{AHC} by AlexanderHunter Rembrandt

October 19th, 2009 at 09:23am Ryan Darragh

In SL, I try to get out of my RL box, from time to time at least.  Isn’t that a big part of what SL is for, really?  My recent Prince of the Underworld is miles removed from anything I’d wear in RL, probably even for Halloween, if only for practical reasons.  Stuff like that is a lot of fun, and it’s good to stretch.  I do have my comfort zone, though, and every once in a while I run into some new designs that seem quite literally tailor-made for me and my own tastes.  AlexanderHunter Rembrandt’s just-opened {AHC} (the initials stand for “AlexanderHunter’s Couture”) houses just such a collection.  AlexanderHunter says that his goal with {AHC} is “class and excellence with just a hint of sexiness for both men and women…haute couture and accessories inspired by real life’s top designers.  The collections are seasonal and therefore available only for a few months, making every design a limited edition.”  The names of the various specialty shops at {AHC} reflect these inspirations:  Dulce & Ghanel women’s wear; Valenciaga men’s wear; Prava men and women’s footwear; Vuittior men and women’s jewelry, handbags, and additional accessories; and San Lauren men and women’s skins and hairstyles.  They also convey a slyness and sense of fun suggesting that AlexanderHunter isn’t taking himself too seriously.

So it was with real interest that I dropped by to check things out.  First impressions matter a great deal, and my first impression was a favorable one.  The landmark delivered me to the arrival point at one end of a modestly sized but classy and attractively laid out shopping complex.  It took me only a few moments to wander from one end to the other (somewhat surprising and refreshing in these days of sim-wide shopping builds), where I found the Valenciaga menswear shop.  The doors were invitingly open, revealing a warmly decorated lounge and relaxation area just inside (shopping can get tiring), with clothing displays beckoning enticingly from either side.

The first Valenciaga collection is ambitious but accessible, with pieces spanning the range from casual to dressy.  All, as I mentioned before, fall squarely in my own personal comfort zone.  With so much to love, it wasn’t easy to decide where to start, so I decided to let comfort rule the day.  This first outfit pairs the Button Down Shirt in Tan Plaid (L$250) with the Suede Jeans in Dark Olive (L$175).  Both shirt and pants have sculpted components (collar, cuffs), and the shirt can be worn tucked or untucked, and with sleeves long or rolled to the elbow.  I love the deep green of the jeans in Dark Olive, but the detailing is even more clearly visible in the lighter Tan.

I’m a total sucker for a good sweater, and in my humble opinion any fall collection lacking a sweater of any kind would have a hole in it.  Here I’m wearing the V-neck Knit Sweater in Maroon/White/Gold (L$165).  No prim add-ons here, just carefully worked fabric textures, with clean highlighting, subtle rather than extravagant wrinkles and folds, and delicate but clear narrow ribbing in the woven fabric.  Worn with the Suede Jeans in Tan (L$175).

Next I decided to put together a dressier ensemble based on AlexanderHunter’s tweed suit separates.  I started with the Tweed Jacket and Slacks in Mocha (L$175 each) and added the Button Down Shirt in Khaki (L$250).  The result is, I think, entirely presentable.  Jacket and slacks feature handsome tweed fabric textures, with careful detailing that includes a clean crease on the slacks and realistically shadowed lapels and pockets on the jacket.  The jacket (very old-school in construction, with no prim collar or skirt-layer extension) can be worn open or closed, and the pants also include texture-matched sculpted cuffs.  As with the plaid shirts, you can choose tucked or untucked wear, and long or rolled sleeves.  This solid-color shirt can be worn with or without the included sculpted collar–the garment layer also includes collar artwork.  This provides some flexibility when worn with a suit jacket, but how good the prim collar looks to you may depend on how precisely you’re able to align it over the garment-layer collar.

Permissions on some of my review copies included no-mod shirts, but AlexanderHunter is changing these, both in his shop vendors and on Xstreet, so you’ll be able to mod shirts to your preference.

The initial men’s jewelry offering at Vuittior is limited to matching choker-style necklace and cuffs in a range of colors and patterns.  Here you see the Leather Double Cuff and Leather Double Necklace (L$200 each) in Brown Diamond.  The differences in the Brown Striped versions of necklace and cuff are subtle, but noticeable.  Choose from a variety of colors and designs.

The San Lauren collection so far includes just a single style for men, but it’s quite a nice one.  “Nate I” (shown here in Brick Red) is short and clean-cut, with layered strands and wisps that fall over the brows.  In the back, the hair is dense, thick and wavy almost to the point of being curly.  Hairstyles come in five-color packs priced at L$295.

While I may be somewhat biased by the warm autumnal vibe of this initial release (it is, after all, very much up my RL alley), I think the quality of garment design and texture work on display here speak for themselves.  I can’t wait to see what AlexanderHunter has up his sleeve for spring!

{AHC} AlexanderHunter’s Couture opened to the public on Friday, October 16.  Freebies for men available until October 31 include a Twilight-themed wrist cuff and a V-neck Sweater.  Visit {AHC} at Plush Omicron 186, 90, 22.  For more information, check out the {AHC} blog.

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The skin I’m wearing is “Narcissus,” the new release at Zanzo by Theodore DuCasse.  Much can be said about Narcissus and his opinion of himself, and I’ll have more to say about this incarnation of Narcissus in a full review of the skin when I return from my vacation trip.  Look for it later in the first week of November.

Disclosure: Seen in world: Yes | Review copies: Yes | Friends list: No

Notes: On Ryan: "Narcissus" skin by Theodore DuCasse (Zanzo). Gold Flakes – Olivine eyes by Lano Ling (Poetic Colors). Soubresaut shoes by Pique Flan (2g). Murphys shoes by Fallingwater Cellardoor (Shiny Things). Brown Leather Bag by Jesseaitui Petion (Aitui).

Entry Filed under: AHC,Casual,Designer Reviews,Dressy,Freebies,Hair,Jackets,Jeans,Jewelry,New Items,Pants,Shirts,Suits,Sweaters