Avatar appearance is a very important concept when it comes to second life. There are many different styles that we have access to, that many of us could never dream of having in reality. Currently, I'm going to be referencing fashion and appearance as it is to be seen in The Village. This is applicable to things outside as well, But I see no reason to ramble on about jeans and sneakers if we're not going to be wearing them.
What items are used to make up your avatar appearance?
~Shape
~Skin
~Hair
~Clothes
One of the first things an avatar is going to have is it's shape. What are you going to look like? Do you have an hourglass figure? Are you short and busty? Do you have a delectable pear-like appearance? Do you want to mimic a rl look, or be a fantastical being? Are you tall and thin? Are you masculine? Are you feminine? Do you make people wonder
what you are?
Your shape is one of the first things someone is going to see when you show up on a sim. More often than not it can take a few seconds for your skin and clothes to catch up, leaving you that wonderful sl unrezzed grey color many of us know so well. But a shape will usually hold up even if other things do not. (Unless of course you end up ruthed, but that's a blog topic for another day).
The next thing most people will look at closely is going to be your skin. Are you wearing one of the standard noob skins? Or have you at least managed to find a skin that is going to enable you to have tone? There is nothing wrong with a starter skin, but it is highly advised to find a skin that expresses something about yourself. Your skin should be something that you find appealing to look at.
If you're not sure what kind of skin you'd be interested in start paying attention to the avatars around you. If there's a look someone has that interests you don't be afraid to ask them about it. Many people find it flattering when someone asks them about their avatar build.
Hair is a touchy subject. With the influx of mesh hair available in sl, many people are moving towards it. But I would like to remind you that mesh hair doesn't flow like the flexi hair, and not all viewers can see mesh. Which equates to many bald men and women wandering around some sims. It is very frustrating to some players when someone asks why they're bald. They're not (usually) it's just mesh being uncooperative. Some viewers have issues with mesh , because it requires a higher amount of resource usage than the computer can offer.
I like the flexi hair, that has a bounce to it when an avatar moves, personally. But everyone is allowed their own opinions. There are many different shops in sl in which to find hair, so I recommend starting your search on the marketplace, as that's an assured way to get a good viewing of different styles. Then you can check many of the stores out inside sl itself. Try a few different styles until you find something that really feels right to you.
Clothes are going to be a recurring topic here but here's what you wanna keep in mind. Clothes are made by a lot of different people with various ideas on what is considered quality. What I like in clothes is flow and detailing. So when you pick something to wear, think about how it looks, and how it will look on your avatar. You, after all, are most likely not the same shape as the model.
Keep in mind also, what would your character be able to do with the outfit. How does it flows? can she hide herself behind one of the draping silks? Or is it so short she will fidget trying to keep it pulled down to cover her bottom? Is there a dagger that he can use to cut rope? Or is it regal and clearly made to give the idea of wealth? Think about your character and how you intend to present them and make sure to keep that in mind when you pick your outfit. The wrong outfit can always clash with a personality and create a bump in your believability.
Remember! The person who is going to be spending the most time with your avatar is YOU! What does this mean? This means that regardless what any other player in SL may say to you, the opinion that matters at the end of the day is your own.
