Iris Ophelia's ongoing review of virtual world and MMO fashion
With the year drawing to a close, it's time to reflect on my favorite items I've covered since January 2011, mesh and non-mesh alike, and to predict which releases will endure the test of time to be fashionista favorites well into 2012!
10. Moira (pictured above), Dress from Paper Couture (originally posted September 22nd)
"Moira is easily my favourite dress from the collection. Though I love the subtle colours and the black lace bodice, the biggest reason that I adore it is that it's absolutely designed to turn heads. It's bold, it's glamorous, and it's impeccably well made. As I mentioned, Paper Couture's textures are all usually very painterly and meticulous, which makes each design stand out from your everyday dresses in SL."
Keep reading for the complete list!
9. Ddragh, Armor from DragansVarg (originally posted September 8th and October 13th)
I've actually written about this outfit twice in 2011, which should no doubt earn it a mention on my list. it earned it's place in both my Assassin's Creed ensemble, and my redesign of Felicia Day's Dragon Age 2 character, Tallis. The leather and metal texturing on these armor pieces is flawless, and an absolute must-have for fantasy fashionistas.
8. Yumi, Hair from Wasabi Pills (originally posted July 7th)
This spot really belongs to all of Wasabi Pills' 2011 releases, which have stolen the spotlight for both sculpted and mesh hair innovation (even when my viewer is bugging out on them!)
7. Pout, Skin from Curio (originally posted February 24th)
"I haven't worn Curio skins for over a year, but after Jasmine and Sweetheart lured me back, Pout sealed the deal. It's the same fabulous detail and body expected from Curio, but with an adorable pouting mouth perfect for the lacy doll-like outfits I've been hoarding recently. This skin has a lot of expression and charm."
6. Bloom Dolls, Avatars from Sand Shack Surf Co. (originally posted May 27th)
"They beg to be customized with scaled down clothing, wigs, and accessories, and [designer Emma Gilmour] has encouraged the budding Bloom community to take the same approach with her creations. In a lot of ways, dressing your avatar is no different than dressing a doll, so it's no surprise when doll lovers find their way to SL, and vice versa!"
5. DOLL COCO, Avatars from COCO DESIGNS (originally posted October 26th)
More dolls? Really? Yes really. Take a look at these gorgeous mesh avs in person and there will be no doubt that they deserve their place here! "True to their inspiration, these dolls are hauntingly pretty, and cute to the point of making your teeth hurt. Even better, they're far more economical than many doll avatars that have come out in the past. The bodies, which are made up of individual jointed pieces, are free with group membership (along with some bonus elf ears and a cute costume), while each head (there are a half-dozen to choose from) costs just under L$500."
4. Jukebox, Furniture from Stuff Store (originally posted November 22nd)
"This working mesh jukebox from Stuff Store really got my attention. Honestly, if you'd shown it to me a couple years ago I never would have believed it was in Second Life. I mean, just look at it! It's an absolutely flawless work of art, and although it's not exactly a bargain it's worth every L$."
3. Persephone, Dress from Violent Seduction (originally posted September 14th)
"This darling dress, Persephone from Violent Seduction, is easily my favorite mesh item in SL to date. It's not perfect, but the delicious little details made it love at first sight." Although it was overshadowed by the irritating bug shared in the original post, my feelings about this dress haven't diminished at all.
2. A Lil' Foxy, Scarf from Ohmai (originally posted December 14th)
The release of this plush scarf sparked a massive debate over the ethics of fur in virtual fashion, which I covered (and admittedly fueled) with my original post about it. This scarf's fluffy texturing and stylized design have earned it a permanent place in my wardrobe (no matter what the haters think!)
1. Lichtenstein Dames, Makeups from Adore & Abhor (originally posted October 27th)
Airedine Poe's Halloween makeups in the style of pop artist Roy Lichtenstein stole my heart above all else, so they were a shoe-in for the Number 1 spot! Don't forget that the styling for this makeup is key, though!"To really make this costume sing, a medium length blonde hairstyle (tinted a little bit more yellow) like the style I'm wearing from Kin will really capture the look of a Lichtenstein girl. ...The most important element is the eyes. Go for a pair of anime or cartoon-look eyes, like the ones I'm wearing from ~*By Snow*~. Cartoonish eyes will keep your face looking pop-art perfect without breaking the effect like realistic eyes would."
Looking back at all the outstanding items released in 2011, I absolutely can't wait to see what Second Life's amazingly creative designers produce in 2012!
Iris Ophelia (Janine Hawkins IRL) has been featured in the New York Times and has spoken about SL-based design at the Fashion Institute of Technology in Manhattan and with pop culture/fashion maven Johanna Blakley.
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