Announcement: Turn to a New Page

The often opinionated, always entertaining Oscar Page has finally mustered up the inner fortitude to start his own blog, Oscaresque, which promises to bring his style and insights on Second Life’s® male avatar fashion and cultural trends. Once, only reserved for his contacts, now a public spectacle, Mr. Page’s sharp eye for product design and development detail is on display, as well as his wit and intelligence which rivals the intensity of Michael Jackson’s burqa flair.

Oscar’s foray into the blogosphere has no doubt been influenced by the bloginista company he’s been keeping as of late.

From his first post, he says:

Why am I creating another blog on male fashion SecondLife™? Honestly I think it’s because of a love of fashion. It’s finding that outfit that ultimately says exactly what you want to say without you having to say a single word. That look that says “This is me and this is where I’m coming from. Enjoy or detest the view for as long as you like, but this is what I’m feeling today.” Whether it’s hardcore, suited up, dressed down, business casual, couture fashion forward, indie-licious, or anywhere in between is not the point. It’s about making the cover give everybody else a glimpse into what the book may be about. Obviously you want to make your book as enticing as possible and hopefully I can provide some items from my style that can help you craft or take yours to the next level.

Future posts will include some of his fashion “faves”.

Oscaresque, is not (yet) on any of the fashion feeds, so, ensure you subscribe via RSS feed for the time being.

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Photo Credit: Oscar Page’s Flickr photostream.

Style: The 1930s Man

Regardless of which side of the law one was on, the 1930s Man dressed to impress. Characteristic style elements included London (drape) suit cuts, pinstripes, fedora (a.k.a “trillby”) or homburg hats, two-tone leather shoes – all in subdued colours. The bright tones and the luxurious, exotic fabrics of the 20s became impractical as the sobering effects of the Great Depression set in. “Thrift” became a factor in producing fashions and maintaining one’s look. Cigarettes, however socially taboo now, were a suave accessory for the gents; dangling casually from the lip of the crisp-suited chap.

As if pulled from the pages of a detective fiction serial, the 1930s man sports his fedora at all times – whether pouring himself over paperwork and black-and-white glossies in his stuffy, non-air conditioned office or pounding the pavement for clues amidst the hustle and bustle of the sprawling metropolis.

Stores to support the 1930s Man style include:
If you know others, please post info in comments

• Doc’s Men’s Wear – Steelhead Harborside (101, 31, 29) – hats, shirts, shoes, suits
• FEIZM – Shimokitazawa (212, 65, 27) – cigarettes
• FNKY! – FNKY Cake (128, 68, 24) – cigarettes, glasses, shoes, suits
• Gaslights Emporium – Port Babbage (122, 216, 27) – shoes
• hoorenbeek – JT World VI (129, 43, 23) – shoes, suits
• Insolence – Venom (95, 133, 28) – glasses
• LB System Laboratory – Jonetsu Isle2 RAKUEN (38, 152, 23) – cigarettes
• JCS-Jeepers Creepers – Varado (162, 85, 31) – shoes
• Nylon Outfitters – Tableau (153, 47, 22) – glasses
• Rebel Hope Designs – Monarch Bay (214, 83, 50) – suits
• Second Thoughts – Lo Lo (86, 28, 33) – hats, suits
• ST Smoke Brand – Etopia Island (120, 99, 28) – cigarettes
• The Barnes Boutique – Tableau (127, 106, 26) – hats, shoes, suits
• VR Phlux – phlux (149, 109, 52) – suits

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Fashion Notes:

Skin: TheAbyss – Scorpio, Osiris (Khai Sinister); Hair: Naughty Designs – The All-American Guy^[M] (Lost Thereian); Hat: Second Thoughts – MoA Fedora, Grey (Solivar Scarborough); Glasses: Lucky Card – Free Glasses^[F] (Chirosuke Meads); Necklace: Earthtones Boutique – His Prayer Rosary, Darkwood/Silver (Lucas Lameth); Shoes: Gaslights Emporium – Gentlemen’s Formal Suede Shoes (Vincente Shepherd).

• Left » Shirt: Casa Del Shai – Men’s Ribbed Tank, Cream (Shai Delacroix); Pants: Casa Del Shai – The Amorsolo Suit pants (Shai Delacroix);
• Right » Suit: FNKY! – Smooth Criminal Suit, Black (Funk Schnook); Shoes: Gaslights Emporium – Gentlemen’s Formal Suede Shoes (Vincente Shepherd).

^[M] Modified to fit hat
^[F] Free on OnRez

Feature: Separating the Menno from the Boys (Kari Opens Tomorrow)

When I try to conjure up memories of the first time I met Mr. Menno Ophelia, I draw a blank on the precise instance, though I know it was in Imogen in the summer last year. Imogen was one of Menno’s regular haunts. The trend at the time was to walk around scantily clad (if wearing anything at all) shouting obscenities that included liberal use of the word “vag” and smacking people’s asses. Exposed penis and shirtlessness was all the rage, thanks to a certain former neko-turned-elf with prominent cheekbones. I can clearly recall an instance in Sylar’s living room where a group of us witnessed a guy getting bent over and pegged by his girlfriend who was wearing a giant eggplant dildo. We all sat around and had a conversation completely unaffected, as though the background activity was totally everyday and normal. Good times, friends. Good times.

It was under these very surreal conditions that I met Menno, who has been show-and-telling work for his store, Kari, since this time last year. He’s obsessively tweaked his creations and turtled on opening his shop (I’ve seen 3 store concepts built and bulldozed to-date); so much so that he’s been forced to transition his footwear concept – originally created exclusively in prims – into a sculpty design. There came a point when I could only wear his clothing behind closed doors and in secrecy for fear that yet another random person would ask me where I got my shoes or hat or tee and I’d have to tell them it wasn’t available for retail, only to me met, many times, with an outburst of their irateness. Those whom he has shared this journey with have encouraged Menno, threatened him, probably withheld sexual favours to get him to open his damn store. This has been the pattern of suffering for his friends and acquaintances on whom Kari creations have been bestowed. It’s been a long, hard road, peoples. Like that movie with Whoopi Goldberg and Sissy Spacek.

“Open your (fucking) store or I’m gonna …” is a phrase Menno is altogether too familiar with.

But, lo, word that Kari will be opening soon from the Selecta himself:

Interview: Talking to the Hand

In a recent conversation with Steam Punk Lord, Disembodied Hand, he revealed to me his current plans for his stores, Steam Powered Industries and Defectiva. Dis plans on merging the two into a singular brand with the Defectiva name; rebuilding and retexturing older products during the process. Following the merger Hand is going to auction off franchises of the store to the highest bidders.

Dis is well-known for his insanely detailed Steam Punk products, like the Jump Boots that I had the opportunity to cover as a contributor to the Men’s Second Style fashion resource. His newer Defectiva label is a smörgåsbord of his style influences.

In the real world he is a hard-working Photography major with plans to transition into Video Game Design. Not surprising, having seen his work in SL®.

The news of his business strategy comes straight from the horses mouth:

Disembodied Hand: I’ll be holding a silent auction for 2-3 people to win rights to franchise my store. Which means, they would receive vendors with scripts in them and would be able to build what is basically a :Defectiva: main store with a few exceptions – splitting the profit off their store with me 50/50. So, it’s an opportunity for someone who wants to run a store and make some money to do so.
Y Me: Ok, so, whats motivated you to franchise your store?
DH: Well, honestly, it was a suggestion, but it was the perfect way to do what I was looking to do at the time: expand store name, increase store regular base, and make a little money to start saving for my sim – all while giving someone else the ability to run and operate a full-fledged store. It’s more fun to run a store than some would think
Y Me: whats the biggest pain in the ass about running a store, though?
DH: Well, for everyone its different. Some of my friends have trouble making ads, some have trouble keeping in touch with the regular customers. For me its marketing. I cant promote to save my life.
Y Me: When does all this go down – the big announcement, the auction and the implementation of the franchises?
DH: I suppose this interview is “the big announcement”, save for the few group notices I have to make. I have a scripter working on the system I want and after its completion and the stores are fully integrated ([S-P] and :Defectiva:) I’ll hold the silent auction for a few days so everyone has time to get their notecards filled out and sent in.
Y Me: Anything else you want the general public at large to know?
DH: That im going to be choosey with who wins this auction. The price that people bid is only partially important, Im not going to choose someone just looking to make a quick buck, or someone who doesn’t have the ability to fully represent me. That’s probably it.

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Photographer: Disembodied Hand • Photo Credits: (1) L to R: Disembodied Hand, Sabriel Fall; (2) L to R: Disembodied Hand, Krez McAllister.