AVZ - Cyberpunk Meets Art

AVZ is the brainchild of Hern Worsley, who describes it as a dark cyberpunk facility catering in fashion, audio and visual. I was introduced to this store by Juliet Ceres of Bitter Thorns, who with her unique style seems to lead me to some of the most interesting designers every time I see her.

The fashion at AVZ definitely has a heavy cyberpunk influence, but these are some of the most innovative products I have seen in this genre. Hern says that she aims to create unique, high quality products, and has certainly achieved this goal, with traffic to her store being generated mainly through word of mouth from existing fans. These are definitely items that make you look twice, in an "OMG what are you wearing and where can I get it?" kind of way. AVZ carries a broad range of products that extend beyond the cyberpunk market, with items to enhance your goth, punk or neko wardrobe. Many products are highly customisable, with a range of colour and texture options, or the ability to add your own textures.

Twisted Doll is a 6 piece prim outfit featuring an intricate lace choker and marionette strings.

Oh, and nails through your boobs.........

The Survivor set is strongly post-apocalyptic in style, this is definitely fashion meets art.

This absolutely jaw dropping hair is included in the Survivor set. Not for shrinking violets.

The Mech Stilettos look AMAZING and are colour changing so you can match them to, well, anything. But maybe not that nice dress you just got from Last Call. Worn here with the Punctured Bracers, which ARE literally punctured, as in you can see right through your arm. The Sidebag features a texture changing panel which you can customise with your own textures, just click to cycle through them. And the Tora Horns come with or without ribbons ....... I'm a girly girl so I've gone with the ribbons. The latex catsuit is from KDC of course.

Perhaps the cleverest item at AVZ is the TV Goggles, but still pictures don't do them justice I'm afraid. These come with 2 different sizes included, with one pair set up ready for you to wear, and another to which you add your own pictures. The pictures cycle but are interspersed with static for a great flickering screen effect.

I'm wearing the TV Goggles with Hern's amazing Parallel hair, complete with steel rods and little horns for that industrial but evil look.

There's HEAPS more I could have shown you, but this post was getting a little picture intensive, so go and check it out for yourself here. Have a look at the other designers on site too, for a few treats you won't find elsewhere.

Gutter Boots

GutterBlood Spoonhammer is an interesting guy, one of those Second Life characters you meet who leaves quite a lasting impression. His talent and creativity are also impressive; his range of boots available under the Gutter Boots label show a high level of craftsmanship in a style that could perhaps best be described as post-apocalyptic salvage. Gutter doesn't appear to have done any heavy promotion of his products, but has vendors at Homicide Designs, Beckenbauer Productions, The Wastelands and Imogen. Gutter Boots are unisex, but much to Furiae Blackthorne's disappointment, they may be just a little too big for kids. Anyway, here's a small sample of the range of boots available.

Nasty Nasty Boots

Proletarian Toolbelt, Welding Mask and Blow Torch from Gritty Kitty; Skinny Ankle Jeans by Indie Rainbow; Cuts, Oil and Grease Stains from D3volution; Dare Hair from Naughty; Aitui Advance Skin

Homicidal Boots

Skinny Ankle Jeans by Indie Rainbow; Cuts, Oil and Grease Stains from D3volution; Chain Knuckle from FORM; ::Goth1c0::Heartbreaker Necklace; Nezumi Belt from Electro Kitty; Steam Goggles from Pruberry Muffins; Dare Hair from Naughty; Aitui Advance Skin

Post Apocalyptic Boots (no, they aren't supposed to match)

Skinny Ankle Jeans by Indie Rainbow; Cuts, Oil and Grease Stains from D3volution; Chain Knuckle from FORM; ::Goth1c0::Heartbreaker Necklace; Steam Goggles from Pruberry Muffins; Dare Hair from Naughty; Aitui Advance Skin

Jump Boots

Skinny Ankle Jeans by Indie Rainbow; Filth Pig Shirt from Homicide Designs; Cuts, Oil and Grease Stains from D3volution; Chain Knuckle from FORM; Dare Hair from Naughty; Ashlin Skin from Lovey's Boutique

Recent Stuff from Hearts Desire

Here at Fashion Victim we are usually too lazy to bring you updates the minute they are released in SL. We like shopping, exploring, hanging out and taking fun pics, and we usually just get around to posting stuff here when we feel like it. So in that spirit of dedication, I bring you some recent stuff from Hearts Desire.

I was lucky enough to meet Joe Stravinsky and Heart Wishbringer whilst shopping in their store the other day during my lunch break (yes, a true SL junkie here, bugger food, give me Second Life!) And I cannot believe that people who are SO nice can bring us footwear as evil looking as the Kiss Me Deadly boots pictured below. I had seen a preview pic of these on the forums but was still completely in awe once I put them on. The prim work is amazingly detailed and the metal textures are so shiny. These spiky boots manage to look MEAN whilst still being damn sexy. Available for 350L with quite a few colours to choose from.

Having an irresistible compulsion to own any clothing or accessories in SL that are even vaguely military styled, I was excited to see that the Inquisitor's Boots are now available with camo textures for both girls and guys. Here's a pic of me flying above a disgusting sewer pipe whilst wearing them, don't ask me why, just thought it would look cool. Oh, the boots cost 250L.

Here are the new Willow boots which are available for both girls and guys. These have HUGE platform soles and again that great prim work on the metal sections. These have flexi straps which really draw attention to the boots when you walk, but of course I am sitting down in this pic which probably wasn't the best way to show them off. Hey, I did mention we are lazy here at Fashion Victim. Anyway, the boots cost 350L and there are a few colours to choose from.

On another note, I noticed that Hearts Desire have some free avatar packs available for new residents. These are GREAT, there are a number of packs to choose from for both girls and guys and they include a modifiable shape, skin, clothing, hair, eyes and a fully loaded AO. For ZERO linden. I already mentioned that Heart and Joe are REALLY nice didn't I? Anyway next time you are helping out a newbie make sure you take them to Hearts Desire.
Hearts Desire

New from Hearts Desire - Hammers

I missed out on the legendary Hearts Desire boots and shoes the first time around, so was delighted to learn the store had reopened. What could possibly be better than the return of Hearts Desire to SL? New stuff from Hearts Desire of course! Shown here are the Hammers, these are some super chunky ass kickin' boots which are available for both men and women. These are highly detailed boots which stay true to the original Hearts Desire style. The black boots are 300L a pair, with coloured versions also available.

Also just released are the C.A.G.E.D boots for women, see the forum post here for details.

STEAL STEPHANIE'S LOOK:

HAMMERS Boots from Hearts Desire
Iron Cross Hoody from SiniStyle Design
ShredR Black Jeans Low from FORM
Biker Goggles from Skanks R Us
Ducan Hair in Black-Blond from Kin Keiko
Skin - Medium Tone in Red Charcoal from Curious Kitties

Skanks R Us - Featured Designer

Poe Tatum is a the creative force behind Skanks R Us, a relatively new label that brings us a range of well made punk / goth clothing and accessories designed to unleash the rebel within us all. I don't know Poe, but I can tell you she has some DAMN fine taste in music - black metal, alright! OK, on to the clothes. I visited Skanks R Us to pick up the Jolly Roger gloves that Cinn modelled in the previous post, and came away with my linden balance somewhat depleted.

First up are the Goth Mutation Boots. These are some seriously chunky knee high boots complete with high platform soles, buckled straps and steel caps. 450L a pair but when boots look this good, who cares?

Skanks R Us has some seriously cool accessories. Shown here is the Slave Collar which is a nice chunky piece complete with a buckle at the back and some heavy duty O rings at front. At 130L it isn't scripted but it's mod / copy so you can play with it to your heart's content. The Jolly Roger gloves are great value at 100L with some nicely detailed buckles.

My favourite item would have to be the Biker Goggles. These are some of the best goggles I have seen in SL, they are menu driven with more features than I could possibly list here. The goggles can be worn over the eyes or on top of your head, and feature some very cool animations for changing positions, which can also be controlled with gestures. The lenses can be changed to any colour, and you can select the level of opacity and shininess. Poe says that these goggles are customisable to ANY avatar, including tinies, but this isn't a feature I tested. The Biker Goggles cost 325L a pair.

Skanks R Us also has a great range of cute punk clothing. Shown here is the Check Lace Skirt (100L), Bloody Nurse Tee (60L)and Red Star Belt (85L).

STEAL STEPHANIE'S LOOK:
Skirt, tee, collar, belt, gloves, goggles and boots from Skanks R Us
Fishnets from WRONG
Body Graffiti Tattoos in Poison from Canimal
Sasi Earrings from Hearts Desire
Skin - Medium Tone in Red Charcoal from Curious Kitties
Victory Curls B & B Hair from Old Gravy