SL - Fashion Critique: September 2010

Who are these ladies? #2

[Correcting some model's names - my bad, really]

It was quite interesting to do this 'exercise'. Photos of several female SL Models, mostly their faces and see if they are recognizable, without naming them here.

What was my point, you may ask?

The general difficulty in SL Modeling: to be one of a kind.

Appreciated all of you who commented. I guess that the model who is most recognizable from this bunch of photos, at least, reading your comments is Mavi Beck.

Model #13 - Mavi Beck

What's interesting about this subject is that the differences among SL Models really rely on details. Mavi wears quite a fair skin with blonde hair, blue eyes and this is kind of a signature look, because many of you identified her correctly. She was not modeling, when I took the photo. In last year's MVW pageant, Mavi - representing Italy - presented herself quite differently. In my opinion, she kind of lost her own identity. Here is a photo of Mavi, last year, in MVW pageant presentation to the press.

It's very refreshing that Mavi came back to her own 'self'. She is actually, very recognizable.

Another Model some of you identified is Mimmi Boa. Model#10

Mimmi's signature look are her eye colour and her eyelashes. Her style also helps to identify her. Like Mavi, she was not modeling when I took the photo. Again, the identity lies in these little details.

Another Model that I usually identify but none of you did, is Model #9. She has a very uncommon choice of eye colour. Seashell Dench

Watching several Fashion Shows, I realized that, at the moment, this Model chose a signature look with blonde hair and fair skin. Even before, when she used darker hair - her eyes were always unique. It's the colour, I think.

Another Model that was identifiable by some of you was Model#2 dancer Dallagio
Very distinctive, too.

Next, what do these ladies have in common? Who is who, what's different about each one of them? From my point of view, I see the same skin, several makeups and skin color, but the same skin, similar eyes, no particular trait to make them unique.

Model #1 Carilynn Ohare

Model #6 Shae Sixpence

Model#7 and #11- Katherine Comet

Model #3 - Isabel Brocco

Model #4 is Glitter Bollisima

Just compare Glitter's skin with Mavi's in last year MVW pageant. Notice anything similar?

Model #14 - Harlee Lane

And Harlee's as well.

Model #12 - Veronica Krasner
see the skins? It may have to do with using different skins for the same show. That is natural, but it would be really better to find different skins that the ones that are most used? I believe this can be done ;)

In the same show, where I took these photos, Veronica used a more distinctive look:

And I almost forgot one of the photos. Model #8 Miaa Rebane

This lady was not easy to identify, my own fault. The photo is not very good, the close up on her face would lose even more photo quality.

It's not easy, as you can see, to have a unique look in SL. Being very passionate about model's work, I'm always looking for someone to amaze me, to call my attention, to be really different. In SL, it has to be in little details.
Considering that some of these ladies were chosen finalists in MVW pageant, this only reinforces my opinion: a beauty pageant is not about modeling. Models may and should really be very different from one another, not necessarily 'pretty', sometimes even with distictive features, that may not seem 'perfect'. And that is a model's perfection - to be distinctive. Not necessarily 'pretty'.

It would help if these ladies started wearing different skins and work more on shape, eyes, mouth, nose, whatever could make them have an identity of their own.
Again, my focus is always on having more quality on SL Modeling.

Fashion Weeks in SL

Very rarely do I write a review on SL Model Agencies, but there are several issues to discuss and consider when it comes to provide a good fashion show in SL.

First is to have a good set, good stage, a good runway.
By 'good', I mean, it must work well for everybody, both audience and models. So, the runway should be rather short. Having audience in one sim and models in the other, may be a good solution or help. However, audience must be really close to the runway, in order to see well.

We all have lag issues in fashion shows or events that have more than 50 avatars in one sim. What to do? Reduce our graphic cards settings. If we do that, we won't be able to see some details in that may be important for the show itself, including the models outfits, hair or skin details.

So, I dropped by Boulevard Fashion Week, just to confirm what I already knew, but it's best if I can show you the set.

It's a great example of what not to do, ever.

This is the runway of one of Boulevard Agency's Fashion Week Shows.
If we think in a practical way, this 'tunnel' would be great in a sim where people would go to visit, because it's detailed and it's imponent.
Not much practical for a fashion show, though.

When we think of high fashion, or haute couture, there is a feeling of more creativity; I always hope to be surprised, to watch something different, outstanding , 'out there'.

Haute Couture is not connected with this kind of runways. Yes, we can do this in SL; it shows great ability to create complex building structures. But, what about the effect such a long tunnel will have on the models? And on the audience?

In this particular show, model took forever to get to the front of the runway, the time they spent posing wasn't enough for the outfits to rezz completely. When one model was going back, another model was strutting down the 'tunnel'; in the meantime, the front of the runway was empty.

Not practical at all. Having complex structures such as this one could work in a different situation, not in a fashion show.

I didn't take any snapshots of the models. They didn't rezz properly, not even enough for my usual raw photos.

Not everybody has the ability to see what kind of runway would be good with the designs that are showcased.

Some time ago, I watched one of the castings for new models by MAD Agency. The runway was absolutely simple, in a warehouse scenario, which is very close to what happens in real fashion, in real world. It was actually a perfect set for a fashion event.

Another fashion show I watched lately, I was able to record on video - finally! So, coming soon, an outstanding fashion show, with my raw machinima film.
You'll see the difference between real fashion, an event that brings something new (even in a virtual environment such as SL) and some kind of shows that don't bring anything new to the fashion scene in SL.

Modavia Fashion Week 2010

I watched Modavia Fashion Week, this year and two years ago, as well.

Obviously, I will not comment on the organization of the event, I will focus on some Modavia Models I've seen on the runway.

I know there have been lots of criticism around the event itself. Nevertheless, I can only review what I saw on the runway - Models' work.

This year, Modavia Fashion Week was much much better, regarding Models' performance than two years ago. I didn't watch all the shows - just like I didn't in 2008. I took a couple of snapshots; Modavia Models were really outstanding. Not a single Model was below average, from what I saw.

Good posing, extremely well styled, amazing skins. The shows I watched were exquisite - both in styling and poise, on the runway.

Just to take a look at some of Modavia Models, here are some photos, in no particular order, from different shows. You'll notice the simplicity of the poses and, when the designer's style required, Models chose different and more editorial poses. The photos are raw, as you'll see, but we can see the posing.

nemi McCoy

Gamp Lane

Katime Vacano

Queen Watanabe

Payton Heron

I have to say that it's a pity that Payton Heron still uses a very used Model's walk; it kind of distorts the outfits, in the waist area.

Next Model didn't disappoint me. She has been present in several fashion shows I watched, she is becoming an awesome SL Model, one of those who deserves the 'Supermodel' or 'Top Model' tag! I'll keep paying attention to her work, hoping she will keep improving, her styling, her poise. I'm talking about:

Seashell Dench
Seashell did an outstanding job! Her choice of poses was smart, according to the style of what she was wearing and the result was very professional and editorial.

As far as I know, Modavia's strongest focus is Modavia Fashion Directory - in my opinion, one of the best Fashion Magazines in SL, along with Avenue. To see how Modavia Models have improved during the last two years on the catwalk has been quite an accomplishment!

There are other Fashion Weeks going on in SL that I will not review, or attend. In terms of Model performance quality, Modavia Models were outstanding!

On the other hand, International Modeling Convention is starting. I may take a look at it. See ya'll around ;)

So, who are these ladies?

Let's see, who are these SL female Models?
If you have been in the same(several)Fashion Shows where I took the pics, that will help.

Some of these Models may be repeated.

Model #1