Judging Miss Virtual World 2010

Second Life is rife with contests, and the mother of all competitions is Miss Virtual World, a Darwinian beauty pageant that the selects the best dressed, most beautiful avatar and wonderful SL personality from more than 1200 applicants. The contest is sponsored by Best of SL brands, with pageant leadership by BOSL owner Frolic Mills. Miss Virtual World draws in participants from across SL society. The SL press was there in force including SL writer Persia Bravin up on stage emceeing the show with her UK friend Dousa Dragonesh. Even I was down in the front row as one of the contest's judges.

Miss Virtual World 2010, Miaa Rebane is very pretty in pink, shown in Picture 1, in a photo by Veronica Krasner. Miaa tells us the story of her winning bid: "The most fun aspect of competing for MVW also happens to be the best moments I had in this competition. It was the time I spent with the girls, particularly when we were backstage before a show and chatting. I've learnt the importance of friendship and have formed many new bonds. We are all different with different backgrounds, from different countries and cultures, yet we have been able to form a bond, and that for me has been the most fun aspect of the contest." Miaa competed as Miss Puerto Rico. All contestants adopted a home country and appeared in show dance outfits fashioned from native themes. See Miaa's MVW blog and Flikr photos for more of this gorgeous lady: http://mvw2010.wordpress.com/

The grand finale of Miss Virtual World was a grueling affair, as you can imagine. Several hundred avis attended at the 4 sim Patch Thibaud auditorium. Lots of lag, avi, and sim crashes were shared by all. It was kind of a miracle that the contestants, judges, and audience braved through it all. But MVW is much more than the grand lag fest that marks its conclusion.

 

Picture 2 shows Aris Earnshaw and Kay Fairey, who attended the MVW finale with me in the judge's booth. I was recruited early this year by Frolic to be a MVW judge, one of about a dozen. Through most of 2009, Frolic scheduled contest phases, about 2 per month. Contest phases included rounds such as best designer fashion, best in swimwear, best in formal wear, and judge’s interviews. Through this process, an original 1200 entrants, were down selected to 160, and then 24 candidates participated in the catwalk fashion shows. From those, the top 10 finalists emerged, and then, this final result:

The 4th place finalist: Miss Canada: Natalia Corvale

The 3rd place finalist: Miss Switzerland: Sabine Blackburn

The 2nd place finalist: Miss Bahamas: Devine Hunt

The 1st place finalist: Miss China: Sora Tatham

Miss Virtual World 2010: Miss Puerto Rico: Miaa Rebane

Congratulations to all the contestants and winners! Miss Virtual World is a long process, requiring a lot of support people, such as fashion designers, photographers, SL skin, shape, and hair designers. Several of the contest phases coincided with designer catwalk events, many designers contributed fashions to MVW. In a sense, MVW is an economic engine driving a lot of activity in the high end SL fashion industry. Great appreciation is due to all contestants and their supporters who made MVW their SL career for much of this year.

By Any1 Gynoid

Rule Fashion Show

There are pro's and cons to a fashion show, the cons are mostly to do with the awful lag which is the curse of most shows. The upside of a fashion show is the pleasure of seeing clothes that the designer thinks are their best new work. When that designer is Edo, of Styles of Edo fame, then suddenly the pluses out weigh any down side. The Rule show, presented by Boulevard Agency was a delightful insight into the Formal collection by Styles of Edo. One thing I did notice, which saddened me, was the audience was more female than male - gentlemen you should be attending shows like this - they really are for your benefit.
As well as the new generation of tuxedos ( which are getting a full, in depth article to themselves later this week - don't miss it), there were examples of his new suits, with the trade mark fine detail which you already know makes me Edos number one fan, bright, bold colours and unique cuts.

There were suits that seem to be inspired by matador "suits of lights", which feature strong colours (I adore the red one) and fine gold embroidery. There were daily suits in striking pastal colours, hard to imagine that lilac can be a bold, strong, masculine colour - and I dare say that most designers couldn't make it work - but Edo not only makes it work but has done it with a style and flair that is unique. Colour in mens suits is a rare thing, but this collection has it, velvety shades of black, rich, dark chocolatey browns, organic greens, lusty reds, pearlescent whites, pulsing purples and playboy pastels all feature. This collection has colours, either in the subtle little touches like cummberbunds, waistcoats (vests for the Americans among you) and stitching, or for the more dashing man who isn't afraid to make a bold statement, in whole jackets of rich, vibrant colours. In real life, only in the very finest Italian designs do colours like this work so well.

And now I am going to wax lyrical about a personal favourite - Edos new tail suit. If ever there was a reason to insist that tail suits are not just for wedding, this suit is it, the flexi tails give movement and the styling would make any man look like a Hollywood movie star. Available in black or "white" (more a pure ivory than white in my opinion) this should be on every mans wish list. Edo's designs make me long for more formal events - really these suits - from the tail coats, to what I would call day suits and everything in between make me long for a ban on tshirts and jeans. Gentlemen - the chances are all the ladies you know have several wonderful formal gowns in their Second Life wardrobe - it's time you caught up - just having one suit and one tuxedo in your inventory is no longer enough - buy more suits, buy cumberbunds and ties to match your partners favourite outfits - revel in the almost lost art of wearing a formal suit with an almost casual grace - the women of Second Life will love you for it and if you follow my advice then your first stop should be to the Styles of Edo store, where your only dilemma will be which suit to buy first.
As well thanking Edo for bringing such wonderful designs to Second Life I also have to thank Dana Vanmoer and Echo Underwood for allowing me to use some of their pictures ( their pictures are the really good ones, in case you are wondering).

Shaka shakes the fashion world!

Urban designer Shaka Saintlouis has brought a new and exciting look to his designs with the new winter collection
(click the images below for a closer look)

from tracksuits to suits, from daywear to desirable lingerie

I could happily go out an buy all of these outfits and be happy to wear them!

The Avenue models did a great job, as always, of showing the designs and Shaka was overheard to say: I love this venue, makes the event a lil more special :) and in all honesty it was a lag free enjoyable show.

You can find Shakture Couture at: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Kemet/104/116/27

Maybe I will bump into you there.

Dana

(My thanks to Annette Wider for the invitation)

Crazy are us & Cynthia's Heaven Live fashion show

With arabic flair and traditional style Cynthia Wilder has captured the essence of the east with the fantastic fabrics and flowing flexi, one after another floated down the catwalk before the audience with melodic arabic music streaming in the background.
The show, hosted by 'Crazy are us' (Eymerich Lane and his fiancee Roselinda Mayo), went off without a hitch - well apart from the usual lag - a great show and I will be looking up Cynthias Heaven.
The detail and textures were a delight for the eyes from gothic, arabic, gorean to ball opera daily clothes with face veils long flowing ballroom gowns to the traditional desert style mens wear worth taking a look at and definately an up and coming designer. Congratulations Cynthia
Dana XxX