Open Letter to the folks from StyleHive.com

As as cheap knockoff of you, Siggy, I agree 100% with this post and have nothing to add.

I was honored to be part of this, and I had a lot of fun.

I must echo the sentiments that others put forth though -- "judging" the talent showcased was completely nonsensical and was kind of like judging apples, oranges, pineapples, donkeys, and a nice slice of gouda and saying which one is the best.

There was an unneccessary feeling of competition between the designers. I actually felt devalued rather than valued at some points, not because anyone said anything terribly bad about any of my outfits, but because I felt like I was being paraded around and judged by people who couldn't appreciate the value of what they were judging.

I want to point out that I am constantly amazed by the friendliness and supportiveness between SL designers -- I have been told by outsiders that it "seems competitive" and I always have to say, no, you're wrong, it's very friendly, actually. At least from what I have experienced.

However, I give props to Aimee Weber, Iumi Cline, and the others who helped coordinate the show I did have a lot of fun, and it was amazing seeing all these people that I admired in one building. Thanks.

I pretty much agree with everyone here. It was unexpected and i think the shock of the change in format made some of the comments sit wrong. Looking back it probably made it a more interesting event. In the long run and I dont think any egos were perminently damaged, afterall aimee said it well herself, nobody got there without already being some of the best of the best. And need i remind everyone all publicity is good publicity?

I do think it was cool to get an outside perspective on SL fashion. Its always interesting to see something through 'ignorant' and relitively unbiased eyes. They have no idea about SL culture, designer repuations, or limitations/possibilities of the SL platform so it gives us a different perspective to the work we are doing in world than we are use to.

Its still very sad that we have this technical problems with not inuf power full sims.. I tried to TP to the event several times and no chance - full sim.. after trying over 10 times i gave up... still hanging in the air as when i got the full sim sign I was stucked above ground to.. each time.. every time i tried..

So I cant comment a thing (but OK - interesting list of ”in” designers)- more than that we need special made sims for larger events.. Lindens!!!

Tina (PetGirl Bergman) – The Lady of Light.

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Many humans enjoy cruelty. Or more exactly: they enjoy watching cruelty as long as they are not on the receiving end. Some will consider this sad but is has been an important principle in public entertainment for the last few thousand years. Modern TV shows like American Idol (which I only read about, but we have similar ones over here) are another attempt to cash in on this successful principle.

I have huge problems finding this enjoyable. (Attributes like "tongue in cheek" are a pure excuse to make cruelty socially acceptable.) But it seems to fulfill a very basic human need and is one the cheapest ways to produce "prime time" entertainment. No wonder it is very successful. Those who are volunteering for it on TV usually know what they can expect and can prepare for it.

I think it is completely unacceptable and unprofessional to do it with unsuspecting victims.

I'm just chiming in to say that I too was caught by surprise, and was upset by some of the comments and tone. Thanks, Simone, for posting this. Thanks to those of you in this thread who have expressed my feelings better than I could.
That said, I appreciate the chance to participate. The designers and models all looked fabulous, and the venue was beautiful.

Tounge and cheek or not, this event was planned like this without the participants knowledge. You may have made it in the spirit of American Idol, but you forgot one key thing: no tv station would air something like this without consent by the parties involved. They probably can not even begin taping until all contestents have signed lengthy legal documents stating prior consent.

You can complain about people taking things too seriously, but in the end of the day the problem is not a bruised ego. Our names are our business. Public flaming of the quality of work by RL fashion critics can and will have a negative effect on a person's business. Human nature is to remember the bad things far easier then the good. If someone who watches this as a promotion of SL for whatever reason, they will remember the negative comments and not the ego stroking.

We'd all like to believe that every person shops only from their own ideas about what is quality, but public perception does weigh heavy on sales. We all know this to be true as most of our customers are based on word of mouth. Look at how many places has the words "best of SL" in the description, when in fact it is personal opinion. Yet many listen to that even if it is only an opinion based on many factors including friendship, sense of style, technical skill, and prior public opinion. Art is subjective, one person's best is another's rubbish.

So basically, the designers involved didn't know they were going to be criticised, and the show itself was in imitation of one of those bullying type of TV shows which people watch because they like to see other people upset? Ok. I guess it was all right then.

I feel it is wrong that what was expected to be, for the designers, an event to celebrate SL fashion turned into an competiton and some kind of "roast".

Who do such comments benefit? Did they truly benefit any one? Did they truly have any good effect?

Who was it fun for? Mainly for the people doing it I assume.

Obviously the comments did not benefit any one, and left a bad taste in everyone's mouth. Even if something is sweet, if it is too bitter, you will not be able to taste the sweetness.

So even with the positive comments, truthfully, some people were probably sincerely hurt and did not even appreciate the positive comments because of the harshness of the negative ones.

True, but they were only critics from stylehive... not anyone that counts.



-Ghoti

So if I'm understanding this correctly, someone invited MTV to come do an in-game fashion show and nobody expected that the result would be targeted to a 12-24 year-old cynical, sneering, television-head audience?

I'm not saying that bait-and-switch is a good thing, but surprising?

note: this is saying nothing about SL, LL, any SL players, it is merely commentary on the machine of modern television production "values"; my apologies if anyone read otherwise.

Heh. Amerian Idol, blah. Quality entertainment for all of us..

Well said.

Well I learned a lot. After I collect my teeth from the ground I will figure out where I want to go form here.

I do wonder if any of the designers here believe I had:

1. Malicious intent
2. a clue what Gina or Sabrina would say or do
3. Any intention short of trying to promote and aid your fashion careers.

Does the idea of me plotting your humiliation sound consistent with what you have known about me these years?

As for the roasting, could some the most enraged designers please post transcripts of the most inhumane treatment they had to suffer Friday night. I'm reviewing the logs and honestly, I'm still not seeing what was so bad. Quite a few people who attended the event have IMed me also noting they didn't know what was said to cause such a violent reaction.

When you post the conversations, please post them in context. It's not fair to only quote "Those shoes don't match the dress" if the comment was buried in a pile of gushing complements (which is mostly what I recall).

Aimee, thank you for organizing it, and the building and furniture were really well done

For the record, I was told like the day before that it might be a competition and that Aimee was doing her best to discourage it. I was not prepared for negative comments about anyone, but I took them for what they were: comments made by folks who were new to SL and did not understand the inherant limitations of making SL clothes and accessories -- or have a firm grasp on the SL fashion scene.

So they didn't really matter to me. It was just kind of frustrating because we couldn't exactly say, "HEY! Learn about SL designing before you judge us, mmkay?!"

StyleHive is a new company dedicated to unearthing to hottest new trends in the world of fashion. When we saw the amazing work being created by designers in Second Life, we thought it would be a marvelous idea to hold a fashion show there. Our first show was coordinated by Aimee Weber and featured the work of over a dozen of SL's most fabulous fashion designers. We were so proud to be associated with everyone and thought the event had an energy and dynamism that was incredible. We understand that some folks were upset that the event was a competition rather than a show and that some comments (while made in jest) were critical of the designers' work. Fair enough. We meant no harm at all -- we're new to this and still very much learning. Please believe that we are in awe of the work that is being done and want to do anything and everything we can to encourage and showcase it. Our hope is that we can chalk this snafu up to experience and focus on making our next event even more amazing.

From the folks at Stylehive.com

Well that was kind of you to reply. I subscribe to Cargo, Details, etc. Very into fashion, though I doubt you will be doing much for men. I love the furniture features though. Great work!

Thank you for coming to Second Life and giving it a chance. Just remember that our Second Life is not like Real Life necessarily, and people are unique here. Trends are different in Second Life. There is a large artistic, and individualist community here. It is what makes us unique! Of course you probably know akk this already.

Aimee love, I think you're overreacting slightly. I don't see any of the designers having a violent reaction here, unless I'm missing something. Also, I think that most of us have said how much we appreciate your hard work and are not blaming you for everything.

You seem to keep focusing on someone showing you the negative comments but that isn't the point. You did gush, nobody is denying that but gina and sabrina made negative remarks at several points. It doesn't matter how much you flattered each designer, we still weren't prepared for the negativity, no matter the degree.

You're missing the point, if you look at each response there is a common factor. We were not warned or prepared for judging or told that this would be a contest. It was putting people in a place they may not have chosen to be in had they known.

I think most of us are fine now and nobody is that "upset". As I've said before I'm proud of how all the designers handled themselves. A lot of us just let our own sense of humor kick in and we've got fairly thick skins. How can you run a business in SL and not have one lol.

You should take a look again at what the others have said, I don't think you're being searched out with torches <3.













Those are just a few things to point out to you. I don't think anybody is any worse for the wear and will definitely participate in future events. I think we're all just saying next time, it would be nice to have warning.

Here's my 2 cents late in the game:

I was away this weekend and didn't actually get to attend the show, which I was quite sad about before hand because I thought it was going to be a spectacular FASHION SHOW featuring many designers I admire.

But what I'm getting from this is that it was some sort of CONTEST. Which Aimee knew about all along and failed to mention to any of the participants? I certainly never heard the word "contest" before I agreed to do it. And i certainly would NOT have agreed to do it, as I notice a few other designers have mentioned. A fact that I assume Aimee would know (that is assuming Aimee DID know about the contest) and that would explain why she didn't tell anyone.

And on top of all that, it was judged by a trio of snarky Simon Cowell wannabes? Wow. Can't say how happy I am that I missed it now.

But I heard a rumor (unconfirmed) that Canimal won. So YAY! for Cani! But boo for everything else.

PS. I'd like to read transcripts if anyone happened to save them...

I thought I explained this but here is an FAQ:

Q: Did Aimee know there was going to be a contest?
A: I knew Stylehive wanted a contest. I told them it would be a bad idea and they agreed. It was when Gina arrived expecting the judge a contest at the very last second that I became aware that there was going to be a contest.

Q:Why didn't you warn us there would be a contest.
A:I didn't know it was going to be a contest.

Q:Why didn't you warn us that we would be ROASTED?
A:The idea of an American Idol style "Roasting" didn't come to my attention until the show was actually in progress. Gina and Sabrina were IM it to me as Torrid exhibited her first outfit. If you reveal the transcript you will see me mention it as a "by the way" comment.

**ADDED: That said, I think the reaction to the comments made by Sabrina and Gina are profoundly exaggerated. The vast majority of comments were very positive, and the critique was given in good humor. I do not believe the SL designer's reactions to the ribbing helped us in the eyes of the RL fashion world.

Q:Even if you didn't know, you should have warned us
A:???

Q:You should have used your Aimee powers
A:Honestly, I am nobody. People call me famous, but those people aren't ME. Gina is a RL fashion celeb, and Sabrina was pretty much my boss. I wish I could be spunky and all powerful, but I was just trying to please as many people as I could. I could not control or predict anything anybody said.

Qo uh... when you throwing another fashion show to get SL designers exposure to RL opportunities?
A:

Clarifications:

I hit the forums before logging into SL, where indeed I did have a letter of explanation from Aimee, so I apologize for toasting her little wings before hearing her out.

I wasn't there, I don't know what was said, I am mostly annoyed with what I chose to show (lastest releases for showcase vs. best work ever! for contest). I'd have chosen more carefully if I knew, but it's all moot now.

Anyway, it's a shame how it blew up because it was a fantastic build and had all the makings of a fabulous event.

Anyone notice how contests always blow up like this afterwards?

NOTE TO STYLEHIVE/SPLENDORA: LISTEN TO AIMEE WHEN SHE SAYS CONTESTS ARE A BAD IDEA!

Cheers!

My impression during the event was that the contest aspect was a last minute idea and in no way the main point of the show. I took it as just a nice way to give a bit back to some of the designers. It certainly didn't bother me at all.

I agree and have some concerns. One is that people should be told the nature of an event before participating in it, particularly if criticism is one of the aspects of it. To do otherwise is to have fun or enjoy privileges at the expense of others.

The other concern I have is a larger issue that this poster somewhat addresses. If our entertainment in sl (the grass-roots events, contests, parties, dances etc) are to be replaced by big name events and produced events, what will the feel of it be like? When DI goes, those event venues and events that cannot survive with a box office or sponsorship model will go with it. This will mean an even smaller ratio of actual entertainment to commercial events. UNLESS

SL just opens the doors to MTV, NBC, the corporate entities that have given us hours of mindless entertainment that most of us run from by coming in world rather than suffering through 12 back to back hours of survivor or runway or whatever it is. (I don't own a tv so I'm not sure of the titles. Please forgive.)

This is not a far off vision of the future: the future is here. The future of SL is farmed-in entertainment. That is UNLESS we can get the BIG BOYS (tm) to care about the organic culture of SL and the people here. So far, it looks pretty bleak.

The contest idea wasn't last-minute. It was an idea that popped up early-on and I advised against. I thought I had won that battle until the very last moment of the event.

In retrospect I do need to take some of the blame for not being assertive enough. Sabrina and Gina certainly didn't have any malicious or diabolical intent, and they certainly weren't trying to "trick" or double-cross me by sneaking in a contest/roast. They both wanted what was best for all the designers.

However, as newcomers to SL there is no way they could have known about the highly sensitive and volatile nature of SL residents. I, on the other hand, did know. In a previous post Starley said in bold text "Listen to Aimee" but honestly *I* should have said that, and I should have done it before the event.

SL designers depended on me to give them a good experience, and Stylehive relied on me to be their SL go-to person. That was not a postion where I should have been modest, meek, or starstruck. I should have said "I AM AIMEE! LISTEN TO ME OR THIS THING WON'T WORK!" Next time I will

Today is open letter day, old & new.