I want to create a classy, athletic female avatar.

[Merrytricks]

Hello!

I'm new to SL - birthday less than two months ago, and I've really only been active for about a week.

Some very kind people have offered me help with my look, but I have yet to find what I want. I'd like to create an avatar who looks like she can keep her kayak afloat in white water, ski black triangles and free-climb Half Dome. 

Anybody care to help?

Shape:

Think Halle Berry or Farrah Fawcett, not Twiggy or Ann Ward. Maybe even go as far as Serena Williams. Think of a woman with broad shoulders, muscular arms and legs, and a reasonable distribution of a little body fat. Fit females have curves.

Skin:

You guessed it: minimal makeup. I'd like a skin with (or a pack that includes) a very natural look, with ability to change skin tone, and add freckles.

For both facial structure and skin tone you couldn't go wrong with a look like Nour's:
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-twSgeNQEa8w/TVlfVmenZuI/AAAAAAAADX4/iuAWEAYmC9k/s1600/cyrine_abdel_nour-031.jpg

AO:

No Ministry of Silly Walks for Girls, please! I guess I might have to learn how to use a HUD and select the individual moves I like and plug them in. I'm not very good at learning new stuff so have patience with me --- and please tell me if there's an AO out there that moves like a confident, grown up and strong woman, not a puff pastry.

Clothing:

There are so many beautiful outfits on SL, but I want things I can wear in that kayak and on those skis.
For everyday I'm looking for a good pair of jeans that's slightly looser, and slightly higher in the waste (no buttcrack) than most I've seen so far on SL.
And where are the comfy t-shirts? Not skin tight, but nicely cut and draping.
I found some high-top sneakers, flip-flops and boots at long last so I don't have to wobble around on torture spikes.
But I also like Funk and Flash: when I do dress up I like tribal, hippie chic, flowing Arabian looks, and steampunk that gets beyond the gears, all modest on the flesh-reveal, but adventurous in color and culture.

I'd love to get your tips, links to stores, etc.

Thanks!

[MoiselleErin Teardrop]

Yeah when you are new and asking for things, people will often drop a ton of their unwanted freebies on you.Usually it is stuff they got at Janet's Junkhouse freebie sim or wherever.

If you are wanting a custom avatar created, it is probably going to cost.

I know there are people in SL that provide this service but i doubt anyone is gonna just do all that for free.

Here are just a few costs for pre-fab things -

Shape - 200'ish

Good hair - 200 - 300

Good skin - about 1,000 (tho razzanova has some good (not best) skins for about 400

AO - optional but good ones seems to run around 300 - 400

Cost for someone to travel around and search for exactly what you want - Oh this one would cost big I am sure. Or as my friend Julie puts it - "Plan on dropping a bullock"

Also don't be shocked if they would expect the money up front. Too often people custom-order crap and then decide "it is not what they had in mind". I learned that REAL quick when I was thinking of going into the custom animation business.

 

Your best bet is to mess with the sliders for your shape as that is FREE and to do your own searching...

Where to get nice things? -

Gurlywood or Damselfly for nice hair (keep in mind higher prim hair causes you more lag, flexiprims are a pain like that)

Redgrave, Curio, and Belleza seem to be the big names in skin. Once again I recommend Razzanova for a good skin at a fair price.Any reputable shop is going to have female skins with a "natural" look. Yes it will have makeup but a natural light dusting like in RL when a lady wants to look good for "day" look.

With clothing - SOME freebies are worth their salt but typically a good outfit runs about 250. Try Hucci or Pretty lady for some good things. Hucci seems to specialize in clothing that, well, you guessed it

 

[Amethyst Jetaime]

For an AO try the Vista Animations Most Wanted.  Moves are very confident feminine but not girly.

All clothes in SL are going to be tight unless you buy mesh clothes becaue they are painted on the avi.  Mesh allows the looser look.  Be sure that you get rigged mesh so it moves with your body.

If you use mesh clothing get the standard sizing pack from market place and make your own shape based on the one that is closest to what you are looking for.  There is a notecard in it that gives you the slider numbers for the essentials and you can then use the other sliders to refine your shape.  Its not hard to do and you will then be sure that clothes sold in the standard sizes will fit your avatar.  The pack is free.  If you don't want to do this at least buy a shape that says it fits standard sizes.

The look of your avatars face will be a combination of skin and shape.  The same skin can look entirely different on two people that wear it if their shapes are different.

[Merrytricks]

Thanks for the tips, Moiselle!

People have actually given me some very nice things - and I wasn't even asking for anything - so I've been very lucky. It's just, they weren't quite my style so it's time for me to do some shopping.

I'm happy to do the shopping myself but just didn't know where to begin. Some of my searches on the Marketplace have turned things up that I liked, but I figured, if I posted here, maybe some people would be able to steer me towards certain stores that have things along the lines I want.

So, this is great. Now I have some leads to work with, I'll continue the search. Yay!

[Merrytricks]

Ohh... so that's what all the mesh is about. I've seen "mesh" mentioned in ads on the Marketplace but didn't realize that was what it was. Great! And I will check out that Vista AO. Thanks, Amethyst.

[Nyll Bergbahn]

Hi Merrytricks,

Some more links for you.

Skins

There are some threads on skins and you can browse through them to get the names of various recommended skin stores.

http://community.secondlife.com/t5/Your-Avatar/Best-Skins-in-SL/m-p/1094431/highlight/true#M9593

http://community.secondlife.com/t5/Your-Avatar/Recommendations-for-best-skin/m-p/1564785/highlight/true#M20206

Beware of shapes included in skin folders by some stores. In most cases (not all) the shape in the folder bears no resemblance whatsoever to the shape on the poster advertising the skin.

Shapes

Good tutorials here on making your own or even if you just want to tweak one you've bought.

http://www.sluniverse.com/php/vb/tutorials/54131-creating-well-proportioned-shape.html

http://robin-makingstuff.blogspot.ie/?zx=f17c010cb389c3ca

AO

If you feel confident, create your own AO using the free and freely available Zhao II and then add your own chosen animations from Kuso where they cost from 6L to about 14L each. There are clear instructions with the Zhao II. Even if you buy an AO you can always delete or add animations. It's just a matter of editing a notecard and dropping new animations into the folder.

[Anita61 Anatine]

I don't like the overly girly AO's too much so I added male stands as well. Just try them out in the shops and see wich ones work for you!

 

[Venus Petrov]

I agree that Curio has some great skins that have little makeup however Gala Phoenix (Curio's owner) is currently engaged in a dispute and has emptied her shops of all skins.  Hopefully, the dispute will be resolved soon and she can sell again. 

TRUTH, Dura and BooN have some cute short hairstyles that might suit you.

 

[Nyll Bergbahn]

---

Venus Petrov wrote:

I agree that Curio has some great skins that have little makeup however Gala Phoenix (Curio's owner) is currently engaged in a dispute and has emptied her shops of all skins.  Hopefully, the dispute will be resolved soon and she can sell again. 

TRUTH, Dura and BooN have some cute short hairstyles that might suit you.

 

---

I saw that when I visited the Curio store recently. Strange that the other party to this dispute is open for business and strongly promoting her skins.

[Ry0ta Exonar]

---

Nyll Bergbahn wrote:

Strange that the other party to this dispute is open for business and strongly promoting her skins.

---

Well, LL has to restore the allegedly infringing objects when they receive a DMCA counter notification regardless of its validity, so that's that. Sorry for derailing.

[Morgaine Christensen]

Wow, I hate to hear that about Curio.  I have been a Curio Customer for years now.   I hope the dispute is resolved soon and the skins back in world soon.

[Dahlia Endsleigh]

It sounds like you dress like I do! Casual, comfy, sometimes a classy blazer to class it up :matte-motes-bashful-cute-2: I would highly recommend Friday, Mon Tissu, Tres Blah (has some cute natural skins), Truth, lamb, Maitreya, Body Co., Toki Doki, I could really go on, lol! Feel free to message me inworld, my display name is Maybe Funke, or real Dahlia Endsleigh, would love to go shopping. I can also help with the shape.

[Melita Magic]

Miel, Pink Fuel, lamb, Truth, fri.day, Jane, Clawtooth. Those are just a few places to check out.

 

[Drake1 Nightfire]

my only advice when making or purchasing a shape is, pay attention to the final height of your av. Its very easy to want to make your shape tall, but if you go by 90% of the avs you see you will be monstrously huge.  My av is 6'4" and in the club i DJ at i am usually one of the shortest people in there.

[Jeri Clarity]

You sound just about like me! I tend to make my own shapes, though... just because I'm never happy with what I find on the MP. I've been in SL for a few years now, so I suppose it's easier for me. 

ORACUL (in Kuso) is an amazing place for cheaper, high quality animations (I know somebody mentioned them already ). They have an AO called the female assassin that would be close to what you want, I think, but it really is best to create your own individual avatar. I'm a huge fan of mesh clothing and hair right now. Dura and Drot are both amazing places to get shorter, unisex hair. As far as clothes.. searching the MP for key words does wonders. 

[Pussycat Catnap]

Your tastes listed imply mesh clothes would be ideal for you for getting -away- from the hoochie mama look.

 

Clothes:

Try JANE @ Home and coldLogic. Both side by side shops here: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Zyrra/117/137/23

- The other shops near them also have a few items of a good nature.

GET TO JANE SOON, several of her wide loose fitting pant designs will be pulled soon. They are part of a line she is discontinuing. They are also half off right now.

 

J.H. Couture:  http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Nebo/104/121/23

 

SFW Industries: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Dokkaebi/199/165/910

- skirt and blouse only at this point. You will land on the ground, have to look for a sign that says 'under construction', click the picture below it, and then walk up some stairs...

Sakide: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Dark%20Tranquility/134/120/24

- Kind of gothy, and mostly not mesh. But if you look you can find the good stuff. On the second floor by the stairs.

 

Alexohol: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Jamaica/145/75/27

Small mix of stuff, some of it sporty.

Casual Couture: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/22769/168/132/29

- The curveball in the list. Not exactly all casual or sporty, but seems to have no templates either, or at least textures them differently enough.

 

Skins: LS: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/aMuse/188/5/23

- A lighter shade from here will work for a Hallie Berry tone.

 

My favorite AO shop is Random Kitten: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Storgosia/81/181/3502

- Japanese maker, may or may not fit your tastes. People either love or hate these styles.

 

.EMO and Discord Designs for hair:

EMO: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Hells%20End/98/185/23

 - This shop caters to the look that has led to 90% of the men in SL looking like they've been going to a Native American Barber.

Discord Designs: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Moonsong/171/212/24

- Mostly curls and dreadlocks.

 

[Isabelli Anatine]

Well.. the shape.. is better you try to do one for yourself.

 

About the skin, many creators sell skin separated for tones, so different tones, different packs.

 

There are some creators that put makeups on separated layers, like pink fuel, atomic, illusory, fake and Izzies

 

Byt the way, Izzie is selling a really nice pack of skins withh bare face and tons of tatoo layers includes at One voice Event.

 

AO, I recomend SLC ao, Body Language by Sweet Lovely Cute.

[Merrytricks]

Wow, thanks to everyone for all of the great responses. I've had to put shopping on the backburner for a little while but hope to be up and about more, soon. Very soon, I hope. I'm impatient to follow up on the wonderful suggestions!