It was a hard life, living in the Wastelands. No one denied that. In fact, it was one of the hardest lives one could be born to. It was even harder living on the edge of the Great Fissure. No one quite believed that, unless they themselves had been born to it. Or exiled there.

Hard lives breed hard people. The people of Gravatia, having been bred and born to hard lives, were among the hardest people one might ever hope (or hope not) to encounter. Their town, if such it could be called, straggled along the rim of the Great Fissure, its ramshackle buildings of wood and stone perched precariously bare feet from the edge, and in some cases seeming to spill over into the gorge on tenuous, crumbling stiltwork.

Koji was not particularly happy to be in Gravatia. Not that he would ever mention that to the Overseer; no, indeed not. He was always pleased, speaking officially, to do his official duty, and to perform any additional tasks that were deemed properly his to complete. By “pleased”, it was well known that he was bound by sworn obligation of indenture; that his “official duty” was to enforce the laws of the Prefecture, without question; and that “additional tasks” could be almost anything, depending only and entirely on the whim and pleasure of the Overseer.

Although Koji’s nominal purpose in Gravatia was indeed one of law enforcement, he suspected that there was an element of whim-indulgence as well. The Overseer was not one to be overly communicative, but he had been deep in his cups when he had received Koji to give him his despatch orders, and his words had flowed near as freely as the wine. It came down to this: there was insubordination in Gravatia. If left unchecked, it would not be long before insubordination simmered into insurrection, and insurrection boiled over into open rebellion.

But wherein lay the whim? For Koji was certain the Overseer’s plans were not exactly and only what they appeared to be. There were too many machinations, too many machinations, and far too much double-agent mischief for Koji’s taste. In his experience and considered opinion, simpler was always better. He was not the Overseer, and not a political genius, but he knew how people worked, and he knew what he saw. And what he saw seemed clear: he had been sent not to suppress the incipient rebellion in Gravatia, but to encourage it. But why? The ultimate result could be nothing short of anarchy, and anarchy had a way of spreading. It would do so without a doubt, even from this far-flung, almost-forgotten corner of the Protectorate.

Koji wondered, had he been tricked? Was he being manipulated? It seemed not at all unlikely. But to what end? Why would the Overseer choose to foment rebellion, even so far from the Center? What was there to gain? It seemed there was a larger picture than Koji could see from his own point of vantage. This did not surprise him, of course, and yet it bothered him—not that it was true, but that it seemed to matter so very greatly.

Well, he had a trick or two up his own sleeve. He was quite certain that the Overseer did not know of, or at least had put from his mind as of no import, the Visionary who had been exiled to Gravatia some half-dozen moons past. Koji had his own special “sight”, not a gift from his mother or his father’s mother, but a bio-technological enhancement. But in this matter, he knew that he needed something more. He would find and consult the Visionary—no doubt payment would be required—and learn what could be discerned of the truth. Unfortunately the circumstances were complex, and he knew that there might well be too many threads of alternate possibility to settle on any one truth. He would have to do his best with what he found.

Koji sighed as he looked out over the Fissure from the edge of town. The sluggish river moved slowly, far below, but his thoughts raced like heat lighting. The purple nebulae in his eyes swirled as the bio-linked circuitry processed incoming sensor data and fed impossible volumes of collated information into his brain, just below the level of conscious thought. Instantly, without even thinking, he knew where to find the Visionary, so that would be his first stop. As the information ebbed and flowed, new connections formed, relationships were identified, and probabilities calculated and predicted themselves in ever-refining spheres of accuracy. He now had what he was sure was a fairly complete picture of the socio-political structure in Gravatia, which meant he was a good way toward understanding the power dynamics. Hopefully the Visionary would be able to help him refine and perfect his comprehension. Even the smallest bit of additional insight could make a world of difference.

He raised his staff and held it at one angle, then another, trying to find a more stable signal relay from the intel satellites. Though they were fabulous tech indeed, his eyes were far less useful without the constant flow of new data. Koji sighed again. There was no reason for the poor signal quality, even this far out from the Center. Was the Overseer intentionally trying to keep certain information from him? Again, he knew without even thinking: the probability was appproximately 0.85. This did not make him angry, but it annoyed him, and he did not like to be annoyed, for it disrupted his calm.

Koji took a deep breath, composed his conscious mind, and set out to find the Visionary’s shack, at the far end of the Fissure. The Overseer would yet regret that he had attempted to turn Koji into a pawn in his selfish game of power. Koji would not be played for a fool.

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NeverLand 2049 Boy outfit by June Dion, Bare Rose
The set includes base garments in a variety of colors and styles; flexi shredded cape, scarf, and netting; sculpted body and leg armor, goggles, and supply belts; all highly detailed.
Event Horizon eyes by Kehl Razor, Razorblade Jacket
“MUCA” hairstyle by Cheerno Destiny, CheerNo
Staff of Gravatia by Perefim Cao, OMFG

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Photographed on location at The Great Fissure (The Great Fissure 134, 107, 69).

He hated the term. He hated it, but no matter what he did, no matter who he tried to be, he could not escape it. He had been trapped by it from the very beginning, from his very incept date, for the phrase had been prominently featured in his homeostatic promotional material—in shining, swirling letters, in multiple languages, and repeated in subliminal whispers that could barely be heard, yet made their way deep into the mind and all but guaranteed a purchase, if not actual satisfaction. In fact, if he had come with an interactive instruction manual—which he had not—the phrase would no doubt have been emblazoned across every virtual page.

Basic pleasure model.

Just thinking about it made him angry. There was something deeply, obviously insulting inherent in the word basic. What about him was “basic”, he wondered? He could learn, improve, better himself—and, more importantly, he could yearn to do so. And he had learned, he had improved, and he took pride in the fact. He had bettered himself far beyond his original programming and the packaged memories that had been more or less randomly synthesized to create his positronic psyche. He had sought to improve himself, worked to make himself better, and he knew without doubt that he was. And yet…

And yet.

As for his specialty—what was so wrong with pleasure? It was a recognized professional industry, after all, and he was properly licensed, but he saw the looks he got from people…from human people, anyway. It wasn’t as though he had chosen his own path; that too had been programmed into him from the very beginning. But he had made every effort to do his best, and he thought that he was very good at what he did. He was certainly popular enough. There was never any shortage of customers, regular and otherwise, especially when he took up his preferred waiting spot: just outside the employee entrance of the Tyrell Building at end of shift. The irony of this was not lost on him.

He remembered a conversation with another Nexus Six. She had never told him her name, but she had worn a platinum-blonde wig, and he had borrowed from her the raccoon-eyes face paint he now often wore, because it made him feel mysterious. “You,” she had said to him in a deceptive little-girl voice, “just want to be a real boy.” At first he had been annoyed, thinking that she misunderstood him completely. But she had continued: “That’s okay, though. It’s what we all want…to be real.” And that had made him sad, because he realized that she didn’t just misunderstand him: somehow, she misunderstood herself, too. He had tried to explain, and she had listened, but she hadn’t really heard, and certainly she did not understand.

No, no, I don’t want to be a “real boy”. That’s too easy, and too obvious. Don’t you see? I’m already real. We are all already real. You just mean that we’re not human. But what does that mean? Biology? What does that matter? We could discuss all day what it means, or doesn’t mean, to be human. In the end, where would that get us? I’m already real, and that’s all that matters.

On a day like today, though, that was cold comfort at best. And cold comfort didn’t go very far on a day like today, with the rain slanting down at hard, sharp angles like those of the Tyrell Building itself. Although he could of course get wet, and cold, and feel discomfort, and be distinctly unhappy about it, he could not die from it. In fact, it wouldn’t be fairly difficult for a human to do him any kind of serious injury. (All the same, he thought the bandage across the bridge of his nose was a nice touch.) Of course he would die anyway, or at least stop living, one day in the not-so-distant future. But he preferred not to think about that. Especially on a day like today. Today, he would think about how he was real, even if not human, and very good at his job. Maybe even one of the best.

At least, until the Nexus Sevens come out.

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Hooded Vest by Asalt Eames, Grasp
Net Shirt by AngelOf Diesel, AoD Designz
Phyton Skull Sneakers by Voodoo Schnyder, Void
Open Belt by Trapt Brentley, available on SL Marketplace
Blade Runner Umbrella v1.1 by Vissy Adamczyk, available on SL Marketplace
“Y-71″ hairstyle by Fuu Sohl, Zeus
EuroGuro – Zetsu face tattoo by Hanh Nyn, Noir & Noir (sadly, no longer available)
Nose Bandage Tattoo by Nyx Pinelli, Nyx.Urban HQ (sadly, no longer available)

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Photos taken on location at Blade Runner City (BLADERUNNER CITY 124, 130, 434).

As a rule, out of professional and general courtesy, I make every effort not to co-opt someone else’s idea for an ensemble, no matter how impressed I am with the accomplishment. However, a while back I was at one of my more favorite dance clubs, and it was a theme night, but a non-specific theme night, if you know what I mean—I think it may actually have been Come As You Are. It definitely wasn’t Sands of the Sahara, Enchantment Under the Sea, or Pocket-Sized And Smokin’ Hot (at least, I don’t think so). Anyway, I noticed a guy there rather boldly attired all in pink, and I thought, “Unexpected, and yet it works.” So of course, as one does, at least as I do, I sent him a complimentary IM and hoped he would volunteer a shop name or even a landmark (otherwise, I would just have to inquire more directly). Turns out he was called Galen Dudek, and he was in fact the designer of his own ensemble, which just goes to remind us once again how very small the Second World can be.

For a while, I tried to resist the idea of appropriating another’s (although of course I would consider it an homage rather than an appropriation and certainly offer credit where credit was due). After all, I had made a point of visiting the shop and the various clothing designs did in fact come in colors other than pink. And yet…and yet it was working so well in my head, and I was sure I could have some fun with it. So I decided, Caution, be ye thrown unto the winds, and I sent an IM to Galen that said “Hey, just FYI, I’m totally stealing your Pretty In Pink idea.” I believe his response was “LOL” (I’m pretty sure that’s verbatim). Feeling entitled and justified, or at least emboldened, I started accessorizing.

Galen’s Antonias Shirt is dance-club dressy, seemingly conservative in overall style but with a fabric texture that cleverly emulates disco-ball reflections on metallic threadwork, sequins, or other shiny, sparkly elements. The shirt is unbuttoned almost to the waist (no “just a tease” here), the better to show off your Tony Manero dance moves. I like the contrast of this dressy shirt with the decidedly casual Pink Jeans, with their wash-faded fabric texture, their tightly rolled (almost pegged) cuffs, and their slim-slim fit.

If you’re feeling oh-so-slightly less uninhibited, you may prefer to opt instead for the Glitterati Shirt. It looks to have been cut from the same cloth as Antonias, or perhaps it’s even the same shirt worn by a diferent guy, or the same guy in a different frame of mind—sleeves neatly cuffed at the wrist rather than casually rolled up, collar crisply in place rather than “popped” up, shirt front discreetly buttoned rather than extravagantly open. I’ve paired this shirt with Galen’s Pink Striped Jeans. Something tells me that I won’t be the only one putting these together—the low rise, which is super-low indeed, seems intentionally designed to match perfectly the fall of the shirt’s hem and reveal just a hint of skin. Sculpted slouchie cuffs are the finishing touch.

Galen’s clothing designs are a nice find, and at reasonable prices—jeans are L$99, shirts just L$49. The texture work is overall quite fine. My only minor gripe might be that the shading under the pecs on the shirts seems maybe just a bit heavy. Sculpted attachments are no-mod, but they’re resize-scripted for fitting. Clothing items too are no-mod, which wasn’t a problem for me, but you’ll be out of luck if you want to tint (although I can’t imagine wanting to do that here) or, more importantly, alter the fit from the “out of the box” settings.

Look for these and a variety of other casual designs for men, in pink and other colors, at Twin Bridge Designs (Rue dAlliez 220, 138, 21).

If you haven’t yet, take a few minutes to check out the new monthly sale event Narcissus’ Room (slurl, blog).  You’ll find a good selection of designs just for men, including a skin/hair combo pack from Dekade and these two gentleman’s accessory packs (above) from Plank Couture.  Everything is priced at just L$40 to L$90, and participating designers will change out their sale items each month.

I believe firmly that we can all learn from History. In terms of cold-weather attire for the male of the species, History shows us (if nothing else) that oh, I do so love a good pea coat. In RL, I have a calf-length pea coat in a wonderful foresty green, with burnt-orange lining—not exactly traditional, but really quite handsome. In SL, on the other hand, I have…well, not just one but two more. At least. Three (or possibly more) pea coats should surely be enough, at least one would think so; yet how could I resist one more? As it turns out, I could not.

The object of my yielded-to temptation is this very fine pea coat by Amerie Spitteler. It seems almost unnecessary to enumerate its almost-mundane components parts: jacket-layer base garment, sculpted collar, epaulets, cuffs, and bottom hem. And yet it’s from base elements (pigment, paper, wood, stone) that art is ultimately made. The fabric texture is finely painted and beyond reproach; the silhouette is clean and flattering; no detail has been overlooked.

The jacket-layer garment is cleverly detailed with a full bottom hem that most of the time will remain hidden discreetly beneath the sculpted hem attachment. However, it is sufficiently detailed to “come to the rescue” should your avatar to unnatural effect eclipse the sculpted hem for some reason, say due to a particular pose or AO animation. (This is similar to the “glitch pants” familiar to the female of the species, intended for wear with flexi skirts that may not always provide complete coverage.) The sculpted collar spreads gracefully wide, and cuffs and buttoned-down epaulets provide handsome finishing touches.

Unlike the otherwise similar pea coat from SF Design, this one has a bottom hem section  that’s sculpted rather than flexi, the better to sport big, shiny prim buttons, sturdily stitched in place. This piece has a realistic shape that falls naturally over a reasonably sized posterior (there was no need for me to resort to my “butt size zero” alternate shape) without looking oversized or bulky. My only wishful observation is that, because no closed version is included, the coat can only be worn open. But this seems a minor grumble indeed, and it’s not to be taken seriously.

In solid Brown and Black and checked Gray, Red and Violet, L$250 each. At AMERIE Men (AMERIE 216, 78, 26).

One of the beautiful things about SL is that I can (virtually) wear things I wouldn’t, couldn’t, or simply have no need to wear in real life. Although I do tend to express my own personal and particular tastes more often than not, I’ve also learned to find the fun in putting together looks for different “personalities” of my avatar that aren’t Ryan. Sometimes this is more challenging (I imagine because of a combination of “I know Ryan so well” and “There’s already a lot of me in Ryan”–both of which are of course true), but other times everything seems to come together almost as if by magic.

This was one of those magic times. And not because I was struck by divine or other inspiration, even though it may have felt like that’s what happened. No; as is most often the case, the magic lay entirely in fine design work that immediately suggested a “look” and lent itself naturally to accessorizing. icco Halcali’s Check Jacket for men is one of those things I might not (probably wouldn’t) wear in real life…but in SL I was sure I could make it work.

icco’s jacket is bold indeed, with strong, clean lines and a big, bright tartan-style plaid fabric print. The design is simple but most definitely not simplistic: jacket-layer base with broad sculpted collar, cuffs, and jacket bottom. In keeping with the jacket’s decidedly masculine profile, the prim buttons are beautifully oversized and impossible to miss (well, unless they’re hidden by a scarf) . The broad collar and pocket trim are textured in what looks like low, thick, dark fur. I will confess that, when I first tried on the jacket, the phrase that whispered itself in the back of my mind was “sexy lumberjack”. In the end, though, I think it’s more along the lines of “just the thing for a winter resort holiday”: fun in the snow before heading back to the lodge for a hot buttered rum and a roaring fire.

In four colors, L$320 each, at Halcali (Chimera Island 52, 139, 23). Also available styled for women.

To keep my feet properly warm and toasty—it isn’t all evenings by the fire, after all—I decided on Riq Grave’s Boston Boots. These are handsome all-weather boots, with a look that’s very L.L. Bean/Lands End, although I dare say more stylish than those venerable but conservative brands tend to be in their own designs. You definitely get more personalization options: you can customize the inner lining, eyelets, laces, tongue, and sole rubber to your liking. As if that weren’t already enough fun, you can also choose to add a rolled denim pants cuff or slightly scrunchie socks in a handful of colors. The various and different textures, construction, and detailing—all are seriously impressive. There appears to be a built-in ankle locker that keeps the boots from appearing to “break” your ankles in certain poses.

In 11 outer leather colors, L$325 a pair or L$2300 for the fat pack—not exactly inexpensive…but, in my opinion, not at all overpriced. Men’s and women’s sizes are included. A free demo is available. At Reek (Reek 72, 60, 325).

The city in winter was a wet, sopping ruin. The darkness at night was total, except for what light there was from the few proton-bombardment streetlamps that still burned, and the daytime gloom was oppressive and soul-crushing. There was no escape from the rain; brickwork, soaked to its dusty core, crumbled overhead and underfoot, and it was almost impossible to keep even an everglo cigarette alight.

Almost. But not quite.

For most, it went without saying that the task of staying dry was easier said than done. Some joked that it was a job better left to professionals. It was an old joke, and although friends might laugh, if one were lucky (or blessed with especially good friends), the laughter was universally tired, if not exhausted. Worn jokes and sorry laughter: both were covers for the inescapable reality that it was far more common to feel soaked to the bone than anything remotely comparable to comfortably dry. More than anything, they were sadly defiant attempts at sanity preservation.

Fortunately for Marco, ever since the weather had changed he had found that the old methods really did work best…which was to say, well enough, most of the time. Between his trench coat and old-school umbrella, he was able to stay dry enough not to float away, and with clothing properly layered he could stay warm enough to to keep from icing over. He was surprised by how many people favored electrostatic repellers over umbrellas and the like—they were hardly foolproof, especially if you forgot to charge the powerpack, and they did nothing against the cold. In any event, although he could have afforded a set of repellers, it was always better for a man in his line of work, always of a confidential investigatory nature, to be less noticeable rather than more. And, used judiciously, an umbrella or turned-up coat collar would almost always go a surprisingly long way toward preventing easy recognition. Trying to conceal your face with repellers would accompish exactly nothing.

Of course the weather tonight was even more horribly drenching than the weatherwatson had predicted. Of course, because tonight of all nights he must spend most if not all of the darkest, wettest hours in a rotted-out alley, alone and hopefully inconspicuous, waiting and watching for the Superintendent. Not that the Superintendent should have any legitimate business in this part of the old city, but then after all legitimate was the telling, even operative word. According to his informant, one who had as yet never led him astray, there was indeed someone here who had attracted at least the passing attention of the Superintendent. And that was very interesting indeed, to a great many people, some of whom were paying, oh so discreetly, for his time and physical presence tonight. Cameras were everwhere, but at the end of the day—or night—nothing could take the place of a sharp pair of eyes and a suspicious mind.

Although it had been abundantly clear that the details were none of his concern, Marcos could not help but wonder who this mysterious other might be. A woman? (There was always a woman.) Unlicensed tech dealers? Some other shadowy underworld figure? Time would tell, as it always did.

Tonight of all nights. He sighed. The rain poured down. He sighed again, huddled closer under his unfurled umbrella, and hoped that the next several miserable hours would pay off. In spades.

LimerDesigner Flux’s mesh Trench Coat from Hoorenbeek is thoughtfully designed and carefully executed, with all the pros and cons, benefits and compromises we’ve come to associate with mesh clothing designs. The rigged mesh coat is provided in small, medium, and large sizes, so you can choose the one that best fits your shape. You’ll still need the included tattoo-layer alpha mask to make sure your avatar doesn’t show through the coat. It’s worth noting that I’m wearing the small coat here, and while it’s not especially large, this shape is larger than my own usual shape. The coat is detailed with heavy stitchwork, big glossy buttons, and fastening straps with shining metal buckles. The mesh rigging gives the coat a natural drape and flow over your avatar in most poses and movements, although in some more extreme or exaggerated positions the coat may temporarily look “broken”.

Two collar options—one neatly flat, the other turned up—let you protect yourself against the cold and wet, or not, as needed. You can choose from the additional selection of mesh attachments to add a turtleneck or shirt with necktie, both in a nice handful of colors. Sweaters and shirts are also included in small, medium, and large sizes, and while it looks like the sizes are intended to match up with the corresponding coat in the same size, it’s possible to mix and match, and in some cases you may find you get a better overall fit by doing so. On occasion, when there was an environmental light behind me, I did notice some interesting although not entirely realistic backlighting effects on the turtleneck. I didn’t find this at all bothersome.

In six muted colors, L$520 each, or L$2100 for a pack of all six colors. At Hoorenbeek (JT World 20 128, 28, 23). The set is No Transfer, but from the store vendor you can also give the coat as a gift. Unfortunately, no demo is available.

I remember, when I was a kid, seeing photographs of people celebrating Christmas in shorts and sandals, even though their (fake) snow-flocked tree looked decidedly wintry to me. Mom, how can that be? Are they having Christmas in the summertime? (My mother was a schoolteacher before she retired.) Well, yes and no. You see, the Earth is a giant sphere, and some countries are on the other side, and the sun…and seasons… Well, my little head nearly exploded. I still can’t help thinking, deep down, that it’s kind of strange.

So, having finished up (for now) with sweaters, and before I move on to a few coats I’ve got my eye on, let’s make a brief side trip to a place that looks like January somewhere in the Southern Hemisphere. Because of course they’re dressing very differently there than I am in North America, even though it is Los Angeles and rather unseasonably warm these last few days. Consider it a well deserved diversion before we get back to dressing for chillier climes.

andersonlevis Obereung advertises his warm-weather casual menswear as “a modern take”. While I don’t disgree, I also think there’s a distinct retro/classic vibe to his shorts in particular—the asymmetrical elements, thickly layered fabrics, and profusion of not-always-functional buttons seem knowingly vintage (think, of all things, steampunk) rather than contemporary. It’s an interesting, even fascinating blending of influences and detail, a style interpretation that straddles the blurry line between Old and New.

Scott, discerning gentleman that he is, loves andersonlevis’ Saruel Vintage shorts. Their almost-baggy construction is reigned in by cuffed legs that are still comfortable rather than constricting. The herringbone fabric weave gives them a dressier look than you might otherwise expect. The sculpted shapes are impressive and make for a handsome garment. Inspect more closely and you’ll be rewarded by all sorts of realistic detailing: beautiful fabric texture and shading work, brand tags in back and at the cuff—and oh, those shiny metal buttons! Five colors, L$235 a pair.

Kamal, on the other hand, prefers the entirely casual look of the KlainKlot shorts. The twill fabric texture looks light and comfortable, and in spite of the neatly finished waistband the overall profile is loose, almost but not quite exaggeratedly so. Three glossy enamel-covered, metal-edged snaps adorn the asymmetrical fly. While the Saruel Vintage shorts incorporate a pants-layer base garment, these do not—just three sculpted attachments and a transparents alpha layer to hide your avatar’s body around the waist, just in case. Depending on your AO’s poses, you may notice that some of the fabric textures are mirror-flipped from one leg to the other, and some of the folds and wrinkles might just border on looking somewhat “crispy”. I find this more noticeable on the rack-style shop vendors, with their purposely regular garment presentation; it’s not really an issue in daily wear. Five colors, L$250 a pair.

Both men are wearing Birken Flip Flops, also by andersonlevis. These leather-strap sandals are classic at their core, yet not slavish in their interpretation. Here again there’s some asymmetry at work, in the way the leather straps cross over and under each other—really quite handsome. The integrated ankle bracelets conceal the join of the sculpted feet to your avatar’s own legs (a tattoo-layer alpha renders your own feet invisible), and the included HUD allows color change for the skin (but not the toenails), ankle bracelets, and decorative beads. As always, it can be challenging to get just the right color match for your avatar’s skin, and what looks good in some lighting conditions may not work as well in others. I found the subtle “grain” of the foot’s skin texture was more realistically visible on Scott’s lighter skin tone and got somewhat lost when tinted to match Kamal’s darker skin. I recommend trying out a free demo first, to make sure you’ll be happy with the results. Ten colors, L$350 a pair (or L$2,199 for a pack of all ten).

All available at Micoolie (Mastic Beach 244, 34, 3502).

You know, this might just be the last sweater in this series. Not because I don’t have more lined up and ready to go—as a matter of fact, I do!—but because there are, of course, other things. Like coats. Don’t worry, I’ll do something else before moving on to more winter wear, but I do think I feel a coat or two coming on. Maybe three…we’ll see.

In the meantime, though, one last sweater. Reila Karu’s Argyle Sweater seems absolutely designed to be worn oversized—the sculpted pieces have a loose, comfy look that’s best when they’re left at least a little bit big. The fabric texture appears to have photo-sourced origins, but it feels nicely smooth rather than flat and “crispy”, which has long been a peeve of mine. I almost feel like I could reach out and touch the delightfully chunky weave of big, heavy yarn.

Each sweater includes a shirt-layer base garment plus sculpted cuffs, scarf and sweater bottom. The cuffs are loose and slouchie, so don’t try to size them down too far or fit them too closely. The scarf, too, is big and loose, and it loops around your neck four or five times. The sweater bottom is carefully shaped to look realistically oversized, but this calls for a bit of extra care in sizing and fitting, so it doesn’t just look like the sweater is a size (or two) too large. I also found that I needed to switch to an AO with less extreme standing poses, so the sweater bottom wouldn’t be twisted awry or pushed into positions that just didn’t look right. For me, this isn’t a problematic compromise.

Choose from six colors, L$249 each. At Reila Skins (Nightfield 76, 186, 750).

It isn’t always a simple task to make “dressing up” look effortless and natural. Traveller Bade makes it his singular mission to assist you in this endeavor, and his fine men’s clothing store is just a click away, should you require his services. The very name “Sartoria” tells the tale: your every fine sartorial sense will be spoken to, your every refined sartorial whim indulged. In this case, I would argue, self-indulgence is not necessarily a vice.

Many designers set out Christmas gifts for their valued customers. This year, Traveller generously proffers gifts for Christmas and for the New Year as well. Consider them variations on a theme: fine sweaters, layed over a pristine white shirt, with sculpted sweater bottom, cuffs, and collar with contrasting foulard. Shirt cuffs are handsomely detailed with small embroidered fleurs-de-lis. I found the sweater bottom particularly well designed and simple to position and fit.

You can choose Klaus, in Navy, or Klaus II, in Burgundy. Either is easily yours; you need only click the kiosk to accept your gift. Or, of course—and this is my recommendation—you can choose both. At Sartoria (Burning Heart 102, 192, 24). Look just inside the store entrance for the gift kiosks.