A Note About the Difference between Real Life and Second Life fashion.

I know, for a fashion blogger I should be ashamed for the rant I'm about to post. The truth is, I'm not. Not for one second. I think what I have to say needs to be said...not just thought about...so bear with me.

I was struck by a photo yesterday that really upset me. It was a Second Life Modeling pic there the model was clearly "TOO SKINNY." It was really disturbing to think that in Second Life of all places, where we can be whomever and whatever we can dream up only limited to our imaginations and resources that this is what we've come to in Second Life.
So there she was, skinny as a rail, looking as anorexic as so many Real Life runway models do and I couldn't help but think:  Um, did I miss something along the way? Isn't Second Life supposed to do better than that? Aren't we supposed to use our imaginations in a more creative way than to default to our RL ways?
Ok, here’s the deal: Designers in Second Life don’t always pay their models. Some models don’t make a dime doing what they do but their avi’s are abused and manipulated just as much as human, real life models’ bodies. BUT designers do spend REAL CURRENCY to create, upload and advertise their designs.

The easiest and quickest way for Designers to get a hint is for models to simply refuse to model their clothing until the designers change how they design. Start designing for the “every” avi.

 So, let’s make a change. Let’s stop the matchstick model trend and start demanding a more “natural” or at the very least a wider variety of body-types!

Start using a wider variety of shapes & sculpts. Force sculptors and sculpt makers to create a wider variety of shapes that are more like the average Second Life Resident. Yes, I know saying “average Second life resident” is a bit of an oxymoron simply because there really isn’t any one “average” resident. We all bring in our unique perspectives, dreams, fantasies, experiences and expectations. And yes, sadly there are those who come into Second Life expecting more of a Role Playing Game environment – I believe Linden Labs has done their best to provide areas within SL for just such residents, but for the most part there are those of us who do not use SL as a giant MMORP. We come in, we design our avi’s as we like, as we want to be seen, our own fantasies – but the personality, wit, humor and emotions are all our own. They are as real as if the avi’s themselves were simply an extension of our own inner voice.

We Will Remember...

Early morning, September 11, 2001 - Suburban Chicago-land area. Getting my household ready for the day, I had a job interview I was preparing for as we had the television on as background. "The Today Show" rambled on with Katie and Matt chatting about some feature or what have you. As I waited for the bathroom to be free I sat down on my sofa with my coffee and sort of zoned out...until...  without warning they broke their drone and suddenly snapped to attention. A report of a rogue plan crashing into the first tower was mentioned just before they cut live.  As they speculated on how this could have happened, my mind though: pilot error. Then as we watched, a second plane headed and crashed into the second tower. My heart skipped as I wondered what was going on with Air Traffic Control.
As the new anchors prattled on the report of yet a third plane crashing into the Pentagon made news and my heart sank. At that very moment I knew. We were under attack and they were using our own planes to do it.
When the report of the fourth plane going down in the field in Pennsylvania broke, I was already on the phone with my mother trying to find any news about my Uncle. I knew he commuted from New Jersey to NYC as he was working for The Wall Street Journal at the time. I vaguely remembered he would hold seminars at the WTC. 
He was never found. 
On that day I turned my American Flag upside down for a week. My neighbors flew theirs with pride in a desperate plea to muster patriotism. My heart was filled with sorrow and worry. Not just for my Aunt and family but for the thousands of other lives this one even impacted, irreversibly.

It's a day that not only affected New York or even the East Coast, but it affected the entire world. In one horrific attack our world changed forever.

I've never been able to find any appropriate way to remember that day without reliving that same progression of emotions. Shock, disbelief, worry, anger, sorrow.

I know I'm not alone in how I feel or how my world was forever changed. I know it had a lasting effected on my then 12yr old son and how he viewed his world. He had nightmares for years, randomly but regularly. He would find himself glancing at clocks and seeing 8:46 or 9:11 - not that he was seeing things but rather it was at those times of day he'd find himself checking the time. This went on for years. (8:46 being the time the first plane crashed and 9:11 is self-explanatory)

With the death of Osama bin Laden earlier this year I can only hope that we've begun the healing process.

To all those affected and effected by the tragedies that occurred that day, my deepest condolences and hope for a brighter future.

[Worn: Jewelery Set: "Patriotica" by: Artistry. - This set contains an image of the WTC Memorial at night]


Thank you and God Bless America (and the world)

Postponed introduction...

I realize a lot of you have seen my first few posts and might not have understood what direction this blog will be going. Sure, the title is "$100L and Under" and that might seem fairly straightforward but I want to make it clear that even though there are shops/brands that are quite popular, many of you will already be familiar with these as it is.  So, please excuse my obvious neglect of such brands in this blog. My feeling is most of my readers and new comers to Second Life will, if they haven't already, be familiar with brands such as "BitchTail," "Bootgasm," "Envioius" and the like.  I have no ill-will toward those brands as everyone deserves the opportunity to "make a living" as it were.
My main focus in this blog will, however, be the designers/brands that are of the utmost quality. Ones who spend hours focusing on quality, design, color, texture, styling..etc. Yes, many of the designer/brands some of you will already be familiar with like: Gizza, Vero Modero and even occassionally HoWear. (not what I'd call "couture" but I'm still fascinated with the quality of Heide's work and the amazingly hard work she puts in day-in and day-out to produce a "new" outfit daily)

In future posts you should expect to find articles about new releases, group gifts and hunt gifts from new and old favorites as well as occasional, possibly weekly(maybe only monthly) articles about new releases.
I won't post information about sales or events as there are some fantastic blogs and in-world groups who have that covered already and I'd only be repeating what they wrote.  So, I'll spare you that. :) 

This blog will mostly be my personal favorites and items of note. I won't push or promote items, outfits or services I personally have not tested, used or worn or any of those that I have found to be not to my personal standards.  I realize this may seem harsh or one-sided but at least I'm honest.  I also will NOT bad mouth ANY shop, designer, service or region.  As much as I might or might not like something I will not use this as a vehicle for being vindictive.  That helps no one!  :)  
I also would like to add that I, myself, do all my own photography work. If you or anyone may be interested in using my services in that for personal or professional use, please feel free to IM me if I'm online or drop me a NoteCard in-world for price quotes and/or my rate card.  I do give discounts to repeat customers, offer gift cards, honor re-scheduled appointments and give new residents under 100 days old a free first profile pic. (nothing fancy but you'll have something you enjoy seeing and showing off to friends) - I used to, but no longer offer stylist services. I feel doing that along with my photography, blog writing to be quite a handful.  I do not get paid for my writing or photographic art/collections.  Those are usually inspired works using my own avi.