Men's Second Style

The following intercepted Eyes Only communiqués are published here in the interests of promoting the public good. – Ed.

The intrepid agent carries his pocket recorder, microdot messaging device and magnifying loupe in his leather attaché case. He wears dark glasses — even in the night. He is the amoral loner — an existential character operating outside the constraints of society to secure the safety and well-being of prominent political figures. He maintains crucial property of the state at any cost. The bottom line: preserve the inner circle. Whether he wishes to conceal or advertise his presence for the sake of the mission or social camouflage a crisp overcoat is a must. One can not show up for international espionage and counter-espionage without being properly attired. Having been sent orders from the Generalissimo of the Red Army through the lines of communication he is charged with the task of locating and acquiring the perfect military overcoat.

His first and only stop: D3volution headquarters in Muir.

Govindira Galatea releases a series of striking double-breasted Soviet army trench coats for militant residents with a flair for fashion — Air Force in blue (pictured here) and Army in tan (reviewed below). The outerwear is available in separate clean and dirty versions. At 400L each these full-length overcoats are anything but Clouseau clumsy. They’re eye-catching, well-textured and come with leather gloves and a variety of prim embellishments: flexi wrist cuffs, lapels, epaulettes (shoulder boards), slacked waist tie, and flexi skirt with slackened waist tie). The attachments can be paired with the clothing layers to facilitate varied looks. The components are numbered and the package comes with concise instructions on how to diversely wear the coat.

During my in-world travels I’ve received many compliments from friends and random people. Friends will generally tell you what you’re wearing looks “nice” or “cute”, but a complete stranger chatting you up regarding your clothing is a clear indicator that the piece you’re wearing is the success that the designer intended it to be.

[22:02] Rhiannon Bossy*: Love the coat, Catero
[22:03] Rhiannon Bossy: Well, it’s very unusual
[22:04] Rhiannon Bossy: You have to be very confident to pull it off….I like that
* Name used with permission.

Armed with this knowledge our agent must now face an excruciating decision: to keep this revelation to himself or disseminate the information for the greater good.

Spy Groupies: Briar Bellambi and Roberta Beauchamp
Microfilm Operator: Roberta Beauchamp

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Sometimes you want a coat to do more than just keep you warm. You may want it to define your style, reflect your mood, present a particular image–or all of the above. For the last few months, my favorite coat in this category has been Krius Misfit’s Nomad Trencher. That amazing coat is now joined by another: the Red Star Army Overcoat, by designer Govindira Galatea of D3volution: Fashion Undone. This coat is a masterpiece of careful, thoughtful design and attention to detail. From the bright red piping on the collar and lapels to the beautiful, rough cloth texture and seam detailing to the hypnotic swing of the coat bottom, every element contributes to the illusion of a single elaborate garment. To me, this kind of design work, texturing and building is just as impressive as the design and building of a house, even though it’s “only” clothing.

Your first reaction when you open the coat’s folder in your inventory may well be one of astonishment–“Ohmigod, what am I supposed to do with all this stuff?!?” The coat is provided as a 16-piece set, some as clothing items, others as prim attachments. Here’s what you get: overcoat (worn on the jacket layer); prim cuffs in two sizes; prim collar and lapels; prim epaulets; flexiprim coat bottom (two versions); regular coat bottom (two versions, worn on the skirt layer); prim belt; overcoat top sleeve stretcher (worn on the shirt layer); leather gloves; and “chaps” style pants (intended only as a supplement to one of the coat configurations, not for wear as actual pants).

Fortunately for you (and me), also included is a handy notecard that provides clear instructions on How To Wear Your Coat. The notecard details various wearing options, including standard, clothing only/minimum prim, and fuller fit. Trust me, this will come in very handy when you get ready to put the coat on, so read the card through at least once (twice wouldn’t hurt). The key thing to remember is that the coat’s items are grouped into numbered categories, and the designer suggests starting off by wearing one or more of the groups of items to achieve a particular look. This may sound crazy, but it’s easy and straightforward. Once you’ve gotten started, you can move on to customizing by adding or taking off one or more items.

The Red Star Army Overcoat is available in clean and dirty versions for L$400 each at D3volution: Fashion Undone (Muir 27, 169, 54). Also available is the Soviet Air Force Overcoat (reviewed above). Take a look at the brilliant comic-style ad art!

We hope you enjoyed this joint review by Cat and Ryan. We may not attempt this very often, but we felt that these coats warranted some extra attention. Be sure to check ‘em out as soon as you get a chance!

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.  .  .  F O L L O W  -  U P    D I S P A T C H  .  .  .

In response to comments left on this review by readers, Govindira took the plunge and released the Red Star Spetznatz Overcoat in serious, sober black.  The Spetznatz coat is in every way equal in fit and finish to the Air Force and Army overcoats–only the color has been changed, and not to protect the innocent.  If you’ve been holding off on these because you were looking and hoping for a coat in black, or if you just want another option to add to your already ovestuffed wardrobe inventory, your opportunity has arrived!