Bettina Tizzy (aka Beverly Millson), inspired by the innovations that push the boundaries of what is real in virtual worlds, created a blog (and movement) in 2007 called “Not Possible in Real Life.” Tizzy's blog, Not Possible IRL, is "dedicated to identifying and sharing well conceived and realized content creation in Virtual Worlds which would not be possible in Real Life." I spoke to Bettina to find out how she got hooked on virtual worlds and her perspectives on virtual fashion. (Bettina Tizzy's Avatar is pictured below left)
I'm in public relations, and since virtual worlds were the hottest trend in 2006, much like augmented reality is today, I tried to log in that summer. But, my computer balked and roundly refused to run the program. That Christmas I got a new computer and promptly tried it. When I realized how inexpensive (free, for the most part) this platform and canvas was for creativity, and what people were doing in it, I was hooked.
Why did Second Life become the place you went for your fashion fix?
Second Life was my first 3D immersive virtual world. Nowadays, it's getting a little competition. The biggest contender, still in early Beta, is Blue Mars. No fashions available yet, but dozens of designers are now hard at work and about to release their collections. Below is the new Neptune Dream Gown by Roselea Sweetwater.
What led you to start Not Possible in Real Life?
As I explored different installations and creations in Second Life, it occurred to me that most of what really captivated me could not have been realized in real life. That's when I decided to gather the leading content creators of these works within an organization to celebrate the fact that we could make the impossible possible. The movement grew and grew and now I think I can comfortably say that the acronym NPIRL (Not Possible in Real Life or Not Possible IRL) is well established in virtual worlds.
Who are some of the hot designers in Not Possible in Real Life fashion and what makes them so great?
Each of the three NPIRL designers I mention here are actual designers with their own specialties. There are many more, but these are the stars.
Eshi Otawara (aka Irena Morris) was a huge star in virtual "Not Possible IRL" fashion, but she has since left the grid. Her limited edition "Fishook Dress" (below) sold at auction to benefit a Relay for Life fundraiser for $1,700 U.S. dollars. I have a copy of it and yes, it was a gift. Eshi is a friend.
Pandora Wigglesworth's Curio Obscura hair creations make me laugh and laugh! Pandora also makes clothing, skins and accessories. Pictured below is her pink Horseless Carriage Gown. "Do you pass on the left or the right in Rococo-era France?" asks the ever-polite Pandora Wrigglesworth, from a Tizzy blog post.
Tukish Alpha Auer (aka Elif Ayiter) is a veteran SIGGRAPH and ISEA designer and researcher who is studying for her doctoral degree at the Planetary Collegium at the University of Plymouth in the UK, with Roy Ascott. She is rocking the metaverse with her avatars and fashions; she's no amateur. Alpha created a "tribe" of avatars/accounts and each one reflects a different aspect of her personality. Alpha was also my co-blogger for Not Possible IRL, responsible for at least 100 mind-bending and well-informed posts.
Pictured below is Alpha's "geometric/golden neko" outfit, which comes with skin, tail, ears, hair, ankle bracelet, puff sleeves, and shoes.
Not all of 3Star Tyne's creations are NPIRL, though she does make fashions for mermaids. Pictured here is Tyne's fun 'Mistress Silver Spoon' dress.
What about other 'virtual' fashion mavericks. Are there any designers you think are cool or trendsetting?
I think some of the most successful 'virtual' designers are found in shoes. The first artist is London-based, award-winning artist Marloes ten Bhomer. "These shoes (below), which are more architectural than fashionable, afford women the incredibly rare chance of freedom from conventional style clichés and codes,"said Tizzy in her blog.
Michael Tcherevkoff: The "Divine" shoe (below) from his “Shoe Fleur, A Footwear Fantasy” photography collection, was shown at the Le Bon Marché store in Paris in 2007. (NOTE: Wearable Art readers may recall from one of my previous posts that the virtual "Divine" shoe bears an interesting similarity to the "'real life" shoes produced by artist Lindsay Taylor).
I noticed that you recently announced that you will no longer be writing your blog. Why is that?
I'm the walking embodiment of "early adopter," Sandi. There are a lot of new technologies that I need to wrap my head around. Blogging is very absorbing, as I'm sure you know.
I sure do! Will you continue to champion virtual creations that are Not Possible in Real Life?
Forever and ever. I haven't left the grid, just quit blogging. My groups are more active than ever.
If readers are interested in following NPIRL, what do you suggest?
Anyone who has an interest in NPIRL content should join Second Life (they don't need a premium account, it is free). Also, there is the "Impossible IRL" group, which is open registration. It costs L$500 (500 Lindens or the equivalent of $2 US). We have previews to all the best NPIRL content on the grid, and also news about content creators.
Your readers can also follow me on twitter at http://twitter.com/BettinaTizzy. They can also get a very good sense of the content we admire from the Not Possible IRL Blog which has become an historical archive, or contact me at betinnatizzy@gmail.com or Googlewave: betinnatizzy@googlewave.
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