“She danced along the edges of life, like lavender in the wind, delicate yet resilient.” – Unknown |
Lavender. The least used color in my shared storage. Why use it now? I've used rose, purple, violet, indigo, and shire plum on multiple occasions, but I've only ever used lavender one other time. That and...I hade sixty-something vials collecting dust. While I was mixing and matching the pieces seen here, I had a flashback to a particular heavy armor outfit from Cosmetic LOTRO called "The Rose." I've wished the community embraced purples and pinks. In a game where colors have primarily been masculine, earthen tones, I've believed there's always been potential for softer, more feminine colors to be used in a way that preserves strength, authority, and resiliency.
When I made a quiet return to LOTRO last year, I was worried that I'd lost my ability to make outfits. I wasn't sure if I'd see a loss of quality and creativity or if I'd continue using existing appearances because the creative drive had vanished entirely. Shockingly, my absence from the game allowed my creativity to recover substantially. And of everything I've made the past year, this outfit is my favorite.
That being said, I've already taken screenshots of several more. It's been fun experimenting with some of the more recent pieces stored in my wardrobe or stashed away in one of my cosmetic mules' vault. The pre-Umbar expansion fan bundle cosmetics, which I haven't seen used anywhere--at least not publicly--were made the focus of a few upcoming outfits.
Head: Ceremonial Circlet of Restoration (Lavender, Lalia's Market)*
Shoulders: Mantle of Hidden Peaks (Lavender, Curator vendor)
Back: Attacker's Light Cloak of the Rising Moon (Lavender, crafted from the Light Cloak of the Rising Moon recipe)
Chest: Chestplate of Crystal Resolve (Lavender, Anniversary vendor reward)
Hands: Reclaimed Gauntlets of the Captain (Lavender, random Osgiliath instance cluster loot)
Feet: Reclaimed Boots of the Captain (Lavender, random Osgiliath instance cluster loot)
Weapon: Elor (Curator vendor)
Bow: Well-worn Mumak-rider's Bow (Random Osgiliath instance cluster loot, for some reason on T1 only)
*At the time of writing, this skin can also be obtained from the Light Armour Vendor in the Ettenmoors. It's called the Guardsman's Reinforced Circlet of the Moors.