Face Paint

Nearly 6 years in Second Life and I had never thought about wearing face paint. I mean Real Men don't wear makeup! Yesterday I was transported to a shop called "Face Paint" by my darling Jula. Where she was chatting with our dear friends Marge and Eve. 
Eve is the owner and designer of Face Paint.
While the ladies talked, and talked and... well you get my point. I took a walk around Eve's Place. Eve had said she had a men's section. So I headed there. As I looked at her offerings, I was debating with myself If I would wear Face Paint. I bought one, then another, and another! Then Eve started loading me up!
Once I tried one on I was hooked! How did I go so long in my FASHION journey without even trying Face Paint!

Being a Fashionista is all about style.
Creating a look that turns heads.
Making a Fashion statement.

Face Paints by Eve Express will set a man apart from others. 
I just evolved in my journey of Fashion.

   Top pic:Face Paint "Frolic"
Middle Pic:Face Paint "Zachary"
Bottom Pic:Face Paint "Swept Away"

Face Paint has a monthly contest with first prize of 10,000L$!
Head over to "Face Paint" and start creating your Fashion Statement!
KasenK

Blogs Come And Go!

I should know Fashionista was one! I have spent the last week reading every Second Life FASHION blog I could find. Looking for the new trends of FASHION designs.
Out of the two hundred or so that I read only about fifty have made post in the last month. Of that only about 25 in the last week or two. Is FASHION in Second Life dying? I guess just like Modeling, the older ones move on making room for the new ones. I do have to add, the older blogs that have been gathering dust for a year or more still have loads of information. 
As a blogger of SL FASHION we should be honest with our readers, and the designers. Are we here to blog to get free clothes? If you read some of my older post (from way back!) you will see, I really don't care about certain things in the FASHION industry of SL.
As one blogger told Jula, " He is a little blunt!"
I call it like I see it.
As bloggers we have a duty to our readers and designers.
I would hope a designer who is wanting someone to review an item, would want a honest opinion. Do we take it for granted that they just want to get their designs out to the public? Could it be they are wanting an honest opinion so they can decide if they want to release it, or maybe redesign it?
I may only have a few designers that I will review, for exchange of items. They will get a fair review but an honest one.
Over the weekend I went by Nicky Ree's main store. ( For what I am about to say, I might get run out of Second Life!) I spent about 2 hours looking at all of her designs.
I would have to say I liked maybe about a 1/4 of what I saw. I made the comment to Jula, " I think Nicky must have worked at a strip club before she started designing." Don't get me wrong, all of her designs are well made. From a males point of view, I know I would not like Jula wearing a lot of her designs, but I have high standards for her! I did see about 10 designs I will be buying for Jula. They are some of the most Stunning designs I have seen in Second Life. If Monroe, and Hepburn were alive, they would be the first in line!
I guess what I am trying to get across, is as bloggers we should be true to a set of standards for our readers, but most of all to the designers who put long hours in creating a design. I challenge my peers to step it up a notch. Now you may say, "He's just a male, what does he know about FASHION?"
When you walk by, the first thing I notice is how you are dressed. If it don't turn my head I'll keep walking.
If you do turn my head then you can be sure it is FASHION!
(Nicky, you are a fabulous Designer. You are a mainstay  of Second Life FASHION. Now is there a chance I could get a discount? I promise Jula Carnell some of your Stunning designs!)
KasenK

Added note. To be fair to Miss Ree, I did not even take into consideration her Wedding Designs, when reviewing. They were all stunning! I am a sucker for Wedding dresses, when I see one it makes me want to marry Jula over and over!

FMU

FASHION Modeling Universty will be where my new journey in Second Life FASHION starts.

Jula and I have decided to slowly work our way back into SL FASHION. Just to get updated on new trending designers and models.
So my first step was signing up at FMU, located an JCNY. The classes are free, and the instructors Hermione Mocha and Cliff Sharktooth seem to really care about their students.I went to a recent gradution of their students. All the models clothes were provided by Designer Angel Dessous.
As you can see by the photos the designs were stunning! The models could not have pulled it off any better! They did an FASHIONISTA show! 
Hermione and Cliff you should be proud!
I am looking forward at being your student at FMU. I may even try to forget everything I know about modeling!
KasenK

 

Butterfli meets Shouted Couture

by Thalia Svoboda
As I looked around Shouted Couture today a particular piece caught my eye, a mix of sexy sophistication and monochrome chic, I am of course talking about the outfit called "Fashion News White". The Outfit consists of a fitted white jacket with monochrome news print effect on both the high collar and cuffs, skinny news print effect pants depicting Betty Boop and various other fashion images, uber glamorous white boots with silver star detail and a rather classic looking chunky silver belt with black buckle. If that got your fashion buds tingling then you'll be pleased to know it also comes in black.

This outfit designed by the fabulous Jador Fashion is a perfect example of her timeless and almost poetic designs, with her extraordinarily high standards of detail it is easy to see why this Italian designer has made such a name for herself. One of the first lucky women to wear this ensemble was the stunning Butterfli Sorbet of LeBelle Facon Modells. I caught up with her to see what she thought of the outfit.

Thalia Svoboda: Hi Butterfli thanks for joining me

Buttefli Sorbet: What an honor ty :)

T S: Well firstly I have to say you looked amazing in the outfit.

B S: Thank you :)

T S: So what were your thoughts of the outfit when you first saw it?

B S: The black and white caught my eye first... Those are my favorite colors... Then I saw the artsy design and the sexy cut of the jacket.

T S: Would you buy this outfit if you were out shopping?

B S: In a heartbeat, It's a complete outfit, with matching boots :)

T S: It did look amazing on you.

B S: Thank you Thalia :)

T S: You are very welcome. So what do you think of the designers and the work they do?

B S: Love her... she is such a great designer... I did find Jador in the Best of Italian Mall a while back and I already had some Bolero creations.. I really think Italian designers are top of the line.

T S: So... tell me about you, How did you get into modeling?

B S: Funny story... I first started hosting... then got intrigued by my real life sister modeling in SL, then I met someone who was offering modeling lessons, however they turned out to be a scammer and just ran with my money, this very nearly put me off modeling until I met Kasen Kazan, and he said to me " Hey, come to LeBelle... I can help you" which is where I was instructed by Tula Howlett, she was fantastic... love her.

T S: That's terrible, sounds like Kasen and Jula saved your career in modeling?

B S: Yes... I owe so much to those two beautiful people.

T S: So when did you first hear about the shoot for the outfit in question?

B S: Well... Kasen was looking for live models and when he calls I run... hehe. I like to help him out as much as I can :)

T S: So what's next for you?

B S: Modeling... Modeling... Modeling... Hopefully I can make something happen lol

T S: Any projects in the pipeline?

B S: Well I am in the finals for the SL Elegance Competition which is on the 24th of April.

T S: Best of luck with that you have one more person wishing you every success.

B S: Awe Thank You :)

T S: Thank you for taking the time to speak with me

B S: My pleasure... anytime.

Fashoinista Fashion Shows

Le Belle Facon Modeling Agency gives you the exposure that you are looking for, in getting your beautiful creations seen!
Our goal is getting your creations noticed.
We offer the most affordable fashion agency packages in SL.
Jula Carnell, Chalice Carling, Lorelei Maggs,Butterfli Sorbet,Abandoon Nacht with many other professional models are dedicated to bringing you the best fashion show in SL.
One thing that Le Belle Facon prides itself in, is a drama free experience.
Under the leadership of Tula Howlett and Angelica Kweller, Le Belle Facon's mission is getting you noticed!

Tula Howlett offers those that are looking to become models one of the most intense modeling training courses offered in SL.
Why wait on other modeling schools to fill up a class. Tula works with all of our students in a small group, or one on one setting, at no additional cost.
If you thought that a professional fashion show produced by professional's cost an arm and leg think again!
Not only do we offer very affordable shows for your creations, we also provide a venue to showcase and sell you creations during and after all shows!
Le Belle Facon Agency and Academy works hard to make sure you are getting the best SL has to offer.

Contact Tula Howlett, Angelica Kweller

When Fashion calls for desperate measures.

" Greta Garbo, and Monroe
Dietrich and DiMaggio
Marlon Brando, Jimmy Dean
On the cover of a magazine
Grace Kelly, Harlow, Jean
Picture of a beauty queen
Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire
Ginger Rogers, dance on air
They had style, they had grace
Rita Hayworth gave good face
Lauren, Katharine, Lana too
Bette Davis, we love you"

When Modonna released Vogue she hit fashion on the head!
I have noticed that Second Life fashion agencies are scraping the bottom of the barrel with their fashion shows. Just within the last five days, two of SL's fashion agencies have put on some very different type of fashion shows.
One was tat's and jeans, the other "model their best fetish gear" of latex and leather. Now I am sure the models enjoyed the 500 or so Lindens they made from doing the show, but is it fashion?
Believe it or not, it is the designers with the help of the fashion agencies, magazines and blogs who help set fashion trends in Second Life. I know that there are a lot more tats, jeans, and latex being bought than Fashionista style of clothes, but would it be defined as fashion? I would take Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers Fashion over tats and latex any day!
So anyone know when an agency is going to do a tee shirt show?

Dead End Runway

Runway shows are a thing of the past.
One of the hardest jobs in SL has to be running a fashion agency.
Not only are you running all over trying to find a designer willing to pay for a show, you also have a pool of models that you keep trying to find work for. As the CEO of Le Belle Facon, I have realized that runway shows are dying off. So I will tell you why I think Runway shows are a thing of the past.
The number one reason for me is LAG, along with CRASH and Burn!
A few weeks ago I went to a sim that was having a runway show, it took me 25 mintues before I could get in, the sim was full, so the only way I could get in was when someone crashed. It would usually be a model that would crash. There were whispers that people was being asked to leave or being ejected so the models could tp back, now I do not know if it was true, but knowing some agencies, I would not doubt it.
Another thing you have to take into consideration is the numbers.
Let say a fashion agency is having a show, with 3 different designers, charging 15,000L's per designer, that is 45,000L's.
Lets say the agency is using 15 models, plus 5 staff members, the 3 designers and their friends, That totals up to 23 people involve in the show.
I have been to shows that the runway sat in 4 corners of sims, people were crashing with 65 people on the sims. Most class 5 sims start crashing at about 50 or about 60 people on them. Let just say to me, the 15,000 Lindens are not worth it! Take away the 23 or so people working the show, that leaves only about 30-35 people who are able to see the show. That would mean the designer is paying about 200 per person seeing the show, now add the other two designers, they are paying the agency a combined 600L's per person to see their new creations!
I can think of better ways to spend those Lindens, and have those beautiful creations shown to 100's if not 1,000's of people.
For Le Belle Facon, the runway shows are being swept under the door, as we move on, in helping the designers reach a much larger audience for their Lindens. (Now we will do runway shows if a designer wants one) We would more than be happy to charge you 200L's per person that comes to the show, even if most of them are friends of the models and staff of the agency. A designer spends a lot of long hard hours creating their fantastic designs, so Le Belle Facon will give them what they deserve "EXPOSURE!" So it is time that fashion agencies give the designers what they are paying for! I know I am.