Blue World Style: Blue Mars Men's Shopping 101

Virtual world fashion almost always leans towards the ladies in terms of what's available, and coverage of that fashion tends to represent that. However, I don't want to neglect the significant male Martian population. While I may not be able to model for you myself, I thought I would put together a little shopping guide. Bear in mind that this isn't one outfit, nor is it a complete listing of what's available to the boys of Blue Mars, but rather a selection of places to look for certain kinds of avatar elements like skin or hair to get you started.

The base of the avatar are the body and the skin. If you aren't sure of the difference between them, the body is the actual mesh form of your avatar, and the skin is the texture that is applied over it. You can find the Mike body and skin by Electron Tri-D, as well as the Javier skin by B3Hoo in Shade City-- don't forget to try before you buy and see if you like the difference they make on your avatar.

While Estelle Parnall has a few cute hat and hairstyles for guys in Fashion Esplanade, I admit I'm a complete sucker for the anime and fantasy inspired styles at Hair Today Gone Tomorrow in Cloud City. Their textures aren't quite as dynamic as the default hair, but as new styles are released, I've been noticing a huge jump in quality.

Hair's not all you can pick up in Cloud City though. Sunglasses are without a doubt the most popular accessory available in Blue Mars right now, and Cloud City's Manly! Man Store has the widest array of sunglasses that I've come across so far. Solid colors, patterns, aviators, they're all there. How better to keep the sun out of your eyes at Beach City?

Men's clothes in Blue Mars are still pretty casual, so if you really want to stand out and dress sharply, Mako Magellan's coats and trousers in Caledonia are something definitely worth trying on. If they aren't quite your cup of tea, you can head around the bend to Adam n Eve for something a little more contemporary.

If you're sick of walking around in a slick suit and crosstrainers, you may want to pick up a pair of sharp leather loafers while you're at Adam n Eve. A pair of low key black dress shoes are a wardrobe staple in any world, after all.

Of course it's impossible to cover menswear in one little post! I'll be on the lookout for dapper gents in world to help me keep my men's fashion coverage ongoing. If you have a men's look you're particularly proud of, drop me a line!