Men's Second Style

We still have a few weeks left of Spring, but Summer’s coming on fast.  I can feel it sometimes in the air, and already we’ve had to run the a/c for a day or two here and there.  I’ve pulled out my shorts for the season in RL, and it seems appropriate to do the same in SL.

And there’s a bonus–in SL (although not in RL, at least not yet), I have some favorite new cargo shorts.  And cargo pants.  All in one.  I’m talking about Masaru Raymaker’s new 4-Way Cargo Pants.  What exactly are 4-Way Pants? you may well be wondering.  Never fear!  I shall tell you.

It’s fairly straightforward, actually.  The name pretty much tells the whole story.  By mixing and matching from an impressive selection of clothing-layer pieces and sculpted pockets and cuffs, Masaru’s 4-Way Cargos can be worn in four different ways, for four different looks: as shorts; cropped, or rolled to just below the knee; with the standard “system” pants cuffs we all know and love/hate; and with flared, slouchie cuffs.  Not only are these impressively flexible, like all of Masaru’s designs they’re amazingly good-looking.

The sculpted cuffs and pockets are carefully thought out, detailed and beautiful.  Different versions are included for the pants’ different wear options.  The sheer number of attachments may seem daunting at first, but once you start trying things on it will all make sense, I promise.

The sculpted belt has a burnished silver buckle and tip, and it includes its own “built-in” belt loops textured in fabric that matches the pants.  You can touch the belt to choose from a handful of different canvas textures.

Available in seven different colors: Beige, Khaki, Navy, Dark Brown, Black, Charcoal and Wine Red.  L$300 each at M.R.M. Baines 32, 120, 21).  Each set includes both male and female sizes.

Because I couldn’t decide on just one (and hey, the pants can be worn four ways, so you can see why!), I’ve coordinated with two different tops, both from Zanzo.  The Mantra Singlet (L$80) is a classic tank top given some extra appeal by its striking colors, form-fitting torso shading and striking artwork.  The Giddy Guardian 2 Tone Turtle (L$130) is boldly colored, with almost anime-style artwork and sculpted turtleneck collar and cuffs.  This turtle is my own favorite from the collection, but all are bright, cheerful, amusing and fun out of all proportion to their simple construction.  Both singlets and turtles come in a variety of colors, and the turtles have different designs on each.

My feet are really quite extraordinarily happy in the Supah Fresh Sneeks from Zanzo.  I’ve worn a lot of sneakers (as you have too, I’m sure), and I’m quite fond of a lot of them.  But these have moved immediately into my Top 5.  They’re handsomely sculpted, straightforward but elegant in form (form follows function, after all), and resize scripting makes them quick and easy to fit.  A conventionally moddable pair is also included, so you can fit them manually if you prefer.  I’m wearing them here in Lemon ‘n’ Lime, but you can choose from a boatload of styles in other colors and patterns.  Just to give you an idea, the other pair I have is the Sunrise Lagoon style, but this was a group gift and is not for sale.  Don’t worry, though–you’ll have fun choosing from the other styles, all of which are great.  At just L$220 a pair, you might just take home more than one.

All Zanzo gear is designed and created by Theodore and Drusus DuCasse and can be found at Zanzo (Zanzo 182, 182, 15).  The Mantra singlets can be found in the Union ’82 shop; the turtlenecks and sneakers are on display in Bratz.

If you’ve been following this blog for a while, you’re probably aware of my fondness for skull-themed stuff.  SAZAE Yoshikiawa’s “Jessie” Skull Rhinestone Knit Cap has been percolating in my inventory for a while now, waiting for the right outfit to fall into place around it.  It took an embarrassingly long time, but at last I guess the stars aligned or something, and here we are.  This is a fairly simple but nicely realistic knit cap, decorated with a complex and horrifyingly primmy array of rhinestones that map out a skull-and-crossbones, and with a fringe of hair running from sides to back.  When I saw it on the shelf, it was love at first sight.  Seriously.  I think I heard violins play.  You see it here in Khaki, with Nut Brown hair (it’s almost kind of red), but you can also choose a Black cap, and take home either in a variety of hair colors.  L$240 at CREAMSHOP in Rainy Town (CREAMSHOP 126, 145, 25).

Ah, accessories.  Now, I know that no less a literary luminary than Mark Twain observed that “Clothes make the man” (the follow-on reason being that “Naked people have little or no influence on society”).  However, I feel I must respectfully suggest an alternative point of view: accessories make the outfit, and the outfit makes the man.  I wouldn’t go so far as to say that Accessories Are All, but I’m perfectly comfortable arguing that they’re Very Important Indeed.  Here I’m wearing a handful of sweet designs by Ghost Harris.  Probably most immediately noticeable would be the Green Sunglasses (L$250), sporty and stylish, with a white racing-style stripe on the arms.  These aren’t scripted for frame or lens color change, so they’re just simple and fun.  Also available in Blue.

Although you may have to look a little more closely to spot these, I’m also wearing a few of Ghost’s jewelry pieces.  By now everybody surely knows that I’m a total sucker for copper jewelry items, and as it happens they can be few and far between.  I very much like the Copper Key Necklace (L$250), with its elegantly curved chain and oval pendant decorated with two crossed keys in relief.  I’m also wearing two rings, one on each hand.  The Diamond Twist Ring (L$150) has a central solid band encircled with small diamonds and a single large stone, with twisting bands on either side.  The Diamond Dolphin Ring (L$250) features a sculpted dolphin, poised as if leaping through a hoop of diamonds, with another diamond mounted as his eye–a sweet little bit of whimsy.  All three items are easily moddable for size.  You can get your own at Monolith (Stingray 59, 190, 611).

So, is it easy?  Being green?  The song says no, but I didn’t think it was all that tough.