Archive for June, 2008
Let us sing the praises of the humble waistcoat, unjustly neglected for decades. Nowadays it seems that even gentlemen such as ourselves could go for years without ever wearing one except at weddings and attending Royal Ascot every year. Yet it forms a crucial article of gentlemen’s attire in other subcultures, such as the Steampunk sims. I ran across Nix Sands’ rakish Xcentricity brand first in Port Babbage and was captivated as soon as I saw them. My favourite is Poisson, here portrayed in what are indelicately called ’sooty tones.’ The celtic design is printed on the finest satin and the garment is reassuringly snug without pulling tight.
Other gentlemen may frown on it, but I love to leave my jacket behind and take the air in only my shirt sleeves and waistcoat — ah, the daring informality of it all! Clearly Mssr Sands did not have such indiscretions in mind, since the backs of his waistcoats not only lack the design, but are not even satin, merely cotton, with bunching showing clearly as a buckled strap takes up the slack fabric where the garment tapers at the waist. [I stand corrected on this point; please now see Baron Wulfenbach's comment to this article below.] Poisson is also available in indigo, olive and salmon (all of them much nicer names than ’sooty;’ …I ask you!) and costs only 80L$. You may not see them when you first enter the shop — cycle through the vendor which also sells the ‘Steamy’ and ‘Wheeler’ waistcoats, to which we turn next. (more…)
Disclosure: Seen in World: Yes | Review Copy: No | Friends List: No
Notes: On Mr. Oh: Nora Entice - Hunter Almond by Sezmra Svarog (Nora BodySkins & Fashion). "Jared" hair in blackened grey by Elikapeka Tiramisu (ETD). "Finesse" glasses with scripted frames and lenses by Nibb Tardis (primOptic). Suits, shirts and prim bow tie by Vincente Shepherd (Gaslights Emporium).
Post Category: Dressy, Formal, Steampunk, Vests, Xcentricity
June 29th, 2008 at 11:32amMr. Oh
![[insert cool name] & naima](http://www.second-man.com/wp-content/uploads/ez/0028matrix/.thumbs/.matrix.png "[insert cool name] & naima")
My friend Itny told me to head to a store called [insert cool name] a while ago, but (as is usual) I forgot. She reminded again a few days ago, and this time I went right after she told me. I found a nice box of goodies there for 1L. Curious to see if I could find more, I checked through the group history and found a few more things. As I was busy poking around, I ran into Malte Antfarm, the owner of the store. Malte is a pretty nice guy, and we ended up talking for a bit. As I was talking to him, the topic of his next freebie came up.
I mentioned that guys tend to get plenty of shirts, but everything else is much less common. Therefore, why not make his next freebie a pair of pants? Sure enough, a day or two later, Malte dropped the shirt and pants I’m wearing here on the group. I’m pretty sure he mentioned that they’d be packaged in the box as well for when they age out of the archives. Anyway, enough back story, on to the clothes. (more…)
Disclosure: Seen in World: Yes | Review Copy: No | Friends List: Some
Notes: On Express: "Vivant Buff Newbie" skin by CJ Carnot (Fleur) from GNUbie. "Trendy Edge" hair by jecica Clip (Mise en Scène) at Amore Pacific. "Black shoes" by Izumi Homewood (Izumiya). Eyes made using template by newbie_template Linden.
Post Category: Casual, Eyewear, Freebies, Hoodies, Jackets, NAIMA Fashion, Pants, Shirts, [insert cool name]
June 27th, 2008 at 02:30pmExpress Zenovka
The Faces of Darklands Fashion Show will be held at 1000 a.m. SLT this Saturday, June 28, at Crimson Shadow. This is an event in the previously announced model search contest, and new skins by Draconic Kiss will be released. Contact Lokum Shilova inworld for more details.
Post Category: Announcements, Asides
June 27th, 2008 at 10:24amRyan Darragh
Designer Shinichi Mathy described himself to me as “a newcomer to the SL fahion scene.” He may have arrived relatively recently, but I hope he sticks around for a while. His shop SHIKI presents a generous collection of unabashedly colorful, breezy casual designs for men, and a handful of items for women. I’m pretty sure the shop was redesigned within the last few days–it had a completely different layout when I made a quick last-minute visit last night. Things do come and go so quickly around here.
Although I’m not featuring them here today, you’ll also find a few decidedly informal suits…perhaps just the thing for a summer garden party or evening cocktail cruise. The pieces I’m wearing here are just a small selection from Shinichi’s Spring and Summer ‘08 collections. (more…)
Disclosure: Seen in World: Yes | Review Copy: Yes | Friends List: No
Notes: On Ryan: "Antonio" skin by Funk Schnook (FNKY!). "Liam" hair by Wicked Loudon (Dernier Cri). Beach Bum sandals by tatoo Korvin (D2TK). "Stars" gold and leather jewelry by Mhaijik Guillaume (Mhaijik Things).
Post Category: Casual, Designer Reviews, Jeans, Outfits, Pants, SHIKI Design, Shirts, Shorts
June 26th, 2008 at 08:06pmRyan Darragh
I wouldn’t describe Thea Tamura’s new hat-with-hair creation as bizarre, but it certainly is unusual. To me the design looks and feels more Baroque or Rococo (albeit stylized), even Romantic. (I could easily see Shelley wearing this hat in less anguished moments.) However, Thea herself has called it her “Bizarre Hat.” It’s simple and direct, so who am I to judge? 
The hat I picked up for myself is the Black style, probably the most sober of the twelve different variations. You can choose from seven simpler solid colors and five more elaborate fabric textures. The Black hat’s base texture is a medium-grain leather, while some others have a linen fabric look. All the styles are clearly pictured on their vendors, so you can see how each style is finished. (more…)
Disclosure: Seen in World: Yes | Review Copy: No | Friends List: No
Notes: On Ryan: "ML020" skin by Yukimaru Koba (Z#road Men's Shop). Flesh Mechanic shirt by Eden Minton (MUWU). Ronin NeKoholic jeans by Sakigake Maruko (WMD).
Post Category: Casual, Dressy, Hair, Hats, New Items, Thea Tamura Fashion
June 24th, 2008 at 04:03pmRyan Darragh
Last Sunday, rather early in the morning, I saw a notice for new freebies from Alphamale. The first thought that crossed my mind was, “Finally, took Yelmer long enough … the girls had some freebie lingerie months ago!” I had been waiting a while for this and I was quite excited. Normally, when I get notices from large groups about an item, I tend to wait an hour because fighting for a spot on a full sim isn’t worth it — you can just wait a bit and there will be no one around landing on your head, etc. But after waiting about 30 seconds, I thought “Screw the others, I want that freebie” and teleported in. Luckily for me, not a lot of people are on Sunday mornings and the sim wasn’t too too crowded.
After chatting it up with Yelmer a bit (for the record, Yelmer and Mariska are very nice people — if you see them at the store y’all should say hello) I head home and tried on the new clothes. The wait was definitely worth it. (more…)
Disclosure: Seen in World: Yes | Review Copy: No | Friends List: Some
Notes: On Express: "steel gray" eyes available from Freebie Eyes Package (House of Zen). "Flexigrip" boots by Leyla Firefly(KangarOOs).
Post Category: Accessories, Alphamale, Belleza, Casual, Eyewear, Freebies, Hair, Jackets, Jeans, Mokoptica, Philotic Energy, Shirts
June 21st, 2008 at 09:04amExpress Zenovka
So, this will be a little different. I thought it might be both fun and challenging to feature some skins that might not be designs I would choose for myself, at least for everday wear, yet are still interesting and well made. This is more of a feature (or collection of features) than a formal review, so I won’t be going into quite as much detail as I usually try to do when I actually review a skin. But I will tell you what I think and hopefully show you enough in pictures that you can decide if you want to drop by any shops to try on some demos. Which of course you should alway do before buying a skin, no matter how great you may think it looks in the ads or on anyone else, including me. But I hardly need mention that for your benefit, experienced and discerning shopper that you are. (more…)
Disclosure: Seen in World: Yes | Review Copy: Yes | Friends List: No
Notes: On Ryan: "Canielm" hair by Britnee Hadlee (Simply Britnee). Skullie underwear by Devyn Carmichael (Moderno).
Post Category: Defectiva, Negko Design, New Items, Renegade, Skins
June 20th, 2008 at 05:06pmRyan Darragh
I never covered these because I figured they’d be gone too quickly. However, 3 weeks later these dollarbie gifts are still around so head over there before they actually do get yanked. There’s a nice red top and green pants, as shown by my friends at free*style.
Post Category: Asides, Beauty Avatar, Dressy, Freebies, Pants, Shirts
June 17th, 2008 at 04:34pmExpress Zenovka
For one week, unisex vampire skins are on sale at Crimson Shadow. Several different styles are priced at just L$100 each. The sale lasts through June 22.
Post Category: Asides, Crimson Shadow, Fantasy, Goth, Sales, Skins
June 17th, 2008 at 09:32amRyan Darragh
I honestly hadn’t heard of this store before I got a landmark by way of the Free*Style group notices a few weeks ago. I finally head in to the store and I must say I’m glad I did. First of all, the store is really cool. The build is excellent quality, and its just a nice place to look at. On top of that, there are cool-looking clothes that aren’t same stuff you find everyone else wearing. Who doesn’t like being special like that? On top of that, and more important for this post, the owner has been quite generous and has a box full of cool clothes so we can try out his stuff.
The hat, shirt, pants, and gloves are all from MadHouse 88. Lets start from the top. The hat is a close-fitting Jeep Cap and comes in three different colors: gray, green, and red. Its easiest to wear with no hair underneath, so a skin with hair drawn on would probably come in really handy. If you don’t have one, it covers enough of your head most people wouldn’t give it a second thought. Its relatively easy to resize so long as the top of your head is generally circular. (more…)
Disclosure: Seen in World: Yes | Review Copy: No | Friends List: No
Notes: On Express: "Vivant Bronze Newbie" skin by CJ Carnot (Fleur) from GNUbie.
Post Category: Boots, Gloves, Grunge, Hats, Jackets, Jeans, Madhouse 88, Mechanism, Rosemar, Shirts
June 17th, 2008 at 03:50amExpress Zenovka
I don’t care how cut up they are, they’re currently my favourite pair of jeans and I’m going to wear them. They’ve got a lot of life left in them and they’re comfortable and they’re so London. The Union Jack on the front is ok, innit? But the London Underground logo on the back pocket is well bad. And I’ve washed the things so many times that the reds and blues are just faded enough. But the best part — you ready for this? — the best part of all is I can wear ‘em with anything. ‘Cos they’re actually two jeans in one. Low risers, for sure, you’ll see them in the other photos, but these are the high risers. Both in the same folder, pick whichever suits your top. Safe. They’re handmade for you by Maruko Sakigake of WMD — how can you not love a company named Weird Monkey Design? They come in lots of colours and designs; mine are Ronin London Edition; L$199 for the two pairs. There’s also a plain blue set for the special knock-down of L$50. Go get ‘em. (more…)
Disclosure: Seen in World: Yes | Review Copy: Jacket | Friends List: No
Notes: On Mr. Oh: Nora Entice - Hunter Almond by Sezmra Svarog (Nora BodySkins & Fashion). "Jared" hair in faded black by Elikapeka Tiramisu (ETD). "Arach" glasses with scripted frames and lenses by Nibb Tardis (primOptic). Murphy shoes in black by Fallingwater Cellardoor (Shiny Things). Basic Thermals (tops) in white and dark gray by Starley Thereian (Moderno).
Post Category: Casual, Grunge, Jackets, Jeans, Pants, Shirts, Urban, WMD
June 16th, 2008 at 09:19amMr. Oh
The best part of being in contact with other freebie bloggers is that they remind you of items you’ve picked up and then totally forgotten. Half the stuff I’m wearing in this post have been available for a long time and been in my inventory for months, till I was reminded of them by seeing others wear them, mention them, or somehow remind me of them.
Gecko Gorilla, the new resident male freebie hunter at Free*Style, reminded me of my Amsterdam free shirt, the subscribomatic joining gift from Hoorenbeek. He wore the blue shirt so I decided I’d wear the brown shirt. I also seem to have a brown sports jacket from Hoorenbeek which I suspect came from either a sale or the subscribomatic, but I’m honestly not sure. If it was from the subscribomatic, I suspect its long been flushed from history. Either way, clicking on the sign still gets you two free shirts. Poking through the history will most definitely get you some notecards and perhaps a sports jacket. (more…)
Disclosure: Seen in World: Yes | Review Copy: No | Friends List: No
Notes: On Express: "steel gray" eyes available from Freebie Eyes Package (House of Zen).
Post Category: Bags, Belleza, Canimal, Casual, Freebies, Hair, Hats, Hoorenbeek, KangarOOs, Pants, Philotic Energy, Rockers Wear, Shirts, Shoes
June 15th, 2008 at 07:23amExpress Zenovka
In honor of Father’s Day, Fing Shop is releasing a limited edition of their popular men’s dogtags. They are only L$1, say “#1 Dad”, and are transferable so you can give them as gifts.
Post Category: Asides, Freebies
June 15th, 2008 at 03:44amExpress Zenovka
I have a confession to make: I haven’t been to a pride festival in a few years. It’s not that I don’t live in a city that has a large one every year–I live in Los Angeles, and L.A. Pride is one of the largest pride events in the U.S. (The 2008 festival was this past weekend, June 6, 7 and 8…and no, you wouldn’t have seen me there.) It’s not that I’m not proud–my friends would be the first to agree that excessive humbleness has never been my problem. And it’s not that they aren’t fun–they certainly can be, I’m always up for a good time, and if you want to try your target marketing on me, knock yourself out.
I suppose you’d be justified in wondering if I’ve just gotten lazy, and can’t be bothered to turn out (so to speak). But I think it’s more that my life has simply become very domestic, and we like to stay home or just chill and hang out with friends. (more…)
Disclosure: Seen in World: Yes | Review Copy: Yes | Friends List: Yes (Pompo)
Notes: On Ryan: "Hunter" Entice skin by Sezmra Svarog (Nora). "Canielm" hair by Britnee Hadlee (Simply Britnee). Uno jeans by Pompo Bombacci (SLAB Designs). Sporty Glasses by Danny Nolan (Danny's Untitled Fashions).
Post Category: Casual, Jewelry, Mhaijik Things, New Items, SLAB Designs, Shirts
June 14th, 2008 at 12:05pmRyan Darragh
Izumiya is a wonderful store that I’ve been meaning to post about but never got around to actually doing it. Till now that is. I mentioned one item in an earlier post, but Izumi Homewood’s work deserve so much more attention than that.
Izumiya consists of mutually complementing halves. The second floor is all freebies and dollarbies. There are accessories, shirts, pants, hats(with hair), a suit, and even poses to be found up there. Creamy Cooljoke, of Free*style, and I coincidentally discovered this store at the same time, and she (unlike me) already covered the freebie side of things, esp. the dollarbie suit. So I’ll focus on the other half, the only slightly more expensive first floor.
Downstairs, prices range between 5L and 70L. Items range from pendants, hats, and hair to belts, bags, jackets. My favorite part, however, are the prepackaged outfits.
(more…)
Disclosure: Seen in World: Yes | Review Copy: No | Friends List: No
Notes: On Express: "brown gray" eyes available from Freebie Eyes Package (House of Zen).
Post Category: Belleza, Designer Reviews, Freebies, Grunge, Hair, Izumiya, Kalnins, Outfits, Skins, Urban, booN
June 13th, 2008 at 06:12amExpress Zenovka
Are you a goth/vampire/psychobilly/alternative or all of the above? Do you have a unique and fascinating look? Have you always wanted to become a model but you’re just not interested in the standard SL fashion look? Now’s your chance for those of you that live outside the fashion industry’s norm! Rezzable is searching for the best male and female model to become the Faces of the Darklands.
Judges Voshie Paine, hyasynth Tiramisu, Kylie Gears, Hart Larsson and JennyH Gossipgirl will narrow the field of contestants to 16 finalists. Ultimately, one male and one female winner will be chosen to be the Faces of the Darkland Sims. (more…)
Post Category: Announcements, Contests
June 12th, 2008 at 02:05pmRyan Darragh
Disembodied Hand has marked down his new “Conor” skins in the “OMGWTFSKIN SALE” at Defectiva. Singles are L$300 (down from L$900), packs are L$1500 (originally L$4000). If you join the group, there’s a freebie shirt in the notices history! 
Post Category: Asides, Defectiva, Freebies, Sales, Skins
June 12th, 2008 at 10:24amRyan Darragh
Those of you who have been reading along for a while already know of and may remember my fetish for things I can wear on my back. Now, I have a good reason for this. It makes sense if you think about it, I promise. In SL, we spend a fair amount of time looking at our own backs–far more than we do in RL, let’s be honest. It’s nice to have something to admire other than the plain back of a shirt or jacket. Some have suggested (ahem) that I’m easily distracted; I say I’m just trying to avoid boredom and add some spice to life.
That’s my story and I’m sticking with it. (more…)
Disclosure: Seen in World: Yes | Review Copy: Yes | Friends List: No
Notes: On Ryan: "Antonio" skin by Funk Schnook (FNKY!). "David" hair by Aleri Darkes (Diversity). "Micro Cuts" shirt/vest/tie/jeans by Namida Akami (MUWU). Route 66 Shell Toe Sneakers by Proda Jie (Shop Therapy). "Elsire" glasses by Keelia DeCuir (x-Pose).
Post Category: Accessories, Bags, Casual, New Items, Shop Therapy
June 11th, 2008 at 11:58amRyan Darragh
Before we start, you must first know that my friend Zazen always has the coolest toys imaginable. This is important information for you to know. So, the other day I was hanging out on my mile-high work platform (okay, it’s about 600 meters or so) when I heard a thump. This was quickly followed by a muttered “Oh dear.” A quick camera check showed that, as you may already have suspected, Zazen was indeed hovering just beneath the platform, where he had unwittingly bonked his head trying to fly up and see if that dot at altitude on the minimap might be me. It’s always nice to have the opportunity to catch up with Zazen–any excuse will do, really–and as I mentioned there’s the cool toy factor. This time my notice was irresistibly drawn to his boots, which were impressively constructed and animated with some really spiff effects. I had to know, so I asked. A landmark was immediately forthcoming. I went, I saw, I shopped. And here we are. (more…)
Disclosure: Seen in World: Yes | Review Copy: No | Friends List: No
Notes: On Ryan: Uchi II skin by Disembodied Hand (Steam Powered Industries). "Mikichan" hair by Bryce Tully (Bryce Designs).
Post Category: Accessories, Boots, Coats, Eyewear, Fantasy, Neko, Period, Steam Powered Nuts, Steampunk, Unzipped
June 9th, 2008 at 07:15pmRyan Darragh
See its my rezzday on Monday and I had this great and (at least in my head) funny plan to make a post with this title and end up featuring pic of the default male and Ruth. I was then gonna go through all of male freebie outfits as if they were a normal review and then put together a few of them with other freebies to show they actually weren’t that bad.
But, it wasn’t meant to be. The picture that took 15 seconds in Photoshop to make (that is hidden after the cut) wasn’t so funny anymore. Why? Because the Linden Overlords decided to actually put some designer clothes in everyone’s inventory. (more…)
Disclosure: Seen in World: Yes | Review Copy: No | Friends List: No
Post Category: Adam n Eve, Fairy’s Grove Creations, Freebies, Grendel's Children, Nylon Outfitters, Philotic Energy, Renegade
June 7th, 2008 at 09:40amExpress Zenovka
Remember me? For the few of you who do.. no I didn’t die. I’ve just been very busy with RL and then “relaxed” a bit with a week of summer vacation. My vacation isn’t quite over yet, but I felt that I had to cover some freebies that might disappear soon. My laptop’s onboard graphics aren’t good enough SL so I snuck onto a friend’s machine to install SL to snap a few pics for this post. Thus, this post is brought to you by my friend with no desktop password 
Anyway, a long time ago I said that I couldn’t buy fancy clothes cuz I’m poor. Well, now a good number of those rich stores have freebies all in one spot: KMADD Enterprise. KMADD had a lot of gifts out from their opening, which disappeared a lil while back, before I could cover them (I hadn’t started blogging when they disappeared). Its not all bad though, because they replaced them with different gifts from a handful of the KMADD stores, including Tonic, Tango NY, Endeavor, Indigo, Redgrave, Mechanism, Mhaijik Things, SF Design, and of course MADesigns. (more…)
Disclosure: Seen in World: Yes | Review Copy: No | Friends List: No
Notes: On Express: "Andrew Chocolate" skin by Garbage Prototype (Random Industries) from GNUbie. "Vivant Chestnut Newbie" and "Vivant Bronze Newbie"skin by CJ Carnot (Fleur) from GNUbie. Eyes made using template by newbie_template Linden. Suede Topsiders by Virtual Revolution (Virtual Creations) from Free Dove.
Post Category: Accessories, Boots, Casual, Civvies, Desert Moon Clothiers, Electro Kitty, Freebies, GearShift, Hair, Indigo, Jackets, Jeans, KK Outfitters, MADesigns, Mechanism, Outfits, Philotic Energy, Redgrave, SF Design, Shirts, Shoes, TRUTH, Tami McCoy, Urban
June 6th, 2008 at 04:59pmExpress Zenovka
I love jewelry and other design work inspired by Celtic artwork. In RL I wear an inexpensive silver ring, simply designed to resemble interlocking knotwork, that I bought from a street vendor in Dublin about four years ago. One of the highlights of that trip to Ireland was a visit to Trinity College, where I was able to view two folios from the Book of Kells, the artwork of which still informs Celtic designs today. Muna Arai’s new line of rings for men honors that tradition by making inspired use of knotwork and other design elements in balance and harmony with the beauty of precious metals. (more…)
Disclosure: Seen in World: Yes | Review Copy: No | Friends List: No
Notes: On Ryan: FORM skin by Zabitan Assia (FORM). Fafnir sweater by Karigan Ducatillon (Husky GFX). Black jeans by Starley Thereian (freely available).
Post Category: Accessories, Biju by Muna, Freebies, Jewelry, New Items
June 5th, 2008 at 05:18pmRyan Darragh
Previous Posts
Let us sing the praises of the humble waistcoat, unjustly neglected for decades. Nowadays it seems that even gentlemen such as ourselves could go for years without ever wearing one except at weddings and attending Royal Ascot every year. Yet it forms a crucial article of gentlemen’s attire in other subcultures, such as the Steampunk sims. I ran across Nix Sands’ rakish Xcentricity brand first in Port Babbage and was captivated as soon as I saw them. My favourite is Poisson, here portrayed in what are indelicately called ’sooty tones.’ The celtic design is printed on the finest satin and the garment is reassuringly snug without pulling tight.
Other gentlemen may frown on it, but I love to leave my jacket behind and take the air in only my shirt sleeves and waistcoat — ah, the daring informality of it all! Clearly Mssr Sands did not have such indiscretions in mind, since the backs of his waistcoats not only lack the design, but are not even satin, merely cotton, with bunching showing clearly as a buckled strap takes up the slack fabric where the garment tapers at the waist. [I stand corrected on this point; please now see Baron Wulfenbach's comment to this article below.] Poisson is also available in indigo, olive and salmon (all of them much nicer names than ’sooty;’ …I ask you!) and costs only 80L$. You may not see them when you first enter the shop — cycle through the vendor which also sells the ‘Steamy’ and ‘Wheeler’ waistcoats, to which we turn next. (more…)![[insert cool name] & naima](http://www.second-man.com/wp-content/uploads/ez/0028matrix/matrix.png "[insert cool name] & naima")
