Blogger Style Throwdown: “Dystopian Masquerade Ball” under 3000L (vs. Iustinian Tomsen)

October 17th, 2008 at 07:11pm Express Zenovka

So one of the things that Throwdown winners get to do is come up with ideas for other throwdowns. Domch Raymaker had a great theme for me: “aristocracy”. Unfortunately for him, he told me this while changing from his old outfit into a pink Darth Vader suit, and SL didn’t play nice. The end result in my head was even more fun: “dystopian masquerade ball.” Honestly, I had no clue where to start with this one, but I think that helped level the playing field against my opponent Iustinian Tomsen. Model, magazine writer, contributor to many blogs and owner of SLStyle, Iustinian is one of the classiest dressing males on the grid. With a budget of 3000L, I’m sure he and I will both have interesting interpretations of the theme.

Express Zenovka – Shall we Dance?

Its been 15 years since we came up to the surface. Nobody really knows why we were underground. The elders remember their grandparents living underground, but there had always been rumors of some surface world. Every day of the past 15 years we have searched for other humans. We have explored through ruins and technology we don’t understand. We’ve found other villages, hidden underground just like ours, and have expanding our nation. On the surface, we built towns which eventually became cities.

To celebrate our achievements, the leaders have decided to throw a “masquerade ball” outside the town hall tonight. Its an idea we saw in some books in a ruin. Wear elegant clothes but hide your face. Father says I’m finally a man since I’m old enough, so I’m going to attend as well. There’s a girl there I want to impress, so I’m calming my nerves up here before I head inside.

We don’t have much fine cloth, what little I have is what I’ve found hidden away in chests in the ruins. I’m wearing my best buttoned shirt and ties, patched up with old handkerchiefs that finally fell apart. I shined my boots up and even chased down a bird to put a feather in my hat. Supposedly the ancient humans did that back when birds on the surface could still fly. On top of all that is Father’s old coat — a little dusty but it’s my most treasured possession. I hope it’ll make me look more impressive.

Just wait till you see my mask though. The pictures always had small masks with shiny objects, and I found a mask in a ruined storage building the other day. What do you think? Shall we dance?

---

PE – Noah Dark Ash (199L)
[SRU] – Gas Mask (Model 2) (500L)
(Miriel) Realistic Eyes – Pewter (0L)
efectiva: – Conor Skin -Light- – Fresh (300L)
::: B@R ::: Hell Fire (Black Jacket + Gloves)(150L)
Goth1c0:: The checkmate boy loli (350L)
}monogrind{ f*cked up checked belt (180L)
[AM] Road Warrior Boots (350L)
Total: 2029L

Iustinian Tomsen – Dystopian High Fashion

“As he emerges out of the shadows, the light reflects on his face. A wicked smile appears as he knows all eyes will be on him. the wind blows and catches his hair and his cape.”

So here I am surprised by this style throwdown thrown at me. I am known as a classic fashion stylist and sometimes I just find it very difficult to accept steampunk, cyberpunk or even grunge as things to do. The theme is surprising as well.

I know that sometimes SL grunge as fashion is the culmination of post-apocalyptic, cyberpunk fashion dreams.

While it’s not specifically stated that this is just a conceptual design, I can’t imagine it’s anything but. Yet simply knowing it exists helps to soothe the hurt of being unable to rush out and buy my first pieces of an outfit which I am not used to think at.

So first of all, a little about what dystopia is. The onslaught of socialism and political corruption at the turn of the twentieth century led several writers to express their fears and doubts about the future and progression of society. Products of such endeavors are seen in Orwell’s 1984, Huxley’s Brave New World, and Burgess’ A Clockwork Orange. Each of these pieces illustrates a society on the catastrophic edge of destruction and authoritarian control. Personal freedoms are expelled from society, leaving each individual under the mercy of the government’s eccentric rules and demands. As seen at the individual level, the effects of being in such an environment are both devastating and shocking; in each respective novel, the individual is demoralized, is conditioned in both thoughts at actions to adhere to administrative goals, and loses any sort of individualism due to the constraints placed on free will. To that level the humanity seems to be on the verge of termination and extinction.

The outfit I am talking about is a complete and utterly mash-up, different pieces from a lot of designers and everything had to be matched accordingly. First thing I had to think about was the budget and how I am going to fit everything under 3000 lindens. That sounds like big trouble since I am used to spending a lot on my stuff. The budget was pretty limited so in the end i had to learn how to make eyes in order to keep it under the limit. I used some free Renderosity content, so even though that was free I am not going to sell any in world.

---

Dernier Cri – Cole – Cream – Dark eyes (900L)
Avid – Midnight – Wine red (780L)
Refuge – Leather Pants (125L)
Muism – 20% transparency Tank top/Black (250L)
Detour – Writer II – Black Hair (200L)
Nardya Rousselot – War Eagle (420L)
TheAbyss – Combat Boots (250L)
Eye – Living Silver by Iustinian Tomsen (10L to upload texture)
Total: 2935L

Voting Time

The Throwdown series is partially sponsored by Hathor Models. Men’s Second Style greatly appreciates their support!

Disclosure: Seen in World: Yes | Review Copy: Some | Friends List: No

Entry Filed under: Accessories,Boots,Coats,Costumes,Fantasy,Gloves,Grunge,Hair,Jeans,Outfits,Shirts,Steampunk,Style Throwdown