New: Nicely textured casualwear @ Redgrave
July 8th, 2007 at 11:42am Secundus Jacobus
If Emilia Redgrave’s latest designs are any indication, the long-lamented drought of well-rendered photographically textured menswear may be coming to an end. Redgrave’s latest offerings stand out for their realism, attention to detail and sense of casual sophistication – neither too formal, nor the too-casual preponderance of quickly-made t-shirts that clot torsos throughout SL. Three of Emilia’s designs offer a good cross-section of her selection of work. With the Vest with Shirt *Honey, the playful pink pinstripes of the shirt are offset by the workmanlike sleeves rolled to the elbow. The light khaki sweater vest, with its summertime weight, evinces a maturity often difficult to find. But it is in the detail work – the rigid collars, the perfectly untucked front fits, the drape lines on the front of the sweater and at the cuff and tricep on the shirt – that set this particular item an order of magnitude over similar styles. Emilia’s secret? Patience. “I need several hours for one texture, until the results are absolutely perfect,” Emilia explained. “At minimum, I need four to five hours to finish. The longest I’ve worked was on a leather jacket – two days and eight hours.”
A graphic designer by trade, skilled in hand artistry and a self-admitted “Photoshop freak,” Emilia’s Suit Jacket – Brown Striped (L$300) has, again, a summer weight and feel to it. Reminiscent of patterned linen, this jacket looks light and comfortable, broken-in by time and wear and, as all good linen, contoured to the wearer. The underlying shirt, in a flat white, also exhibits the same attention to detail and sun-drenched comfort. The collars on both are worn and lay with studied nonchalance, and shadows look so natural as to draw second glances. “The wrinkles, shadows and other details take many hours,” Emilia explained. “But it’s with this detailed work that I wanted to separate myself from the regular offerings in SL.”
Lastly, Emilia’s white ribbed crested cardigan blazer with underlying henley, the Suit Retro-Jacket *Bright (L$450), is solidly within the growing neo-preppie aesthetic. Light and nautical, this blazer nearly oozes saltwater, and like all Redgrave designs, delights in its details – soft, photorealistic corners and shadows, black piping wound with white threads, the leonine crest at breast pocket and right side, all contribute to the almost palpable textures. “My inspirations are the big RL labels – sporty and stylish fashion, like esprit, Diesel…” Emilia said. “SL men want to look stylish, modern, and simply good looking. So I only work with photographed images of RL clothing, most of which I take myself. Then I fit those to the SL template. Some of my clients have told me that they have exactly the same clothes in their closets.” I’m going back this afternoon for a pair of white pants, then I’m going for a drive in my boat. Redgrave (Sands Island 1, 170, 100, 24).
Disclosure: Seen In World: No | Review Copy: No | Friends List: Yes
Notes: On Secundus: Mirror Image Gavin skin, bald/shaved; Made Men All Grown Up jeans, loose; E. Spengler’s Footwear, Tobacco with buckles 2.0; primOptic Eyewear, primOptic Rayon glasses 1.12; CE Fedora, white.
Entry Filed under: Casual, Designer Reviews, Jackets, New Items, Redgrave, Sweaters
18 Comments Add your own
1. Oscar Page | July 8th, 2007 at 3:38 pm
Congrats on your first post Secundus. Although I’ve said it to lots of people: I love Redgrave’s stuff, but I can’t justify myself spending that much on her stuff. L$300 on a plain white button up shirt or L$350 on simply a shirt & sweater combo is a bit overpriced. At least if the layers were split and it had a shirt layer as well as a sweater layer I’d consider it, but both layers put together on one jacket…it’s just not working for me. Again this is no discount to her craft whatsoever, but imo there’s too much else out there that I’d rather spend my $L on.
2. Name Withheld | July 8th, 2007 at 8:02 pm
I echo Oscar Page. I walked in the store and walked right back out. The prices are outrageous.
She photosources, so naturally they are going to look very well done and “realistic.” Does photosourcing mean less work compared to someone who handdraws their items from scratch? I do not know; but I do know there is elsewhere I can spend my $L and for much cheaper.
Good work, but you lost me at the price tag.
3. Iced Milo | July 8th, 2007 at 8:33 pm
I bought some of these pricey items and found myself wearing them for a far far longer period than the lesser counterparts. And I’m still not getting sick of them. I guess that fully justifies its hefty price tag. Besides I am not going to walk around and bump into someone wearing the same thing. All the better for me.
4. Name Withheld | July 9th, 2007 at 12:16 am
I don’t mind photosourced clothing, some things like jeans I think look better than drawn, but I’d have to agree with the above and say I would never pay these prices for highly photosourced clothes. I know it takes skill to put photos onto templates, however I think good hand drawn work is where the talent is & I’d pay accordingly.
5. Name Withheld #1 | July 9th, 2007 at 12:51 am
So were using eachothers names now? I will be name withheld #1, and you can be #2 =P
Good to see the different opinions of those who would not pay and those who would. I also agree that I think those who hand drawn is where the talent is too. It takes skill to photosource, true, but you are using someone elses work and design.
6. Name Withheld #2 | July 9th, 2007 at 1:41 am
Sorry Name Withheld #1 lol It just sounded so good, much better than me or anon lol Yes I agree with #1, & using someone elses design should account for a 50% discount for sure LOL
7. Iced Milo | July 9th, 2007 at 2:04 am
Laughs at those above.
Most of the photosourced clothes I’ve seen look like dogpile, so I’m pretty glad Redcase made them so well.
Seems like the excellent photosourced clothes are making the hand-drawn artists nervous enough to withhold their names.
8. Iced Milo | July 9th, 2007 at 2:05 am
Ha. I meant Redgrave.
9. Iced Milo | July 9th, 2007 at 2:08 am
Another point: Are hand-drawn clothes necessarily “original”? Aren’t most of them “influenced” by someone else’s “designs” too?
10. Name Withheld #1 | July 9th, 2007 at 3:42 am
Why are you being rude and laughing at us?
No one said the clothes were ugly we are just not willing to pay a hefty price tag for them.
Cant we voice opinions without putting fellow commenters down? Perhaps this is why we are withholding our names? Its sad that blogs tend to cause enemies and our choice to not display our names should be respected. =)
11. Ryan Darragh | July 9th, 2007 at 12:41 pm
I don’t think we can assume anything about anyone who chooses to withhold his or her name except that they choose to remain anonymous. We probably shouldn’t assume that this means anyone is another designer, worried about the competition.
This is not a comment on anyone’s designs in particular, and certainly not Emilia’s, but not every design I’ve seen that was based on photosourced textures has looked good. I’ve seen some items that reminded me of the flat clothing on my sister’s paper dolls. I do believe that there is artistry involved in taking photosourced fabric textures and using them to create pleasing and attractive SL clothing designs. I’m sure the process is far more complicated than simply taking a photo of a shirt or pants lying flat and applying that photo to the clothing templates. A great deal of work must be done to ensure that the photo textures combine to make a seamless item of clothing (except where clothing really has seams) with realistic shading.
I think one’s preference between photosourced and hand-drawn clothing textures is ultimately personal. This also true for what constitutes a good value and what designs an individual is willing to buy. It’s good to hear differing opinions, and I’m sure this kind of feedback is valuable to designers also.
12. Garth Goode | July 10th, 2007 at 10:32 pm
Likwise, L$850 for a suite without a skirt portion is a bit outrageous.
13. Garth Goode | July 10th, 2007 at 11:06 pm
That said, I just bought a polo shirt and jeans there, so what do I know?
14. Catero Revolution | July 11th, 2007 at 1:43 pm
First and foremost, Secundus, welcome to the team. Glad to have you and great choice for a first post. I look forward to reading your future reviews.
Many of the concerns regarding photosourcing versus hand drawn techniques and pricing have been echoed in in-world conversations I’ve had with friends. A close friend of mine swears by Redgrave clothing, drops the Lindens to buy it, and really looks good wearing the clothes. It really boils down to personal preference and one’s “retail personality” on all counts - as Ryan said.
Some are partial to photosourced goodies while some desire hand drawn delights. Likewise, with the shopping budget - many will eagerly pay 450L for a shirt, and others will search for options they feel are more economical.
All-in-all Emilia seems to be doing quite well with her brand.
15. Emilia Redgrave | July 16th, 2007 at 9:17 am
Dear Secundus,
at first thank you a looooooooooot for your very sensitive subsribe of my work. I hope you enjoy wearing this clothes and feel good in them.
Second, my input to the other comments…. well the Second Life fashion market offers a large choice of many different styles in every price category. So everybody have the possibility to pick the items for himself, that according best with the own linden wallet. I never would predicate the photosourced textures need more talent or time as the handdrawn.
Quite the contrary, there are many absolutely great made handdrawn clothes by other artist, they have my whole admiration.
As i start with my fashion my goal was to create fashion in best realistic quality that i can reach and every item that i sell was made with love.
My clothes should not overfloat the market so that nearly everyone wears them ( if i would sell them for 100 ld). Its high priced fashion for people they doenst care about money and and for people which value to attrack other with pure realismus.
For this price you get clothes with transfer option and also a customer service. An exchange/refund also a novate service if the redgrave items dissapears from the inventory are garanted.
Thank your comments and take care, Emilia
16. Gary Kohime | August 8th, 2007 at 8:20 am
I like to wear great clothes! There is no question on the quality, and the attention to detail of Redgrave’s clothes. As an example, (not even sure if anyone has noticed), but the men’s stuff (I don’t wear women’s clothes, lol ) have a very subtle flex to them. Not to mention the great avi fit, shadowing, natural folds/wrinkles and on and on. On my first visit to Emilia’s store, I dropped 4k in one trip, my only disappointment was wanting more items to pick from. Furthermore, I can’t wait to see her add more in the future and in my view, her success is assured. Personally, I don’t really care if its hand drawn or photo sourced. The fashion critiques will say what critics say, some positive and some negative. Emilia, you do not have to defend your work, this is a virtual world, and its great to be here, you make the stay even better. Thank you, from a long to be customer.
17. Mimi Juneau | August 22nd, 2007 at 12:43 pm
I LOVE YOU EMILIA !
Your men’s clothes are great, so are your women’s clothes.
Your men’s shoes are fabulous!
Me and my bf, we have them all !
18. Nuno McCullough | January 28th, 2008 at 5:44 am
I agree that the clothes might be a little expensive if we compare them with hundreds pf other shops, but if we want to have a diferent look and a quality look we can’t care about L$… Maybe that’s why the majority of my clothes are from Redgrave, Muism and Hoorembeek - I know that they are expensive but a good look is priceless lololol
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