "Little Red Riding Hunter". With the hood and the crimson, it's kind of inescapable. While visiting a friend's home in the Shire Homesteads, she went jumping through a mushroom circle; however, don't be fooled by the sweet, little antics - she's a deadly little thing with her bow.

She is wearing:

Gifted Ancient Helm of the Horse-Lords - Dyed Red

(Yes, I realize this is a gold HL item, and that many people may not have access to it. I had it equipped, so it was readily accessible for me. There are so many other hood-like head pieces in the game that could be easily substituted in for this item.)

Harvest-brew Dress - Dyed Crimson

Plain Cloak - Dyed Crimson

~~

Andadrien has a little bit more expensive taste. She likes to throw gold in the air and inspect her gems to make sure that they remain flawless. This took me approximately 3 minutes from when I got the dress to create it - it's super easy: headpiece, cloak, and *bam* it's done. Not going to lie, I totally thought about the Lannisters from Game of Thrones when I saw this outfit finished it as it is all crimson and gold. If you like to read, they are good books. I'm on the 5th book.

Andadrien is wearing:

Ceremonial Hat of the Written Word - Dyed Red

Harvest-brew Dress - Dyed Crimson

Golden Tree Summer Cloak - Dyed Red

Anniversary Festival

I suppose since the Anniversary Festival is occurring, I should give note to some of the cosmetics available. While I am not a huge fan of the Silken Dress/Robe of Golden Splendour that you can barter for, I do love the Reveller's Gilded Party Dress. I like how it has a more satin-y look to it unlike any other item in the game. It pairs perfectly with the war steed cosmetic: Reveller's Gilded Appearance. The war steed cosmetic drops in one of the festival's dailies. I just love it. Pair it with a fur stole - you're good to go!

Another item I found cute was the Spark-Maker's Pack which I thought was perfect for my little hobbit. She couldn't resist watching a fireworks' show now that she was all dressed up for the festival!

The first outfit on Andadrien is:

Reveller's Gilded Party Dress

Ceremonial Hat of the Written Word (Dyed Red)

Supple Great River Pauldrons of Vitality (Dyed Crimson)

The second outfit on Dinel is:

Vibrant Eastemnet Campaign Circlet (Dyed Red)

Hill-Man's Cracked Leather Jacket (Dyed Crimson)

Spark-Maker's Pack

Tursur-Lhopan (Dyed Umber)

Happy 6th Anniversary to everyone! 

You're an officer you say?

So, this is another Dawnbreakers and kinship color related post. This time is for the officers. Black and gold are still the main colors for these outfits, but they are also accented with red.

The first image is Andadrien wearing an example of something that would be appropriate for the female officer to wear.

The next picture is Andadrien and Rindaroth. Rindaroth is wearing an outfit that is good for a male officer. Speaking of Rindaroth and officer outfits, he was promoted to officer today. Congratulations to him!

And to get a better look at the cloak he has on:

Andadrien is wearing:

Vibrant Eastemnet Campaign Circlet (Dyed Black)

Extravagant Festival Dress (Dyed Black)

Gwir-Palvais (Dyed Black)

Plain Cloak (Dyed Crimson)

Rindaroth is wearing:

(I will update this next time he is in-game.)

Andadrien Salutes the Dawnbreakers

I am part of a great kinship full of some of the friendliest and most helpful people that I have come across in LOTRO. I was in kinships that had the rudest officers or were extremely inactive, but when by chance someone in a random fellowship I ended up in mentioned his kinship and had me invite to the Dawnbreakers, I knew I found a special group of people.

The Dawnbreakers has different colors for our kinship. For you Dawnbreakers reading this, the color scheme is more thoroughly discussed here. But to recap quickly:

For recruits and members the color of the outfit should be mostly black with gold accents. Officers outfits are essentially the same; however, they can accent their outfits with red to distinguish their rank. 

The kinship leader should wear a gold-based outfit with red and black accents.

The reason why we have black, gold, and red for Kinship colors? Well, these are colors associated with dawn, of course!

And with that, here is my kinship-colored salute to all my fellow Dawnbreakers!

This outfit, which would be appropriate for recruits and members, is comprised of:
Hooded Cloak of the Mallorn (Dyed Black)
Hauberk of the Mirrormere (Dyed Black)
Tursur-Lhopan (Dyed Black)

A Very Royal Song Warrior Indeed..

This is Andadrien's signature outfit. She wears it most of the time. For her it's a perfect mix of delicate and dangerous. The helm definitely make it look a little more fight-ready while the dress and the purple and gold color theme add to the feeling of royalty that you get when you see this. I took inspiration once again from The Lotro Stylist; however, the outfit is not copied exactly. I took the dress and the helm from that outfit and added my own shoulders and cloak to make it my own.

To put this together:

Helm of the West Tower

Elegant Formal Dress (Dyed Purple)

Shoulders of Meduseld (Dyed Purple)

Cloak of the Autumn Wood (Dyed Purple)

A Trip up Iorbar's Peak!

I was doing Iorbar's Peak last night with Aegelrod and Belgor when I noticed that we all looked really good.

Belgor who is front and center is wearing on of the Hytbold sets for the captain which I think looks really nice, but you will probably see a lot of other captains wearing this. So if you choose to wear it, there is your pro and your con.

I am wearing the outfit I discussed on this post.

Unfortunately, you don't get a good look at Aegelrod's outfit (on the right) in the screenshot I grabbed. I think it looks really nice. I was, however, able to try the items on in the dressing room and this is how they look on Andadrien:

 He is wearing Grey Company Cosmetics:

Fine Grey Company Tunic

Fine Grey Company Wrap

Fine Grey Company Gauntlets

Fine Grey Company Boots