LET'S TALK ABOUT HATS!

Why do we wear hats? After thousands of years, they still serve the same purpose as they did since the dawn of time.

Baseball hats can shield our eyes from the sun. Sun hats protect our heads from an impending heat stroke. A warm woolen cap makes sure your skull and ears don't freeze off during the harsh winter months.

But also... Because the right hat is just really, really cool!

ONCE UPON A TIME...

There was Otzi. From the Bronze Age (around 3250 BC), Otzi unfortunately froze to death in a mountain in south Europe even if he wore the first known hat which consisted of a simple bearskin cap with a chin strap.

But the first image of a hat is dated 3200 BC from a wall painting in Thebes, Egypt. This was a simple cone-shaped straw hat. The name of the guy wearing this hat isn't mentioned anywhere so lets call him Bob the Egyptian.

FAMOUS HATS

Otzi and Bob may have been the first but they have been followed up throughout history by the most known figures of all time. 

Emperor Augustus Caesar never left home without his hat. Napoleon Bonaparte is always depicted with his famous bicorne hat on. Marie Antoinette wore spectacular hats before she lost her head. Magicians are recognized by their famous top hats.

There are also cultural hats that reveal the roots or lifestyle of the people who wear them. There is the salakot, a rattan or bamboo cone, which protects the Filipinos from the sun and rain. There is the beret that is attributed to the French, the artists, the revolutionaries. There is also the Mexican sombrero, the African fulani, the Moroccan fez, etc...

REVEALERS

And what about the fascinators, which are so aptly named? This formal headwear has its roots in the Baroque era and was made popular by the extravagant Marie-Antoinette. Attached to the head with a hairclip, headband or a comb, the fascinator still reigns over several major events. 

The 2011 royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton saw an abundance of fascinators in attendance and its the same at the Royal Ascot race. Very glamorous, the fascinator is also a high fashion item that we often see in big fashion shows.

In short, hats speak to us. By listening to them, we learn a lot about the people who wear them. It can be their nationality but also their personality or their social status.

All the hats and clothes featured in this report are from the fashion house LUXE Paris located on https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Bao/56/72/26 in Second Life.

  

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LUXE Paris LOOK of the YEAR THE SUPER CONTEST IS IN FULL SWING!

Yes the LUXE Paris LOOK of the YEAR contest was launched very early this spring and you had a lot of time but not anymore! Shine your style and send your photo!

The deadline to submit a picture for the first challenge dedicated to Jade Pono is June 20 at midnight and the first group of six semi-finalists will be revealed on June 26, here in The SL Enquirer.

Created ten years ago, the LOOK of the YEAR competition pursues two main objectives: to find the best ambassador for LUXE Paris and to offer a great and beautiful adventure to all fashion lovers. Men and women ! Pros and beginners! Everyone can play!

THE IDEAL AMBASSADOR

What does the ideal LUXE Paris ambassador look like?

“An elegant, original and charismatic person” describe Parisian Skytower and Mika Palmyra, the owners and chief designers of LUXE Paris Fashion House.

“A person whose style splashes us with beauty and whose friend we want to be.”

Jade Pono, the last holder of the LOOK of the YEAR title, had it all. A woman with a heart of gold, this pretty Japanese girl living in Hawaii definitely had the boldness of her fashion roots. She knew how to think outside the box without ever losing an ounce of her dazzling elegance. 

Sadly, Jade left us in March 2023 to fight cancer and never returned. Our competition is therefore paying homage to her by asking the participants of the first week of the semi-final to create a LUXE Paris ensemble inspired by our dear Jade.

HUNIPET DELICIOSO TAKES UP THE TORCH

Another example of the type of ambassador sought by LUXE Paris: Hunipet Delicioso, Jade's dauphine. A classic beauty, Hunipet radiates exquisite elegance, definitely shattering the myth of the Texas girl always in jeans and a shirt lol!

As Jade suggested to us before her departure, we asked Hunipet to take over and assume the role of ambassador of LUXE Paris as part of the LOOK of the YEAR 2024 competition. Hunipet will therefore be a member of our jury and of the mentoring team in addition to being the image of the brand.

Jade, Ponchie, Zuri, Coco & Frolic

THESE ICONS THAT INSPIRED LUXE Paris

In addition to Jade, LUXE Paris will pay tribute to four other fashion icons who have particularly inspired the creators of the brand, established by Paris and Mika twelve years ago.

While participants in the competition must not lose sight of the fact that they are applying for the role of ambassador, candidates must draw inspiration from one of the fashion icons. 

Each of the five weeks of the competition is dedicated to an icon. Jade, in the spotlight the first week, will be followed by two extraordinary women who brilliantly shine the spotlight on SL fashion: Ponchituti Boucher, top model, co-owner of One On One Agency, nicknamed The Mother of All Models because she discovered so many runway stars, and Zuri Rayna, creator of the jewelry that bears her name, accomplished businesswoman and fervent supporter of SL designers.

For the fourth week of the competition, candidates will have to take inspiration from the famous Gabrielle Coco Chanel, this daring designer who freed women from their corsets in the '20s. 

Finally, the fifth week will be dedicated to a very dear friend of LUXE Paris, the legendary Frolic Mills, who died last winter. Without the strong roots established by Frolic, the virtual fashion industry would not be the same today.

GIVE FREE RUN TO YOUR IMAGINATION

L$200,000 in PRIZES!

Don't let yourself be frightened by this new version of the competition. These icons are absolutely not a limit. It's just a matter of imagining how you would dress them.

When the icon is female, male participants are invited to create a LUXE Paris outfit for their companion and vice versa for female candidates.

Does the adventure tempt you? Stop procrastinating! All participants receive a free LUXE Paris ensemble upon receipt of their first photo. The twelve finalists will share L$84,000 in gifts offered by our sponsors. The winner will receive L$50,000 cash and the runners up, L$10,000 each, in addition to many gifts.

It's the most exciting fashion competition on the planet SL and who knows, maybe you're the star we're looking for...

Visit our website at LUXE Paris Fashion House 

to get to know our icons better, let your creativity flow, make your style shine, capture it all in a full-length photo and send it FULL PERM to the avatar LUXEParisLOOKoftheYEAR inworld . You can send a maximum of 3 looks by icon.

The 2024 LUXE Paris LOOK of the YEAR Contest is presented in collaboration with One One One Agency, Zuri Jewelry, In-Nova Academy, The SL Enquirer, SL Confidencial, Swank Events, the Womenstuff and Menstuff groups, the Latin Quarter, ProPose, Hyacinth Poses & Design, Hayabusa Design and SL4Live-TV.

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LUXE Paris LOOK of the YEAR 2024 TRIBUTE to our FASHION ICONS L$200,000 IN PRIZES!

SHOW US HOW YOU STYLE

For its 9th edition, the LOOK of the YEAR competition will pay tribute to five fashion icons of who have particularly inspired LUXE Paris over the course of its 12 years of existence. 

Participants will have to draw inspiration from these stylish icons to create a LUXE Paris outfit that meets their vision of fashion, and snap a picture to send us. Yes! Oui! Si! It is that easy!

LUXE Paris legendary friends

JADE, PONCHITUTI, ZURI, COCO & FROLIC

Three of these icons have left us but their exceptional talent and charisma have forever marked our memory and the fashion world, in Second Life or in reality: Frolic Mills, famous editor-producer-designer-model and so many other things, sadly deceased last winter, Jade Pono, our very dear LOOK of the YEAR 2022 who left SL in March 2023 to fight cancer and never came back...  and Gabrielle Coco Chanel, the one who revolutionized fashion by freeing women from their corsets in the 20'!

Our two other icons are still alive and kicking and shaping our virtual fashion world. They also greatly inspired LUXE Paris: Ponchituti Boucher, top model, co-owner of One On One Agency, nicknamed The Mother of all Models because she discovered so many stars of the runway, and Zuri Rayna, designer of the jewelry that bears her name, accomplished businesswoman and ardent supporter of SL designers.

Each of the 5 weeks of the contest application period will be dedicated to one of these icons and participants will have to create a LUXE Paris outfit for this particular star.

You don't know them very well? Our muses are told in very evocative texts, in the ICONS section of our website at

LUXE Paris Fashion House

There is also a Special Edition LOOK of the YEAR 2024 of LUXE Paris Magazine available at our main store at

Second Life Maps | Bao

Each of our fashion icons has its text and it is in the light of these Inspiration Texts that our jury will evaluate the applications. There will be no points allocated for physical resemblance with the icon or exact copy of the images we present to you for inspiration.

It's your creativity that counts. We don't want you to copy the icon's style but to present a look that she/he would love, wear with enthusiasm, or highly suggest to a friend of the opposite sex.

New this year

MEN CAN PARTICIPATE

Another big news this year, men can participate! Regardless of the gender of the icons you choose to interpret, the inspirational texts offer the possibility of presenting a feminine or masculine version and our LOOK of the YEAR 2024 can be both, a woman or a man. LUXE Paris creates a wide range of clothing for everyone.

The first week of the competition will be dedicated to Jade Pono, this exquisite Japanese lady who represented LUXE Paris so brilliantly. Known for her outside-the-box style, Jade was also a promoter of beauty diversity. Find out more about her in her inspirational text on LUXE Paris website.

FULL PERM photos of your LUXE Paris outfits inspired by Jade must be sent to the avatar LUXEParisLOOKoftheYEAR inworld by June 20th before midnight. You must include your legacy name and that of the icon that inspired you in the title of your photos. Misidentified photos will be disqualified.

On June 22th, the jury will choose the six best applications of the week, that is to say the participants who have best interpreted Jade's inspirational text. These semi-finalists will be revealed on June 26th on our website and in the SL Enquirer. The photos of the semi-finalists will also be featured in the Spanish magazine SL Confidencial.

The second week will be devoted to Ponchituti Boucher, the third to Zuri Rayna, the fourth to Coco Chanel and the last to Frolic Mills. We will then have 30 semi-finalists selected by the jury. Detailed chronology of the contest in the SCHEDULE section of our website.

A free LUXE Paris ensemble

FOR ALL PARTICIPANTS

All participants will receive a free LUXE Paris ensemble upon receipt of their 1st photo! 

You can submit your application for one, few or all our icons and you can present up to 3 photos for each of our icons as long as they show different LUXE Paris outfits. The more you participate, the more likely you are to be noticed by our jury.

This competition is open to fashion professionals as well as amateurs, simply in love with fashion. The evaluation by the jury will be strictly based on the quality and originality of the styling presented. The LUXE Paris LOOK of the YEAR organization will offer free modelling training and mentoring to the finalists, for beginners and professionals. The renowned ONE On ONE Agency and IN-NOVA Academy will lead these training sessions.

When we will have 30 semi-finalists (6 semi-finalists per week/icon), the jury will re-evaluate all the 30 photos in the race to choose 12 grand finalists.

The most generous fashion competition

L$ 50,000 CASH TO THE WINNER 

The twelve finalists, who will be revealed on July 31th on our website and in the SL Enquirer, will win L$84,000 in prizes. The winners of the title LUXE Paris LOOK of the YEAR will receive L$ 50,000 cash while the two runners up will win L$10,000 cash each. The trio will also share almost L$100,000 in gifts from our sponsors.

On September 8th, for the grand finale, each finalist will have to interpret the style of one of our icons but this time live on stage. The selection of the icon awarded to each finalist will be made by drawing lots.

So what are you waiting for? Immerse yourself in the inspirational text of your chosen icon and let your creativity flow. We are looking for an ambassador for LUXE Paris, a woman or a man who evokes our brand with elegance, charisma and innovation. Surprise us! Who knows? Your Second Life may be changed forever...

The 2024 edition of LUXE Paris LOOK of the YEAR is carried out in collaboration with One On One Productions, Zuri Jewelry, In-Nova Modelling Academy, SL Confidencial magazine, The SL Enquirer news site, Swank Events, Women & Menstuff, Hayabusa Design, ProPose, the Latin Quarter, Hyacinth Poses & Designs and SL4Live-TV.

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The SECRET LANGUAGE of COLORS- Hyaecinte Reporting...

 

When a baby becomes five months old,

it will have the ability to recognize the full color spectrum.

Suddenly the world is filled with every color of the rainbow.

Some colors will be considered more positive than others.

Doesn’t every kid go through a ‘no greens’ phase?

Because green means vegetables, ew!

This relationship we have with colors will last our entire lives,

even if we are not aware of what a color actually means.

What a color means to us is predefined by many factors;

by culture, by personal preference and maybe even by

what our high school art teacher told us is beautiful or ugly.

I want to show you these different meanings and make you

aware of what a color can do for you, while linking it to

another meaningful part of our lives:  Fashion!

 

RED

 

Red is one of the most powerful colors that exists.

It stands for passion, risk, courage and success.

In Eastern cultures red is the color of happiness and life.

In some cultures it is even considered bridal.

Red is a perfect color for a sensual woman!

 

 

BLUE

 

Blue is considered the world’s favorite color.

It stands for loyalty, honesty and intellectuality.

In the Islam blue stands for protection.

In the Chinese culture it is the color of immortality.

Blue is for those who know what they want!

 

 

YELLOW

 

Yellow means willpower in psychology.

It stands for curiosity, optimism and flexibility.

In Western cultures yellow brings joy and happiness.

In Buddhism it is the color of wisdom.

Yellow is a fun color for a fun lady!

 

 

GREEN

 

Did you know green’s psychological function is love?

It also stands for balance, relaxation and harmony.

In Christianity green is the color of hope and growth.

But universally it is often associated with nature.

Green is a color for a gentle and calm beauty.

 

 

PURPLE

 

Purple is the color of insight.

It stands for spirituality, individualism and idealism.

Purple is a strong color when connecting to other people.

You will be inspiring and devoted to others.

Purple is the right color for a social and loving beauty.

 

 

ORANGE

 

Orange means desire.

It also stands for humor, understanding and order.

In Hindiusm it’s a holy color associated with saffron.

It is the national color of Holland so it means to party!

Orange is for a versatile lady who has many qualities.

 

All fashion creations presented in this report are from LUXE Paris. Established for twelve years, LUXE Paris fashion house is recognized for its “couture” style and affordable prices. Visit LUXE Paris at:

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Bao/49/62/26

An article by Hyaecinte 

SL Top Model, RL certified stylist & colorist

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THE “MISS & MR ELEGANCE” COMPETITION

*This article was updated 10/18/23

PAY TRIBUTE TO DIOR

That's it! The finalists of the Miss & Mr ELEGANCE contest are now known. With the last audition dedicated to Christian Dior, 18 women and 4 men now compete for the title of Miss & Mr ELEGANCE and the nice prize of L$60,000 in gifts.

A photographic report

by Orpheus & Hyaecinte

The corolla silhouette, Christian Dior's first great success, was the star on stage while the candidates presented their interpretation of the great French couturier. LUXE Paris fashion house also created a collection of ensembles à la Dior for the contest production team for the occasion.

Created in 2019 by Martine and Dante Lisa, the founders of ELEGANCE modeling academy, the Miss & Mr ELEGANCE contest is one of the few fashion contests where both men and women can participate.

Chosen by a jury made up of personalities from the fashion industry of Second Life, the 22 finalists will now have to show their strengths within the framework of four challenges: November 4 and 18, December 2 and 16.

The grand finale will take place on January 13. The challenges/shows will take place at 12:30 p.m. and the public is cordially invited. For more details, visit www.facebook.com/elegancemodelagencySL

*This article was updated 10/18/23

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Model for only a few months LATHILDA JANSSEN, LOOK of the YEAR 2nd runner-up A NEW STAR IS BORN!

A novice in the world of modelling, Lathilda Janssen surprised many, including herself, by obtaining the third-highest score in the LUXE Paris LOOK of the YEAR competition.

An interview by Ely Catronis
Photos by Mika Palmyra

EC: Before we get to know you, what was it like to hear your name called as the second runner up? 

‘’I was in shock to be honest! I am very new to the modelling world, and I do not have a lot of experience on a runway.  I never expected to be 2nd runner up in the first fashion contest I entered!’’  

EC: I can still feel your excitement! That is so incredible Would you share a little about yourself and how you found this world of Second Life?

‘’I discovered Second Life by chance. I played a lot of games before and saw SL advertised on a website and it sounds interesting.’’


EC: While being in SL, what brought you to the world of modelling and fashion? Are there models or designers that inspire you?

‘’Last April, I started thinking about the possibility of doing something else apart from building, my other passion, and I realized that I would love to learn more about fashion. I always enjoyed creating new outfits. A friend told me Naar Rexen had a modelling academy, 

where she offered a free taster course. I joined straight away!

''One of the designers I admire the most is Iris Van Harpen because she does not only create fashion, but she also creates 3D works of art’’. 

EC: Do you have any advice for people interested in fashion or modelling?

‘’If you are passionate and serious about being a model or want to learn more about fashion you can find a lot of modelling courses here in Second Life. Join one of them and 
start learning something new.’’
 
E.C.: What is your favorite memory from the LOOK of the YEAR Contest? Or what will be your big takeaway moment from the experience? 

‘’The best memory for me is meeting so many nice people! I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved, from the designers who created our clothes and jewellery, LUXE Paris and ZURI, to ONE On ONE Agency team who helped us throughout the challenges and also the other eleven contestants!’’ 

E.C.: Aside from those wonderful memories and great experiences, are there any other events or organizations that you are involved in?



‘’I am currently attending modelling classes at Naar Rexen's In-Nova Models Academy, and also, I have been working for many years as an interior designer and landscaper together with my friend and business partner Cloe.’’

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Spotlight on LUXE Paris Look of the Year 1st Runner Up– Hunipet Delicioso–Ely Catronis Reporting…

 

This past August, the Announcement was made for the LUXE Paris Look of the Year 2022.  We have already met the Ambassador this year, I would like to take the time to introduce you to another special lady. She is someone in Second Life to explore and be silly and have fun in her early years who found her way into the depths of the modeling and fashion world inside the grid. Come, sit down and have a chat with the amazing and interesting Runner Up, Hunipet Delicioso.

INTERVIEW WITH HUNIPET DELICIOSO

Ely Catronis (EC): Before we get to know you, the person behind the avatar, I am curious, what was it like to hear your name announced as a runner up?

Hunipet Delicioso (HD): Have you ever been so surprised that you freeze? That’s what it was like for me. I remember thinking “Wait… what?? Was that MY name?”  It was… an amazing experience. I hope that every model has the opportunity to hear their name being announced. 

(EC): That is an amazing experience.  Truly exciting. Can you share a little about yourself, how you found this vast world of Second Life? Any fun stories from those newbie days to share? 

(HD):  A friend of mine told me about SL and encouraged me to sign up. During my early days in SL, I was attracted to the Neko look… humans with cute kitten ears and a big fluffy tail. The Neko tail was a great icebreaker when I was surrounded by strangers I had to interact with. My favorite was to pick gum out of my tail and throw it at someone. Yes, I have a bit of imp in me. Those were fun years.

(EC): I think sometimes, our early days did spark something in us all.   You do have something there.  What made you start out in modeling? Are there models or designers that inspire your work?

(HD):  I had burned out as a host and needed a break when a friend encouraged me to try modeling classes. I thought “why not?” and signed up. In RL, I’ve always gravitated toward challenges and SL modeling has provided me a *lot* of them. 

There are so many talented designers in SL that there’s no way I could narrow down to one or two. I love classic looks with touches of unique and creative details. Karl Lagerfeld is probably my (current) favorite fashion inspirator. Avant-garde can be challenging but a lot of fun.

(EC): Do you have any advice for people interested in fashion or modeling?

(HD): The main thing is to enjoy it. Have fun. Try different things. There are SO many different areas in the SL fashion industry! A lot of them don’t involve walking on the runway or competitions at all. Creative set designers are in demand along with people who can wrangle the backstage making sure models are cued on time, etc. Think of SL fashion as an endless buffet of choices. Take time to sample everything. You may surprise yourself.

(EC): That is a wonderful way to look at Fashion. I am sure there is someone out there who needs to hear that. Are there any other events or organizations that you are involved in?

(HD): I’ve been in the modeling world for only 2 years so I’ve been focusing mainly on learning as much as I can from as many different people as I can find. In the last year, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to write scripts for two fashion shows produced by Fashion Life Modeling Agency. My future plans are to continue classes with Ponchituti Boucher, One On One Modeling Tutelage & Academy. I’m looking forward to their intern program where I’ll be able to learn first-hand the behind-the-stage parts to modeling. I will absolutely audition for other competitions. 

(EC):Those are wonderful opportunities.  You mention behind the scenes a lot in the fashion world and have an appreciation for all the antics that happen there. What was your favorite memory from the Look of the Year Contest?

 (HD):  Oh boy… my favorite? That’s hard. People… It's the people I met through the Look of the Year contest. Having a chance to get to know the other ladies… They are fabulous stylists! It’s wonderful to see how others put an outfit together. Especially when I get the “why didn’t I think of that!!” moment. So much talent. The relationships I developed during the LUXE Paris Look Of The Year competition are the real prize. 

(EC): Thank you so much for taking the time to sit and chat today.  It really has been an honor and a pleasure to meet you and work with you.  Before we go, is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?

(HD): Ely, thank you so much for the opportunity to talk to you. I’d like to share two quotes that have made a huge difference in my life… RL and SL.  

Life begins at the end of your comfort zone. If you don’t take a risk, you may miss out on some wonderful life experiences. What’s the worst that could happen? You get a “no”? Then keep asking.  You’d fail? Failure only means you haven’t found the right solution yet.

You don’t get what you wish for, you get what you work for”.  I have that one sitting on my RL work desk. Every time I get frustrated or feel defeated, reading that quote energizes me again. 

Whatever you want to be, whatever you want to do… roll up your sleeves and work for it. Take risks. Ask questions so you are making informed decisions.

Lastly… please laugh as often as you can. Your mind cannot process pain at the same time when you are laughing. Look for the things to make you smile. Your body will thank you.

A huge thank you to Mika Palmyra, Parisian Skytower, Ponchituti Boucher, Lali Arbizu, Hyaecinte, Ѕнoly  KᴀᴇsϮηᴇя  Ƶнασуιηɢ. I know I missed some names, please forgive me. 

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