Ophelia's Gaze: Even More Free Fashion For The Taking

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

Freebies can be a big draw for shoppers, so it probably shouldn’t be a surprise that there was a lot of positive feedback about my first freebie fashion article. Great new free items are released often, and there are plenty to choose from. But a lot of freebies are poor quality and just take up space-- and remember, you shouldn’t feel obliged to buy every freebie you come across, because even if they are "free", they can add up and make inventory loading a complete pain.

With that waste-not-want-not attitude in mind, I’ve chosen three supremely stylish freebies you'll want to keep in your wardrobe for a long time-- find them after the cut.

Well I may have said three, but I suppose technically I mean five, from 3 different designers:

The first is the image you see above, two outstanding free items by Katat0nik Pidgeon of Katat0nik. Katat0nik is a store that caters to Gothic and Gothic Lolita kind of style, and it has a pretty admirable stash of freebies at the heart of the store. The Plaid Butterfly Skirt pictured is available, for free, in several colors, along with some babydoll dresses, the buckled Axis Mundi boots pictured, as well as another version with colored legwarmer uppers. The boots, though they’re a tad hard to see in this image, are really excellent quality, something you could easily find for L$200 (or much more) elsewhere. As for the skirts, I would highly recommend a trip to Ameshin Yossarian’s Curious Kitties to get some perfectly coordinated accessories, since Ameshin’s a big fan of black and neon combinations as well.

My latest designer obsession is with Bijou, by Kotobuki Jewell. Kotobuki’s clothing designs are complete showstoppers so it’s easy to overlook her hairstyles. She has simple textures and a good grasp of sculpties, giving every hair segments a really distinct look-- she is not producing anything run of the mill. She offers a freebie style as well in all her textures, called Sylvia. The back of this style is a cropped ponytail, but I’m more interested in the front. Kotobuki has created a very unique look with the front and side pieces. I love the way they frame the face, it’s a real treasure.

The last two qualify more as fashion for the home. I’m one of many fashionista cheerleaders rooting for BettiePage Voyager of BP*, a favourite Japanese designer. BettiePage has had a branch of her store devoted to furniture for awhile, but recently she replaced it with a big field and a little, bafflingly empty, farm tower. I’m incredibly excited to see what she releases, and so far both of the items for sale here are freebies--  a uniquely organic lamp, and a picture holding easel. Her previous furniture designs have been very earthy to say the least, always with her usual exceptional level of quality and curious aesthetic, so I have no doubt that whatever she has in mind next will be just as charming.

I would like to remind everyone, especially since two of the featured designers here are Japanese, that CSR 2008 Summer starts this Friday August 8th and runs until the 31st. This is the single best event for freebie hunters, so don’t miss out!

Speaking of which, I'm always looking to share tips-- what great freebies have you come across recently?

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.

Comments

[Faerie]

T.A.R.T. and Baiastice are two stores that always seem to have new, very high quality freebies every month.

T.A.R.T. puts one on either side of the front door and Baiastice has them in a dedicated area of the store.

(Sissy from) Baiastice made my all time favourite outfit that I wear more than anything else and the fact that she put it out as a freebie just makes me want to hug her to death.

And of course you simply have to mention Four Yip who makes incredibly imaginative things and gives away everything she makes. Her Charlie Chaplin suit and feathered bird suit are two that come to mind.

[Yuvi]

Could someone explain how the CSR event works? The website is mostly Japanese and I'm bad at deciphering their pictures...

[Faerie]

Beanie explains it nicely here:

http://beaniecanning.wordpress.com/2008/08/07/creators-stamp-rally-csr-summer-2008/

[Yuvi]

Thanks! I heart Beanie : )

[Cindy Moore]

Good info
thank-you