Janine "Iris Ophelia" Hawkins' ongoing review of gaming and virtual world style
There's big news in the world of virtual fashion: Former Second Life designer Violaine Villota's designs were recently donned by models in a Victoria's Secret fashion show. (As she just announced on her site.) Her work wasn't in the form of bras, corsets, or anything you might pick up yourself from the acclaimed undergarment brand, though. Violaine's contribution was a little more ephemeral. She makes wings -- the gorgeous, glittering fairy wings worn by several models in the show, to be specific.
Fancy Fairy wings were once a pretty popular accessory for fantasy-focussed fashionistas in Second Life, and when Violaine (RL Angela Jarman) shifted her focus away from SL, her virtual wing designs came with her. Although she was making these shimmering wings for herself well before she joined SL, many of her wing designs will look very familiar to those who followed her work in the metaverse. Particularly...
Violaine's tattered, irridescent "Kira" wings were a clear favorite among Second Life fairies, and that seems to hold true of Victoria's Secret models as well. Several models were wearing different variations of the Kira wings, along with sets of her stunningly realistic dragonfly wings.
You can see more of Violaine's (or should I say Angela's) work on the Fancy Fairy website, and even buy a pair for yourself. While you're at it, be sure to check her Flickr for more shots of her wings at the VS fashion show and a gallery of her Second Life wing designs.
UPDATE, 3:50pm: If you're in the US, watch Violaine's wings tomorrow night on CBS at 10pm Eastern. As she says on Second Life's Facebook page: "I've been so excited to see the wings on famous supermodels and I'm so happy with how it all turned out in the photos. It's going to air Tuesday night on CBS, for those of you wanting to watch everything in action!"
(Hat tip to Violaine's fellow SL wing designer Kala Bijoux)
TweetJanine Hawkins (@bleatingheart on Twitter, Iris Ophelia in Second Life) has been writing about virtual worlds and video games for nearly a decade, and has had her work featured on Paste, Kotaku, Jezebel and The Mary Sue.
It's always awesome to see your designs come to life, especially in such a high-profile venue. Wicked cool!
Posted by: Arcadia Codesmith | Monday, December 08, 2014 at 01:13 PM
I can't be happier to see SL is mentioned in a good way, well not good more like amazing! There are hundreds designers like this lady and hopefully some of them might get a chance to transfer their creativity to real life.
Posted by: Tamara Artis | Monday, December 08, 2014 at 02:25 PM
This is sooo cool! I am so glad to see the amazingly talented SL fashion industry brought to life!
Posted by: Kirsten Corleone | Monday, December 08, 2014 at 02:55 PM
Such a great story! This can't but help bring more attention to Second Life, SL fashion and fashion designers.
Posted by: Grady Echegaray | Monday, December 08, 2014 at 04:53 PM
Thanks for the write up :) One correction, is that I still do sell my wings in SL™. I haven't been too active for the last couple years because my computer was in desperate need of an upgrade in order to run it, and I have finally been able to do that. I hope to come back to creating again, perhaps not as active as I was in the beginning but definitely more active than I have been in the last year.
Posted by: Angela Jarman | Monday, December 08, 2014 at 05:41 PM
Thanks much, Angela, we'll update! Where are they available in SL and/or the Marketplace?
Posted by: Wagner James Au | Monday, December 08, 2014 at 06:26 PM
Fancy Fairy's Inworld Store is here:
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Wildewood/163/169/608
Posted by: Deoridhe Quandry | Monday, December 08, 2014 at 07:09 PM
It is good to see creators receive recognition for their work and efforts as it is often a long road before a creator can produce quality content.
Posted by: Count Burks | Wednesday, December 10, 2014 at 09:46 AM