Tiffani Celestalis' Fashion and Beauty Page

New month and new thoughts.  I thought I would try another style focus post on being Edgy.  Annnnnddd this is a super hard topic because, fashionistas and models alike don't agree that there is such a thing as edgy.

So a disclaimer in that this is not a definitive guide because there is no true definition of edgy.  There are also casual edgy, and fashion edgy.  Fashion edgy and Photography edgy.  Etc. Etc.

WHAT IS EDGY?
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Truth be told, models and photographers say there is no definition

Henri3 (photographer) wrote:
"Should be obvious. Once it's definable, it's no longer edgy."
http://www.modelmayhem.com/po.php?thread_id=803864
http://www.modelmayhem.com/po.php?thread_id=390078

Here is the best summary of what edgy is:

"Edgy Fashion means one breast exposed, but not two."

Magnus Hedemark wrote:
"It is an undefinable word, as it is used differently by everyone to describe some ambiguous quality admired by the individual."

"For me, 'edgy' is a quality of the model that is portrayed by a combination of looks and posing/manner. In the end, something edgy is attractive and fascinating but in a non-pretty way, maybe even with a touch of darkness."

WHAT IS EDGY (Tiff's Viewpoint)
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So I'm approaching an undefined style.  Okay.  However I do believe there is a specific generic edgy style out there, just like there is a generic idea of physical beauty.  After you get the template down (of edgy or what is physically beautiful) then you can diversify it into personal tastes.  If you do a Google Search for Edgy Fashion you get the same styles from different sources showcasing edgy fashion.
To me Edgy can be seen in Alexander Wang fashion

Alexander Wang

When models for something edgy they are generally looking for something "different". This can be in the styling, concept, location or posing.

Edgy Fashion has, of course, an edge.  Black.  Classic.  Hardcore.  Rocker.  Avant Garde.  Runway.  Grunge.  Faded.  Destroyed.  Leather.  Denime.  Spikes.  Studs.  etc. etc.

It is fierce.  It gives masculine accents to feminine looks, or transforms what is generic masculine into something fashionable/artistic.  It is something that cool but different.  It's not necessarily pretty but it is attractive and causes fascination.

It is NOT grunge, NOT skater, NOT goth.  That is a mistake a stylist will fall into.  Looking a little too vampire.  Too zombie.  Too sk8r.  You want fashionable edgy.


 Here is a video on making your everyday look edgy.

Edgy ala Alexander Wang fashion

EDGY STYLING
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Fashion designers add "badass" elements or composition elements that incite action or promise violence to their otherwise feminine designs to make them edgy.  You're edgy when you look totally confident, a bit rock star.  You look a bit naughty, a bit haughty, promise violence, or seem a bit unapproachable.

How to get Edgy
Take a feminine look and add a main element that makes it look either: violent, warrior-like, or rock-star.  Blacks and grays are favorite colours of edgy fashionistas.

For example, wear a feminine black dress and add an unconventional shoulder accent (which looks like a gladiator pauldron):

http://www.modelmayhem.com/portfolio/pic/14146166

Instead of a simple tee, wear one with a rocker-like print

http://all4women.co.za/fashion-and-beauty/fashion/get-the-edgy-style-look.html

Here's how Alexander Wang's Fall 2013 fashion show was described:

Alexander Wang must have been studying boxing. From wrapping hands in layers of bandage for protection, to the padded gloves, Wang took this concept and ran with it in this knockout collection. Starting from the ankle warmers and running to the head-enveloping stocking caps, he didn’t miss an opportunity to cover, layer and add texture. The great coats were, well, great, as were the fur mittens/boxing gloves that extended to above the elbow.

Boxing!  Violence, Fighting.  Edgy.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/fashion/armor-glamour-fashion-week-article-1.1259747#ixzz2bbqM8mml

http://video.vogue.com/watch/alexander-wang-fall-2013

CLOSET ESSENTIALS FOR EDGY (As Recommended by those trying to define Edgy)
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Okay this is what "experts" say you need to get the edgy look.  They recommend dangerous pieces like studs, metal bits sticking out of your clothes like more and blatant zippers, clothing that looks like you've been dragged across the road after falling from a motorbike like distressed jeans, or clothing for the bike itself like biker jackets.  I'm sure that you can do better.. but it's a good list of what to invest in if you want an edgy style.

Hair 
Volume hair (rocker hair like classic Avril Lavigne)

Makeup
Black eyeliner (this will make your eyes look smaller and is dangerous for the narrow eyed  look that is popular with SL models)

Edgy Patterns and Pieces
leather
zippers
studs

Dress/Tops
Leather Jackets (especially biker jackets)
Little Black Dress (not edgy by itself but a lot of edgy styles involve layering over or under the LBD)

Pants
Non-blue Jeans
Distressed Jeans
Ripped Jeans
Leggings and Tights

Shoes
Boots
Footwear with Edgy Patterns or Pieces (eg.  like Michael Kors zip wedge)


QUICK EDGY SAMPLES
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Want a quick edgy styling?  Try these:


Easy Edgy #1
1. Take one (1) main item that is edgy
2. Dress around it with non-edgy, even feminine items

Easy Edgy #2:
1. Take your conventional look
2. Swap out the nearest identical piece that has an edgy accent (good idea to keep the 1 main edgy item approach)

Easy Edgy Sample Stylings

• Biker Jacket + Feminine Soft Dress + Feminine  Heels
• Studded Bracelet (edgy) + little black dress
• Studded Bracelet (edgy) + casual outfit
• Zippered wedges + subtle clothing
• Wear Everything with (Edgy) Boots

Glamour Magazine Recommendations
http://www.glamour.com/fashion/blogs/dressed/2013/02/pretty-in-punk-get-the-look-fr.html

• Wear a bold coat on top of black jeans and a tee.
• Little black dress +  black turtleneck underneath + ankle boots + badass jewelry
• Wear a tuxedo blazer + a tangle of chains (nothing or something thin under the blazer)
• Fierce heels + skinny jeans + bright red lipstick

INSPIRATIONS
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http://pinterest.com/stitchfix/edgy-fashion-style/
Comment:  you'll find things like spiked sweaters (see easy edgy #2), and spikey bangles

EDGY FAIL
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Overdoing things
Too much "edge" and it's not so fashionable and we fall into the trap of either looking like we tried too hard.


Fashion Edgy is Not Wacky
Fashion Edgy can be avant garde but not Fashion Wacky.  A lot of the SL model schools will teach wacky but try to pass it as edgy which I don't like.

TIPS (source: http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2011/aug/07/style-clinic-edgy-wacky-look)

To have an "edge" takes an eye for detail. Focus on your avant-garde designers who experiment with fabric and cut, and then find one who works for you. Create your personal style by finding an up-and-coming jewellery designer for investment pieces, and look at hair and make-up trends. To have the edge, you need to be ahead of the fashion pack – leave "wacky" at the art college door. JO JONES, FASHION EDITOR

"Wacky" means an overload of colour, print or accessories; "edgy" is far more chic and requires confidence. Edgy dressers experiment with trends but manage to avoid the fashion victim look – they go for minimal, experimental designers like Olivier Theyskens, Helmut Lang or Rick Owens. Finally, get an edgy dressing muse to channel! The aim is more Olsen twin and less Su Pollard. HELEN SEAMONS, DEPUTY FASHION EDITOR

I think the difference between "edgy" and "wacky" is palette and shape. It's really important to keep an eye on your palette and create the edge by wearing something with subtly interesting cuts or shapes, such as asymmetry or draping, rather than going for all-out colour or pattern and looking mad! Layering is also a great technique, but again don't overdo it. "Edgy" comes from wearing your clothes well and mixing key pieces with basics. Helmut Lang, Maison Martin Margiela, Acne, Rick Owens and Alexander Wang are my favourites for simple, modern pieces that have a subtle edge. BRIX SMITH-START, TV PRESENTER AND CO-OWNER OF START-LONDON.COM

Twitter tip: Don't clash patterns; wear a lot of black. @SOPHWILKINSON

FURTHER READING/ ONLINE REFERENCES
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http://pinterest.com/stitchfix/edgy-fashion-style/
http://voices.yahoo.com/how-dress-edgy-6865030.html
http://www.collegefashion.net/shopping/closet-makeovers-series-edgy-style-basics/
http://www.wikihow.com/Be-Edgy
http://www.glamour.com/fashion/blogs/dressed/2013/02/pretty-in-punk-get-the-look-fr.html
http://www.modelmayhem.com/po.php?thread_id=803864
http://all4women.co.za/fashion-and-beauty/fashion/get-the-edgy-style-look.html

I've been on the hunt for really good poses.  A few months ago I was really into taking quick snapshots and then hacking around in photoshop, especially with composition (mixing photos).

Now I've been thinking of doing that again.  But I'm bored with my poses!  So.. time to shop.  Here's my pose store hopping.

The Muse Pose 
tp: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/October%20Enterprises/137/228/28

A place with reasonable price.  Good poses for fashion.

Price Range: 60-75 L$ per pose
Poses:
Ads that preview the poses in the series?  no
Female: yes
Male: one set
Couples: a couple of couples poseballs
Props: no

fashionable

Diesel Works Poses & Animations.
tp: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Brooklyn/81/128/22

Price Range: 75L - 90L per pose (around 439L transfer or 499 copy for a set of 11 or so)

An excellent variety with Good poses for many styles.

Poses:
Ads that preview the poses in the series?  yes
Female: yes
Male: yes
Couples: yes
Props: yes

variety http://dieselworks.me/

Manifeste-The Art of Posing
tp: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Changes/105/44/22

Price Range: 100L per pose (around 899 for a fatpack of about 10 poses)

A lot of fashion poses to choose from.

Poses:
Ads that preview the poses in the series?  no
Female: yes
Male: didn't see any
Couples: didn't see any
Props: didn't see any

fashionable

Everglow (50% off summer sale)
tp: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Tupai%20Island/159/8/24

Price Range: 25L per pose (200L for a set of 10, 1750L for a set of 100)

A lot of poses to choose from.  Nice big open store.  I like lots of empty space instead of claustrophobic stores.

Poses:
Ads that preview the poses in the series?  yes
Female: yes
Male: yes
Couples: yes
Props: yes

variety

Wetcats
tp: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Etherea/41/231/24

Price Range: 40L per pose (250L for a set of 8 or 10, 100L for a set of 5)

A nice variety of poses.  Including interesting things like a set of flamenco (dance) poses with some very unique positions outside of the safe, fashion poses.  Some of the poses here did pop out -- and standing out from the crowd is always good in posing for an audience.

Poses:
Ads that preview the poses in the series?  yes
Female: yes
Male: yes
Couples: yes
Props: yes
Group: yes

variety

Di's Opera
tp: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Bonaire84/35/79/21

Price Range: 75L per pose (600L for a set of 10)

Another one of those fashion pose specialty places.  The words couture, glam, and french phrases adorn the very elegant pose stands.  Huge posters adorn the walls.  It tries very hard to create an ambiance of fashion culture.  The poses do stand out though, with interesting asymmetry to many of them.

Poses:
Ads that preview the poses in the series?  no
Female: yes
Male: no
Couples: no
Props: no

fashionable

Del May's
tp: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Terravia%20Island/231/36/23

Price Range: 50L per pose or a custom fatpack:

10 Poses = 400L$  (normally 500L$)
20 Poses = 800L$  (normally 1000L$)
30 Poses = 1200L$  (normally 1500L$)
40 Poses = 1600L$  (normally 2000L$)
50 Poses = 2000L$  (normally 2500L$)

A fancy store that screams artsy.  The poses I tried include crawls on all fours, and head back anguished howls.  Kind of cool and economical too.

Poses:
Ads that preview the poses in the series?  no
Female: yes
Male: yes
Couples: yes
Props: no

artsy

Isomotion

THE PERFECT LIPS
Theoretically the perfect lip balance is:

A Height of Upper Lip:Height of Lower Lip ratio of 1.4:1.6
or upper lip is 87.5% the height of the lower one



If you eyeball it, the bottom lips are just a bit puffier than the top one.

In my opinion though, lips are a dynamic thing.  They shape according to our expressions.  They can be sad, seductive, angry, worried, happy .. shaping into different sizes and forms depending on what we are expressing.

All sorts of emotions!

The problem with avatars is that their faces are static.  The eyes don't change expression, the lips remain closed.

LIP SLIDERS IN SL
Lip Width: lip width..  (see my nose proportion post including noses)
Lip Fullness: Like scaling your lips up and down
Lip Thickness: Similar effect to fullness, but look at its effect on your profile view (side view).  It brings the lips outward and inward.
Lip Ratio: How much upper lip you have compared to lower lip
Mouth Position: How far away your lips are from your nose
Mouth Corner: Frowny face :( or Happy Face :)
Lip Cleft Depth: Affects the cupids' bow (the double curve of the upper lip)
Lip Cleft: How far apart the peaks of the cupid's bow are
Shift Mouth: crooked mouth left or right

DECISIONS IN SHAPING YOUR LIPS
Here is some general information on lips.  Most of it is to suggest what look you are going for.  Are you a young avatar?  or a mature one?

Outside Corner of Lips
SL Slider: Mouth Corner + Lip Ratio
As you get older your lips get more frowny.  Over time the fat at the corner of the lips disappears and the depressor angularis oris (a muscle that runs from the corner of the lips to the jawbone) tightens and results in a downward look.  This leads to the formation of Marionette lines.

Vermilion Border
SL Slider: Lip Cleft Depth + Lip Cleft + Lip Ratio + Lip Fullness + Lip Thickness + Mouth Corner
This is the lip border that defines the shape of your lips. The vermilion border flattens with age.

Cupid’s Bow
SL Slider: Lip Cleft Depth + Lip Cleft + Lip Ratio + Lip Fullness + Lip Thickness + Mouth Corner
The cupid's bow becomes flatter with age.  The lips in general lose their curves as we age.

Philtral Colums
SL Slider: Lip Cleft + your skin texture
These two vertical lines that project upward from the cupid's bow tend to flatten or disappear with age.

Smooth Textures
SL Slider: your skin texture
Soft, line-free lips telegraph youth.

A Dumbbell-like Lower Lip Contour:
SL Slider: Lip Cleft Depth + Lip Cleft + Lip Ratio + Lip Fullness + Lip Thickness + Mouth Corner
An attractive bottom lip has a subtle symmetric fullness on both sides. This balance can be lost when lips are plumped.  The lower lip contour should be symmetrical on both sides with slightly less volume in the midline, giving a dumbbell shape

Ptosis (droop)
SL Slider: Lip Ratio + Mouth Corner
Line here is creating a sad or unhappily appearance on first impressions.

Lip Angles
SL Slider: varies
Drop due to mid- cheek fat falling down and forward

APPEARANCE
So Youthful Lips are:
* shaped like a lozenge
* feature an upper lip with a pronounced Cupid's bow
* fullness to each lip
* show off a bit of teeth when in a relaxed smile

All of these decline with age and the lips sag (flatten)

So if you want a more mature looking set of lips reduce the shape of the lips, making it more linear and frowny.



LIP SHAPE TYPES
There are many common lip shape categories:

Full lips
Curvy fat lips like Angelina Jolie or Scarlett Johansson
you look: courageous and self-assured.  confident.


More to come on this subject...

Wearing the right clothes for your body shape is our daily challenge, and source of fun as well.

And our avatars are no different. The beauty of SL (compared to some less flexible avatar systems) is the ability to shape avatars into all sort of wonderful shapes.

We can have fat avatars, muscular avatars, thin avatars, tall avatars and short avatars.

After you've proportioned your avatar nicely (see my old posts on the subject), you have to fill in that height with something. A body shape!

SHOULDER WIDTH
In figure drawing it is often recommended to start with the shoulder width. They say you can more easily get the proportions correct by getting the shoulders right at the beginning.

Let's start with shoulders 1 head width apart. This is almost impossible in SL to achieve.
Here I am with head at maximum size and shoulders at 0 size.

1 shoulder width part (kind of)

The widest your shoulder should be is 1 additional head width from the side of the side of the head. This is also pretty hard to do.

Here I am with head at minimum size and shoulders at 100 size.

1 additional head width on either side of the shoulders (kind of)

about 1/2 a head width on each side