Ophelia's Must Have: Kick Up Your Hair With Kanzashi

Exclusive to NWN, Iris Ophelia's ongoing showcase of all things stylish in SL

Ever since I started writing about fashion in Second Life some two years ago, my articles have always had a larger theme-- seasonal lines, workplace wear, what have you. As a result, there are a lot of items I never got to share with my readers, because they haven’t quite fit. A perfect example of this are kanzashi, a kind of Japanese hair ornament that I’m absolutely wild about. I’ve bought nearly every single one I’ve come across in SL, but I so rarely get to talk about them!

The majority of kanzashi are made up of flowers, but there’s a lot of room for artistic detail with wire and other elements. On the left is an example of a more traditional kanzashi, the Sakura Blossom Hana Kanzashi, made for a limited edition kimono set, by Hatsune Yoshikawa of Flower & Willow. It’s not my favorite of her hair accessories, but I appreciate her detailing. What I really want to sing about is the Kanzashi W by neko Harrop of Fukuneko, pictured on the right. It blends in a little more with casual clothing, and still makes a dynamic statement.  I'm pictured here wearing my kanzashi with a Duchess Top in blush by Nephilaine Protagonist of PixelDolls; I also wear one with a Tidori Coat by Risey Arai of Sey.  Hair ornaments in general are a little under appreciated in SL, so I sincerely hope to see all my fellow fashionistas trying out some cute kanzashi this summer!

Iris Ophelia has been featured in the New York Times and has spoken about SL-based design at the Fashion Institute of Technology in Manhattan.