Men's Second Style

I don’t often get the chance to attend inworld fashion shows these days.  Largely that’s due to timing–a lot of these events seem to take place during my RL workday, which makes it impossible for me to attend.  It’s also my own SL availabiity, which is limited by RL commitments (I do have a real life, and striking the balance is an ongoing challenge).  Fashion shows are a lot of fun, but they can be something of a mixed bag in terms of “bang for the buck.”  It’s not that the designs aren’t worth seeing.  No, the problem for me is that the experience tends to be, shall we say, less than optimal.  Clothing textures can take so long to rez for me that I can’t really get a good look at the designs before the next model hits the catwalk, much less come away with any usable pictures.  This may be just the nature of the beast, but it really can be frustrating.

But when Posy told me that she had been invited to present in her first fashion show, and then dropped me an invitation, I couldn’t say no.  For one thing, I was truly intrigued to see what she would do for this, her first venture into “couture” clothing.  Also, the show was scheduled for midday on a Saturday, which meant I could actually attend!  In the end, a bonus: the show was very well organized and orchestrated, actually a great experience for me even on my aging PC (yes, still).  Another bonus: Posy’s designs were modeled by none other than Vasean Talamasca, SL model nonpareil and icon of style.  This of course presented an interesting challenge for me.  Vas is kind of like the Brad Pitt – George Clooney double threat: he makes the rest of us look…kind of dumpy.  If we’re not on our game, anyway.

I can’t be Vas, of course, but it occurred to me that I can wear one of his shapes.  A quick dig through the inventory (where is that Shapes folder, anyway?) and shazam!–I am Loki, the exotic trickster himself, and ready for my close-up.  You too can be Loki, if you feel adventurous; Vasean’s “Loki” shape is available at Flesh Peddlers.  NEED SLURL!!!

“Rococo” was the theme of the fashion show, and the black-and-white color scheme was one of the parameters within which the designers were asked to work.  As you can imagine, this brought a certain thematic consistency to the designs that were presented, which otherwise covered a wide range of styles, influences and interpretations.  The apparent simplicity of Posy’s “Urban” outfit (L$200) is belied by the ornate artwork it features.  The eye gazing calmly from the sweater could belong to one of Doré’s engraved angels, and the elaborate floral scrollwork art in bright white makes for a stunning contrast against the deep black ground of the jeans.  Dark though they may be, details on the jeans are not lost–you can clearly make out stitchwork on the fly, front and back pockets, and the flared sculptie cuffs.

For a few days, here in Los Angeles it was feeling like “Chilly” (L$350) might have come along just in time for RL spring and decidedly non-chilly weather.  I need not have worried; today (February 9) it’s pissing down rain again, actually pretty cold for here, and it looks like the snow line on the mountains to the north is pretty low.  I actually saw one guy driving around with snow clumped on the roof of his car, although I suppose he could have just driven down from the mountains.  The set includes a jacket-layer sweater, boldly striped in black-and-white (natch), white pants with sculpted cuffs, and black gloves sans fingertips.  You also get a prim satchel and scarf, which are optional, of course, at least technically, but why would you leave them off?  The satchel’s highly decorative fabric pattern really stands out against the sweater’s simple horizontal stripes, and the scarf is sculpted to fall naturally over the satchel’s strap.

“Fancy Schmancy” seems an entirely appropriate name for this delightfully over-the-top ensemble.  You don’t have to look very hard to see in this coat visual echoes of Posy’s Debauchery Coats, released for the 2008 holiday season.  Here, though, the flexi coat is embellished with the scrollwork from Urban’s jeans, and if you look inside you’ll see that it’s lined with the tapestry pattern seen on Chilly’s satchel.  The set also includes pinstriped pants with sculpted cuffs, guilt-free prim fur collar and cuffs, and a jauntily be-feathered top hat.  All in all, this set is indeed both fancy and schmancy.  Take it home for L$600.

Posy’s Rococo Couture outfits can be purchased at Miau Haus (Scout 104, 236, 252).  Coordinating outfits for women are also available.

So, what would Vasean do, anyway?  I’m not sure I’d presume to guess.  However, I think it’s safe to say that he’d look better than me doing it.  The bastard.