I don't know much about American politics, but I do know that President Obama came in for a lot of criticism for his use of the 's' word, despite the fact that he didn't actually say it. 'Socialism'. It appears that right-wing America seemed to think that basic human decency was a roundabout way of being a 'C' word...communist.
Much of SL is based on an American economic model and mirrors the American Dream. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that. To aspire to be....whatever....is an admirable goal. So before anyone imagines this post is a remotely 'anti American' diatribe, calm down. It isn't. I, too, aspire to a sprawling house on an SL private island. In fact, my RL finances are such that I could do it, but choose not to because I really can't justify that spend on something I maybe devote 6-7 hours to a week (or not, if RL demands).
However (you knew there was a 'however', didn't you?) not all of the world shares the same economic model or social values. In my previous post I referenced the SL stores that have closed this year as a possible result of a RL economic downturn.
SL haemorraging good designers and good stores is a problem for all of us, because they drive, to a certain degree, the entire existence of SL. We rely on a constant and growing number of players to feed Linden Labs, otherwise the entire metaverse could potentially collapse. So we need to do what we can to encourage new players and, equally importantly, encourage them to stick around. For that reason the likes of Yoko Leeeroy's Glamorized store is an important addition to SL's commercial development.
I note that there appear to have been criticism of Yoko's profile and some debate on Ruthed.com (I also contribute to it) in which Gogo (Ruthed's owner) comes down firmly on the side of Yoko's egalitarian store, while others, mostly designers/store owners with their knickers in a twist, are almost condemnatory. Let's leave the drama aside and concentrate on her product, shall we?
I've not used tattoos before because, well, tattoos were tattoos and I hate them in RL and not much less in SL. To me they signify lumpen-brained neanderthals (blokes) and skanky ho's (girls). So tattoo layers, until now, have passed me by because they weren't something I wanted or needed. Yoko's use of them alters my perception, as her tattoos are for eyeshadow, lipstick and so on. This is a wonderful discovery! Why? Because it opens up the potential for an entirely new approach to SL skin application, with regard to make up.
Until now it was a case of wearing a 'nude face' skin or maybe a 'glam skin' variant of the same. All make up or no make up. I don't know about you, but I try to wear the same sking constantly because it's a reflection on RL. We're pretty much stuck with the skin we're in, notwithstanding a tan or the application of a bit of lippy to make us more glamorous. Lip or eye tattoo layers change the playing field. We can wear the same 'nude face' skin on a daily basis for our general meanderings around the grid, and then make up our faces accordingly for that big night out, dancing with our significant other or some cute guy we've met in a SL ballroom.
Such wonderful potential!
I am firmly predicting that tattoo layers as cosmetics will be a BIG 2011 development in SL, particularly amongst skin designers who will move to offer, with increasing volumes, that 'nude faced' basic skin, to which an entire range of lippy or mascara or blusher can be applied. And why stop there? I'm not sure how it would look, but it seems to me that pubic hair layers, worn beneath panties, are another potential use of tattoo layers. And I predict that Yoko may well be in the vanguard of SL's 'next big 2011 thing' by developing her cosmetics tattoo layers further.
Diane found Yoko's store independently of me (we pretty much read the same blogs, however) and unknown to me had been over there purchasing some items, lol.
Erotic and exotic? Yes. Look at Di's photo. A sexy white lace bra, part of a set that offers about 10 different colours of bra, and a bunch of tops that go over the bra, yet reveal it with scoooped necks. Sexy. A hint of what lies below. Of course it's erotic. Sort of 'sensible' and not slutty either. And only L$10 for the fatpack.
The glasses give Diane a kind of 'sexy secretary' look, which guys love, and she's also sporting a Yoko skin with pink lippy. It's a fabulous look, I think.
Just wait...in a year's time there'll be a couple of dedicated cosmetics stores (probably run by avis called Max Factor Resident and Yax Mardley Resident), dedicated to tattoo layers that help you glamourise yourself for that big night out.
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