The Fantasy Faire Blog with all the Slurls to the stores etc. : LOOK HERE!

Location: Alirium (Non-Role-Play), Alirium

Location: Sigil, City of Doors (D&D Planescape Role-Play), City of Doors

Location: Komorebi Springland, Komorebi

Location: Incantre (Medieval Fantasy Role-Play), Incantre

And last but not least: A friend of mine, Victor Klavinham, had a great x-mas gift for me: He hired a photographer in SL: Asami Schnyder. The guy’s work is pretty damn awesome. Here is a link to his Flickr: Asami’s Flickr. Thank you  so much, both of you: Vic and Asami. I LOVE The result! Only downside? Now I feel terribly lame with my oh so awesome photoshopping ‘skills’.

Location: Swamps of Arcana (gorean role-play), Arcana Crete

Location: Warren Town (Victorian (Steampunkish) Role-Play), Warren

Location: Pandemonium Desolate Swamps, Pandemonium

Location: Rucott Store (Non-Role-Play), Embryo

Location: Happy Mood (Store), HappyMood

Hair: Elikatira (Elikapeda Tiramisu)
Skin: The Body Co (TheBodyCo Resident)
Shape: selfmade (not for sale)
Ears: Illusory (Crushed Clarity)
Eyes: Umedama (umetaro Mayo)
Lipgloss: Dead Apples (Soleil Reid)
Blush: Bella di Notte (Jade Glazner)
Make Up: Kosh (Lynaja Bade)
Wooldress: LeeZu! (Leezu Baxter, MESH!! NEW!!)
Shirt: Priss (Erin Winterwolf)
Pants + Suspenders: Ribbon (Mao Melody)
Boots: Coco (cocoro Lemon, MESH!! FREE!!)
Gloves: Caverna Obscura (Elvina Ewing, part of Ascalon Ranger)
Chestbelt: DECO (Veluu Faulds for Deco!!)
Hobo-Bag: Beetlebones (Suetabulous Yootz, former Project Themeory item)
Necklace: NHA! (Kyrha Bouscario)
Ring: Eclectica (Tiffy Vella)
Bow: Centipede Weapons (CentipedeWeapons Resident, MESH!!)
Harness with Daggers: Old Mystara Gift

Location: Fern – Spring Isles (Non-Role-Play), Spring Isles

Location: The Desolate Swamplands (Goren Role-Play GE), Skerry of Einar

Location: HappyMood (Store), HappyMood

Location: Emerald Isles (Non-Role-Play), Emerald Isles

Hair: LeLutka (Thora Charron)
Skin: The Body Co (TheBodyCo Resident)
Shape: selfmade (not for sale)
Eyes: Umedama (umetaro Mayo)
Ears: Illusory (Crushed Clarity)
Horns: Bubble (moonbubble Gothly)
Lipstain: Pink Fuel (Mochi Milena. comes with Elly Skins)
Make Up: BOOM (Aranel Ah), LAQ (Mallory Cowen)
Facial Tattoos: The Plastik (Aikea Rieko)
Corset: DCNS (Devin Klaber)
Shirt: Elysium (Ophelia Dayafter, part of Nynaeve Dress, New!!)
Pants: Spirit Store (Spirit Osmus)
Boots: Mons (Ekilem Melodie)
Gloves: Caverna Obscura (Elvina Ewing, part of Anariel Armor)
Belt: Barerose (June Dion, part of Rogue Leather Lady)
Bracers: SiniStyle (Krius Misfit)
Collar: SiniStyle (Krius Misfit)
Head-Wings: La Malvada Mujer (faina Cortes)
Circlet: Bubble (moonbubble Gothly)
Ring: Yummy (Polyester Partridge)
Staff: Losthaven (Lucia Cyr)

Location: The Desolate Swamplands (gorean role-play), Skerry of Einar

Location: Seeburg Role-Play (german medieval role-play), ST ROCCA

Location: Swamps of Arcana (Gorean Role-Play), Arcana Crete

Location: Celdwin Islands (german medieval role-play), Celdwin Islands

Hair: Burley (Bella Earst)
Skin: The Body Co (TheBodyCo Resident)
Shape: selfmade (not for sale!)
Lashes: LeLutka (Thora Charron)
Eyes: Umedama (umetaro Mayo)
Ears: Illusory (Crushed Clarity)
Make Up: actchio (Silver Milneaux), Boom (Aranel Ah)
Lipstick: Pink Fuel (Mochi Milena, comes with Elly Skins)
Vest: Tulip (Minami Susanova, The Fashion Garret Item!! NEW!!)
Blouse: Ur Favourite One (Charming Meiler, Collabor88 Item, NEW!!)
Pants: Paper.doll (Zoey Gabardini)
Boots: mon tissu (Elie Spot, MESH!!)
Gloves: celoe (JadenArt Resident, MESH!!)
Collar: Kyoot (Saeya Nyanda, part of Bronte Dress, Collabor88 Item!! NEW!!)
Necklace: Yummy (Polyester Partridge, Collabor88 Item!!)
Ring 1: Kosh (Lynaja Bade)
Ring 2: Yummy (Polyester Partridge, past Collabor88 Item!!)
Bracelet: EarthStones (Abraxxa Anatine, past Collabor88 Item!!)
Facia-Chains: Ripped (Beautifully Sinister, old dollarbie)
Belt: Bukka (yano Hyun)
Bag: Tokidoki (Maya Levane)
Weapons-Harness: Mercy Aakami (old gift for Mystara)
Poses: Aushka & Co (Aida Oxygen, for BACK TO BLACK, event is not open for public yet!!), Miamai (Mavi beck for Fashionably Late)

Location: Spring Field (Non-Role-Play), Fern

Teleports:

Collabor88

The Fashion Garret

Location: Crommhold’s Secret (non-Role-Play), Emerald Isles

Hair: Elikatira (Elikapeda Tiramisu, MESH!! NEW!!)
Skin: The Body Co (TheBodyCo Resident)
Shape: selfmade (not for sale)
Eyes: Umedama (umetaro Mayo)
Ears: Illusory (Crushed Clarity)
Horns: Favole (Themis Enzo)
Make Up: actchio (Silver Milneaux), The Plastik (Aikea Rieko, NEW!!)
Lipstain: (Ag) (Amiee Galicia)
Tunic: Willow (Weezey Warwillow)
Corset: DCNS (Devin Klaber)
Shirt: mon tissu (Anouk Spot)
Undershirt: Kyoot (Saeya Nyanda)
Pants: Barerose (June Dion, part of Airship Mechanic Lady)
Boots: mon tissu (Elie Spot)
Gloves: Caverna Obscura (Elvina Ewing, part of Ascalon Ranger)
Bracelet: EarthStones (Abraxxa Anatine)
Necklace: Willow (Weezey Warwillow)
Ring: Yummy (Polyester Partridge)
Face-Chains: Ripped (Beautifully Sinister, old freebie/dollarbie)
Bow: LR Weapons (Larion Rhode)
Wristbow: LR Weapons

Location: Drowsy (Non-Role-Play), Drowsy

Hair: Truth (Truth Hawks)
Skin: The Body Co (TheBodyCo Resident)
Shape: selfmade (not for sale)
Ears: Illusory (Crushed Clarity)
Eyes: Umedama (umetaro Mayo)
Make Up: actchio (Silver Milneaux), BOOM (Aranel Ah)
Lipstick: Pink Fuel (Mochi Milena, comes with Elly Skin)
Cape: Wynter (Noemi Azambuja)
Corset: The Plastik (Aikea Rieko, part of Ellantha Dress)
Pants: The Plastik (Aikea Rieko, Lazy Sunday Item!! MESH!!)
Shoes: Fir & MNA (Rob1977 Moonites)
Gloves: LARK (Sienia Trevellion)
Muffler: BOOM (Aranel Ah)
Bag: Tee*fy (Azure Electricteeth, The Seasons Gacha!!)
Nose Chain: Glow Studio (Jocelyn Anatine, The Dressing Room!!)
Bracelet 1: Willow (Weezy Warwillow)
Bracelet 2: EarthStones (Abraxxa Anatine)
Belt: Tea Time (Eloindir Davi)
Thigh Dagger: LR Weapons (Larion Rhode)

Location: Shipwrecked (Non-Role-Play), Shipwrecked

So, I decided to advertise. And not just randomly, not even fashion…but for someone who’s builds are so damned amazing and more creative than almost everything else I have seen in SL when it comes to decoration/landscaping for role-play sims in Second Life.

I am talking about Aliandra Miami. I am pretty sure hardly anyone knows her so far, that’s mostly because she is a pretty reclusive and quiet person, and if I had not accidentally stumbled upon one of her crazy amazing builds in SL, I most likely still wouldn’t know her things.

Her store, Envisage:Limitless, is located at Incantre. If you want to have a quick impression of her skill, go to the teleporter and pick the Location named ‘Se’Vahk’. Imho, Aliandra is incredibly talented, skilled and creative. She makes her ownt hings from scratch on, her owns culpts, her own textures, her own effects. Everything. Her prices? I thought it was a mistake when I read those first: Incredibly cheap. Pricerange for deco etc: 0-175L. The primcount? Among the lowest primcounts I know…and yet she maintains an impeccable quality and has SO much detail in her work.

Really, I can only underline that this chick deserves all support for her creations she can get. Her collection is not too vast yet, but she constantly adds new things…and each of them is unique in its own way,made from scratch on by herself.

Also: Imho, she has made (or rather, is currently building) one of the most realistic places for drow that I have seen around so far. So looking forward to it being finished. You can find it at Se’Vahk, too. (Take the teleporter in the skybox). Go have a look around Incantre’s Se’Vahk and explore those labyrinths. You’ll be amazed.

Her store on the Marketplace.

Teleport to Incantre (Mainstore, or from there, go to the teleporter and then tp to Se’Vahk or to the forest, tho the latter is currently being worked on).

Here are a few examples of her work.

Hair: Burley (Bella Earst)
Skin: The Body Co (TheBodyCo Resident)
Shape: selfmade (not for sale)
Eyes: Umedama Holic (umetaro Mayo)
Ears: Illusory (Crushed Clarity)
Tears: Izzie’s (Izzie Button)
Make Up: BOOM (Aranel Ah), achtchio (Silver Milneaux)
Lipstain: (Ag) (Amiee Galicia)
Lashes: LeLutka (Thora Charron)
Jacket: Zenith (Miffyhoi Rosca)
Vest: Kyoot (Saeya Nyanda)
Waist-Wrap: League (Nena Jnaus, 55L!!)
Blouse: So Many Styles (Irie Campese)
Skirt: SAKIDE (Kinu Mayako)
Gloves: Celoe (JadenArt Resident)
Bag: Tokidoki (Maya Levane)
Necklace: Tres Blah (Julliette Westerburg)
Hairflowers: NHA! (Kyrha Bouscario)

Location: Progeny: Vampire Castle and Grounds, Grave Designs

Location: Rucott (Non-Role-Play, awesome furniture store!!), Embryo

I have been thinking about this for a while now. I always wondered why some people can rant and rant and rant about it, why they get all their feathers ruffled once a template shows somewhere. Isn’t it none of their business really what others buy? I still think exactly that. While I don’t have to support and like it, it is none of my business what people buy. If they like it, they like it.

I hardly buy items made from templates or prefabs unless I think they are exceptionally wellmade and have been altered significantly. For example, the boots by Severed Garden that I frequently blogged can be found in the stores of several other creators, too. Same with the corset (layer) by DCNS. However, I like these items and I think that should be reason enough to buy something.

Advantages of templates and prefabs

I think the advantages of templates and prefabs are fairly obvious:

First of all, many designers who start out as new creators don’t have the experience yet. Maybe they lack the skill to make their own sculpts, or maybe they simply aren’t that advanced when it comes to using PS. Saying “Well, then they shouldn’t design.” is, imho, a damn dumb argument. Everyone started out as a ‘newb’ at one point, even Anouk Spot and other, relatively famous, designers. Templates/prefabs help those new designers to get started, to learn.

Secondly, templates etc. allow designers to reduce the prices of their items, in effect making them more affordable for a wider range of users. Obviously, if you ‘only’ apply the texture, an item will be cheaper than an item which has custom sculpts, custom sculptmaps and custom textures etc. pp. So, more people can buy your stuff without spending a significant amount of money in SL. Because yes, 1000 Lindens currently have the value of 3,29 Euros, which means in rl I could get significantly MORE for that money than is SL, especially given the fact that nothing you buy in SL actually belongs to you. The TOS enable Linden Labs to take down SL whenever they want without having to pay any compensation for the items (aka real money) lost.

Thirdly, they enable designers to come up quickly with new designs and help to fill out timespans when their creativity might stagnate for some time. Everyone has that. I don’t know a single person who has never been in a situationw here they simply lacked ideas. Now, given how many stores there are in SL by now, if you don’t put out new stuff for some time, people will quickly move on and forget you, unless of course you are a brand that’s been established since ages.

Also: Sales. There has been an increasing amount of sales events, weekly sales, discount events during the past year. I blog for Seraphim, believe me, I know it. The customers expect their favourite stores to spit out at least one item per week that is reduced to a price of about 10% of its worth. If you don’t participate in any sales event, you are quickly being pointed at and called greedy. If you want to keep up with that AND at the same time release new stuff for your actual store, you gotta be quick, unless you have way too much time on your hands. (Wether or not these sales events are good or bad is a wholly different topic which will be discussed another time. )

Fifthly (does that word even exist??), the sale of templates and prefabs offers a wide range of options for actual freebies. I did that myself for a sim: I bought a backpack-prefab, weapon-prefabs, textured them and set them up as freebies. That way, I made some people happy even though I cannot make my own sculpts to save my life.

I am sure there are other arguments, but these five are the first ones that came to my mind and should suffice for now.

The disadvantages of templates

Just as there are many advantages, there are many disadvantages:

First of all, I think the massive use of templates has lead to a certain saturation of the market that often causes customers to disregard works of truly original creators: Cheap stuff can be had everywhere, you can get the same bikini in ~ 27 versions in a pricerange between 50L and 150L two weeks after the template has been released. These items get thrown at you, you can barely dodge them anymore. Everything gets cheaper and cheaper.

Secondly, this leads to fewer and fewer stores that sell truly unique items. Don’t get me wrong, a template doesn’t mean it cannot be made unique. However, in the vast majority of the cases, people seem to slap a texture onto it and that’s about as far as it goes (some prominent exceptions given). It is hard to stick out or create a unique look when you figure the top you just bought is being sold at 5 other stores too, with only slightly different textures on it.

Thirdly, creators who create their own stuff from scratch on (everything custom) or use only a few templated to enhance their own creatons, will have a hard time to keep up. Obviously, that whole process takes longer than only doing half of it. The fact that everything gets cheaper and cheaper (since everyone releases the same stuff, they gotta compete somehow) doesn’t help them either: Their creations are worth far more, yet the customers are so very spoiled that they are reluctant to pay 600L for a pair of boots when they can have prefab-boots for 150L.

Then, it is sometimes truly hard to tell wether or not an item is actual original content or a prefab or a template. Nothing is more disappointing to pay a LOT for something only to find out the next store has the same thing for 300 L less. An example: Riding Boots 1, Riding Boots 2 and Riding Boots 3. Exactly the same template/prefab, three completely different prices. This is the actual template: Riding Boots by Perfect Wirefly. And here we have them as cheapies: Riding Boots 4. Interesting, huh? Of course no one mentions the source of their sculpties either and I doubt that any customer who doesn’t read fashionblogs knows what they are buying in such cases.

Now, which price would you support? Personally, I rather buy boots for 500L for which the creator uses their own creations.  It really gives me a bad feeling when I see stuff that I feel is simply overpriced for the lack of effort/talent they put into it.

Earlier I mentioned that many designers have to leanr and therefore can use prefabs for that process. However, many, many stores out there have been around for years, and apparently the learning process has stagnated after they understood how to apply a texture to a template. In such cases, my support fades quickly.

I could likely find more counter-arguments just as I could find more pro-arguments. It is time for…

The Conclusion:

Now, to which conclusion have I come? I can only speak for myself here and I ask you to consider that when reading this. tastes are different. People are entitled to buy whatever they like. The market dictates the sales and the market consist of demand vs. offer (not sure if these are the financially correct terms, but you get the drift). As long as there are people who love to buy templates and prefabs, those will be around, no matter how many ‘fashionistas’ point fingers and want to put them into the pit below the Nine Hells. It is none of our business to dictate other people’s taste. You cannot argue about taste. Everyone can make a choice with their feet.

And I do.

I only buy these kind of items when I find them to be suitably altered, wellmade and overall used to enhance an outfit…and when the pricing is appropriate.  This doesn’t happen all too often, but sometimes, it does, and I’ll proudly wear my template corset in that case. In most cases though, I love supporting wellknown and not so wellknown creators who make their own stuff from scratch on. Especially when it comes to skins. No matter how cute Al Vulo’s skins might be, I simply do not want to pay almost as much for a skin, that comes with a  body (or lips…) that looks exactly the same as the bodies on skins done by completely different creators, as I have to pay for a skin by a creator who actually did their own work and who’s bodies you will not find on xy other skins. More effort + more creativity= more work = bigger value. At least for me.

WHAT DO YOU THINK??? VOTE!!!

PS: As usually, forgive my mistakes. I was in a  hurry!

Oh, and a tiny wee bit ‘fashion’: I got a new skin! Yay, and I am in love with it.