High-gloss accessories: YV by Yvette Vultee

August 14th, 2009 at 09:35am Ryan Darragh

I don’t often venture into the realm of what could be called High Fashion.  I guess it’s just not my thing.  Now, when I say High Fashion I don’t mean Italian suits, expensive tuxedos, diamond-studded watches, that kind of thing.  No, I’m talking about slick, celebrity-worthy clothing and accessories that in RL have price tags that range from extravagant to exorbitant to unthinkable, at least for you and me.  The kind of designs you see on models in high-gloss layouts in big, shiny style magazines.  The ones you leave out on your coffee table so people will think you’re Somebody.

Well, in SL anybody can be Somebody, or at least dress like Somebody.  Yvette Vultee’s distinctive new collection of prim accessories for men and women is designed with Somebody in mind.  Are you Somebody?  Only you can decide…although your friends will certainly have their own opinions as well.  Some of them will likely share their opinions with you as well.  After all, what are friends for?  If in fact you are Somebody, you can take it.

Yvette’s collection for men includes eyewear in four classy, classic styles.  The “Aviator” sunglasses are like an old friend with a new hairstyle—the lenses are in the familiar aviator shape, but the frame’s bridge features a simple but unusual “split” design that really catches the eye.  L$320 for a pack of four different metal/color combinations.

The “Emilio” sunglasses are fantastically oversized, just right for your inner Audrey Hepburn or Jackie O.  Thick, broad temple bars block glare from the sides and, far more importantly, add just that much more style.  Perfect for your efforts, however futile and hopeless, to avoid being spotted by the paparazzi.  Run and hide!  Or just strike a pose.  You know you want to.  L$320 for a pack of two different styles.

If you are (or fancy yourself to be) a sportsman, consider Yvette’s “Aero” sunglasses.  These are styled for the man whose focus is performance (think Oakley), with lenses that are carefully shaped and contoured to minimize exposure and maximize protection against sun glare from snow and water.  Also, they just look cool.  L$320 for a pack of four styles.

My personal favorites, though, have to be these eyeglasses, called “Lenny.”  The styling is simple but elegant, all clean lines and smooth curves.  The rounded rectangular frames are comfortable and flattering, subtly retro yet contemporary.  L$290 for a pack of two styles.  They’re similar to but not exactly like the Prada frames I wear in RL–I’d buy these in a heartbeat.

All eyewear styles are scripted for easy, automatic resize.

Prim shoes in SL are an interesting challenge.  Too simple, and they look incomplete, unformed, silly, or just not like shoes—I’ve seen (and worn) some that looked like Chiclets on my feet.  Too complex, and they may lose their appeal, at least for men—dramatic designs are not necessarily unpopular with the fairer sex.  Yvette’s “Colin” sneakers are understated, with a classic but updated profile, gleaming patent leather textures, shiny accents, and neat laces and stitchwork.  Resize scripting makes for trouble-free fitting.  L$390 a pack in Black (four styles), White (four) and Silver (two).

Now, I have a confession to make.  I’ve put it off long enough.  Here it is:  At first I wasn’t sure about the “Victor” racing gloves.  I know, I know, but still—as I mentioned before, not really my thing.  It just goes to show that you can’t always go by your gut.  The first compliment I got on any of Yvette’s designs (and there have been several) was “Wow, those are great gloves!”  So now you know.  A glove-layer garment (the only clothing-layer item in Yvette’s collection, at least so far) is supplemented by a linked-prim attachment that makes up the snapped wrist cuff, glove body and metallic knuckle accent.  Wear them as half-gloves (short fingers, as shown here) or as full gloves with long fingers.  L$190 for the pack, which includes long- and short-fingered gloves in shiny black leather and prim cuffs with both silver and gold accents.

Fitting can be a little challenging on these.  A notecard advises fitting to hand size 18; my hand size is already just 20, so I figured I ought to be in luck.  Alas, of course it couldn’t be as simple as that.  I tried my hands at size 18, went back to 20, and resorted to my old friend, Edit Linked Parts (that’s Mr. Edit Linked Parts to you, but I call him ELP).  The task was a bit tedious, but not that bad once I figured out what I needed to do.  I’ll share my method with you now, so you can benefit from my experience.  Use simple stretch up/down to get the best possible overall fit to your hand.  Now, use ELP to select the shiny snap on the cuff strap and move it “up” and out of the way.  Then, still using ELP, select just the two pieces of the leather cuff and then size them up or down to fit.  You may also need to move the cuff “in” or “out” to encircle your wrist properly.  Now you can select just the snap again and move it back to its proper place.  You may also need to move the shiny wrist accent “in” or “out” to align properly with your knuckles.  And now you’re done!  You made a backup copy first, right?  I mean, just in case?

If there’s one jewelry/accessory item a man can almost always wear, with almost any outfit, it’s a watch.  However and of course, you can’t wear just any watch with any outfit.  Indiscriminate accessorizing will get you in all kinds of trouble.  Never fear—Yvette’s “Neo” oversized watches are the perfect match for her other accessories.  With their tight construction of sleek leather, metal and glass, they’re sure to lend an air of cool sophistication to your contemporary ensemble.  The smooth curves of the leather band are especially impressive.  Look closely to see how the metal watch case snaps into place on the band…sweet!  My only gripe is that the watches aren’t scripted to tell the time—it’s always and forever 10:10 (or 22:10).  I know this is a small thing or even a non-issue for many, but it’s kind of a pet peeve of mine, and so I mention it.  Watches and clock should tell the time, that’s all there is to it.  These don’t, but they’re no less beautiful for it, and that’s all that will matter for many.  L$320 a pack in your choice of Silver, Black or Black with Gold.  Resize scripted for easy fitting.  Each pack thoughtfully includes watches pre-set for wear on both right and left arm.

All in all, this is an exciting, beautiful and very promising initial collection.  I’m intrigued and can’t wait to see more!  L$1 demos are available for all items except gloves.  Yvette’s collection, which also includes designs for women, can be found at YV (VLS 94, 88, 1111).

I typically do little if any post-processing or enhancing of pictures I use here for illustrative purposes—I want the designs I feature to look here pretty much like you can expect them to look in-world, so you know what you’re getting.  My ambitious idea for this layout was to do something like the high-gloss fashion layouts I mentioned earlier.  For atmosphere, I did make extensive use of a diffuse glow filter.  In some cases (the sneakers in particular), this may tend to obscure some of the finer details in the designs.  Also check out the product images on Yvette’s store blog, and visit her in-world boutique to try on demos and take a closer look.

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

Notes: On Ryan: "Ichiro" skin by Denchu Dench (DEN-DOU). "Owen" hair by Din Raymaker (Uncleweb Studio). "Lovestruck" eyes by Photos Nikolaidis (A:S:S). Sensual Hoodie by Mat Kungler (Sensual Mistery). Stranded Jean X by Dragontat Zagato (Desert Moon Clothiers). Tube socks by Aimee Weber (for American Apparel).

Entry Filed under: Accessories, Casual, Designer Reviews, Eyewear, Gloves, Jewelry, New Items, Shoes, Yvette Vultee