A bit of a cash windfall allowed me to do an unannounced increase in the prizes for my first SL Oscar Fashion Contest! The first place will receive L$2,500; 2nd, L$2,000; and 3rd, L$1,500. I’m also going to do four Honorable Mentions, and have decided after checking the bank account that each will receive L$250.
As these things always are, this was not an easy contest to judge. I had around 50 entries by the time I closed my groups at Flickr and Koinup for the year, including one who entered by leaving a link in the comments to my original contest announcement (a legal form of entry). Almost all of the entries were good, and many of them were excellent good. I had to rework the cut three times before I started the judging in real earnest. And, in the end, 2nd and 3rd place were tied — although any one of the three places might have been worthy of first.
And so my thanks to all, my congratulations to the winners, and I hope you’ll enjoy the shopping spree I’ve just financed for you. The Accessory Fair is going right now, so there’s a chance to blow the cash in one spot (grin).
Onward to the winners!
First place, and a L$2,500 prize:
Ruriko Bracken, for this fantastic photo she entitles Lost World. Considering the location she’s posing in, this is an apt title.
(c) 2010 by Ruriko Bracken
The sheer silver prim overskirt and the grain of the texture on the system skirt, from the PB Collection, work together wonderfully, especially combined with the “veiling” held on by the pin at Ruriko’s breast. Her hairstyle, apparently part of a gown by Donna Flora, echos the theme. Put all this together with the background that Ruriko shot this photo at and the overall composition, and you have a fantastic picture of a fantastic gown.
2nd-3rd place (tied), and a split of a L$3,000 pool:
Natasja Schumann was the early runner for second here, with this sitting of an Azul gown named Camellia, in Rouge.
(c) 2010 by Natasja Schumann
Don’t you just love this shade of red? Valentino practically turned it into a trademark; it signals to you from the Red Door of Elizabeth Arden; it glows with the fire of passion. If you can carry this shade of red, you will be noticed. Natasja does just this here, with assurance and power. Add to this the beautiful sash that gives this dress something of an empire waistline, and the billowing train behind. You can see why I regard couture as a work of art, even when done in pixels. Natasja’s choice of a stick-straight hairstyle from Maitreya and a Gems & Kisses platinum necklace complete the confection, which very nearly took first place.
Natasja’s co-placer here is Holly Beaumont, in a photo she dubbed Sunset Blvd.
(c) 2010 by Holly Beaumont
The over-the-shoulder pose on the “endless” abstract stairs, the sweep of the hem and the luscious embroidered texture of the prim skirt give this Lemania Indigo gown a feel of old-school glamour that was perhaps best expressed in the Golden Age of Hollywood. The shawl over her Calla hairstyle adds a nice finishing touch.
Honorable Mentions, L$250 each (in alphabetical order):
dancer Dallagio came in with this gown by Baiastice, which she also modeled for the Miss Virtual World contest. The hair is from Tukinowaguma.
(c) 2010 by Barney Roundel
Cajsa Lilliehook is beautiful as ever in citrine yellow with touches of peach by LaLei, with hair from KMH.
(c) 2010 by Cajsa Lilliehook
Caylla Winnikow, a newcomer to Flickr from the looks, channels the Twenties in this unattributed confection.
(c) 2010 by Caylla Winnikow
And Whimsy Winx shows, just like Maggie Gyllenhaal this year, that silk prints work on the red carpet (thanks to Reale, with assist from fri.day hair).
(c) 2010 by Whimsy Winx
Non-Second Life winner:
Members of Koinup were also welcome to enter submissions, including the members from virtual worlds other than the Grid. The best of the crop was this piece, offered to us by someone who labels themselves “GTXXTG,” from IMVU.
(c) 2010 by GTXXTG
Again, thanks to all for your entries; you made it a tough job to choose!
I’m planning to do this again next year. So keep your eyes on this blog for the announcement, around mid-January, that the Flickr and Koinup groups will be opening again.
