echo#2, August 2013

Behindit is Better to Be hAted for

whAt you Are thAn to Be loved for whAt you Are not

velur shoe And nAil trends

6 stunning outfits

5 reAsons why to stAy in Modeling

using AccessoriesModeling tips

froM vertiginA’s experience

the glAMorous fciiintroducing developer

the AMAZing MiyABiArtist spotlight

Queen hussyfAshionistA spotlight

The first issue of ECHO reached impressive ratings, much more than I expected when I began the work. 2500 views and 250 reads on issuu.com for the first issue was a very impressive number that made me motivated to continue the work!

Also, it would also be much appreciated if you’d leave a review of the magazine, saying what you liked the most and what you’d like to see more of and what not, it would help the magazine to improve. If you have any suggestions for the magazine, you may leave it in our Suggestion

thread.

Thank-you and enjoy reading!

VertiginaDo you want an advertisement in the next ECHO issue?

Maybe you wish to be featured as a developer?

You can! Find out more in our group!

Vertigina

in this issueShoe trendslatest in fashion4Nail trendslatest in fashion8Be in styleoutfits of choice105 reasons why to stay in modelingfRoM VeRtiGina’s eXPeRience16Using accessoriesMoDelinG tiPs18LEGACY Modeling AgencyaGencY sPotliGht22Behind Velur with Issconfessionals24Queen Hussyfashionista sPotliGht32Fashion StereotypesaRticle of choice34The glamorous FCiiintRoDucinG DeVeloPeR38Devour Modeling CompetitionaRticle of choice40

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BOTM FinaleeVent ReVieW42The amazing MiyabiaRtist sPotliGht46

shoe trendslately there has been crazy commotion about shoes. You

would see an outfit and then look for the matching shoes and you would just know that, that shoe belongs with that

outfit. Why is that?Well, the shoes is an exactly replica of the outfit. The designs

that are in the outfit are in the shoes as well. You have so many trends in the shoes department; you have Aztec patterns, floral patterns, nude colors, color blocking patterns, bows, chains, buckles, silver, gold, stripes, sequin, studs, lace, and many more.

The Aztec and floral patterns are the most common ones. You will at least see one to two shoes with an Aztec design on every page you browse through. Aztec designs are very in right now. We are traveling way back the Aztecan era. Aztec patterns can be paired with gold or silver; the shoes itself can be Aztec but the heel is either gold or silver. However, these shoes can’t go with everything. The Aztec deigns and patterns can go with the right color coordination depending on your outfit. With that being said, color blocking takes its place as the second most common trend in shoes. Color blocking helps create more eye popping and eye catching for the Aztec patterns. With more colors brings more diversity and possibilities. You mostly see Aztec patterns on heels. And boy oh boy are heels still rocking number one on the most used shoes on IMVU. Floral patterns are mostly

used too, because it’s summer and with that being said, you have flowers in the summer. Flowers bring a sense

of elegance and softness to an outfit unlike Aztec where it brings more of a historical, edginess to an outfit. Floral patterns can be contoured into a lace

pattern, where the lace makes it come across as a floral pattern which could be found in sandals or in

l At e s t i n fA s h i o n

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shoe trends

heels where it is strictly just a floral pattern. Seen we are in the season of summer nude colors

are very in! You could color block your outfit and pair it off with nude heels or sandals and it would look great! Nude fits everything and everyone. However with nude being so nude, you often find nude shoes paired with a bow, ribbons, studs, or lace. Seen nude is so plan and simple, it allows you to go crazy on your outfit.

Color blocking patterns for shoes are the exact opposite of nude color shoes. Color blocking restricts you from using certain colors. If the shoe has red, purple, yellow, and black those are the colors you use in your outfit. Color blocking is great because it catches people’s eyes and it is stunning how colors can complement each other and make the outfit more edgy or softer depending what colors are in the shoes. Often color blocking is just used by itself, you don’t really see much of bows, chains, ribbons, or lace on these shoes because the colors are enough; you don’t want to go too extreme that you reach tackiness. You can see color blocking on heels, sandals, and even sneakers such as Nike and Jordans.

Bows, bows, bows, are just so cute! They are even better on shoes! Who would have thought that putting a bow on heels would make the shoes ten times prettier! Bows make the shoe pop, gives the shoe a little more va va voom. Chains and buckles are mostly on boots and heels. When boots have chains or buckles they bring more of a bad ass vibe, it steps the boots level.

Holy cow! Spikes and studs are ruling the shoe industry, scratch that, they are ruling every aspect

of fashion. Studs and spikes are key to flats, scandals, and heels. The can make shoes more edgy or bitter sweet like roses and guns.

Sequins are great for flats and are mostly used for just flat shoes.

Talking about striped July 4th just passed and is a great style for the summer. You usually see striped in an “x” form on heels using ribbons.

You have scandals for the summer, sneakers for anytime, heels for a fashionable model look or an evening out, and flats for an everyday looks with so many patters and designs you’ll find something you like with all these shoe trends going on with the top trends being Aztec, floral patterns, bows, chains, spikes, lace, and many more.

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naill At e s t i n fA s h i o n

trends

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nail Polish is one of the greatest things ever created. It can be used for universal purposes. Your nails can give off your

mood, display originality, and most importantly, seal the deal to the perfect outfit. As the seasons change, so do nail trends. Light subtle colors such as pale pinks and nudes were seen on the runways of New York Fashion Week during spring collection showcases. Metallic colored polish and funky designs like ombré, multi-color combinations, stripes, jewels, the moon manicure, sparkles, the half painted nail, and different patterns were also spotted. Colors and designs like this are predicted to hop right off of the shelves and onto the nails of women all over the world in the upcoming spring and summer seasons.

The deep, darker colors and the brights that consumers seem to love are staying in style, keeping their position on the list of hot nail trends for the summer. Rich blacks, deep blues, and dark

purples are predicted to make a statement, along with hot pinks, intense oranges, and bright greens. The natural look is very in. If you want your nails to look fashionable and fabulous, keep them short and either rounded or squared off. Some fabulous IMVU nail devs include Cleo and MissC. So for all of your summer nail looks make sure to check out their cattys!

You can never go wrong with a French manicure; it is one of the most classic forms of nail art. The French manicure is back and better than ever. The new and improved version of the French manicure features bright combinations of colors, uneven tips, and clear bases with a dark tip. Matching nails with your makeup, like your eye shadow or lipstick, is also cool to do.

This summer the nail art options are never ending. Whichever style you decide to sport on your manicured nails and beach ready toes, make sure to express yourself and stay fabulous!

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classy, hippie, and casual. Let’s start off with the hair, the side braid is gorgeous. The hair makes you think cute, casual,

and a little hippie. The necklace goes well with the outfit; the fact that the necklace is gold makes the outfit stands out more. The top and bottoms go very well together. The blue shade in the top looks like a denim wash and the bottoms go well with the top because it has the same shade of blue and it has another color which is nude creating more variety. When you get to the bottom on the pants, it

flares, and is sheer too. So pretty!

Model : Parakiss

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floral and denim are such a major trend it’s crazy. The dress is pretty, simple, but vintage. To add more of a 2013 feel to the

outfit, you top the dress off with denim making it fun and youthful. The boots with the socks really illustrates that the outfit is vintage, the boots have a vintage look to them and the socks showing and looking all bunched up just adds more of a vintage touch. The hat is very vintage chic and is a great add on to the outfit. This outfit is great for the autumn time.

Model : Parakiss

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Model : FCii

this outfit is great for a party, clubbing, or just a night out in the town. The black flared pants complement the pants perfectly. The pants are

loose and the top is abstract creating a little level for the eyes to play with. The black and white is classy and sophisticated along with the pointy black shoes which are seen easily and complement the pants a little smaller instead of overly big. The outfit is not overly classy because of the knot in the top. The earrings are a great add to the outfit, it goes well the top and adds more dimension. The hair, good lord LOVE the hair. The color of the hair makes the outfit pop, plus that hair color is so very in. I love the little hair in the face because it creates a cute little personality which is almost always irresistible nerdy which can be translated into an intelligent sophisticated women. The glasses are very chic and add a bit of softness. The gloves create more of an edgy like LIZIAAH and baraq products; the gloves add more of a street couture sense to the outfit.

All in all it’s a great outfit!

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Model : Iss

Retro, retro, and retro is written all over this outfit. The colors are pretty, interesting, and so chic. This outfit can be worn anywhere, anytime. The top

is what is in right on both on IMVU and in real life. It’s pretty, very summer chic, and adds an sexy edgy because it allows your stomach to be seen a little. The leggings are crazy abstract, and very edgy as well! I LOVE the leggings. The high waist leggings surely make the outfit stand out and more vintage and retro. It syncs with the top very nicely. The shoes tops the outfit off because it creates a sense of balance and doesn’t create a whole lot of colors that do not sync which great! The shoes, top, and nails are mutual the same color, and the fact that the shoes are boots creates an edgy but the color creates a soft edge. The sunglasses make the outfit more retro and vintage. The colors of the sunglasses go well with the outfit. The outfit is playful and great for

anything, anywhere, anytime.

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Model : Yareli

this is a very avant garde outfit. This outfit displays that growth is everywhere, growth is great, and growth will always be in fashion. I LOVE the head

piece; it is certainly the main focus. The head piece symbolizes growth and strength, how the branches are so long. The black long dress is simple, elegance, and goes so well with the head piece. You look at the dress but you know it is not the main focus. The dress serves the roots of the tree or growth sort of speak. The necklace is a great touch to the outfit because I goes so well with the head piece, it demonstrates the base of the branches. Hair color is great because it can be illustrated as the leaves for the branches. The hair is the ultimate touch to this amazing outfit. An outfit that is avant garde with a positive message about growth

and strength.

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Model : Thoughts

an outfit to go out and still look sophisticated but remaining edgy. You can wear this out to go party, or a casually sophisticated outing with friends,

or a special guy. You have black and yellow. The top is stripped and very edgy because it allows you to see the stomach. It also has a soft appeal to it because of the ribbons dangling nicely. You have the scarf that adds a little rich and sophisticated taste to the outfit. The bottoms are very edgy and abstract because you have one side that is black and then another section that is yellow. Instead of thinking of colored shoes to top it off, the stripes shoes are rare, fresh, and create more a playful tone for the eye to catch. The pop subtly make the outfit pop a little. The red hair makes the colors pop out more and is a bold and edgy choice. This outfit is great to party in, go on a date with, or just go out with friends during the night. Bold, edgy, and sophisticated.

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reasonswhy to stay

f r o M v e r t i g i n A’ s e x p e r i e n c e

5in modeling

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opportunities are endless. Back in the day modeling meant being a part of an agency, doing photo shoots according

to themes and that’s it. Nowadays, IMVU modeling offers you way more. The developers are focusing more on promoting their products, creating stories behind creations, therefore requiring professional models that are able to make the imagination real. Also, there are fashion magazines on IMVU that offer modeling work as well. Modeling doesn’t mean matching an outfit for a product provided anymore, it’s a way of art.

Runway modeling. The agencies now offer fashion shows for developers, which is a great opportunity, big responsibility and a lot of fun. The runway shows require the best models, though, so, if everyone leaves, there will be no more models to have for the shows. Besides, the fashion show concepts get more and more interesting with each, as now the developers are trying to outshine each other with their crazy collection ideas.

Improve your style and skills. As a model on IMVU with all the opportunities, you have a lot of ways you can improve on your outfit matching skills, styling, posing and runway skills. Listen to your judges, agency owners and the ones giving you the work, as they might say or show you something that will help you further in your career. Always remember that even if you’re the best, you still have a lot more to learn. Keep improving and developing yourself.

Meet new people. Obviously, same as in any other community, you can meet a lot of new people and make new friends that match your interests and share the same hobby – modeling. It’s also worth staying because of the people you have made connections with.

Fashion is passion. Or should I say… Fashion is like a drug. As soon as you get involved, there is no way out. You find it interesting and fun, it’s the only thing you do on IMVU. So if you’d decide to leave modeling, you’d have to leave IMVU.

Modeling industry on has been around for as long as we can remember being on IMVU in general. It has had it’s ups and downs, experienced different agencies being on top, impressive people leaving modeling and new ones showing up. However, there have always been people who are not sure whether they should or should not stay in

the modeling industry. I think it’s worth the stay and here are my 5 reasons why.- Vertigina

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using accessories

accessories… The largest category on IMVU catalog – earrings, bracelets, necklaces, layerable wonders, horns, chains, spikes, hats and much more. With all of this variety comes a great responsibility – find the right accessories and not to overuse them. Very often in your competition judging you can find a judge

complaining about accessories not being used correctly, so I would like to share my experience on this, showing you two important things – how to not over-accessorize and how to make an outfit more extraordinary just by using the right accessories.

The best way to show you what I mean is by providing an actual example of how I do the accessorizing. For the base we will be using an outfit by Quantum with shoes by VictoriaIV, which I have recently grown to love for glamour shoes, and a simple up-do hair, so it doesn’t mess in our way, as it is very important to make sure the outfit and it’s accessories don’t clash with the hair.

M o d e l i n g t i p s

The too-much-bling-bling look. Yes, I also admire baraq’s skill on creating beautiful accessories that match very well with our glamour or high fashion outfits, but often people are over-accessorizing with her products.

I stick to a simple rule – Not more than 3 accessories per outfit (usually I stick to just

two), meaning I will be wearing earrings and necklace or bracelet, or ring, but never more than 1 ring or bracelets on both arms same time. Yes, there might be some exceptions where it is required, but in 99% of cases it will be considered tacky and

unprofessional. The accessories must not bring all the attention away from

the outfit, as it does in the example.

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Spice it up. In case you need to have an interesting outfit, but you can’t find anything – don’t panic. Think outside the box! Just add some layerable wonders, as I like to call them. You never know what kind of outfits you can make just by adding some shoulder pads, layerable skirts, jackets, belts and much more. This is the only case where you can and

most likely should step out of the “Not more than 3 accessories

per outfit” rule, however, be careful to not make it tacky once again. In the example, I just added the layerable ruffle skirt by Cel (mesh by Delure) and a layerable jacket by Velur, also I changed the shoes by other VictoriaIV shoes and added a different hairstyle. As the result, the outfit looks completely different from what it looked like before. However, it’s very important to keep the style the same and make sure the textures of the details don’t miss-match in style with the outfit base you are using.

To sum up, just let your creativity flow and don’t be afraid to experiment with accessories, add-

ons and other layerable wonders.

Good luck with accessorizing and remember that there can be too much

accessories also, even if they are by haute couture developers!

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this month we’ve chosen a quite new agency that has been around for not so long, but has already reached some of the popularity and positive feedback. We have interviewed AppleJackal, the owner of LEGACY, because who else can tell about the agency better than the owner herself?

What is your name? I go by Ame.

How long have you been on IMVU? I’ve been here for about 3 years.

Tell us about your IMVU’s everyday! Usually, I’m on the IMVU client to style outfits and take screenies for editing competitions. When I’m not editing things in Photoshop and browsing the shop, I talk to my close friends, but rarely go to public chats.

Which public rooms can we meet you in? Well, I don’t go to public rooms often, but I do hang out sometimes in my friend Kty’s room or at Thit’s Unlimited Modeling room.

How long have you been modeling on IMVU for? I’ve been modeling here for about two-and-a-half years.

Are you doing modeling in real life as well? Nope. But I’ve discovered here that I take a real liking to fashion, so maybe sometime in the future.

Why did you start modeling? I was mostly drawn in by the competitions and the opportunities. When I first began, I was trying to figure out Photoshop and after entering a few competitions, it not only developed my Photoshop skills, but developed my love for fashion and art. I decided that the best way to express myself was through IMVU modeling.

Why did you decide to open your own agency?

To be honest, I felt that modeling on IMVU could use a couple of fresh and new ideas and changes. I believe this agency can set the precedent for the expanse of the fashion industry on IMVU. However, I felt that the only people who make that happen were those who take IMVU fashion seriously and put their best effort into their work. Hence, LEGACY was also, in part, made for them. We hope to provide them the best opportunities and experiences in IMVU fashion as a sort of compensation for their hard work.

How long have you had the agency for? It’s been about a month.

The Soapbox is so good. It attracted me to this agency. Tell us about it…

Well, the soapbox took about a month to create. When I finally decided to create LEGACY, I had a hard time trying to figure out how I wanted the presentation, which involved everything from colors to organization. At the time I was just developing my skills on gif animation and it finally hit me one day to make different elements of the soapbox animated. So I technically went crazy with the gifs but kept them in an organized fashion. Now, different elements of the soapbox are animated as well as our group image and banner. I think my favorite animation is the one I made as a header for the soapbox in our application group. The models were really cooperative and pulled off

A g e n c y s p o t l i g h t

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the exact look the agency needed even though they were just headshots. Of course, I can’t hand all the credit to the animation. I also think the agency colors did a pretty good job too. A deep red is not only bold but somewhat sophisticated. Slap black in there and it’s unstoppable. But I hope to add tones of gold and nude to sort of soften the approach. I like to keep the presentation flexible.

I love the banner. Did you spend a lot of time doing it? The banner took about a day to create. There were tons of glitches to how the animation flowed before I finally got it right. I can’t tell you how annoying it was. LOL. But I’m glad it came out well.

Why did you choose the name LEGACY for the agency? I want the agency to leave a mark in IMVU fashion history, a legacy. I know that that’s a very difficult goal to achieve. However, I believe our members are entitled to creating their own legacies upon the fashion world. It all comes down to what impact you want to make on the fashion industry on IMVU as a representative of the agency and an individual. Thus, the name LEGACY is reflective of our purposes and goals.

Is there an interesting story of what has happened within the agency that you’d like to share?

Well, we do have this activity thread called The Shoe, where we basically battle one another to claim our dream pair of shoes. The methods in which some of us are using to get them are pretty extreme. From dumping a pot boiling hot water on someone to get them, to calling on the devil for a ride and snatching them, to squashing someone with a house like the Wicked Witch of the West to get them. The thread’s never-ending, so I’m sure the ferocious battle continue with more outrageous methods of claiming that shoe. After all, shoes are a girl’s best friend— well, second to diamonds.

Are you still hiring people? How can someone apply?We are still hiring. However, there’s a cap on how many members we’re letting in. I’d like to keep the agency small, exclusive. We do have an application group with different positions for models, stylists, editors, photographers, publication writers, developers, and executives. There, people who are hoping to apply can find the corresponding applications. And as a fun little twist, people who are accepted are given a personalized acceptance card.

What are some upcoming projects or events for the agency?

Well, I can’t spill everything that’s gonna come up, but I can tell you that we’re creating a magazine publication soon. Not sure it can meet the standards of ECHO, but hey, I think it could be very rewarding for members to see all their hard work presented in a good publication. We’ll first start with an intro issue, which should be published before the end of the summer, so keep your eyes open!

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behind velur

c o n f e s s i o n A l s

WITH ISS

Welcome to Confessionals, the place where we invite a person from IMVU community’s elite and have a friendly and open conversation with them about everything. This

time we have Velur, ex owner of La Prestige Modeling Agency, developer and an open-minded person.

The interviews are done by Iss, an IMVU fashionista, developer and a model.

iss: Welcome to the Confessionals! :)Velur: Hello, and thank-you very much!iss: First of all, I would like to thank-you for accepting to be interviewed tonight! iss: It is a pleasure to have you here! Velur: You are very welcome, and thank-you as well for this great chance! iss: Shall we begin?Velur: Yes, please. I am very excited! :)iss: Firstly, let’s talk about who is behind Velur.iss: What is your real name?Velur: My entire name is Konstantinos, but my friends tend to call me Kostas.iss: What a cool name! A little long, I must admit!Velur: Thanks! Well, yes. It is a bit long in full. I think it may be one of the longest names I know, actually.iss: Haha, I see. I think so too!iss: Where are you from and where do you live now?Velur: I am from Greece. That can excuse my name, as well. I was raised there and I still live there.iss: I am from Greece, as well. :)Velur: -waves a greek flag- iss: Haha! iss: Anyway, let’s talk about your hobbies. iss: what are three things you like doing?Velur: I love to use my computer as a hobby. Whether that’s chatting, computer games or photoshopping.iss: That is definitely a thing we have in common, then. :]Velur: Also, I love to exercise, and especially with my bike, combined with listening to music.iss: Exercising is important, definitely!Velur: Last but not the least, I love to spend time with my family and my friends. Socializing is by far the most important thing for me.iss: I need to agree with you! There’s nothing more important than us, people!iss: Well, those are some nice interests!Velur: Thank you! ^-^iss: You are very welcome. iss: What type of music do you usually listen to? Who is your favorite artist?Velur: Usually, I tend to listen POP music, whether that’s Electronic or Basic. My favorite artist shall be Lady Gaga. She is a huge inspiration for me.iss: Gaga!! I love Lady Gaga! :DVelur: I know right?iss: Haha. What kind of movies do you prefer? Which one is your favorite?Velur: Hmm.. usually the movies I watch depend on

my own mood. I really tend to watch a lot of different movies, in different kinds. I like a lot of movies, for different reasons.iss: Oooh, I see! Myself, I really love Horror Movies!Velur: Yes, I love to watch horror movies too! Especially with friends!iss: Haha. I see! Well, group horror is fun! iss: What do you hate the most?Velur: Well, there is one thing that I hate, really a lot. iss: What is it, then? :PVelur: I really hate to wake up really early. Except, it’s for a trip!!iss: I also hate when I need to wake up early. But, Trips!! I love trips! :)iss: What do you admire the most about you?Velur: Admire.. Well, I believe there’s one thing that can make me special, at least for myself; When I really love someone, I can easily do anything for them. iss: Aww, this is really sweet of you, then!Velur: Well, thank-you.At least, when I do things for people that I respect, I feel happy. I never really expect to pay me back in any way for it. I really do it for myself.iss: Well, this is wise from you to say.Velur: I don’t know. haha. Well, if they disappoint me, it’s hard to trust again.iss: I understand...iss: What do you hate the most about you?Velur: There’s something that really annoys me at times. I wish I would not be like that.iss: Really? What can be so bad? Velur: There are times, that I can be so arrogant, that I see everyone else too plain and simple next to me. I tend to be controlling and very strict with others, as much as I am with me. My requirements are always set too high. Velur: The positive part is that I do understand this and I try to fight it. But no one is perfect right?iss: Yes, no one is perfect. :PVelur: I am not proud of it, but I wanted to be honest.iss: It’s important to be honest, rather than pretending something you are not, true. iss: What do you think makes you act like this?Velur: I am sensitive, a little insecure, and full with doubts. Maybe wearing an arrogant mask, is my shield.iss: Yes, this is pretty normal I would say.iss: Moving on. What’s your zodiac sign?Velur: I’m a Scorpio. :)iss: October or November?Velur: 25th of October.iss: Do you believe in zodiacs, though?

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Velur: Well, it’s kind of embarassing to say that I do. But, there are times that I can really relate to what is believed for Scorpios or other zodiacs.iss: Haha, I feel you! iss: So, let’s move on to IMVU Life now!iss: How long have you been on IMVU?Velur: I’ve been on IMVU since January 2010. So, that’s actually around 3,5 years. iss: Well, that’s pretty long!iss: Tell us about your IMVU’s everyday!Velur: Hmm... Well, year to year my IMVU’s everyday did change. This year, I usually create on IMVU and I talk with a few friends.iss: Anymore it is calmer, isn’t it? Velur: Indeed, it is very calm. But, I can’t say I did not love it, when I had to be always on a rush.iss: Which public rooms can we meet you in?Velur: Usually, I go to public rooms that I have friends in or in rooms that are greek people chilling. Also, I have created my own room that is called ‘’Velur Designs’’, where people can meet me and order a custom product, or greet me and hang out with me and my friends. :)iss: Do you believe in online friendship?Velur: I do believe in online friendship, and I actually do have a few IMVU friends, that I talk with them as the Real me, apart of IMVU.iss: Do you have anything else to add about your IMVU life, before we move on?Velur: No, I think I am covered. :)iss: That’s great then. Now, it’s time to greet yourself as an IMVU Creator.iss: How long have you been a developer?Velur: I have been a creator since August 2011. iss: Already 2 years! That’s awesome! Tell me about your first experiences as a creator.Velur: Hmmm.. my first experiences... That now goes back the time. Haha! The truth is, that I really owe to my friend Anelise, that I am now a creator. She was there to me and willing to help me in my first steps. She learnt me how to create. iss: Awww, this is so nice of her!Velur: She is Way too sweet, indeed. Maybe if she wasn’t there, I wouldn’t have created anything today. She believed, that I could be a great creator, so I trusted her. Definitely, credits go to her. I am very grateful. :Piss: This is really awesome. Describe me your first reactions after releasing a few products.Velur: Well, from the start, a lot of people did support me and my products, and I was happy to move on.

Velur: This was what boosted me, actually. It was the people, who admired my work.iss: Your work is really great, indeed. :)Velur: Thank-you! The truth is that, people did know me already, of my modeling agency, so I was a bit luckier in the beggining.iss: Hehe, we will talk about your agency later on. :PVelur: Alright.iss: What inspires you, when creating?Velur: I am usually inspired by something I will see. Usually, inspiration comes from everywhere. It’s very easy for something to catch my attention. Music and my own mood usually go number one. For example, a cheerful mood will make me do something colorful, or the sad mode will prefer black.iss: Is it easy for you to finish a product, or it takes time?Velur: I can’t say it is easy for me. It does take a lot of time. For me at least, when I can say I am done with a product, it’s not just the texture, the style, the shape.. It was always more about the fantasy I put behind it. Iss: I totally agree with you.Velur: Yes, I believe it is the emotions someone feels, when they put it on, and what I feel when I make it. I think that’s what makes the client to prefer yours. Velur: It’s about trying hard to make your clothing into a work of art, no matter the quality, or if it’s the best-texture-ever-seen.iss: What kind of products do you usually do? Do you follow a specific style?Velur: I never wanted someone to check my catalog to buy something specific, for a specific occassion. I always want to feel like, they will be surprised with what they will see. I love to experiment with new styles. If I will not experiment, then my inspiration will never come.iss: That’s right from you to say. I think it’s important to always have possible choices. Tell us your opinion about the today’s IMVU Catalog. What do you think of all these creators that are in the front light?Velur: Well, I do believe that IMVU has a lot of creators, actually artists, that do never have their time on the spotlight. Usually, I see what I could claim to be IMVU Creators, which actually gives me.. a weird feeling.iss: What kind of feeling is that?Velur: I do not know. I believe it’s bitter.iss: So, you do not think that all of them that are up there deserve that place?Velur: I do not know. Well, more or less, they do. But, I do believe there should be place for more true artists.iss: I see you talk about gifting method. Have you ever done it, before?

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Velur: I will not lie, once that I had the chance, I did so. iss: How was it?Velur: It’s definitely the best advertising. It is a smart was to increase your sales fastly. iss: After all, would you ever do gifting just to be known? Or you want to get slowly and trully up there?Velur: Well, after this experience, I thought art and hard work could take me there, but what I got was dissatisfaction, realizing the only way is gifting. Anymore, I want to create for those who love and support my products, for me, and for the art. I do not care if I will be the most well-known creator or not. Ever.iss: I think this is the best to strive for. And I hope our readers may agree with you.iss: Tell me about your future plans.Velur: Actually, I just finished this line called L.O.V.E/E.V.O.L, that is actually showing the two sides of the Art, Love is. Because I believe the Art of Love in the end is avoiding pain. iss: Can you explain me further? What do you mean?Velur: I mean, that maybe it is true that every relationship has an end. So, the winner is the one who will not be heart-broken, and try to burry all the memories behind.iss: I will definitely have a look on it, after our interview. Velur: My next plans are to release a summer collection, and definitely a collaboration with other creators, that are my favorite kind-of-lines.Maybe combined with a fashion show, why not?iss: That will be awesome, I think! Do you use models for modeling your Products?Velur: As you know, I was a model, and even an owner of a modeling agency, La Prestige. So, I can say most of my IMVU time was Modeling and Fashion. And now creating. So, I love to use models for my products, because I think it’s really crucial to support models, that are worth supporting them and helping them to do what they love the most. iss: Now, tell us you advice about aspiring creators.Velur: My advice would be to think of art when designing clothes. Also, it is important to listen and consider critiques about your products, but never take them too seriously. It is okay if you are not the best. I am not myself, either. But, it’s important to try and never give up. History tells us, that everyone can improve. So, who knows? Maybe soon, you can be the next best of the bestest. :)iss: That is really sweet! Who is your favorite clothing developer on IMVU?

Velur: The one that comes on my mind, when you say favorite, is baraq. I always see that she pours her heart through her clothing. I believe this is why she is so successful.iss: Do you have a specific mesher you admire?Velur: I really admire Dolls and Whimsee. They are usually, the ones I pick for creating my products.iss: That is nice. :) I noticed you also have meshed a few add-ons on your products, do you like doing it?Velur: I did try to create my own-meshes, but I do not think it’s my favorite thing about creating. I find it extra hard and it takes me a lot of time. So, I have kind of quitted it, to be honest. Maybe someday, I will go back to it.iss: I see. :) And gotta agree with you! It’s very hard! Do you take requests?Velur: Yes, I do take requests. I actually finished a few, not long ago. Anyone who is interested, may send me a private message. :)iss: Do you follow fashion in real life? Who is your favorite designer?Velur: Well, I am interested with real life clothing, but I am not a fanatic. From real fashion designers, I really love Alexander McQueen and John Galliano.iss: I really love them too! We do have a lot of things in common, actually!Velur: Happy to hear!iss: Let’s move on and talk about a big part of your IMVU life, La Prestige. How did you start getting involved with IMVU Fashion World?Velur: Well, the truth is, that I firstly started as a model. I was just partying here, and I was different, than I am now. A friend of mine from Greece, told me about an agency called, Vertigo. I got hired there, while he did not. So it all felt really confusing.iss: Haha! I remember Vertigo, I worked there too! Velur: Yeah, well, I really did improve fastly than I thought I would. At least, that’s what I have been told. The cherry to the pie, was when I won the first fashion show, that I ever participated at. This is stuff no ones literally knows, or I ever talked about. Except some of my old greek friends. They all helped me with credits to buy a Superman outfit for the show. Literally!! And we had a party after I won. This is one of my best memories ever.iss: That’s really impressive, first show, first win! What was the theme of that show?Velur: The theme was to make Cartoon Heroes.iss: Now, going back to La Prestige. I know you were the owner of a modeling agency called La Prestige. How

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did the idea of opening La Prestige Modeling Agency came to you?Velur: As I already told you, I was a model at Vertigo Modeling Agency. I was really inspired by Vertigina, the Owner of the group.Velur: Her passion for what she did was admirable. I loved how she kept a whole group going and her professionalism. I have huge respect for her, since Vertigo was a big teacher.Velur: I think that I had to strive for it. On that point, I stayed as a model there, too. Shortly, I realized that I have this flame burning inside me to become a leader of an agency. I knew that this was the person I wanted to become. I was sure about it.iss: So, you believe it was fate?Velur: I do not know, maybe.iss: So, things between you and Vertigina, did get more romantic by then, right?Velur: Yes, but that was a different thing. We just moved on to doing business together, because we had a great chemistry as business partners.iss: Tell me about your experience during that period.Velur: It was really great and we had a lot of fun together. Later on, I had to move on alone and build my own road. It was not the same, but I still enjoyed it.iss: What did you like the most about La Prestige?Velur: I think it was the people that made La Prestige special. They all had a huge passion for fashion, were open to every criticism and huge respect for La Prestige team. It all felt more of a family.iss: You seem to have been really connected with them.Velur: Yes, indeed. I always wanted to know my models. So, I tried to chat and have friendly events with them, as much as I could. I wanted to let them get closer to me, as Kostas.iss: What do you think made La Prestige grow bigger and succesful?Velur: I always strived to make everyone feel like a family, when they are around La Prestige. I believe it’s really important for everyone to belong somewhere, and I wanted La Prestige to be a huge hug for everyone who is interested in fashion.iss: What did you hate the most about it?Velur: I did not hate anything about La Prestige. I hated maybe what was surrounding it.iss: What do you mean? Velur: Well, when I made La Prestige, I knew that not everyone is going to support it. Even though, what really frustrated me, was when people were not focusing on my agency, but my private life. It was really hard to get

used to having a lot of support, while having lot of bad criticism, that I still get.iss: Explain me further.Velur: Well, I have been harassed about myself, since I had the spotlight due to my agency. I was okay with what, but I did felt, all this trash talk did mangle fashion and La Prestige.Velur: All this kind of war, and picking a team, is definitely not my kind of cake. I only wanted people to focus on the quality of my work, not gossip about my relationships.iss: I agree. Personally, I can’t say it’s very easy to tolerate dramas. Velur: Everything that was always said about me was not true. As soon as the first person defamed me, he/she got a lot of supports. iss: Eh, I am really sorry to hear. But this kind of people will always exist.Velur: Well, this kind of thing shortly became just blatant, all-out lies. I consider it slander. If I cared more, I’d of done something about it. But, I only let my projects, my fashion and my agency talk for me.iss: This is the best, I believe. <3iss: What do you think was the peak of La Prestige?Velur: I believe, that the peak was when I collaborated with the creators I dreamed of, like starglous, Parisine & baraq. iss: How was the experience?Velur: I was shaking in all those shows! iss: I know right?Velur: Haha. But I believe it was worth it, since everyone was satisfied in the end!iss: This is really cute. Would you consider to re-open a modeling agency again? Velur: No, I do not really think so. I am still interested on IMVU fashion, but nothing with modeling agency, really.iss: Now, it is time for my favorite part, Relationships!Velur: Oh, well.iss: What?Velur: Nothing. Haha. Let’s go.iss: How is the perfect woman for you?Velur: For me, it is vital to see the reflection of me, to my partner. We do not need to be alike, but it is important to feel like she understands me, and that I can trust her. The rest is just details.iss: That sounds ideal, true. What does Love mean to you?Velur: I will translate this message generally, for you. I think, it is better to be hated for what you are than to

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be loved for what you are not. This is for all my kind of relationships.iss: This is totally true. I can definitely relate. :)Velur: I am happy. I hope everyone does...iss: Are you currently in a relationship? If so, with who?Velur: I am not in a relationship. I am single.iss: How long have you been single?Velur: Around a month now.iss: How does it feel?Velur: Good, good.iss: Are you considering getting back together with someone?Velur: For some time, I think it’s important to stay single. I think we all need some time to be lonely, to re-birth ourselves. iss: Yes, I understand.Velur: And well, things like relationships come up for me. I do not consider them. Haha.iss: Yes, that’s right! Haha. What do you tolerate, and what you can’t tolerate on a relationship?Velur: That’s a great question, actually. I do tolerate that she may be different than me, and I can slowly accept her flaws. What I do not tolerate is betrayal, in every kind of way. I am really kindful and romantic, until the point that I feel disappointed. Then, I am completely different.iss: I see. Well, I do understand you.iss: What kind of ingredients make a relationship ideal for you?Velur: For me, the most important thing is communication. Love may fade, at least at times. But it’s important to see your partner as a true best friend.iss: That’s right. :) I would really like to hear, more of those theories you got.Velur: Well, I am happy about it. I guess!!iss: Haha. What is your motto of life?Velur: There’s one thing that I learnt when I got completely sober, about life. Complete surrender is the foundation for all good things to come. And I feel like that this idea translated to all aspects of my life. When you have absolutely no idea what’s going to happen to you or what your life’s going to end up like and you’re just really open to anything, then you don’t really have anything to lose, and best things can happen. iss: This sounds really impresive.Velur: well, a lot of different people come in and out of your life. And it’s really easy to say yes, and it’s really fun to be open about everything and just let people come to you. It is free, in a way.iss: So, you believe it’s really important to risk?

Velur: Yes, I believe that life is a risk that you have to take. iss: Share with me, an interesting story that has happened to you recently.Velur: I saw a family friend, that is stuck with the same person for over 20 years no matter the problems, ending up to have lived a bitter life, and regretting not have risked chaning it. Recently, I have been thinking about future. What I realized is that our mistrust of the future makes it hard to give up the past. It’s important to give up everything one day, if we want to live our lives fully.iss: This is very interesting! You are very open-minded, Kostas.Velur: Well, thank-you! *shy*iss: Are you really shy?Velur: I really am, indeed! I’m hard to make new friends!iss: Haha! If you got to know that today is your last day to live, what would you do?Velur: I would spend it with my family and my friends. Maybe do what I would usually do. Except, I would remind them that I love them.iss: Why so? Wouldn’t you want to risk as you would say? Living the moment?Velur: Risk to me is something different. It’s about turning your life into how you believe is the best. I would not wish anything else than what I told you already. To me, it’s still a risk, risking not to change my routine. :Piss: I agree with you fully! Well, Kostas, we had a really nice chat today. We are honored to have you here.Velur: No, really. Thank-you myself for this great chance! I appreciate it a lot.iss: Is there anything else you would like to say to the people who will read this interview?Velur: If I could say one last thing, it would be a thank-you to all of those who support me and my projects, until today. It is very important to do things for your own passion, but it’s a great feeling when you see that your work gets recognized.iss: That’s right, Kostas! Thank-you for this interview tonight!Velur: You are very welcome! It was a pleasure.

PSCouture, Hussy by name, is known for his amazing style and sense of fashion. Everything about him speaks fashion and art. He is the best drag queen on IMVU, therefor has earned a title Queen Hussy among people in the modeling industry.

Hussy has been modeling for quite a long time now, been around in all of the best IMVU agencies, even though firstly didn’t get the recognition he deserved. He together with Vertigina organized a lot of developer shows for Vertigo, where not only he custom-made all of the rooms, but also helped with model styling and modeled himself.

His style is unique and can’t really be labeled. Yes, he is a drag queen, but not a typical one. Give him a theme – he will do it, but with his own twist. His outfits are always unique and never seen before. There is no one else on IMVU that can do the outfits in the style he does.

This sense of style also transfers into his creations for his catalog, where each collection has a backstory and is presented as an artwork.

fA s h i o n i s tA s p o t l i g h t

Queen

Hussy

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Well thinking about what the common fashion stereotypes it is best to put them in perspective. Imagine a person,

celebrity more like that embodies the fashion stereotypes. So let’s start off with avant garde and high fashion. They are both so very similar; however, avant garde is a french word that refers to people or works that are experimental innovative, particularly with respect to art. In simpler words rare, creative, unexpected, and can catch someone off guard. Now let’s think of someone that is all of those things. LADY GAGA! Don’t we love her! Lady Gaga embodies avant garde. She is creative. The meat get up she had was definitely rare and raw but creative, and no one has ever done that. That is the whole point of being avant garde; it is to be unexpected. Another example is when she was in the egg, that was creative. Lady Gaga is also high fashion as well. In her “Bad Romance” music video, her choice of clothing was high fashion. It

was edgy, black, and extreme. A better example is the famous clothing brand, “Chanel”, “Valentino” or better yet “Alexander McQueen”. That is the difference high fashion makes statement about clothing and takes clothing tot he extremes; unlike avant garde which takes ideas and translates them into clothing no matter how extreme it is. Avant garde utilizes ideas and clothing while high fashion just utilizes clothing.

Another common fashion stereotype is nerdy chic. Nerdy chic can cover about anything, anyplace, and anytime. Nerdy chic can be worn to school, a date, an outing with your friends, going to a concert, or anything else. A great example of nerdy chic is Taylor Swift. She can rock leather with nerd glasses and still look good! You can rock a nerdy look at a concert like Taylor Swift did at the New Year’s performance in New York City. At school, nerdy chic can look very cute. You can look very smart but also very attractive. Brains and

fashionstereotypes

What is the difference between the top fashion stereotypes? Some will ask what is avant garde and high fashion and what is the difference? An even more popular and frequently asked question is,

what is hipster exactly?

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beauty conquers all. PS, nerdy chic will always be in because brains will always be attractive.

Lastly, what is hipster. Essentially hipster is someone that goes against society. Someone that does not go with the mainstream flow. Who better to pick than Rihanna and Pink. These two celebrities don’t give a ****, really they don’t. They dress, act, talk the way they want and no one can tell them other wise. Pink embodies hipster because of her music, and the clothes she wears. Most importantly, Pink is well know for well her pink hair. Rihanna, she is a label all by herself. Rihanna is known for her funk, cute, and very edgy style. Along with the red hair that set a major hair trend in 2011 and 2012. What about her tattoos?! The Egyptian angel tattoo below her chest is a unique place to put a tattoo and rare seen. She also brought more attention to the finger tattoos by getting “Shhh” tatted on index finger. Rihanna puts hip into hipster, with her careless, youthful attitude, and her catchy songs. Rihanna and Pink don’t follow rules, they flow their spontaneous,

young, and fun behavior making them a kid at heart as well as likeable.

Ultimately, putting a character, face, or celebrity to a fashion stereotype helps convey the fashion stereotype, illustrates what that fashion stereotype really is, and aids you to understand that fashion stereotype all the more. Society’s definition of fashion stereotypes is a facade to what they really are. Just because it is a stereotype does not not mean it’s all.

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fciiWe have many content creators on IMVU community, almost every other person is a developer nowadays. However, since the success of the creator mostly depends on how wealthy they are and how many people they have in friends list to gift stuff out to. Obviously, not all of the developers can afford it, so it’s much harder to achieve

success. ECHO would like to help the developers that work hard to receive the well-deserved recognition.

sofia, FCii, is known for being a great runway and photo model and for her beautiful and glamorous style, however, she is also a developer. Her style as a developer is very similar to what she actually wears on her avatar on regular basis – glamour and high fashion.

She has a lot of long gowns with beautiful accessories made for them, which make the gown look much more interesting. A good thing about her catalog is that there is a color variety, as very often high fashion and glamour is considered to be just black and white, and Sofia can prove us that colors can make you look glamour and chic as well.

A very good achievement for her as a developer is that her products are often used in shows and photo shoots which require high fashion, as her products are unique and not even close to overused and mainstream. Echo believes that FCii deserves more recognition of her hard work, dedication and high quality unique products. Best of luck to you, Sofia!

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fcii

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DEVOUR is a new competition on IMVU being hosted by Justify and Dominellla. During the 16 week power struggle to survive, only one girl will come out on top. That girl will be The Predator, or the winner of the competition. During the competition, the competitors are

known as The Prey. Each girl will have to beat out their fellow competitors to come out on top. The competition is meant to be something never seen before. There have been so many high fashion/haute couture competitions on IMVU and we see it as played out. That is why we have decided that there is absolutely NO high fashion involved in our competition. It focuses mainly on edgy style, risk taking, and flaunting your sex appeal without being too obvious. We will also have a new guest judge each week to help us crown our Predator. Skyla and I are very excited to see our competition play out. We have selected our top 25 and you can follow the games through the group: Devour, or our YouTube page, DevourTube. Follow the competition, vote for

your favorite, and watch the games play out along with us.

So let the games begin, and don’t forget to leave the couture in the closet!

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e v e n t r e v i e w

finAl round on the runwAy

we started our first cycle with 21 models, on March 26. It’s amazing how time has passed, after 5 months we were down today to the final two, Dorm and Anarchorock. The

two official judges and myself are extremely proud of both of them for making it this far and always putting their best work. The long

journey ended today in our ‘Battle of the Models’ runway! The room was put together by myself, it took a few days, but it was definitely

one of my best work. I wanted something different, something that no one had seen before (as always lol). In all, the guests were great, I’m sure they had a great time like we did. The winner was chosen by photoshoot

editing, runway performance, and overall improvement throughout the competition. It was definitely one of the hardest decisions, but the winner with the highest scores and overall improvement was

Anarchorock! Congratulations again, and thank you Liiva for the review!

PS: Cycle 2 applications are still open! Deadline is August 19, apply today!

- Yareli

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when I received the invitation for the event, I was excited and made sure to reserve my seat as soon as possible, as I have always loved competitions, and the invitation for Battle of the models finale live on a catwalk was amazing! The room was flawless.

Nothing too complicated, but looked very avant garde. I loved every aspect of it. Another thing that I really liked about the organization was that all the guests were required to be dressed in black. I spent hours on matching my outfit! However, the judges were all in white. The event itself was very nice, themes which were presented on the catwalk were really interesting. Even though it was just 2 models on the catwalk, walking in just a few themes, it was a great show. The outfits that contestants put together were very thought out. Both of them truly deserved to be called the top 2 in the competition! Congratulations to Anarchorock, the winner and Dorm, the runner-up! Best of luck in your modeling career! I am looking forward for cycle 2,

who knows, might even apply myself!- Vertigina

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Try it, buy it, review it!

the amazing

Miyabiit is hard to find a good artist on IMVU

nowadays, as most of people think that just because they know how to use a very

simple program like Picasa or Picmonkey or Photobucket’s built in editing tool they are artists, but we know that It’s obviously not true. A good and a true artist is a person that uses good software, but doesn’t brag about it, has been editing for quite a while now and knows exactly what is doing. A true artist is someone who puts full effort and love into each piece of art to create something unique.

It took me quite a while to find this artist, but then I realized that she was right “under my nose”. I am using Youtube every day and I enjoy watching speedpainting videos. A little while ago I found some videos with speedpainting and they made my jaw drop. The edits were so perfect and well detailed. I hadn’t seen people edit as good as she did. The name of the artist is Miyabi. You can find her in GASR forums, on deviantART with name iMiyabi and on Youtube with name TheBiiLogic.

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What is your name? I go by Bii online, or Jo. I hate my real name so I don’t use it.

How long have you been on IMVU? I’m a member since 07/08/07, so that is 6 years.

Tell us about your IMVU’s everyday! I’m rarely online anymore, just come online every now and then to develop or take screenies or just to spend time,

but it’s like, once a month, maybe little more often. Used to come on daily and be on hours but not anymore.

How so?Hmm, probably cause most of my friends who I used to talk with, don’t come on anymore and getting to know new people has become pain in the arse since most public rooms are full of “insiders” and not so welcoming to

strangers.

So if we want to meet you, can we meet you in public rooms?Might, might not, who knows. But not that likely, if I go to public rooms, I’m stalking friends or in my own ones.

For how long have you been an artist on IMVU? I did my first edit in April 2010, sold first custom ever in that year November.

Are you doing something art related in real life as well? Well, I’m student in Vocational College in Traditional and Digital Art-section. And I’ve already graduated from

Senior Secondary School of Art and Music, Fine Arts department.

What editing software are you using for your edits? I use Adobe Photoshop CS5 Extended and Wacom Intuos5 -tablet. Also finally got my hands on CS6 so I’ve been

trying to learn that slowly, might start using it more

Which kind of edits are you the best at?Hmm I don’t actually know. Well, DP-sized edits are the best to work, bigger edits can be pain in the arse and I

hate doing couples.

How much do you charge for your edits? DP-sized start from 25k+

interview

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