Baiastice is the first store that I discovered solely from reading Second Life® fashion blogs. I remember the post and found it for you. It was all about Baiastice and was written by Melanie Kidd whose Grid Expectations blog was my favorite. I never missed a post.
I fell in love with Baiastice and haunted the several different stores scattered across the grid for fear i would miss a masterpiece since they did not all have the same inventory. I was thrilled when she consolidated everything in a new main store and Gidge and I worked tirelessly during her opening weekend to find all 20 free gifts she hid and waited with bated breath for her monthly group gifts.
Sissy Pessoa was the first designer to offer us promotional samples to blog. We had been blogging about six months and did not even know there was such a thing. We felt we had made the big time. Through the years, Baiastice remains a favorite store and Sissy Pessoa has become not only a favorite designer but a friend.
It’s Only Fashion: What was your first day in Second Life like? What made you stick it out through the learning curve?
Sissy Pessoa: I remember my first day with a lot of emotion. It was the first time I experienced a virtual simulator and I was very excited. I fell in love with the possibility to do so many different and funny things.
IOF: What’s the craziest thing you ever did in Second Life? Most exciting? Silliest?
SP: You surely remember the hen “killer” that went far in 2008. A small hen in prims that launched against an avatar would not stop chasing you, catch you and make you bleed. Once during the backstage of a show I threw a dozen… people started to run screaming for the whole sim, we died with laughter for days!
IOF: When did you begin creating? What was the first thing you made. Did you save it? Did it work?
SP: I started very early to create clothes and the first one was a tee shirt. Of course I have it and plenty other things but no one will wear them for sure!
IOF: How did you choose your store name? Does it have a special meaning for you? If your stores is named after yourself, how did you go about choosing your avatar name?
SP: I created an original word with an italian sound but it does not mean anything.
IOF: What is the most challenging part of being a creator in Second Life? What is most rewarding?
SP: I am happy to say that I like all parts of the creative process, from developing the idea to the finished product,
IOF: Where do you get inspiration for your designs? What is your process like?
SP: I love fashion so my inspiration is what I like. Usually I start from something that I have seen and I try to make it very personal.
IOF: How do your first and second life design aesthetics resemble and contrast with each other? How would you describe your design aesthetic? Who is your customer – the person you are thinking of when you design?
SP: My aesthetic in SL and real life are basically the same. Usually I make clothes that I like a lot in real life too, clothes that I wear or that I would like to wear. My design is really eclectic, my style is versatile like the items I choose to do, consequently my customer is a person with my tastes. One day I feel like wearing very fancy clothes but the day after I can like a totally casual look.
IOF: How has your second life changed your first life?
SP: Second Life is my job and my fun at the same time so it totally changed my life. I can say that the one is interconnected to the other up to the point where “SL” becomes “RL.”