Slmen – How Men Dress in Second Life ®

Nouveau chez / New at: “Argrace”

Ben Vanguard — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 01:54:02 +0000

AIR Winx and rika Oyen are the two designers behind “Argrace.” They create cool stuff, and their last products are especially nicely done. I ‘m showing today “Holiday Surfer” by Air Winx and Baseball Cap with hair by rika Oyen.

Holiday surfer is a cool double shirt and tee-shirt combo. Each of the 8 available colors comes with 2 jacket layers (untucked, regular and with undershirt), a shortylayer and its underpants complement a tucked look fitting every pant’s cut, 2 presized collars, 2 presized pairs of cuffs. Everything is moddable and transfer. AIR offers 5 camo colors (1000 Lindens for a fat pack), and 3 regular colors (600 Lindens for a fat pack), each indivual color is sold for 250 Lindens.

“Baseball cap” comes in two versions, with shaggy hair and with curly hair. 6 hair colors are available. Caps pattern, color and size are moddable by menu. You can pick your favorite hair color for 250 lindens, or get them all in a fat pack for 1200 Lindens. Like every Argrace product, these baseball caps are transfer.

Also showing: Mhaiik Guillaume’s ring, Adam n Eve’s last skin, FNKY! sneakers, and very nice striped pants from Muism!

Enjoy!

Style, Photography: Ben Vanguard

[Click on the picture to enlarge]

Full credits after the jump!

• Chemise, Tee-shirt, Casquette + Cheveux / Shirt, T-Shirt, Cap + Hair:
Holiday Surfer - Army Deep (250 Lindens/color, 1000 Lindens/pack of 5 colors, Perms: M/NC/T),
Baseball Cap -Shaggy - Lightbrown (250 Lindens/1 hair color, 1200 Lindens/pack of 6 hair colors, Perms: NM/NC/T),
@ Argrace [Designer, Address & SLURL]

• Pantalon / Pants:
*Muism* Stripe Button Trouser/Black (40 Lindens, Perms: NM/C/NT),
@ Muism [Designer, Address & SLURL]

• Chaussures de sport / Sneakers:
FNKY! Racers II Sneakers (Dark Red) (500 Lindens/color, 2000 Lindens for a pack of 8, Perms: NM/C/NT),
@ FNKY! [Designer, Address & SLURL]

• Bague / Ring:
Mhaijik Diamond and Platinum Ring Mns Sz (250 Lindens with matching necklace, Perms: M/NC/T),
@ Guillaume pour Homme [Designer, Address & SLURL]

• Skin:
Adam n Eve skin - Nicholas Chin Beard T2 (1200 Lindens/facial option in one tone, 3000 Lindens/4 facial options in one tone, Perms: NM/C/NT),
@ Adam n Eve [Designer, Address & SLURL]

• Yeux / Eyes:
.::>>CI< <::. Hazel Eyes (40 Lindens, Perms: NM/C/NT),
@ Corrupted Innocence [Designer, Address & SLURL]

Truc du jour / Tip of the day: Avoiding the jagged pants’ bottom bug!

Ben Vanguard — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 10:08:47 +0000

•••July 3rd 2008 update••• Some paranoid “designers” thought it was stolen textures I used for explanation purpose on this post, and asked me in the most snotty and patronizing manner to take the picture of their texture down from the website, the server and any of my personal computers, before I had a chance to explain I simply used low res screenshots taken from appearance mode window. When they knew this was how I got it, they were ok with the picture staying, with their logo on it. I changed it though, and I swear I won’t show in any way any texture of these persons anymore, even worn on avatars

There is a bug in sl that annoys me like hell since my rezday: the jagged edge pants bug. It’s most frustrating, when you just bought a new pair of pants, to see it looking so bad because of yet another sl glitch…

[Click on the picture to enlarge]

Ugly pants’ bottom due to an SL bug…

I know many designers provide cuff attachments for a better finish, but I’m not totally happy with them, as their texture rarely matches the pants layer’s texture, and the fix is so simple there is no reason not to offer one more possibility of wearing pants, a prim sparing way

This bug can easily be prevented. When working with the pants template, don’t put the alpha right next to the boundary on the template. By painting your texture over the edges of the template, you can avoid this most annoying glitch! See the examples of bugged textures and ones that avoid the bug.

[Click on the picture to enlarge] (partly blurred for security reasons)

Example: Textures showing the bug.

[Click on the picture to enlarge] (partly blurred for security reasons)

Example: Textures avoiding the bug.

New skins at “Adam n Eve”

Ben Vanguard — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 00:37:46 +0000

It’s always nice to have new skins for men to try on! Especially good ones like the “David” and “Nicholas” from Sachi Vixen for “Adam n Eve”.

Guys, you have no excuse to all look like clones wearing the same two skins from the same two major sellers! Now you have even less excuses.

Each skin comes in 4 facial options: Shaven, Goatee and chin beard, plus Black Eye Liner for Nicholas, and a lighter goatee for David.

I do love the chin beard options, very original and realistic. On David, it’s more discreet than on Nicholas. (All facial options shown after the jump.)

Each comes in four tones, slightly different from one skin to another (see below).

Faces, clearly photosourced, are nicely worked. Sachi paid attention to details. The ears, a weak spot of many skins, are totally good on these skins.

Both young looking, Nicholas has a more “exotic” face maybe, with a nice shine on the lips. Best choice for personality. David is clearly the handsome 20-something man. Best choice for sexiness

Bodies of both skins are alike, with very well defined muscles, which is a must have on men’s skins in sl… Too bad for diversity, but I can imagine people want to show a well defined body because it’s what they consider great in RL. The skins looks great on the usual big shapes, it’s a bit more difficult to wear with a thin avatar but, hey, the faces are great and, after all, for me a skin is all about face and hands as i usually go dressed Hands are pleasant, and feet are clearly the weakness of these skins, but it’s a very common problem, due to the poor feet Linden Labs gave us!

You definitely need to take a look at these skins. They’re fairly priced, at 1200 for one, 3000 for the four facial options in one color.

These skins are the perfect complement in the range of Adam n Eve skins for men, nearby the great Damien, Jared and Darcy, perfect choice for those wanting a Thirty something look.

As usual, pick the demos you’re interested in and take your time to make your final choice!

Style, Photography: Ben Vanguard

Skin tones for “David” [Click on the picture to enlarge]

Adam n Eve skin - David Chin Beard Head Hair - Hyperion Studio-PHRIXUS Shape (modifiable)

Skin tones for “Nicholas” [Click on the picture to enlarge]

Adam n Eve skin - Nicholas Chin Beard Head Hair - Hyperion Studio-PHRIXUS Shape (modifiable)

More detailed pictures and full credits after the jump!

Details of “David” [Click on the picture to enlarge]

Adam n Eve skin - David Chin Beard t3 Head Hair - Hyperion Studio-PHRIXUS Shape (modifiable)

Details of “Nicholas” [Click on the picture to enlarge]

Adam n Eve skin - Nicholas Chin Beard t3 Head Hair - Hyperion Studio-PHRIXUS Shape (modifiable)

Facial options for David [Click on the picture to enlarge]

Left to Right and Top down:
Adam n Eve skin - David t3 Shaven, Chin Beard, Goatee, & Goatee 2 - Ben Vanguard’s personal Shape (not for sale)

Facial options for Nicholas [Click on the picture to enlarge]

Left to Right and Top down:
Adam n Eve skin - Nicholas t2 Shaven, Chin Beard, Goatee, & Black Eye Line - Ben Vanguard’s personal Shape (not for sale)

You just can’t miss Ryan’s nice pictures of Sachi’s skins on Men Second Style!!!

• Skin:
Adam n Eve skin - David (1200 Lindens/facial option in one tone, 3000 Lindens/4 facial options in one tone, Perms: NM/C/NT),
Adam n Eve skin - Nicholas (1200 Lindens/facial option in one tone, 3000 Lindens/4 facial options in one tone, Perms: NM/C/NT),
@ Adam n Eve [Designer, Address & SLURL]

• Short / Short pants:
SD Hibiscus Board Shorts - Orange (175 Lindens/color, 1000 Lindens/pack of 8, Perms: M/C/NT),
@ Stellar Designs [Designer, Address & SLURL]

• Coiffure / Hair:
LH_hair13_rabi Black (200 Lindens/color, 1000 Lindens/8 colors pack, Perms: M/C/NT),
@ Little Heaven [Designer, Address & SLURL]

• Yeux / Eyes:
.::>>CI< <::. Hazel Eyes (40 Lindens, Perms: NM/C/NT),
@ Corrupted Innocence [Designer, Address & SLURL]

Nouveau Chez / New at: “Hoorenbeek” and “Defectiva”

Perry Proudhon — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 18:30:11 +0000

These tweed jackets at Hoorenbeek are sharp, with excellent textures and colors. So far, they’re available in green, beige, brown and dark grey, with new colors coming soon according to the sale board. Each color comes with the jacket open or closed, with alpha, t-shirt, turtleneck or a casual, open dress shirt underneath. Good shading and detail throughout. “Feels” very comfortable, but can look a bit dressy as well. Price isn’t bad, either, with the fat pack being the best deal at 1,300L for all colors and combinations. The shirt is tintable, and there’s a sculpty collar for the turtleneck (not shown). Also, several accessories, including cigarette packs and hPod earbuds.

I like this hair a lot, available at Defectiva. “Muse” comes in black, blond and brown. Nice combination of textures, some soft and straight, some thicker and wavy. Good detailing, especially the sideburns curling in front of the ear.

Finishing off the outfit…Dublin boots in black from JCS, and the Reborn pants in black from Aitui.

[Click on the picture to enlarge]

Style, Photography: Perry Proudhon

More pictures and full credits after the jump!

[Click on the picture to enlarge]

Left to Right & Top Down:
Green Jacket, open with t-shirt; Beige jacket, open with shirt; Brown jacket, closed with shirt; Dark Grey jacket, closed with turtleneck

• Veste, Chemise / Jacket, Shirt:
Tweed Jacket (520 Lindens/color, 1300 Lindens for pack of all colors, Perms: NM/NC/T),
@ Hoorenbeek [Designer, Address & SLURL]

• Coiffure / Hair:
Muse, Black (150 Lindens/color, Perms: M/C/NT),
@ Defectiva [Designer, Address & SLURL]

• Souliers / Shoes:
JCS Dublin Black (400 Lindens/colors, 1200 Lindens for a pack of 6, Perms: NM/C/NT or NM/NC/T),
@ JCS [Designer, Address & SLURL]

• Pantalon / Pants:
REBORN Pants, Black (200 Lindens/color, Perms: M/NC/T),
@ Aitui [Designer, Address & SLURL]

• Yeux / Eyes:
Natural, Indigo (50 Lindens, Perms: NM/C/NT),
@ Pixel Dolls [Designer, Address & SLURL]

• Skin:
Joshua Normal Skin Shaved Eyeliner (1800 Lindens, Perms: M/C/NT),
@ Damiani [Designer, Address & SLURL]

Tenue du jour / Outfit of the day, with a new Renegade skin.

Ben Vanguard — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 23:21:05 +0000

An outfit with a burgundy tone today, with nice striped shirt from “Style Starts Here,” coming in every possible layer and sold for 100 Lindens, following the more-than-fair pricing policy of the brand; a good pair of sneakers from FNKY! in the new range of “Racer” colors; and a nice hair from “Philotic Energy,” just updated with 96 new textures!

Also, I’m wearing a skin from Kaejo DaSilva for Renegade. This skin isn’t photorealistic and is a cool alternative to the dominant trend. Showing it in the “Tan” tone, with this particularly nice facial hair version called “Patch.”

Accessories are from “Guillaume pour Homme” and “Shiny Things.”

Enjoy!

[Click on the picture to enlarge]

Style, Photography: Ben Vanguard

Full credits after the jump!

• Jean, Chemise / Jeans, Shirt:
SSH - Slate Canvas Pants (Pants Layer) (100 Lindens/color, Perms: M/C/NT),
SSH - Faded Red Striped Shirt (Jacket Layer) (100 Lindens/color, Perms: M/C/NT),
@ Style Starts Here [Designer, Address & SLURL]

• Skin:
[Renegade] Generation Tan Patch Skin (1000 Lindens, 3000 Lindens/pack of 4 facial options, Perms: NM/C/NT),
@ Renegade [Designer, Address & SLURL]

• Coiffure / Hair:
PE Kannon Kohl White Tipped (199 Lindens/color pack including main tone and 2 tipped versions, 2000 Lindens/32 colors-96 versions packs, Perms: M/C/NT),
@ Philotic Energy [Designer, Address & SLURL]

• Chaussures de sport / Sneakers:
FNKY! Racers II Sneakers (Burgundy) (500 Lindens/color, 2000 Lindens for a pack of 8, Perms: NM/C/NT),
@ FNKY! [Designer, Address & SLURL]

• Bracelet:
Mechanica men’s bracelet - gunmetal (100 Lindens, Perms: M/NC/T),
@ Shiny Things [Designer, Address & SLURL]

• Bague / Ring:
Mhaijik Diamond and Platinum Band Mns Sz (100 Lindens, Perms: M/NC/T)
@ Guillaume pour Homme [Designer, Address & SLURL]

• Yeux / Eyes:
EyeFidelity RealEyes - Sharbat Bright (i) Indoor version - SbZ (100 Lindens, Perms: NM/C/NT),
@ Shape by Zada [Designer, Address & SLURL]

Nouveau Chez / New at: “Hoorenbeek” and “Guillaume pour Homme / Mhaijik Things”

Perry Proudhon — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 05:32:22 +0000

I love all the new accessories coming out for jeans, and the new jeans at Hoorenbeek have a variety of attachments to choose from. Chains, keys, belts w/Swiss army knives, an ‘hPod’ with earphones, cigarettes, lighters, a wallet with chain. With a bit of adjusting, most of these things work, except for the wallet. No matter how I rotated, moved, or nudged it, I couldn’t get the wallet to look like it was naturally tucked in my back pocket. Still, the other items look good with a minimum of adjustment, and maybe your av’s body is better able to hold a wallet in its pocket! The jeans come in a variety of colors, all shown here except for the faded blue. The texture is nice, with enough colors to choose from that you should be able to find something you like. Plus, the belt was small enough that I didn’t have to adjust it….a first for me in SL.

Mhaijik Guillaume has a new line of Pride jewelry out. Here I’m showing the pride bracelet and the 4 thong men’s choker. As usual, Mhaijik has put together a nice set of pieces, with a free gift of a plain thong bracelet (not shown) with each purchase.

I’m also showing the Knight hair from Exile, in the color “Harlow.” It’s a good cut, with nice textures and a good selection of colors.

Finishing off this outfit are the Sand colored all-stars, also from Hoorenbeek.

Oh! I almost forgot, this shirt is the classic v-neck t from Stellar Designs, shown in Smoke. It’s one of my favorite shirts ever in SL, and I’m surprised I’ve never worn it in a post before!

Style, Photography: Perry Proudhon

[Click on the picture to enlarge]

More pictures and full credits after the jump!

[Click on the picture to enlarge]

Left to Right & Top Down:
Classic Jeans in Midnight Blue, Grey, Regular Blue, Black

[Click on the picture to enlarge]

Left to Right:
Belt w/Cutter, Cigarettes & Lighter

• Jean / Jeans:
Classic Jeans w/accessories (420 Lindens, Perms: M/NC/T, some accessories NM [240L for accessory pack alone]),
@ Hoorenbeek [Designer, Address & SLURL]

• Chaussures de sport / Sneakers:
All-Stars, Sand (520 Lindens/color, 2000 Lindens for a pack of 8, Perms: NM/C/NT),
@ Hoorenbeek [Designer, Address & SLURL]

• Coiffure / Hair:
Exile Knight Harlow (250 Lindens/pack of 6 colors, 1000 Lindens/pack of 30 colors, Perms: C/M/NT),
@ Exile [Designer, Address & SLURL]

• Tee-Shirt Col V / V-Neck T-Shirt:
SD V Neck Tee - Smoke (90 Lindens, 440 Lindens for a 6 pack, Perms: C/M/NT),
@ Stellar Designs [Designer, Address & SLURL]

• Collier, Bracelet / Necklace, Bracelet:
Mhaijik Pride Heart 4 thong Mens Nk choker 1 (250L, Perms: M/NC/T), and Mhaijik Pride Leather Bracelet - Lg sz (175L, Perms: M/NC/T),
@ Guillaume pour Homme / Mhaijik Things [Designer, Address & SLURL]

• Yeux / Eyes:
Natural, Aqua (50 Lindens, Perms: NM/C/NT),
@ Pixel Dolls [Designer, Address & SLURL]

• Skin:
Joshua Normal Skin Shaved Eyeliner (1800 Lindens, Perms: M/C/NT),
@ Damiani [Designer, Address & SLURL]

Nouveau chez / New at: AOHARU & FNKY!

Ben Vanguard — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 00:15:08 +0000

Machang Pichot, designer behind “Aoharu,” creates very interesting pieces of clothing. She succeeds, IMHO, in mixing realism and hand drawn effect in her items. I’m showing you today “ColorDenim” (will be followed with many other as soon as I will have a bit of time!).

They come in tons of colors, some in gradations of colors (shown). Colors are subtle, textures are well shadowed, and I really like them! Each color pack comes with a set of pre-sized sculpty cuff attachments. They are moddable for a perfect fit. I didn’t show you them, since I’m still not convinced of sculpty cuffs for pants.

Now that so many designers work hard to avoid seams in their textures, these attachments rarely match the layer texture. The lighting plays differently on them than on the layers as well.
Fortunately, Machang’s pants are nicely designed on the pants layer, so they are just fine without cuffs! They don’t show the ugly “jagged bottom bug” that I wish more designers knew how to avoid, instead of spending time with not so useful prim attachments. (Speaking of that, I will do a post very soon, explaining how to design pants textures without the jagged bottom bug, a technical post, not directly useful to customers, but it will maybe help them to buy more nice pants without being forced to wear cuffs on them for a perfect finish!)

I chose to mix these hand drawn jeans with photorealistic sneakers from FNKY! Funk Schnook released his “Racers” recently, and I found them fitting well together. As usual, Funk’s building is perfect. They are scripted so you can adjust them precisely to fit your avatar size. Plus, a script allows you to choose to show or not show the laces knot, for a perfect finish with long pants! Much kudos to Funk for that. The twelve available colors are sold one by one or in a nicely priced full pack!
I was about to write I would like the colors to be more subdued. But I went to FNKY! store for the usual checking before posting, and just saw the “Racers2,” brand new release of the Racers in ten new more subdued colors! YAY!

Just a quick note about the skateboard from the Skateboard Store and Park: it comes in three versions in each color/graphic pattern pack you can buy for 600 Lindens. One to wear in hand (shown) one in a back pack and THE one you can ride, scripted, with many tricks included, and a very sophisticated scripting allowing you to create trick series. I’m sure you will enjoy it!

Style, Photography: Ben Vanguard

[Click on the picture to enlarge]

More pictures and full credits after the jump!

[Click on the picture to enlarge]

Left to Right & Top Down:
Aoharu_BT_ColorDenim in Mysterious, Ashbrown, Tricolore, Blue, Softpink, Black.
FNKY Racers Sneakers in Purple, Brown, Red, Cyan, Black, White.

[Click on the picture to enlarge]

Left to Right & Top Down: FNKY Racers Sneakers White, Green, Black, Grey.

• Pantalons /Pants:
AOHARU_BT_ColorDenim_Mysterious (180 Lindens, Perms: M/C/NT),
@ Aoharu [Designer, Address & SLURL]

• Chaussures de sport / Sneakers:
FNKY! Racers Sneakers (Purple) (500 Lindens/color, 2000 Lindens for a pack of 8, Perms: NM/C/NT),
@ FNKY! [Designer, Address & SLURL]

• Coudières /Arm Warmers:
BroGear - Armwarmers (PURPLE) (120 Lindens/pack of 9 colors, Perms: NM/C/NT),
@ Brogear [Designer, Address & SLURL]

• Tee-Shirt:
[Random] - Male Long T (Purple) (80 Lindens, Perms: M/C/NT),
@ Random [Designer, Address & SLURL]

• Collier, Bague / Necklace, Ring:
Mhaijik Kirit Three Jewels Necklace (275 Lindens/pack including the ring, Perms: M/NC/T),
Mhaijik Kirit Three Jewels Ring (250 Lindens:ring alone, Perms: M/NC/T),
@ Guillaume pour Homme [Designer, Address & SLURL]

• Skateboard:
Skateboard 2.8 Zero1 (600 Lindens, Perms: NM/NC/T),
@ Skateboard Store and Park [Designer, Address & SLURL]

• Coiffure / Hair:
LH_hair13_rabi Ash (200 Lindens/color, 1000 Lindens/8 colors pack, Perms: M/C/NT),
@ Little Heaven [Designer, Address & SLURL]

• Yeux / Eyes:
EyeFidelity RealEyes - Sharbat Bright (i) Indoor version - SbZ (100 Lindens, Perms: NM/C/NT),
@ Shape by Zada [Designer, Address & SLURL]

• Skin:
Joshua Normal Tone Skin Face 1 eyeliner (1800 Lindens, Perms: M/C/NT),
@ Damiani [Designer, Address & SLURL]

Nouveau chez / New at: MUWU

Perry Proudhon — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 01:10:48 +0000

This vest and jeans outfit from MUWU is a mix of very casual jeans and a somewhat formal vest and shirt set with optional tie. The jeans come in two versions: ripped, and ripped and stained (shown here). The vest, a woolen-looking texture in black, black/white checked and red/white checked, tops a white long sleeved shirt open at the neck, tail hanging out from the vest. The prim tie (in four colors) hangs loosely atop the vest.

Shown here also is the cool short haircut from Little Heaven, featured just yesterday by Ben. I love this hair, and the place it comes from. Little Heaven is a freaky sim. It gives you the feeling of playing a game of Silent Hill…you’re not sure what you’ll find around the next corner, or down the next stairway.

Finishing off this outfit, the black leather high-tops from Hoorenbeek.

[Click on the picture to enlarge]

Style, Photography: Perry Proudhon

Full credits after the jump!

• Jeans / Shirt / Vest / Tie:
Micro Cuts (675 Lindens/entire set or 90L per item (3 vests, white shirt, 2 jeans, 3 vests w/shirts, 4 ties), Perms: M/C/NT),
@ MUWU [Designer, Address & SLURL]

• Coiffure / Hair:
LH_hair13_rabi in Black (200 Lindens/color, 1000 Lindens/8 colors pack, Perms: M/C/NT),
@ Little Heaven [Designer, Address & SLURL]

• Souliers / Shoes:
Hoorenbeek All-Stars, Black Leather (520 Lindens/colors, Perms: NM/C/NT),
@ Hoorenbeek [Designer, Address & SLURL]

• Yeux / Eyes:
Natural Eyes in Blue (50 Lindens, Perms: NM/C/NT),
@ PixelDolls [Designer, Address & SLURL]

• Skin:
Joshua Normal Skin Shaved Eyeliner (1800 Lindens, Perms: M/C/NT),
@ Damiani [Designer, Address & SLURL]

Coupe de cheveux très courte pour hommes! Very short hair for men!

Ben Vanguard — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 23:42:55 +0000

I’ve been searching for very short prim men’s hair for a long long time. I knew it could be more than tricky to build, especially the nape of the neck.

I discovered these ones recently in “Little Heaven,” the shop of Falastear Aeon, a Japanese designer, and picked them up immediately.

They come in 8 colors, in each color pack you will get 3 presized versions for men, and 3 for women.
After a bit of adjustment (cuz short hair has to fit your head shape more closely than longer ones), I was pretty happy with it!

This very short haircut has a very trendy flair, with hair swept to the front. The work with alpha texture is very nice and the 3D effect is very good on such short hair. Front and sides are totally great. The nape of the neck is less convincing, but, as I told you, this is the most difficult part on short hair, plus it has to adjust on many head shapes.

Its building is very original, compared to the way hair is usually done. It means a lot of work, as usual textures for hair can’t really be applied on these prims.

Now i just wish many hairmakers will follow Falastear Aeon and offer us more nicely done short hair!

[Click on the picture to enlarge]

Little Heaven Rabi hair, shown in Ash, black, and White.

Style, Photography: Ben Vanguard

• Coiffure / Hair:
LH_hair13_rabi (200 Lindens/color, 1000 Lindens/8 colors pack, Perms: M/C/NT),
@ Little Heaven [Designer, Address & SLURL]

• Yeux / Eyes:
EyeFidelity RealEyes - Sharbat Bright (i) Indoor version - SbZ (100 Lindens, Perms: NM/C/NT),
@ Shape by Zada [Designer, Address & SLURL]

• Skin:
Joshua Tan Skin Face 1 eyeliner (1800 Lindens, Perms: M/C/NT),
@ Damiani [Designer, Address & SLURL]

Nouveau chez / New at: JCS, Philotic Energy, Rfyre.

Ben Vanguard — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 03:39:39 +0000

In these times when dramas about content theft are running all over the grid, with “collateral” witch hunts and false accusations, it’s nice and comforting to see how great designers can INSPIRE each other in the best way.
All through history, artists have gathered to share and vivify their creativity. Artists of the same field, of course, but also artists from different fields.

When Raven Pennyfeather (costume designer behind Rfyre) saw Eponymous Trenchmouth (shoe cobbler from JCS), something clicked. Let’s listen to Raven:
“Eponymous made some wonderful shoes for men called Toltec. I have made a suit of clothes to match, which I am calling Casteneda as he studied the Toltec. Aren’t they marvelous?”

So, i’m showing today Raven Pennyfeather’s last creation “Castaneda,” the new creation from Eponymous trenchmouth “Toltec,” and to go along with them, a new hair from another great artist, Aemilia Case from Philotic Energy, “Saxon” that comes in her so good new 96 textures.

I have to say it was a pure pleasure to put together items designed by such master-texturers!

“Toltec” comes in two colors (clay/olive and black/red); in each pack, copy or transfer following your needs, you will get 3 sizes.
Choose the size that looks best with your build. Adjust your foot size to 0 (unless you’re going barefoot). That way, you will have always the best fitting with any shoes (except sandals!). To get the best posssible appearance, it may be necessary to adjust the length and flare of your pants.
As usual, the textures are carefully designed, the building is ultra-precise, with an attention to detail I wish I could find more often in sl.
These Toltec have relatively high heels for men. In my humble opinion, they go better with historical costumes or fantasy outfits than “RL-like” outfits.

Fortunately, Raven Pennyfeather designed her “Castaneda” to perfectly fit the “Toltec.” It comes in two colors, Earth and Noir. Each color pack offers, as usual at Rfyre, many items and attachments, allowing more than one look (a mere 11 items in each pack!). Attachments and pants are modify, jackets and shirts aren’t. If you have issues with the length of the sleeve showing under the sculpty cuff attachment (these are perfectly designed and textured) like i did, Raven will provide you modify versions of them. “Castaneda” offers all the creativity you are used to getting at Rfyre!

[Click on the picture to enlarge]

JCS Toltec Clay/Olive, PE Saxon Ash Black Tipped, and Castaneda Earth.

[Click on the picture to enlarge]

JCS Toltec Black/red, PE Saxon Steel Black Tipped, and Castaneda Noir.

Style, Photography: Ben Vanguard

Full credits after the jump!

• Souliers / Shoes:
JCS Toltec Clay/Olive & Black/red (300 Lindens/color, Perms: NM/C/NT or NM/NC/T),
@ JCS [Designer, Address & SLURL]

• Costume / Outfit:
Castaneda Earth & Noir (600 Lindens/color, Perms: M/NC/T),
@ Rfyre [Designer, Address & SLURL]

• Coiffure / Hair:
PE Saxon Ash Black Tipped & Steel Black Tipped (199 Lindens/color pack including main tone and 2 tipped versions, 2000 Lindens/32 colors-96 versions packs, Perms: M/C/NT),
@ Philotic Energy [Designer, Address & SLURL]

• Yeux / Eyes:
EyeFidelity RealEyes - Sharbat Bright (i) Indoor version - SbZ (100 Lindens, Perms: NM/C/NT),
@ Shape by Zada [Designer, Address & SLURL]

• Skin:
Joshua Tan Skin Face 1 eyeliner (1800 Lindens, Perms: M/C/NT),
@ Damiani [Designer, Address & SLURL]

Faces of the Darklands Search

Ben Vanguard — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 23:45:07 +0000

Are you a goth/vampire/psychobilly/alternative or all of the above? Do you have a unique and fascinating look? Have you always wanted to become a model but just not interested in the standard SL fashion look? Now’s your chance for those of you that live outside the fashion industry’s norm! Rezzable is searching for the best male and female model to become the Faces of the Darklands.

L$20,000 cash in prizes
a panel of leading fashion industry judges
Faces of the Darklands Show
16 finalists-2 winners

CONTEST DATES:
Applications: May 26th-June 15th
Finalists Announced: June 21st
Fashion Show: June 28th
Winners Announced: June 30th

JUDGES:
Voshie Paine
hyasynth Tiramisu
Kylie Gears
Hart Larsson
JennyH Gossipgirl

Detailed information after the jump!

HOW TO APPLY:

REGISTER FOR THE CONTEST
——————————
Join the “Darkland Sims” subscrib-o-matic group to register, which is available at all Darkland sims.
Only entries from group members will be eligible.
this is the address of one of them: Crimson Shadow Rezzable (129, 203, 40)

APPLICATION
————–
3 photos:
1 Headshot-close up of face
1 Bodyshot-3/4 length bodyshot in swimwear
1 Styleshot-creative shot showing off your style

*little to NO PS work done of photos or will be disqualified.

1 bio:
a brief bio explaining who you are (including your name again) and the lifeSTYLE you have in SL.

Set permissions for photos to be full perms (modify, copy, transfer), otherwise pictures cannot be used and entry will be disqualified.

TITLE YOUR PHOTOS AND FOLDER FOR SUBMISSION
——————————————————
Take your 3 raw full-permission (modify, copy, transfer) images: 1 headshot, 1 bodyshot, and 1 style shot, and bio, and place them in a folder and submit them to VOSHIE PAINE. Title your folder as following replacing the (YOUR NAME) with your first and last name:
(folder)
FACE OF THE DARKLAND SEARCH-(YOUR NAME)

(pictures)
FDS-HEADSHOT-(YOUR NAME)
FDS-BODYSHOT-(YOUR NAME)
FDS-STYLESHOT-(YOUR NAME)

(notecard)
FDS-BIO-(YOUR NAME)

Failure to properly title or set correct permissions, will cause the entry to be disqualified.

Tenue du jour / Outfit of the Day: Deep Sea Diving

Domch Raymaker — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 00:09:38 +0000

Mer-culture has increasingly emerged as one of the more distinctive subcultures in Second Life. While I’m no expert in this area, this merman AV by Tekeli-li! caught my eye as a particularly creative take on the merperson - this isn’t your ordinary half-man, half-fish, but half-man, half-*angler*-fish. In short, it’s a merman meant for the sea’s deepest waters and trenches.

Tekeli-li! has very thoughtfully incorporated the angler-fish’s little bobbing light, and also included a rather ferocious-looking angler-fish pet, in case your merman gets a little lonesome while diving in those dark depths. Also included are an AO, spear, as well as the shark’s-teeth accessory set (necklace plus bracelets).

[Click on the picture to enlarge]

Style, Photography: Domch Raymaker

Full credits after the jump!

If you’re on the hunt for the less-ordinary merman (or merperson, as the case may be), do also check out Grendel’s Children - in particular, look for the male Siren, with its strikingly gorgeous headfin.

• Costume:
Anglerfish - Green Male (750 Lindens, also available in blue and purple, accessories and AO included, Perms: M/C/NT),
@ Tekeli-li! Dark Artistry

Nouveau chez / New at: “Kalrau”

Perry Proudhon — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 07:17:44 +0000

I love being surprised in Second Life. When I tried on this shirt, I looked at it without even thinking that it was amazing how the belt showed behind the shirt like this. Once I thought about it, I realized the only way to have the belt appear this way, as if you tugged the shirt up a bit to show the buckle, was to have the belt be part of the shirt. I love this! I haven’t seen anything like this much. I think it’s unique and really, really well done. The design on the front of the shirt is intricately drawn. I haven’t tried yet to read all the words in the background…

These black capris are great, too, a a nice soft, baggy pair of pants. The sculpty cuffs are realistic and well done, not looking like a tube stuck around your leg.

Sark Lane has expanded his shop, Insomnia, after relocating from the upstairs of Zona Cero. He’s expanded his inventory tremendously, and this black choker is one of the new items at his shop. It’s sleek and simple, black and silver with a blood red teardrop. Resizes easily if you don’t have a big thick neck.

Again I’m showing the Porn Star slip-ons, this time with the large skull design. These shoes continue to be a great bargain, considering all the options available to you — patterns, colors, sizes.

Truth’s Jared hair, this time in Sable, and this black rubber multiple rings bracelet set from Mhaijik Guillaume, finish off today’s outfit.

[Click on the picture to enlarge]

Style and photography: Perry Proudhon

Detailed credits after the jump!

• Chemise, pantalon / Shirt, Pants:
KR White Longsleeves with and without belt (210 Lindens, Perms: NC/M/T)
KR Capris - Black (250 Lindens, M/NC/T)
@ KalRau [Designer, Address & SLURL]

• Collier / Necklace:
Insomnia Black Choker (200L, Perms: M/C/NT)
@ Insomnia [Designer, Address & SLURL]

• Souliers / Shoes:
Pornstar Slip-Ons Multicolor (Unisex) (495 Lindens, menu-driven texture options, Perms: NM/C/NT),
@ Urban Bomb Unit [Designer, Address & SLURL]

• Bracelet / Bracelet:
O-Rings Bracelet Black Rubber Multiplied (Bonus with purchase of any Black Rubber item, Perms: M/NC/T),
@ Jewelry Mhaijik Things [Designer, Address & SLURL]

• Coiffure / Hair:
Jared, Sable (200 Lindens/pack of 3 colors, 1500 Lindens/pack of 72 colors, Perms: C/M/NT),
@ Truth [Designer, Address & SLURL]

• Skin:
Joshua Normal Skin Shaved Eyeliner (1800 Lindens, Perms: M/C/NT),
@ Damiani [Designer, Address & SLURL]

Nouveau chez / New at: Devol & Negko Design

Ben Vanguard — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 00:07:28 +0000

Today new tattoos from negko Design and Devol!

Negko DeVinna (for Negko Design) always makes of his creations something special. His skins and tattoos bring to the customer more than a product, but also a story, a tale. His inspiration for tattoos is made of Polynesian classics, Chinese patterns and his special touch of ultra-modernity. Those tattoos show lighter zones, as if partly erased. Why? What for? You can write your own story about these tattoos. That very fact is the sign of true art!

I won’t forget to mention that negko tattoos are seamless. You can count on the fingers of one hand the designers able to do that…

The tattoos come in many versions. You can mix and match them with each other. They come in as many layers as possible. Price range is from 49 Lindens to 249 Lindens, following the amount of layers in the pack (from simple gloves to full body tattoos). They are no modify, copy and no transfer.

Kaori Masala is a japanese designer. Under her brand Devol, she offers japanese style tattoos. Here you are in the kingdom of realism, with pieces looking like the most classic Japanese tattoos. You are discovering today her last creation, Fish and Sea, showing a fish with all its movement figured. 230 Lindens, copy, modify, no transfer.

Silk is from The Silk Raven (Solange Cerveau). I don’t give Solange credit for her huge work on it, since I haven’t shown even a tenth of what you get in the pack! Short and long version of the loin cloth, also sheer version of it, bracers, chest danglies, circlets, armbands… etc. A mere 21 pieces in each color pack! Everything is copy and modify. You can choose from many colors, your favorites for 550 Lindens each!

My model for today is “Aidan,” shape by Vasean Talamasca for Flesh Peddlers. 200 Lindens for a modify skin is a very generous offer. If you don’t feel able to build your own shape, use a good one like this one, and please don’t spend a fortune on it!

[Click on the picture to enlarge]

Negko Design: Tattoo 53: scorpio haka

[Click on the picture to enlarge]

Devol: Fish & Sea Tattoo

[Click on the picture to enlarge]

Negko Design: Tattoo 50: Lomu & Tattoo 54: Warrior Soul

[Click on the picture to enlarge]

Negko Design: Tattoo 52: Dragon haka

Style, Photography: Ben Vanguard

Detailed credits after the jump!

Model: Shape Aidan (200 Lindens, Perms M/C/NT)
@ Flesh Peddlers [Designer, Address & SLURL]

• Tatouages / Tattoos:
Tattoo 53: scorpio haka (249 Lindens, Perms: NM/C/NT),
Tattoo 50: Lomu (249 Lindens, Perms: NM/C/NT),
Tattoo 54: Warrior Soul (199 Lindens, Perms: NM/C/NT),
Tattoo 52: Dragon haka (169 Lindens, Perms: NM/C/NT),
@ Negko Designs [Designer, Address & SLURL]

Fish & Sea Tattoo (230 Lindens, Perms: M/C/NT),
@ Devol [Designer, Address & SLURL]

• Silk:
*TSR* Peacock for MEN (R07) - WHITE (550 Lindens, Perms M/C/NT)
@ The Silk Raven [Designer, Address & SLURL]

• Sandales / Sandals:
JGD - flipflop - Brown (150 Lindens/color, also available in green, white and blue. Perms: NM/C/NT),
@ JGD [Designer, Address & SLURL]

• Yeux / Eyes:
Bright Eyes - S - Abyss (75 Lindens, pack includes 3 iris sizes, Perms: M/C/NT),
@ Flesh Peddlers [Designer, Address & SLURL]

• Skin:
Antonio Tan Emo & Rock Star (1850 Lindens, Perms: M/C/NT),
@ FN2Y [Designer, Address & SLURL]

Tenue du jour / Outfit of the day: Heartattack & Vine

Perry Proudhon — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 06:09:45 +0000

Last week, two of my dear SL friends gave me a sweater, telling me they had seen it and immediately thought of me. They said I “always wear stripes.” I guess I hadn’t realized just how much I loved striped clothing in SL…maybe it’s because I appreciate the difficulty of designing with stripes.

Either way, I loved this sweater the minute I tried it on the first time. From the simple design to the excellent choice of colors (it also comes with grey, brown and green stripes), to the whimsical name — “nobody makes a cardigan with pink stripes” — what’s not to like?

Guerilla Gobo has a good sense of color and design…the stuff is unique and fun. I’ll show more of Heartattack & Vine’s items in the weeks to come.

The Porn Star slip ons, menu-driven to change size, color and pattern, are fun and easy to use. At 495L, they seem prohibitively expensive, but seriously, it’s like buying a limitless supply of shoes because of how many combinations you can have. Very much worth the price.

Finishing off this outfit, Mhaijik Guillaume’s Spring Cord Bracelet Bluez and the Spring Cord Necklace Bluez, and Truth’s Jared hair in sable.

[Click on the picture to enlarge]

Detailed credits after the jump!

• Pull / Sweater:
nobody makes cardigans with pink stripes (110 Lindens, Perms: NC/NM/T)
@ Heartattack & Vine [Designer, Address & SLURL]

• Souliers / Shoes:
Pornstar Slip-Ons Multicolor (Unisex) (495 Lindens, menu-driven texture options, Perms: NM/C/NT),
@ Urban Bomb Unit [Designer, Address & SLURL]

• Coiffure / Hair:
Jared, Sable (200 Lindens/pack of 3 colors, 1500 Lindens/pack of 72 colors, Perms: C/M/NT),
@ Truth [Designer, Address & SLURL]

• Bracelet, Collier / Bracelet, Necklace:
Spring Cord Bracelet Bluez, Spring Cord Necklace Bracelet (Bracelet, 175L; Necklace and Ring Set, 275L, Perms: M/NC/T)
@ Guillaume pour Homme [Designer, Address & SLURL]

• Jean / Jeans:
Classic Elephant Jeans - Dirty Light (145 Lindens, M/C/NT)
@ Elephant Outfitters [Designer, Address & SLURL]

• Skin:
FNKY! Antonio Medium - Emo (1850 Lindens, Perms: M/C/NT),
@ FNKY! [Designer, Address & SLURL]