New World Notes

Get Stylish at SL's Festival of Sin, Fashion Inspired by the 7 Deadlies

  

Iris Ophelia's ongoing review of virtual world and MMO fashion

Second Life's first Festival of Sin [Click here to teleport to Festival of Sin in DIABLO], an event built around the seven deadly sins, opened last week, and I have to admit that this full-sim fashion fair took me by surprise. As much as I love themed events, I was a little skeptical of this one, and I'll tell you why:

When you think of lust, envy, and the other deadly sins, you immediately associate very clear images, ideas, and even colors. Those images and ideas will probably be very similar to the ones in my head, or the ones in someone else's. There are a lot of clichés so strongly associated with the seven deadly sins that I was expecting to be disappointed by the sin-inspired festival exclusives. But to my surprise, there are quite a few designers at this event who proved me very wrong...

So naturally I had to share! Keep reading for the details of my sinfully stylish ensemble...

Celebrate Oscars in SL with Rebel Hope's Latest Mesh Gown

Iris Ophelia's ongoing review of virtual world and MMO fashion

I'll admit that I'd nearly forgotten that The Oscars are taking place this weekend, but it makes the release of this new gown from Rebel Hope Designs quite well-timed. If you're unfamiliar, Rebel Hope Designs is practically an institution in the SL fashion world; they're an enduring and high-end brand that's recently embraced mesh wholeheartedly. Their latest dress, Stephanie, comes in ten different colours to satisfy any palette preference, and the sheer ruffles along the bust are adjustable and removable (in case you prefer a sleeker silhouette).

Animated Mesh Tears Will Win Your SL Heart By Breaking It

Iris Ophelia's ongoing review of virtual world and MMO fashion

Nyagos Kidd of ++NODe++ [Teleport to NODe in SLOW] recently released a set of stunningly animated attachable mesh tears that stream down an avatar's cheeks when worn, and understandably, they have fashionistas all aflutter. I'm no stranger to tears in Second Life-- at least, trying to find a good set as an accessory for a photo-- and these are easily the best ones I've ever tried. Tattoo layer tears never look as crisp as they should, and many sculpted tears look goopy and cartoonish.

So naturally I was so taken with this new alternative that I slapped together a melodramatic little clip of them in action. See the video (and read more about these beautiful tears) after the cut!

A Shadowy SL Snapshot Inspired by Back to Black Style Gala

Iris Ophelia's ongoing review of virtual world and MMO fashion

I felt like taking a simple snapshot today, in an outfit of all new releases (although it turned out a little moodier than I'd planned...) Get all the details about this dainty ensemble after the jump.

Why SL Eyes Are So Important -- And How to Make the Most of Yours!

Iris Ophelia's ongoing review of virtual world and MMO fashion

Eyes may be one of the most overlooked elements of a flawless avatar, and I can't say that I understand why. In RL, most people are at least a little attracted to beautiful eyes-- they are the window to the soul, after all. So why do so many of us pay them so little attention in SL?

A good set of eyes are equally as important as a good skin, but because eyes are so small (and because we stare at the back of our avatar's head more than the front) it's easy to forget about them. I'll admit that I almost never even credit the eyes I'm wearing with my outfits because they're usually the smallest detail. Nevertheless I pay a lot of attention to how my eyes look in world and in pictures, so today I'm sharing some tips to getting the most out of your SL eyes, starting with...

New MMO Called TERA Promises Mind-Blowing Fantasy Fashions and Super-Stylish Combatants

Iris Ophelia's ongoing review of virtual world and MMO fashion

Even though I wrote about my current favorite MMO just yesterday, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't looking out for my next big MMO obsession. While The Old Republic is a solidly designed and beautifully written game, after awhile all the very realistically designed gear starts to feel a bit... bland. Where's the panache, the zazz, the razzle-dazzle? That's probably why I'm so excited about TERA, a fantasy themed MMO with some of the most breathtaking and fanciful armor designs available in any current MMO.

Skeptical? Keep reading for more proof!

An Awesome Old Republic Avatar Feature Every MMO Needs

Iris Ophelia's ongoing review of virtual world and MMO fashion

I've spent a fair amount of time playing Bioware's Star Wars: The Old Republic since its launch last December, far more than I expected to in fact. I'm not a Star Wars fan at all, but I still gave the game a chance because I love Bioware's design and writing style so much, and because the character customization options are so diverse and interesting (which I wrote about shortly before the game's launch). But there's one feature in this game that I've come to appreciate above all others-- one that gives me almost complete control over my character's clothing so I won't ever outlevel my favorite piece, or be stuck with something hideous that I hate just because it's level appropriate. As far as I'm concerned, this feature belongs in every other MMORPG. Let me explain:

Perfect for Your SL Valentines: Sexy New Releases from the Dynamic Designers of Collabor88!

Iris Ophelia's ongoing review of virtual world and MMO fashion

Yesterday, the latest round of themed designs were released at Collabor88 [Click here to teleport to Collabor88 in TAILS], and it was love at first sight. If you're unfamiliar, Collabor88 is a collaborative effort from a large group of SL designers who release exclusive themed items (ranging from furniture to clothing to poses) for L$8, L$88, or L$888 on the 8th of every month.

This month's release revolves around literature, and even though my inner English major was fully prepared to geek out, it was this Valentine-themed lingerie ensemble I ended up settling on. Although I may be single, I still have a weakness for the romantic aesthetic that wafts through RL and SL fashion at this time of year.

So here's the full breakdown of this sweet and sexy look:

Since Avatars Can Be Perfect, "Flawed" Hair Seems Stylish

Iris Ophelia's ongoing review of virtual world and MMO fashion

Women have been dyeing their hair for a very long time, and for almost all of that time it was key to maintain the illusion that it was your natural colour. Touching up the natural roots as they grew out was crucial, because admitting to being a bottle-blond was a styling sin. Yet in Second Life, it's impossible to miss the trend of showing roots in avatar hair textures, which has picked up a lot in the past couple years. Now many of the most popular brands prominently feature rooted styles. Although some people don't get it, I think this trend makes perfect sense. Here's why:

Give a Warm Reception to coldLogic's New SL Mesh Fashions

Iris Ophelia's ongoing review of virtual world and MMO fashion

coldLogic [Teleport to ColdLogic in ZYRRA] is a brand new all-mesh venture from Janie Marlowe, Zyrra Falcone, and Damien Fate that has a lot of fashionistas in a flutter. If those names don't ring any bells, here's a little background info: Zyrra was a prim hair innovator from the bad old (pre-sculptie!) days of SL, while Janie ran Mischief for years but more recently relaunced as Jane, a shop that had some of the first mesh clothing releases. Damien of course is the force behind some of the first and most popular mesh fashion templates, as well as being the original designer behind Loco Pocos, and the father of an adorable baby boy named Linden. But it's not just the all-star designer list that has people talking.

Because of the way that mesh and textures interact on a well made piece of mesh clothing, I decided to photograph these pieces a little differently. I've cropped these shots close and put the sun behind me so you can see the shading and detail without shadows or anything else too distracting. Without mesh, none of these pieces could look even half as good as they do, and this is definitely the clearest with the Kelley jacket, pictured above. Every crease, fold, flap, and button is modelled and textured to make it stand out with striking realism.

Keep reading to see two more favorites from coldLogic up close!