... be true. Right?
Is that how it goes?
Is that how it goes?
It's strange to say, but this might have been the most challenging outfit I've put together in a very long time and to better understand how this all came together, I realize you're going to need a bit of background information. It isn't -that- complicated, but still.
Everyone comes to Second Life for their own reasons, whether it's to escape, to be social, or to explore parts of themselves that don't exactly fit IRL. Sometimes it's a combination of these wants and needs or maybe it's for reasons I can't begin to understand (I don't know; I just play here ;) ). For me, I thrive on challenge. On self-exploration. At my very core, and especially in SL, I live to try new things that appeal to me.
I am an avid role player; I've been a super hero and a sorceress; a pirate and an outlaw; a noble woman of Westeros; a socialite, a bartender, a shadow asset, and an oracle. I have played more roles than this, of course, but these were the characters who taught me the most about myself. I've raced horses in Second Life, too, and greatly enjoyed the thrill of lining up in the starting gates with my fellow jockeys, waiting for the message to "GO GO GO!!!"
I like going fast. Whether it's on the back of a fully-trained thoroughbred or on a pair of roller skates fighting zombies, speed is a heady thing. My short-lived experiences in Gor (it was Gor Evolved) involved racing through tunnels and across open terrain, bow in hand, covering the advance and the inevitable retreat as my outlaw brethren raided forts and villages along the coast. I don't have the stomach for slavery, though, or fawning over men who have done nothing to earn my regard, so it wasn't long before it was time to find a new home. I do miss the 'pew pew,' though. It's been ages since I've done anything resembling PVP.
One thing should be made clear at this point: through all these experiences, varied as they may seem, there are some commonalities. It's hard to explain in detail without getting long-winded (thank you, by the way, for staying with me this long) but I'm going to try it anyway. For posterity and because it's nice to put all of this in writing somewhere.
Everyone comes to Second Life for their own reasons, whether it's to escape, to be social, or to explore parts of themselves that don't exactly fit IRL. Sometimes it's a combination of these wants and needs or maybe it's for reasons I can't begin to understand (I don't know; I just play here ;) ). For me, I thrive on challenge. On self-exploration. At my very core, and especially in SL, I live to try new things that appeal to me.
I am an avid role player; I've been a super hero and a sorceress; a pirate and an outlaw; a noble woman of Westeros; a socialite, a bartender, a shadow asset, and an oracle. I have played more roles than this, of course, but these were the characters who taught me the most about myself. I've raced horses in Second Life, too, and greatly enjoyed the thrill of lining up in the starting gates with my fellow jockeys, waiting for the message to "GO GO GO!!!"
I like going fast. Whether it's on the back of a fully-trained thoroughbred or on a pair of roller skates fighting zombies, speed is a heady thing. My short-lived experiences in Gor (it was Gor Evolved) involved racing through tunnels and across open terrain, bow in hand, covering the advance and the inevitable retreat as my outlaw brethren raided forts and villages along the coast. I don't have the stomach for slavery, though, or fawning over men who have done nothing to earn my regard, so it wasn't long before it was time to find a new home. I do miss the 'pew pew,' though. It's been ages since I've done anything resembling PVP.
One thing should be made clear at this point: through all these experiences, varied as they may seem, there are some commonalities. It's hard to explain in detail without getting long-winded (thank you, by the way, for staying with me this long) but I'm going to try it anyway. For posterity and because it's nice to put all of this in writing somewhere.
- Empowerment - Like many people, men and women both, I struggle sometimes to be an active force in my own life. So many of us are trained through social mores, media, and our own experience to let other people take the lead; to follow and accept whatever is handed down to us, good citizens that we are, immediately and without complaint. There's a difference between being passive and being 'good,' however, and this is something I work hard to examine in Second Life.
- Exploration - Similar to empowerment, actually, and something I believe is vital in a place like Second Life, where it is so easy to move outside what is known and what is comfortable and find a new place to be, even if it's only for a few moments. My love of writing has moved me from one genre to another for years and with each move, I have learned a little bit more about myself along the way.
- Fashion - I could write for days, weeks, months, and years about fashion. About style, creativity, art, and how it has helped crystallize my personal experiences in SL. It's the reason I have this blog and the reason I will continue to try and explain this obsession of mine for a very long time. For now, though, I'm going share the quote from my SL profile and leave it at that:
"Style is a simple way of saying complicated things."
The challenge of this post is to share myself, not as I have tried to be, but as I am. Some small, superstitious part of me has shied away from mentioning the Mr. & Miss International competition until this point because, although the contest casting challenge is the catalyst for this outfit and blog post, it is not the reason I've put so much time and thought into what I'm writing today. I've moved into the world of SL modelling for a number of reasons, some of which I'm sure I won't discover for months, but this challenge stopped me in my tracks:
The Mr. & Miss Model International 2015
L'Amour Productions and Ava Jhamin are pleased to announce the Mr. & Miss Model International 2015! This competition is unlike any in SL as you will represent "YOURSELF" You will participate in competitions both runway, photo, and group events that will highlight you as a model and individual.
The submissions of your designs, photos etc. would then reflect who"YOU" are as an SL Avatar and RL Person.
Our goal is to celebrate the uniqueness of each of us. To celebrate who we are, where we come from, and share with others our mission for SL.
We invite you to participate as this competition is open to anyone in SL regardless of schooling or lack there of. If you reside in SL you are welcome to be a part of our competition.
All scoring and judges comments will be available within 48 hours of each competition round and posted in the group, as well as, Facebook and the group home page.
We pride ourselves in being an honest competition.
BEFORE AUDTIONS PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU SUBMIT ONE FULL BODY SHOT AND ONE HEAD SHOT TO THE FLICKR SITE IN AN OUTFIT THAT SCREAMS WHO YOU ARE!!!!!
Do you see how this has proven difficult for me?
Even with the relatively small (but profound) amount of modelling training I've had, I have learned that there are certain expectations for a person on the runway. That with every outfit there is a theme, a story that the model tells his or her audience through their styling, their walk, and their choice of poses. This is difficult in and of itself but when the challenge is to represent 'who we are, where we come from, and our mission for SL' in an outfit that 'screams' who we are .. I don't know. It's been a hard thing. Who are we? Who am I?
It would have been easier to wear something exquisite; some designer pieces, hot off the runway, or something from years ago that we all forgot how much we loved. Probably, it would have shown better on the catwalk but I don't think it would have been honest. I love fashion, I do, as much as I love the thrill of competition and daring choices when it matters .. but that's not who I am, not entirely. I am quiet, thoughtful, and most comfortable at home. I love warm sweaters, cool drinks, and green growing things.
It was intimidating to walk the runway in jeans (even if they ARE the new Blacklace Gabriella omega appliers) and riding boots (a gorgeous tribute to my jockey days) but at the end of the day, I felt good about the styling choices I made. Maybe it isn't a winning outfit but I don't mind if it isn't. It's a casual representation of who I am using some of my favourite pieces in all of SL. For me, it doesn't get any better than that.
Even with the relatively small (but profound) amount of modelling training I've had, I have learned that there are certain expectations for a person on the runway. That with every outfit there is a theme, a story that the model tells his or her audience through their styling, their walk, and their choice of poses. This is difficult in and of itself but when the challenge is to represent 'who we are, where we come from, and our mission for SL' in an outfit that 'screams' who we are .. I don't know. It's been a hard thing. Who are we? Who am I?
It would have been easier to wear something exquisite; some designer pieces, hot off the runway, or something from years ago that we all forgot how much we loved. Probably, it would have shown better on the catwalk but I don't think it would have been honest. I love fashion, I do, as much as I love the thrill of competition and daring choices when it matters .. but that's not who I am, not entirely. I am quiet, thoughtful, and most comfortable at home. I love warm sweaters, cool drinks, and green growing things.
It was intimidating to walk the runway in jeans (even if they ARE the new Blacklace Gabriella omega appliers) and riding boots (a gorgeous tribute to my jockey days) but at the end of the day, I felt good about the styling choices I made. Maybe it isn't a winning outfit but I don't mind if it isn't. It's a casual representation of who I am using some of my favourite pieces in all of SL. For me, it doesn't get any better than that.
Credits:
Skin: Lara Hurley-Fae natural/Milky ~ Lara Hurley
Eyes: IKON Promise Eyes - Quicksilver ~ Ikon Innovia
Beauty Marks: Beauty Marks (Fae skin) ~ Lara Hurley
Makeup 1: DeeTaleZ Makeup NATURAL Lip shades (Shade 1) ~ Steffi Villota
Lashes: *MC* "Falsies" Eyelashes ~ Freya Olivieri
Mesh Bod: Maitreya Mesh Body - Lara V1.0 ~ Onyx LeShelle
Hands: Slink Avatar Enhancement Hands - Elegant1 ~ Siddean Munro
Nails: *Fishy Strawberry* Slink Fingernails -Extreme French ~ Fae Eriksen
Hair: little bones. Diamonds ~ Nova Faerye ~ Available at Uber
Sweater: *Fishy Strawberry* Flake Sweater - Off-White ~ Fae Eriksen
Jeans Applier: ~Blacklace~ Omega Hud (Gabriella Jeans Hud) ~ Mariska Dufour ~ NEW!
Boots: REIGN.- Julliette boots - COGNAC ~ Kenadeecole Resident ~ Available at N.21
Necklace 1: {mon tissu} Take Flight Necklace ~ Gold ~ Elie Spot
Necklace 2: (Yummy) Guardian Charms - Gold ~ Polyester Partridge
Ring: (Yummy) Ice Ring - Quartz & Gold ~ Polyester Partridge ~ Available at Collabor88 a tiny bit longer ;)
Pose 1: *PosESioN* New Default 1 ~ Dahriel Resident
Pose 2: *PosESioN* Statue 3 ~ Dahriel Resident
Pose 3: *PosESioN* Anais Stands for Model Ao 2 ~ Dahriel Resident
Barn: [DDD] Country Stable ~ Kalia Firelyte
Topiary Plants: Sway's [Alice] topiary . mediterranean ~ Sway Dench
Final picture taken on the runway at the Mr. & Miss International venue.
Skin: Lara Hurley-Fae natural/Milky ~ Lara Hurley
Eyes: IKON Promise Eyes - Quicksilver ~ Ikon Innovia
Beauty Marks: Beauty Marks (Fae skin) ~ Lara Hurley
Makeup 1: DeeTaleZ Makeup NATURAL Lip shades (Shade 1) ~ Steffi Villota
Lashes: *MC* "Falsies" Eyelashes ~ Freya Olivieri
Mesh Bod: Maitreya Mesh Body - Lara V1.0 ~ Onyx LeShelle
Hands: Slink Avatar Enhancement Hands - Elegant1 ~ Siddean Munro
Nails: *Fishy Strawberry* Slink Fingernails -Extreme French ~ Fae Eriksen
Hair: little bones. Diamonds ~ Nova Faerye ~ Available at Uber
Sweater: *Fishy Strawberry* Flake Sweater - Off-White ~ Fae Eriksen
Jeans Applier: ~Blacklace~ Omega Hud (Gabriella Jeans Hud) ~ Mariska Dufour ~ NEW!
Boots: REIGN.- Julliette boots - COGNAC ~ Kenadeecole Resident ~ Available at N.21
Necklace 1: {mon tissu} Take Flight Necklace ~ Gold ~ Elie Spot
Necklace 2: (Yummy) Guardian Charms - Gold ~ Polyester Partridge
Ring: (Yummy) Ice Ring - Quartz & Gold ~ Polyester Partridge ~ Available at Collabor88 a tiny bit longer ;)
Pose 1: *PosESioN* New Default 1 ~ Dahriel Resident
Pose 2: *PosESioN* Statue 3 ~ Dahriel Resident
Pose 3: *PosESioN* Anais Stands for Model Ao 2 ~ Dahriel Resident
Barn: [DDD] Country Stable ~ Kalia Firelyte
Topiary Plants: Sway's [Alice] topiary . mediterranean ~ Sway Dench
Final picture taken on the runway at the Mr. & Miss International venue.