Second Life Fashion

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    A Few Second Life Mysteries

    Bygogo Fashion, iheartslFeed, JuicyBomb, Second Life, Uncategorized, What I think
    2 Comments
    Balloon

    One of the greatest mysteries in Second Life to me is why so many Third Party Viewers eventually stop development. I wasn’t always looking for something beyond the official Second Life Viewer, so I stuck with that for years before finally giving TPVs a chance. The first one I really used was Black Dragon Viewer, and while I eventually figured out things like the annoying WASD controls, I could never get rid of that music that played every single time the viewer launched. Maybe there was a way to disable it, but I never found it, so when Alchemy Viewer came along, I happily switched over. Alchemy ended up becoming one of my favorite viewers, but then development stopped. After that I moved to Aperture Viewer, and wouldn’t you know it, development there stopped too. Just recently I told you all about AyaStorm Viewer because I thought it had a lot of potential, and now they’ve removed the Windows version, so I guess you can consider that one effectively dead for most people too. At this point I’m starting to think TPVs are cursed. Every time I get excited about a viewer, development suddenly comes to an end. So now I’m sitting here wondering what I’m supposed to use next. How long do you keep using an abandoned viewer before enough little things break that you finally give up and go back to Firestorm?

    The curse of Third Party Viewers continues.

    Another mystery to me is all of these collaborations Linden Lab has been doing lately with residents and community groups. We’ve had SeraPlus, MadPea, Essential Inventory, and now The Collab Circle. The whole point seems to be adding value to Premium and Premium Plus memberships by giving members exclusive freebies. I’m Lifetime Premium Plus, so maybe I’m the wrong person to judge whether these promotions are working, but I haven’t been impressed with probably 90% of the gifts. The funny thing is, when an event has freebies, I’m so focused on grabbing them that I never actually shop. I teleport in, collect everything, teleport home, open all the boxes, decide what’s worth keeping, and delete the rest. It gives me the exact same dopamine hit as shopping because, really, shopping is just acquiring stuff. By the time I’m finished opening gifts, I’m completely over it and have no desire to go back and actually spend money.

    One of the gifts I did like was the balloon pack from SKVOST. The balloons themselves are really cute, but they’re meant to be rezzed as decorations. The only attachable version was the boxed package, and that included a no-transfer attach animation script, so I couldn’t even modify it the way I wanted. I ended up resizing one of the decorative balloons, wrote my own animate on attach script, and now I have a holdable balloon in exactly the color I wanted. It just made me wonder why they didn’t include a few holdable versions in the gift package to begin with.

    I do hope these collaborations work out because Linden Lab is obviously putting money into them. I came across a Facebook post from one of the Seraphim founders who mentioned they were paid by Linden Lab for SeraPlus, so these aren’t just casual community projects. That makes me wonder if Linden Lab is tracking conversions from these collaborations. Are Premium memberships increasing because of them? Are people actually spending more money after visiting these events? I honestly don’t know. When I visited The Collab Circle on opening day, I was literally the only person there. Even with Second Life promoting these collaborations constantly across social media, I wonder if residents are simply burned out on shopping events. At some point, another event with another gift bag just doesn’t feel exciting anymore, especially when so many of the freebies feel more like promotional add-ons than gifts people genuinely wanted.

    That brings me to the bigger issue that keeps sitting in the back of my mind. Concurrency has been trending downward for a while now, and I really appreciate Daniel Voyager for continuing to track these numbers because it’s one of the few ways we can see the long-term trend instead of just going by how busy our favorite regions feel. Whether Linden Lab wants to acknowledge it or not, the charts are showing fewer people online, and if that trend continues through the rest of the year, I think Christmas is going to be a really important test. Hopefully things turn around, because I’d much rather see those numbers climbing again than continuing to slide.

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    A New Face for Summer

    Bygogo Fashion, Hair, iheartslFeed, JuicyBomb, Second Life, Uncategorized
    2 Comments
    A New Face for Summer

    I’ve been wearing the Lumi skin from Glam Affair since it was released back in March. In real life time, that’s not very long at all. In Second Life time, though, it feels like ages ago. But does time even matter when you like a skin? You could probably wear the same skin for years and never feel dated, especially with the current state of Second Life. Until LeLutka releases the new PURE mesh heads, most of us are still wearing EvoX heads, and skin designers continue to create beautiful 2048 skins with the same level of skill and quality. There is really no rush to change your look unless you want to.

    A New Face for Summer
    Glam Affair – Alix skin | w/ Tattoo Layers added to soften the pores/freckles

    That said, in Gogo time, four months feels like a long time. I spend an embarrassing amount of time staring at my own face, after all. So today, even though it seems like Glam Affair releases dozens of skins every month, I finally found a new face. The new Alix skin from Glam Affair is available at Equal10. I like most Glam Affair skins, but if I’m going to call something my face, it has to feel instantly familiar. It’s that little moment of, “Ah, there you are,” when I put it on. That’s exactly how I felt with Alix, even though I already knew I would be reaching for Izzie’s to remove the freckles and pores. As you can see, I did just that, and I love the result. The original version is beautiful too, and honestly, a lot of skins in Second Life are released looking more like my edited version. People then use Izzie’s or other tattoo layers to add freckles, pores, highlights, and other details back in. I sometimes go in the opposite direction and remove those details instead. The fact that we can customize skins so easily now is one of my favorite things about Second Life.

    ISON recently had a 40% off sale, so I picked up something I do not normally wear, a leather outfit. Paired with the new Truth Verse hairstyle, the whole look reminds me of an anime baddie, and I am kind of obsessed with it. Maybe I need to stop wearing pastel pink and white all the time and lean into dark leather. Then again, let’s not get carried away.

    A New Face for Summer
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    Happy Independence Day

    Bygogo Fashion, Hair, iheartslFeed, JuicyBomb, Second Life, Uncategorized
    0 Comments
    Fourth of July

    A little late posting this one, but for the Fourth of July, I remembered the one song that should probably be the theme song for the USA: William Shatner singing “She’s Miss United States” in Miss Congeniality.

    I needed something that screamed patriotic pageant, and I remembered I had the Magnolia Gown from Just Because. Since it comes with a fatpack HUD, I was able to put together the perfect red, white, and blue look.

    I’m also wearing the new Odyssey hairstyle from Truth. It has that soft, windswept look that’s perfect for outdoor photos.

    Hope everyone is having a happy long holiday weekend!

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    Covered in Sand with Izzie’s Sandstorm

    Bygogo Fashion, iheartslFeed, JuicyBomb, Second Life, Uncategorized
    1 Comment
    Sandstorm

    What’s this? It’s Sand. It’s on my face, my body, probably in my ears too. This is the new Sandstorm body layer tattoo add-on by Izzie’s, available now at Summerfest, and it’s pretty fitting for the Fourth of July weekend.

    This isn’t a subtle dusting of sand. It looks like Gogo has been stranded on a deserted island or crawling through the desert for three days. Compared to Izzie’s previous Beach Sand tattoo add-on, this one has a much finer texture, and I think it’s cuter too.

    Each Sandstorm tone comes with four different shades, ranging from a light coating of sand to a much darker, grittier look. The darkest shade is my favorite. If you’re into roleplay or just want your avatar to look like they’ve been through something, this is a fun little add-on. Pair it with some dirt or blood layers and you’ll fit right in. There’s a whole segment of Second Life residents who seem determined to look like they’re permanently in combat.

    Sandstorm

    My outfit today is another free find. Analogic has the Grazy Set (top and skirt) available as a free group gift, and the group is free to join. I’m also wearing the Abby Headband, which is another free gift. I only found this store because I follow TeleportHub on X, where they post freebie updates all the time. Freebies have always been a big part of Second Life, and sites like TeleportHub and FabFree have been covering them for years.

    Which is why I still don’t understand why Linden Lab thinks access to freebies is a worthwhile Premium perk. It isn’t. I’m already drowning in freebies. This was my first time visiting Analogic, and I found around 30 free group gifts that I could grab immediately. The store looks like it’s built around full-perm mesh products from a bunch of different creators, so the branding is kind of all over the place, but there’s a lot of stuff. I’m not really a snob about whether something started as full-perm mesh. It was free, and it was cute enough.

    Sandstorm
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    I Tried to Update My Male Alt and Immediately Regretted It

    Bygogo Fashion, iheartslFeed, JuicyBomb, Second Life, Uncategorized
    0 Comments
    There was an attempt

    There was an attempt to give George, my male alt, a wardrobe refresh because I realized I haven’t shown him on the blog since… probably last year. I logged in with the simple goal of changing his outfit and taking a few photos, but instead I was greeted with an update for the Signature Gianni body. George was happily wearing Gianni v6.1, and the new release is called Gianni X v7.5. I really should have known that the “X” meant “none of your old clothes are going to fit anymore.”

    After trying on a few things and realizing that most of his wardrobe barely worked with the new body, I did what any reasonable person would do and switched him right back to Gianni v6.1. I don’t have time to rebuild an entire closet from scratch, so I’ll either wait for brands like Deadwool to add Gianni X sizes or George will just be living his best life on v6.1 forever. A friend suggested that I switch him over to Belleza Jake because it has better clothing support, but I honestly can’t remember why I picked Signature Gianni when I made him last year. I’m sure I had a good reason at the time. Legacy isn’t even a consideration because… reasons.

    So instead of writing the blog post I had planned, I spent the evening wandering from store to store trying to figure out male fashion. I even stopped by Man Cave to grab the latest freebies and didn’t see much for Gianni X there either, which left me wondering how men in Second Life deal with all of this. Women’s bodies are already complicated, but I’ve been shopping for them for years and know exactly which creators I like, which bodies they support, and where to find things. Male clothing feels like learning a completely different game, and I am absolutely a noob who has no idea what she’s doing.

    The whole experience reminded me of a funny story from last year when I first made George. I was teleporting around men’s stores and IMing well-dressed avatars to ask where they shopped, and one guy replied, “I don’t have time for this,” before brushing me off. At the time I thought it was unfriendly, but after spending an evening trying to dress a male avatar, I completely understand. I’m not even mad because, honestly, I don’t have time for this either.

    Today’s photo brought me to another realization that somehow escaped me until now: couple poses don’t seem to fit anybody. Why can’t we edit multiple avatars with the built-in Second Life poser and actually see those adjustments in-world? Every pose edits fixes only my avatar while my alt just had to make do the pose he was in. By the time finished editing the photo, I realized George’s hands were still locked to the hand pose selected on his body HUD instead of the animation I was using. Oops.

    If you have any shopping recommendations for male avatars or some secret trick that makes couple photography less of a headache, please share, because I feel like I’m starting from zero and could use all the help I can get.

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    Shop, Hop, Collect, Leave

    Bygogo Fashion, JuicyBomb, Second Life, Uncategorized
    3 Comments
    Strawberries

    I stopped by Shop & Hop to pick up some of the latest free gifts. At this point, it’s become a bit of a tradition for me. Every time the event comes around, I’m always curious to see which creators put real thought into their gifts and which ones are simply tossing something out to satisfy the participation requirements. There were quite a few pleasant surprises this round, and if you’re a fan of freebies, it’s definitely worth a visit. As always, FabFree did a fantastic job covering all the gifts, so be sure to check out their SL23B gift guide for a complete look at what’s available.

    I didn’t make it to every booth, but after spending way too much time teleporting, touching vendors, unpacking boxes, and trying things on, these were the gifts that stood out to me the most:

    • LeRoux – Lois AO
    • SLC – Bento AO Doubleyou
    • Softie – Nylah Skirt
    • Ade – Sunny Hairstyle
    • Alaskametro – Gemini 2K BOM Makeup Set
    • MUHO – Deva Shoes
    • Seeker – Remy Shoes
    • Cococat – Store Credit
    • Navy+Copper – Store Credit

    As I was making my way through Shop & Hop, I found myself thinking about how many free gifts there are in Second Life these days. It feels like every event has gifts now, whether it’s because they’re collaborating with Linden Lab, celebrating an anniversary, hosting a birthday round, or simply running a promotion. Free gifts have become so common that I don’t really understand why Linden Lab still seems to view them as a major incentive for Premium memberships or resident engagement.

    In fact, I sometimes wonder if all these gifts are starting to work against the events themselves. Right after leaving Shop & Hop, I teleported over to ACCESS and discovered their birthday round was packed with gifts as well. I happily collected them, took everything home, unpacked it, tried it on, kept a few items, deleted the rest, and never felt the need to actually shop. The gifts became the entire experience, and I still got that little rush that comes from finding something new without spending a single Linden dollar.

    That’s why I’ve never been convinced that giving away more gifts is the answer to attracting new residents or keeping existing ones engaged. Second Life already has an incredible freebie culture, and anyone willing to spend a little time exploring can put together a fantastic avatar without opening their wallet. If Linden Lab wants to attract and retain new users, I think their resources would be better spent making the platform easier to understand, improving the onboarding experience, and connecting newcomers with friendly, knowledgeable residents who can help them navigate the world. New residents don’t need another gift bag nearly as much as they need guidance and a positive first experience.

    Maybe that’s what’s been frustrating me lately. From my perspective, Second Life feels a little directionless. So many of Linden Lab’s recent efforts seem focused on giveaways, promotions, and perks for people who are already here, while some of the issues that residents talk about year after year continue to linger. I don’t think most long-term residents are asking for more gifts. We’d probably rather see faster support response times, better covenant enforcement, stronger account security, and leadership that demonstrates a deeper understanding of the people who continue to invest their time and money into this platform.

    Of course attracting new residents is important, and every online world needs new people to thrive. At the same time, it’s hard not to notice that some of the residents who have supported Second Life for years are becoming increasingly frustrated. The people who own land, maintain communities, support creators, pay for Premium memberships, and spend thousands of dollars annually are just as important to the health of the platform as the next wave of signups. Sometimes it feels like Linden Lab is working very hard to attract new residents while overlooking the people who have already proven, year after year, that they’re committed to staying.

    Strawberries
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  • Could Reborn Be My Next Body?

    Bygogo Uncategorized
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    Could Reborn Be My Next Body?

    Even though I’m not a creator, I still appreciate when brands actively support their products. One thing I’ve always respected is when a brand keeps its Dev Kit updated and makes it easy for creators to access. That’s good for creators, and ultimately it’s good for residents too. So when Reborn recently released an updated Dev Kit, I was impressed.

    Last week, I said I’d probably stick with Maitreya LaraX until something better came along. After thinking about it a bit more, I started looking at all the body options we currently have in Second Life. Maitreya is still the dominant brand, but it feels like they’re relying heavily on that reputation these days. Creators constantly talk about how difficult it is to get access to the Dev Kit. I can’t personally verify that, but it’s a complaint I hear often.

    As a wearer, my frustrations are different. Updates feel few and far between. Are we ever getting PBR support on LaraX? What happened to the push-up boobs they teased back in February 2025? Maitreya, where are you? The body is still solid, but it feels like the rest of the market is moving faster.

    If I want push-up boobs and PBR right now, Reborn already delivers both.

    Could Reborn Be My Next Body?

    This weekend I decided to upgrade my Reborn body and give it another chance. The first time I tried it, I couldn’t really make it work for my personal style. It felt like too much body for me. This time around, I spent more time tweaking it and trying to make it feel less “all booty” and more wearable. After doing that, I have to admit that Reborn is probably one of the strongest body options in Second Life right now if your priorities are active development, frequent updates, and broad creator support.

    That doesn’t mean I don’t still have complaints.

    I still think the wrists are too slim, which creates that “spaghetti arms” effect I’ve mentioned before. The butt is still too large. The upper thighs are still too large. I’d also love shorter almond-shaped nails as an option. But overall, there’s a lot to like here. If Reborn ever released an update that allowed for a noticeably slimmer body profile, I think they’d lock in their position and win over a lot more residents. Some Maitreya loyalists might even make the jump. Residents like me.

    One thing that surprised me this weekend was how deep I went down the rabbit hole of body deformers. Even with my butt slider at zero, I still felt like the shape was too curvy for my taste. Clothing creators are obviously designing around the popular Reborn silhouette, which means many outfits continue to emphasize that bubble butt shape. For residents who prefer a slimmer look, it can feel a little exaggerated.

    After trying several options, I ended up going with the eBODY Reborn Deformers from Pretty Liars. At L$299 for the pack, I thought it was a fair price, and the difference was immediately noticeable. I liked them so much that I bought the LaraX version too.

    Watch the video to see the Reborn Body deformer in action!

    Now that I’ve customized Reborn more to my liking, I can honestly see myself switching someday if I decide to move on from LaraX. What surprised me most was how easy the transition would be. For these photos, I didn’t have to buy a single new outfit because almost every brand I already shop from includes Reborn sizing. That’s probably Reborn’s biggest advantage right now. If you decide to switch, you’re not starting over or abandoning your entire wardrobe.

    That doesn’t mean I’m giving up LaraX. I still like it, and I could absolutely see myself wearing it for years. But it’s nice knowing there are legitimate alternatives out there. Competition is good. Options are good.

    And if those options happen to include PBR materials and the occasional push-up boob feature, I’m not complaining.

    Could Reborn Be My Next Body?
    eBODY Reborn Bod with Deformer add-on for smaller butt
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    The Premium Price Increase Has Me Reconsidering My Accounts

    Bygogo Fashion, iheartslFeed, JuicyBomb, Second Life, Uncategorized
    3 Comments
    Cherishville

    I’m disappointed by Second Life’s latest Premium membership price increase.

    What makes this change difficult for me to accept is that the core benefits haven’t really changed. The stipend is the same. The land allowance is the same. While there are some additional perks and gifts being added, they’re not benefits that I personally value enough to justify paying more each year.

    Whenever a company raises prices, I take a look at my spending and decide what’s still worth keeping. That’s exactly what I’m doing now. Over the years, I’ve accumulated several Premium accounts, mostly to hold extra Linden Homes. After thinking about it, I’ve decided I don’t really need all of them. I’ll be keeping the two accounts that I previously upgraded to Lifetime Premium Plus, but the extra accounts are becoming much harder to justify.

    The same goes for land. I’ve acquired quite a bit of mainland recently, and this price increase has me reevaluating how much I actually need versus how much I’ve simply gotten used to having.

    One thing about me is that I’m usually willing to spend money on Second Life. I enjoy supporting the platform, and I’ve never been afraid to invest in the things I love. But I also believe it’s important to periodically review our subscriptions and spending habits, especially when prices go up.

    If you’re maintaining multiple Premium accounts, now might be a good time to ask yourself whether you’re getting enough value from each one. Do you really need that extra Linden Home? Do you use all of the benefits you’re paying for? Maybe the answer is yes. For me, the answer was no.

    At the end of the day, every resident has to decide what makes sense for their own budget. My decision is to scale back a little. Not because I’m leaving Second Life or because I suddenly dislike the platform, but because I don’t think every account I currently pay for is worth the new price.

    Sometimes the most effective feedback we can give isn’t posting on the forums or arguing on social media. It’s simply reevaluating our subscriptions and spending accordingly.

    Just a girl flipping burgers
    Flipping burgers at Cherishville
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    Frankly, My Dear… I’ll Continue Wearing LaraX

    Bygogo Fashion, iheartslFeed, JuicyBomb, Second Life, Uncategorized
    3 Comments
    Frankly, My Dear...

    “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.”

    Most people know this iconic line from Gone with the Wind, but have they actually sat through all four hours of the movie? If you haven’t, you should at least once. Scarlett O’Hara isn’t exactly likable, but she was a survivor, and that’s probably why she’s remained such a memorable character all these years later.

    I recently rewatched Gone with the Wind to get in the mood for photographing my current obsession from this round of The Arcade.

    My friends were absolutely gushing over the Monique dress from PurpleMoon, and of course we all wanted the rare Floral version. With the right styling, it looks like something Scarlett herself might have worn while dramatically descending a staircase at Tara. As you all know, I have a weakness for period-inspired fashion, so even though the print does remind me a little bit of a floral sofa, I was willing to overlook that minor detail. The gloves are a lovely touch, and I’m even wearing the matching heels underneath the dress, though you can’t see them in these photos.

    I normally don’t pay much attention to gacha these days, but once in a blue moon I’ll keep playing until I get exactly what I want.

    Frankly, My Dear...

    Speaking of that famous line, let’s circle back to it for a moment.

    The thing amusing me this week is watching some designers encourage other creators to drop support for LaraX, while also suggesting customers should simply switch bodies instead.

    This dress is made for LaraX. I bought it because it’s made for LaraX. If it wasn’t, I wouldn’t have.

    I’ve never switched mesh bodies just to wear a particular outfit, and I probably never will. If something isn’t made for the body I’m using, I move on. There is so much talent in Second Life that no single brand is irreplaceable.

    Until something better comes along, I’ll continue wearing Maitreya LaraX. It does everything I need it to do. It’s funny to me that there are still residents happily wearing system bodies, yet some people act as though using a mesh body that’s still one of the most widely supported on the grid somehow makes you outdated.

    I’m not resistant to change. I’m not afraid of trying new things. I’m just not interested in switching to something that doesn’t offer me anything better than what I already have.

    So frankly, my dear…

    I don’t give a damn.

    Frankly, My Dear...
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  • I Spent $500 USD on Snow Land Just to Get Extorted

    Bygogo Uncategorized
    4 Comments
    Summer Days

    This “currently crashing out” print on the Honey Cropped Tank from The Kiwi Co. feels a little too relatable right now, because mainland has been testing me lately.

    When I first went Premium back in 2019 to get a Linden Home, it was also the first time I could finally own mainland. I eventually bought a snowy parcel that I absolutely loved and kept it from 2022 onward. It was extremely landlocked and surrounded on three sides by massive ugly ice walls from neighboring parcels, but somehow I still made it work because I liked the region.

    Recently, several abandoned coastal parcels nearby became available after a former neighbor left. I submitted support tickets hoping to expand naturally into the coastline, but instead the parcels were sent individually to auction. I managed to buy some of them, but after getting outbid on the final piece, I realized I was done fighting with the region. The walls finally won.

    I still wanted snow land though, so I moved a couple regions over and spent a pretty significant amount acquiring new coastal land through auctions and direct purchase from a land baron. In total, it probably cost around $500 USD worth of Lindens, but I was excited to finally own a beautiful coastal snow parcel.

    Then I discovered a 32m micro parcel sitting directly in the middle of my new land.

    The owner had no other land in the region and was asking L$32,000 for it.

    That isn’t normal land use. It’s extortion.

    I submitted another support ticket hoping Linden Lab would step in, especially since Second Life already has a policy against land cutting practices. Unfortunately, my request was denied, and no discretion was used to resolve what is very obviously a bad-faith micro parcel situation. That part is what disappoints me the most.

    As someone still relatively new to mainland ownership, I’m starting to understand why so many residents say mainland can be incredibly frustrating. One bad neighbor or one strategically placed micro parcel can completely ruin an otherwise beautiful area.

    And if anyone is wondering how my planned move from Gaeta 1 to New Zindra is going, it isn’t. I bought Gaeta 1 land back on April 15, but after realizing I’d likely be at the very end of the migration queue, I decided to put everything up for sale instead. At this point, I’d rather just settle into my snow land and enjoy it in peace.

    If you care about improving mainland and reducing predatory land practices, please vote to End Micro Parcel Extortion: https://feedback.secondlife.com/ldpw/p/end-micro-parcel-extortion

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