Men's Second Style

For some time now, designer Kasi Tandino has been quietly adding quality men’s items to her line of fashions at Symmetry, which originally featured designs for women only.  This week’s new release–the tuxedo you see here–prompted me to get my act together and at long last review her growing collection for men.  “Tuxedo Nights” is available in fourteen colors:  Mauve, Silver, Pink, Purple, Red, Royal, Cobalt (pictured), Emerald, Gold, Lime, Aqua, Baby Blue, Black and Maroon.  The jacket features silk lapels and pocket trim, covered buttons, and a white pocket square.

The matching colored vest and bowtie contrast nicely with the crisp white wingtip-collar shirt.  Note that the jacket, vest and shirt are all one piece on the jacket layer (jacket tails are on the skirt layer), so this tux doesn’t provide the same wearing flexibility as those from some other designers (Blaze Columbia and DoC Eldritch come to mind), but all the same this is a very stylish offering.  Priced at L$499 for any single color; no combination pack is available.

Kasi’s other designs for men aren’t brand new, but they deserve your attention.  “Coleman” comes as a set of Cashmere Sweaters in five colors:  Black, Brown, Grey, Navy, Tan.  Also included are the JD Belt Leather Pants.

Normally, leather pants make me hear Trinny and Susannah in my head chanting, “Sweaty crotch, sweaty crotch!”  You know how in space, no one can hear you scream?  Well, in Second Life, no one can see you sweat.  In fact, you just don’t.  With that problem out of the way, my biggest concern with leather pants in SL has been that they always seem to be working too hard to call attention to themselves.  Kasi’s are stylish and restrained, with a subtle but realistic leather texture and lean, classy lines.  If Trinny and Susannah tossed these in the bin, I’d pull them right back out.  The sweaters are classic and simple, with a shallow V-neck, contrasting black tee collar underneath, and carefully placed folds at elbows and wrists.  The “Coleman” set is available for L$350.

“Sprocket” includes a Black Velvet Shirt, Brown Suede Vest and Money Belt Leather Pants.  The shirt is provided as both a tucked version (worn on the shirt layer) and a longer, untucked version (worn on the jacket layer and pictured at left).  The tucked shirt can also be worn with the vest, as the vest is provided as a jacket-layer clothing item.  The Money Belt Leather Pants are similar in styling to the JD Belt Leather Pants, but without the elaborate metal buckle.  The shirt and vest textures are nicely done–check out the subtle detailing along the placket and the gleaming buttons–and the trio makes for rich contrast between leather, suede and velvet.  “Sprocket” is priced at L$300 for the set.

Kasi has not forgotten that men also have more basic clothing needs.  Her “Calvins” underwear comes in both plain color styles and flashier patterns.  The color pack includes briefs in Black, Dark Grey, Green, Light Grey, Red, and Blue (pictured here), plus tank tees in matching colors.  The squarecut briefs fall low on the waist, high on the leg.  The tanks are detailed with realistic shading and wrinkles, and the drape from hip to hip is asymmetrical and sexy.  The color pack is available for L$129.

The patterns pack includes briefs in six patterns (two are pictured here), plus tucked and untucked tank tees in black and white.  The patterns pack will set you back L$329.  The waistband of the briefs features a realistic woven name logo, like many RL designer lines of underwear.

If you haven’t yet discovered Kasi Tandino’s menswear at Symmetry, TP on over and take a look!  While you’re at it, drop her an appreciative IM and encourage her to keep designing for us guys. 

All items available at Symmetry (Rigi 7, 190, 39).