THE ELEGANT FASHIONS OF MISTRESS MIDNIGHT

Part One in a series, featuring Selectees of New World Notes Fashion Expo 2004. (Context here, here, and here.) Today we present Mistress Midnight, who also hosts an off-world website here, and whose fashions are sold in her simulator of Umber (also known as Midnight City) at 131, 216.

MISTRESS ON THE FASHIONS ON DISPLAY HERE (AS MODELED BY THE DESIGNER)

"Pictures one and two are from my NWN [Fashion Expo] event dress. I wanted something dressed up, so I found a cut I liked, and some fabric samples, and went from there-- no prims on this gown. Took me about four hours, and I made it in three color versions.

"Pictures three and four ["Teal Set"] were just for fun. I found a skirt I liked, made it, and didn't have a shirt to match it, so I created the top out of pieces of the skirt. Added a lace trim and used the same cut on the previous dress.

"Picture five ["Flowered Set"] I also made for fun. I saw a cut I liked from a magazine for the top, and found the flower trim on a floral website. I'm wearing the top with pink suede pants I made awhile ago."

MISTRESS ON WHAT MOTIVATED HER TO BECOME A DESIGNER

"Basically, what inspired me was wanting things I couldn't find. Then I figured, 'Hey, I'm an artist-- I should just do it myself.' In real life, I am a homemaker with no children, so I have plenty of real world time to create. I took Photoshop classes in my high school, so I know it enough to be able to accomplish anything I want to make."

MISTRESS ON THE FIRST LIFE DESIGNERS WHO INSPIRE HER

"To be honest, I don't really go off of real world designers... could care less if it's in or out in the fashion world. If I'd wear it, chances are, so would some others."

MISTRESS ON THE BUSINESS OF MAKING AND SELLING FASHION

"I spend at least fifty hours a week making clothing and various 'work' in Second Life. My most difficult design took about two days... most of my clothing takes between one to four hours for a single piece.

"I do pretty well in Second Life sales. I'm able to pay for my sim [Umber] with it, and have spare [real world] shopping money. [I] turned Umber into a collection of some of the best people. Rent would have made me greedy and may have affected who I had here. So I decided 'No' on rent."

MISTRESS ON SOME FELLOW SECOND LIFE DESIGNERS SHE ADMIRES

"Torrid Midnight-- her fashion sense inspires me. And her perfection baffles me.

"Aimee Weber-- she has a fun look and puts things together I couldn't have thought of.

"Nephilaine Protagonist-- her clothing has such imagination and creativity. [She] can make any avatar look amazing."

MISTRESS ON ASPIRATIONS TO APPLY HER TALENTS TO REAL WORLD FASHION

"No, I'd say not. I don't really design for tomorrow, I'm a slave of today... and some past. I think real world designs are more ahead of what a gaming environment is looking for."

MISTRESS ON FASHIONS FOR BUDGET-MINDED RESIDENTS

"I would say pick from anything in our 'Cheap Thrills' store-- it's full of some older items I had to take out of normal circulation to allow for space in my main store. (Located in Midnight City beside my normal store.) Of course everything is on sale there, great for the new resident; single pieces range from L$10-25, and sets are around L$50."

MISTRESS ON FASHIONS FOR WEALTHIER, SKIES-THE-LIMIT RESIDENTS

"I'm most proud of my more recent items, because I spent so long on them, so I'd say go for my Blood Rayne-inspired avatar, which comes with a full skin for L$1000. Or for normal clothing, I like my Denim Jumpsuit: L$500."

MISTRESS ON HER FUTURE IN FASHION

"I'm trying to create some outfits inspired by gaming characters. I've made an oufit modeled after Blood Rayne recently [see above], and hope to create more leather-clad super heroes in the future."