Originally/Also posted at Mask and Mien ❤
I’m wondering how long I’ll be waiting for her to finish getting dressed this time. (I’ve lost count of the times we’ve done this.) One of the things I’m jealous of is the amount of clothes that women get in SL compared to what the men get. It’s really a pain when you’ve got an idea for something but there just is no real way to accomplish it given the options available. Then I watch Portia spend all kinds of time trying to figure out what to wear. Safe to say I’m a bit more glad to have fewer options then.
One of the things I never have to really look for is a nice suit to wear. Between the new Peak Suit and the Dandy suit [Deadwool] has me covered. I’ve been a fan of the craftsmanship on the Dandy for as long as I’ve had it, and it is still one of my first options when I feel being less of a bum. It certainly helps that Masa put out the Hugo shirt and the Ernst sweater to use as add-on items for it. They are both wearable without the suit (and both look amazing on their own) but I love being able to look just a little less serious. Or maybe it’s more serious, I guess that depends on your view of it haha. Topping it all off is the AMAZING Monk shoes that are available at Monsieur Chic this month! You HAVE to see them for yourself I swear!
That being said I took advantage of my time waiting for Miss Portia to get ready and asked her some questions. She decided to shoot questions back at me and well here we are again…
Lucky: On average how long does it take you to figure out your outfit for the day?
Portia: Well, if we’re just talking about the -first- outfit (most days I change at least once or twice), I find it takes anywhere from a few minutes to half an hour for regular kicking-around-the-grid styles. Some outfits take longer if I’m getting ready for a blog post or a competition because these often have specific guidelines I need or want to follow (and yes, they can take hours/days/weeks to get -just- right).
Portia: What would you say is the most important part of styling a male avatar in Second Life?
Lucky: I think that in my experience it’s maintaining that individual look. Men in Second Life have far fewer options then our female counterparts do, as I’m sure you know. A lot have since taken to the TMP body/head or various other mesh body and head combinations. I’m a fan of the mesh bodies (Slink being my preference), the heads I’m still on the fence with. I understand the appeal of them but, and I know this has been said before, I don’t want to look like however many other men out there. It’s the trick of finding that balance between being yourself while not refusing to change at all. I’ve adapted my look over the years I’ve been in here, shape has morphed, other things have changed as well, but I’ve kept small things that I feel make me myself.
Lucky: In relation to the first question, what things specifically do you go through while getting ready?
Portia: For me, it doesn’t matter if I’m dressing up for medieval RP, modern clubbing, or getting ready for the runway; I always start with a basic outfit that includes my mesh body, hands and feet and almost nothing else. From there, I try to decide what the most important thing about the outfit is going to be – if I want to showcase jewellery, I put that on first; if I want to wear a wicked pair of boots or a certain gown, that’s the first thing I add to outfit and I spend the rest of my time styling around it.
It’s easy to get distracted at every stage of this process but I’m training myself to focus on what’s most important and keep every other piece secondary/tertiary/etc. so I end up with a cohesive and sense-making style.
Portia: We’ve all heard that men and women have completely different experiences shopping in SL. Is there one or two things you’ve noticed that stand out above the rest?
Lucky: Events and available options.
Men realistically have 2 events that are what I would say “Male” events. Monsieur Chic being the newest one and then Men Only Monthly. The Mens Dept I love dearly, but since it started it’s grown to be more then just male things. I understand the need to draw in customers so I don’t begrudge them anything on that. With that being said though if you look at the events that go on regularly, 90% of them are more geared towards women. It makes sense because there are more women on the grid. I do think that more men would shop more if the options for things were out there and available in good quality. I know personally that I would.
Lucky: If you could suggest one thing to someone new to the fashion world, in regards to styling, what would it be?
Portia: Styling is another form of expression and just like in real life, the first things we learn about the people we meet come from visual cues. Figure out what you want to say about yourself -before- you start getting ready. Are you feeling elegant? Casual? Edgy? Artistic and imaginative? Find a few words that describe how you’re feeling and think about the best way to convey them visually. Think of actors, models, and public figures you admire for those same reasons and search through a few pictures of them online. Find your inspiration from someplace other than your SL inventory; draw from -every- aspect of your life!
Fashion in Second Life doesn’t have to be about wearing gowns and diamonds all the time and, frankly, it shouldn’t be. It isn’t about spending the most L$ or hitting every event and ONLY wearing new things. It’s about knowing who you are and telling people what you want to say. You can deliver an entire mission statement without having to say a word, my loves.
Portia: How has your approach to SL fashion changed since you started blogging with me here at Mask and Mien? Has it changed?
Lucky: It’s changed a lot. I can’t even really put into words how much. I’m still me of course, but I’ve expanded my fashion palette immensely. I mean I used to stick to mostly t-shirts, jeans, and my old sculpted mohawk. The mohawk was damn good for what it was and is still one I love, but you in particular encouraged growth on a lot of fronts. I’ve tried so many new combinations of items that I would have never purchased before. Even blending fantasy and more modern things from time to time. I still have a lot to learn though. I’ve found that I kind of keep tabs on others and what or how they do certain things. Picking up different tricks and ideas from all over the place. Then combining them with my own and seeing where it takes me. All of it takes a lot of time and patience. It won’t always work out perfect on the first try, but the failures all lead to growth and hopefully the outcome you want in the end.
Credits:
Lucky:
Skin: -NIVARO- Baptiste Skin – creamtone – nohair_clean_bald ~ ReishiProphet Resident
Ears: [MANDALA] Stretched ears-Omimi ~ Kikunosuke Eel
Eyes: IKON Sovereign Eyes – Sky ~ Ikon Innovia
Beard: ..: SAAL Body Inc :.. FACIAL HAIR Beard (Black Hair) ~ Saalskin Resident
Hands: Slink Avatar Enhancement Hands MALE V2.2 – Relaxed ~ Siddean Munro
Hair: [Deadwool] Undercut hair – tidy – chestnut ~ Masa Plympton
Hairbase: [Deadwool] Undercut hairbase – chestnut ~ Masa Plympton
Jacket: [Deadwool] The Dandy – formal jacket – black ~ Masa Plympton
Shirt: [Deadwool] Hugo shirt – (dandy jacket add-on) – red ~ Masa Plympton
Pants: [Deadwool] The Dandy – formal trousers – black ~ Masa Plympton
Shoes: [Deadwool] Monk shoes – black ~ Masa Plympton ~ NEW @ Monsieur Chic
Necklace: [MANDALA] OKAKI Dog Tag Necklace/SILVER ~ Kikunosuke Eel
Pose: !bang – homme leans 2M ~ Luna Jubilee ~ NEW @ TMD Feb 2016
Portia:
Skin: Lara Hurley-Fae natural/Rose Pale ~ Lara Hurley
Eyes: IKON Sovereign Eyes – Quicksilver ~ Ikon Innovia
Mesh Body: Maitreya Mesh Body – Lara ~ Onyx LeShelle
Hands: Slink Avatar Enhancement Hands – Elegant1 ~ Siddean Munro
Lashes: .: Mai Bilavio :. World Tour StripLash in London ~ Mai Bilavio
Nails: Hello Dave – Nail Appliers – Sweets For My Sweet – Gloss ~ Maia Gasparini ~ NEW
Hair: .LeLutka.Alyssa hair. ~ Thora Charron
Bra: 8. Blueberry / RARE / Flirt – Bra (Game) – Maitreya – Candy ~ Blueberryxx ~ Gacha Item
Earrings: (Yummy) Tiny Circle Pendant Earrings – Gold ~ Polyester Partridge ~ Available @ N.21 (Feb. 2015)
Necklace 1: (Yummy) Tiny Circle Pendant Necklace – Gold ~ Polyester Partridge ~ Available @ N.21 (Feb. 2015)
Necklace 2: (Yummy) Tiny Glass Pendant Necklace – Gold ~ Polyester Partridge ~ Available @ N.21 (Feb. 2015)
Necklace 3: (Yummy) Tiny Teardrop Pendant Necklace – Gold ~ Polyester Partridge ~ Available @ N.21 (Feb. 2015)
Ring: P.C; The Envy Ring – Gold ~ Cora Lu
Pose: (marukin) [royal fur] eh150313 modern lady of the city ~ Valencia Southard
Scene:
House: ROOST – Maison de Loire House ~ RoostHomes Resident
Closet Shelving: ROOST – Maison de Loire Wardrobe Shell ~ RoostHomes Resident
Nesting Boxes: -tres blah- Eclectic Collection -Nesting Boxes Set ~ Juliette Westerburg
Shoes: Garbaggio – Shoe Addict Gacha (The Arcade Sept 2015) ~ Ashleey Andrew
Shelves: -tres blah- Workspace – Shelves ~ Juliette Westerburg
Letters: Stockholm&Lima: Valentine’s Blush Love Letters ~ Surrealia Anatine
Flowers: -tres blah- Workspace – Silver Mason Jar of Roses ~ Juliette Westerburg
Makeup Brushes: -tres blah- Jolie – Brush Set ~ Juliette Westerburg
White Shoes: Garbaggio // Shoe Clutter White ~ Ashleey Andrew
Tray: -tres blah- Vanity – Platter of Treasures 1 ~ Juliette Westerburg
Hand: -tres blah- Jolie – Golden Hand ~ Juliette Westerburg
Books: -tres blah- Eclectic Collection – Charmed Books ~ Juliette Westerburg
Makeup Cup: -tres blah- Eclectic Collection – Brushes 3 ~ Juliette Westerburg
Nail Polish Rack: -tres blah- Jolie – Nail Polish Collection ~ Juliette Westerburg
Jewelry Tree: -tres blah- Vanity – Jewelry Tree RARE ~ Juliette Westerburg
Jewelry Box: -tres blah- Eclectic Collection – Trinkets ~ Juliette Westerburg
Candy Box: Stockholm&Lima: Valentine’s Blush Candy Box (closed) ~ Surrealia Anatine
Flowers: Stockholm&Lima: Valentine’s Blush Flower Box ~ Surrealia Anatine
Makeup Bag: -tres blah- Eclectic Collection – Makeup Bag ~ Juliette Westerburg
Artwork: Stockholm&Lima: Valentine’s Blush Paris Love ~ Surrealia Anatine
Hanging Dresses: Garbaggio – Shoe Addict Gacha (The Arcade Sept 2015) ~ Ashleey Andrew
Lipstick: Hive – Shades Lipstick ~ TheHiveStore Resident
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