Men's Second Style

Thrashin’.
Gleaming the Cube.
Lords of Dogtown.

You recognize them, of course you do, these classics that immortalize skate culture. For context, I could also mention The Endless Summer, given skate culture’s arguable origins in and ties to surf culture. (Just be glad I didn’t mention Solarbabies or Prayer of the Rollerboys. You think I’m joking, but I’m not.) Each of these pillars of cinematic excellence puts its own spin on skater style, acknowledging the influences drawn from punk, surf and beach-city fashions. One could learn a great deal from how Josh Brolin, Christian Slater and Emile Hirsch outfit themselves.

However, I am not Josh, Christian or Emile. (Nor, for that matter, Jason Patric or Corey Haim.) I am my own virtual boy, and I decided to put my own spin on the core skater aesthetic. Where to start? Long shorts, of course, as these are pretty much required—nobody skates in Daisy Dukes, unless we’re talking roller derby and you’ve also got a sassy Bettie Page haircut. While intriguing and loaded with potential, that’s not the look I was going for here. Long shorts are pretty much a no-brainer, a gimme even, but where to go from there? I decided, graciously and generously, to give myself free reign.

I ended up finding some long shorts at 22769 that are practically perfect in every way. (Actually I found not just one pair but two…but read on.) These Baggy Shorts by Paco Pooley are thoroughly equipped with generously sized pockets (for, you know, your stuff) and a dizzying array of hooks, clips and other hardware. Their baggy fit isn’t just comfortable and super-stylish—it also allows for freedom of movement during daring and potentially dangerous airborne maneuvers.  Paco’s Hoodie is simultaneously slinky-tight and gloriously loose, with wide cuffs and low-slung drapey hooded collar. There’s also a great-looking slouchie bottom section, with front patch pocket, which I’ve left off here to keep my belt visible.

Speaking of which, Misseuro Chau’s Bad Ass Skater Belt is truly bad-ass. Constructed from chains and other found items affixed (along with spare wheels) to a sturdy leather strap, it easily supports a detailed (prop) skateboard almost carelessly slung in back. No skaterboy’s wardrobe should be considered complete without one. My Worn Sneakers are a fine example of taking what could be a fairly conventional item (in this case, high-top sneakers) and giving it a little extra love. Here, the canvas near each shoe’s rubber toe is sprung loose and frayed, but we all know how that goes—the shoes are old and worn, but they know and fit our feet so well that we can’t bear to get rid of them. At least not until they actually disintegrate. The set includes tied and untied versions for both feet, so you can mix or match, back and forth, to get just the look you want.

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One of the benefits of the avatar alpha layer is the ability to hide parts of your avatar, so they don’t show when it would be unappealing, distracting or otherwise unwanted. Here, this allows for sculpted shoes that don’t have to accommodate the avatar’s bulky ankles and (let’s be honest) oddly shaped feet, and as a result are far more realistic. Many shoes now include alpha-layer “invisible socks” that, yes, render all or parts of your feet invisible, so they don’t conflict in ugly ways with the shoes, and all without the need for invisiprims. The invisible socks included with these beat-up high-tops do the job, but they left visible invisible sections (if that’s not an oxymoron, I don’t know what is, but I think you get the idea) running up my ankles, which detracted from the intended effect. I needed a more suitable pair of invisible socks, and you may as well. What to do, what to do? Well, you’re in luck—because I do the work so you don’t have to! Just click right here to get yourself a free pack of invisible socks (Lindaline shoemasks, by LindaB Helendale) in a variety of heights, for wear with anything from flip-flops to high-tops. (Also available: Lindaline bootmasks). I ended up wearing pair #04 with these high-tops, and only minimal adjustments to size and position were needed. Score!

These shoes were also a good excuse to break out Odd Paine’s “The Reanimator” attachment. I’ve found this little HUD most helpful with two-part boots, as it locks your feet and ankles in place so that more extreme AO poses and movements don’t “break” the boots impossibly. Until now I haven’t found a need for it with regular shoes, even high-tops, but these are sculpted to fit so closely that in some poses I saw the tops disappearing into my shins. Although having ankles and feet locked can make some poses look less natural, on balance you may find this preferable to having your shoes dig into your legs. Okay, that’s the good news.  Here’s the bad news: Odd’s store, Brimstone Creations, is no longer around. (Yes, I am a sucky loser who sucks.) Although I have some other shoes that include or incorporate ankle lockers in some way—some sandals from :sey come to mind—I can’t think of another stand-alone device that does the job.  Surely there must be one! If you know of a good one, please share with the whole class by leaving a comment.

WE NOW RETURN YOU TO OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED BLOG POST, ALREADY IN PROGRESS.

Baggy Shorts in Brown (L$120) and Hoodie in Green(ish) (L$110) at 22769 (Sunny Island 51, 83, 22). Designs by Paco Pooley.

Bad Ass Skater Belt (L$249) and Worn Sneakers (L$199) at Demon Kitties (Starfish and Coffee 161, 227, 21). Designs by Misseuro Chau.

Having noticed some additional items at 22769 that I liked and wanted, namely the aforementioned second pair of long shorts, I decided that, really, there was no reason not to put together two similar but different looks for my skaterboy. I really like the windblown look of the Open Flower Shirt, with its carefully sculpted open front, asymmetrical collar and flowing back that look oh so casual, like they might actually be moving in a slight breeze. It would also undoubtedly look great with a tight-fitting tank tee worn underneath; but it’s hot, so why not show a little skin and stay cool at the same time? Two birds, one stone. The Skater Shorts are cousins to the Baggy Shorts, but far from identical—the plaid print trim at the cuffs is a fun touch. You also get a hoodie “top” that’s worn tied at the waist. The hoodie doesn’t quite compare to this other beautifully sculpted one, but still it does look very nice, and the fabric print matches the trim on the shorts.

Skater Shorts in Brown/Green (L$120) and Open Flower Shirt in Light Blue (L$60) at 22769 (Sunny Island 51, 83, 22). Designs by Paco Pooley.

My skateboard is the Rai Fargis Skateboard 2.1, by Rai Fargis—a freebie, actually, but a very nice one. It’s scripted with a casually cool riding pose with animations, a couple of different jump tricks you can activate at will, and a wheels-on-concrete sound when in motion. The texture work is simple but realistic. Get yours at Undercity Skate Park (Underground 190, 147, 25). You’ll recognize the location when you get there, as that’s where I took the pictures for this feature.