Men's Second Style

Every once in a while, I find advertising artwork so impressive and intriguing that I feel compelled–I have no choice…cannot…resist–to yield to the twitch in my index finger and click “Buy” (or perhaps it’s “BUY!”) without further hesitation.  Such was the case with “Byron,” by designer Darwin Mizser of AVid.  There was something so very aloof and enigmatic about the model, and the clothing designs were presented so beautifully, that I found myself all but powerless to resist.  I have quite shamelessly tried to recreate here some of that air of cold mystery.

“Byron” is a complete clothing ensemble–you need supply nothing beyond your naked self (skin and hair).  The set includes a wool coat with high prim collar and flexi coat bottom, black silk shirt, leather pants, high leather boots, socks and fingerless gloves.  You also get several prim accessories:  flexi side cloak, hip dagger, long flexi sleeve laces and watch chain.

It seems that both god and devil are in the details, and this outfit is awash in enough detail to put you in either role.  The coat top is done in the style of a peacoat, with a double row of buttons, broad lapels and flap pockets.  Instead of falling straight to the thigh, the coat is nipped in at the waist, with layered flexi tails falling to the ankle in back.  A wide swath of brightly buckled straps runs down the back and allows you to fit the coat securely but comfortably for battle.  The coat bottom and heavy side cloak are lined with what appears to be ermine fur, not just for the luxury of it but for warmth on the frozen tundra.

Darwin has taken a unique approach to making high boots work with long pants.  Two different pairs of pants are included.  One, shown at right, is conventionally textured and fitted, with leather texture from top to bottom–normal pants, in other words, intended to be worn normally, as if falling over the boot tops.

The other pair of pants, shown above, is fitted close to the lower leg and textured with the boot tops, so the boots are actually part of ths pants.  Enhancing the illusion are prim strap ends, worn on the lower legs.  To me this was an unexpected approach, but the end result is that you can wear the pants over or tucked into the included boots, or with shoes or boots of your own.

In addition to this clever collaboration with the pants, the boots are what I think of as “compound shoes,” for want of a better term.  The shoe base isn’t just a form that shapes your feet to fit inside all-prim shoes, it actually provides the shape and texture of the boot’s upper.  The prim attachment makes up just the boot soles and heels.  I’ve only seen this approach used rarely, with varying degrees of success, and I have mixed feelings about it.  But it can work, and it does work here.

The under-layers are no less carefully designed than the top, more readily visible clothing pieceds.  The black shirt is almost entirely concealed by the coat, but it’s impressively textured, with shiny silk fabric, oversize collar and cuffs, and laces that gather in the back for a perfect fit.  With all the options provided by the generous selection of items in this set, you’ll have no trouble dressing up or down, as called for by the occasion.

Are there no cons to all these pros?  No minuses to all the pluses?  Well, I suppose very little if anything is completely perfect.  The bottom, ragged edge of shoulder cloak is a bit rough and shows some “jaggies.”  It’s a relatively minor drawback, but I wouldn’t mind if the edging were a little smoother.  You will most likely only ever notice this if you zoom in for close inspection, as I did when I was photographing the boots.  Also, because the shoulder cloak uses an alpha-channel texture for transparency at the ragged edge, in some situations the flexiprim fabric sections may become transparent or invisible–I noticed this occasionally in the drifting “fog” at the mountaintop location where I did this photo shoot.  This isn’t a complaint, just an observation of the nature of the beast.

Whether for roleplay, period sim living or exploration, or just dressing up, you’re bound to find at least one reason to add “Byron” to your wardrobe.  Click the link below to drop by the shop, check out the advertising art, and see if you aren’t hooked just like I was.  You can’t say I didn’t warn you.

Permissions on this outfit are Modify / No Copy / Transfer.  “Byron” is priced at L$780 for the set.

Available, along with dozens of other themed outfits, at AVid (Clothing 201, 29, 37).