Over the past couple of months, as a way to relax during a stressful time in my life, I have been slowly cleaning through and reorganizing the inventory of what has become my main Second Life avatar, Vanity Fair (I talk a bit about that here). After almost 18 years, Vanity has almost 900 saved outfits, ranging from old system-layers-and-flexiprim ballgowns dating back to 2008, to modern, fully mesh outfits that I bought recently. In fact, the 21st outfit shown below (the Mary white blouse/long black skirt combination by Belle Epoque) I just bought today!
I decided that it was high time to impose some order on the growing chaos of Vanity’s voluminous inventory. So regularly (especially in the evenings after I get home from work), I put on some soothing music, and put myself into a flow state, sorting, organizing, and discarding some older virtual apparel I know I will never ever wear again. It helps me get my mind off all the troubles in the real world (most of which I have zero control over).
The Firestorm viewer I use to run Second Life on my desktop computer at home has a feature that lets you attach an image of your outfit to the outfit folder, and so I have been slowly taking and uploading pictures of all my saved outfits. I have also been sharing them with the people who follow me on Primfeed, in a continuing series I call A Thousand Vanities. I figure that by the time I finally finish (2029? 2030??), I will have reached one thousand saved outfits, hence the title of the series!
Here is a picture gallery of the first twenty-one outfits in the series (please click on each thumbnail to see the image in a larger size):
I am still working while on half-time sick time for treatment of job burnout, and (as it so happens) we have along weekend up here in Manitoba, since Monday is Louis Riel Day. I should be happy, but unfortunately, I am also nursing a decaying back molar. My regular dentist was able to only do a partial root canal (one nerve) before he encountered complications which he felt were beyond his experience and expertise, and he is referring me to an endodontist’s office. My appointment is in six weeks, but my tooth has still been giving me trouble, and I will have to contact my dentist on Tuesday (after the long weekend) to discuss options.
So at the moment, I am popping extra strength Advil, and focusing on Second Life—which, as I have said before, is my preferred escape from nasty, messy, and (in this instance, literally) painful reality. By the time all this is over, I will have dropped over CA$3,000 on my tooth, so it looks like I will be leaning quite heavily into my expertise as the uncrowned Freebie Fashionista Queen of Second Life! No more SL shopping sprees for the rest of this year for Vanity Fair and her small army of alts; my health has to come first!! (I’m also grateful that I have dental insurance through my employer, which should repay part of the cost afterwards. However, the endodontist’s office wants full payment, up front.)
So, in these current circumstances, yesterday I stumbled across an announcement on the only social media I still use, Primfeed (which is sort of a cross between Twitter and Flickr, but it’s exclusively for Second Life users to post about Second Life):
And, of course, Vanity Fair loves herself a good masquerade ball! As it so happens, one of the things that I have been doing to help me relax and escape my chaotic real life is cleaning through and reorganizing Vanity Fair’s voluminous inventory, focusing on the oldest items. And, in doing so, I discovered this glorious, systems-layers-and-flexiprims Ariel ballgown from Kouse Singh, which I picked up back in 2012. I have thrown out at LOT of my oldest apparel, but there are still a few items that I cannot bear to part with. This Ariel ballgown by Kouse Singh still holds up well, thirteen years later! (I did add a couple of modern mesh touches: a black lace bolero from United Colors; and the Meritus crown, necklace, and earrings from Petrichor.)
However, I still needed to pick out a mask; what’s a masquerade ball without a mask? Raven Faireland used the 1986 David Bowie movie Labyrinthas the inspiration for her masquerade ball (in fact, she had video screens located throughout the impressive ballroom she designed herself, playing the famous masquerade ball scene from that film on a loop). So I didn’t want just any old mask; it had to be something special to fit the theme!
Luckily, last Hallowe’en I picked up a special maze hunt prize from Queenz, this shimmering Luciferix mask. It is completely resizable on any combination of the X, Y, and Z axes, and comes with a HUD to select one of eight mask colours and two metal textures. I picked the black mask with gold metallic accents as shown below:
NOW, I was all set for the ball! I teleported into the beautiful ballroom which Raven Fairelander had created, and I had a wonderful evening! At times there were over 100 avatars in one region, chatting, flirting, and dancing to the DJs’ music stream (there were three DJs that evening). Everyone went all out and over-the-top with their masquerade outfits!
I did take some pictures to share with my friends and followers on Primfeed, but I also wanted to share them here, too. Please click on each thumbnail in the picture gallery below to see the image in full size:
You can see our gracious hostess and ballroom designer, Raven Fairelander, being dipped by her partner in picture 4! You can also catch a coupe of glimpses of me dancing with my champagne in hand. It was also Raven’s birthday celebration, so everybody wished her a happy birthday as well.
I’d like to thank Raven Fairelander for letting me come to her fabulous birthday masquerade ball. (I do need to ask her where she acquired her beautiful blue butterfly mask, which you can also see on a few other partygoers! I had done a right-click/inspect on it, and then I logged out and forgot to save the name of the creator and the store!!!)
Anyways, that’s it for me. I will still post from time to time, as I feel up to it; I am still feeling exhausted and worn out lately, and my root canal situation is not helping. I still haven’t made any firm, final decision about what I want to do with this blog. I will keep you posted.
P.S. For the sake of own mental and emotional health, I have had to avoid all social media (except Primfeed) and all news media (except checking the Globe and Mail newspaper only once per workday, through a newspaper database my university library system subscribes to). Even then, the upsetting, batshit crazy news headlines from the United States—and Canada, too!—still manage to filter through. Right now, I need to focus on myself, my health, and things that I can change in my life, and avoid as much as possible all the batshit craziness going on, since I have zero control over it.
As I joked last week to both my family doctor and my psychiatrist, “I don’t think I have enough Clonazepam to get through four more years of a Trump presidency.” 🤪
UPDATE 1:01 p.m.: I found the blue butterfly Mardi Gras mask! It’s one of the prizes from a new gacha machine at the MeadowWorks booth at the Valentine’s Shop and Hop event, on now until February 18th, 2025. Here’s your taxi! It’s L$60 per pull. I was very lucky and got mine after only four pulls! The mask is no copy, PBR enabled, and resizable via HUD. (Please click on each image below, to see it in full size.)
UPDATE April 14th, 2025: I have just learned this morning that, unfortunately, Robyn and Dawn have decided to close the White Pearl Salon. I was told that they were burned out, and believe me, I can relate! I wish them every success in whatever new endeavours they choose to pursue; the White Pearl Salon was a very special place while it lasted.
At a time when many red states in the U.S. are passing laws against drag performers and transgender people, it’s vitally important for LGBTQ people and their allies to have safe places in which to gather and find like-minded community, both in real life and in virtual life. Second Life has always been a welcoming virtual space for the LGBTQ community, with its own special landing page and numerous sims devoted to any and every aspect of the queer community (of which I, a cisgender gay man, am a part).
Last week, while club hopping as Vanity Fair, I came across the White Pearl Salon, an LGBTQ-friendly space which caters to the trans community. I received such a warm welcome from the staff and patrons of the club, that I have paid many return visits! I think I might have found my new hangout spot in Second Life, the first since Bray’s Place Blues club sadly closed its doors (you can read more about it here on my blog).
The White Pearl Salon is the brainchild of its proprietor, Robin Palmer (Robinpalmer7 Resident), who describes herself as “just a simple garden variety cross-dresser”, and who very kindly agreed to be interviewed for this blogpost, while she worked a DJ set at her club:
Robin Palmer (R): I was a guy first, then a woman.
Ryan Schultz as Vanity Fair (V): In real life, or in Second Life?
R: LOL… SL only. I came out as trans 30 months ago. I go to real-life trans parties when on the road (not in my town).
V: It can be a scary step to do in real life. I have a lot of respect for the trans people I have met at my local bars and elsewhere. And what is happening right now in some U.S. states just enrages me. So I fully support what you are trying to do here, Robin.
R: Oh yes. And it’s good that, in my experience, there is no judging. Some are out, others in. No pressure ever to “come out.”
V: First question: when did you join Second Life?
R: 12 years ago? Let me check. It was before this account. Yes, about 12 years.
V: When did you decide to create the White Pearl Salon, and why?
R: Well, first, my old avatar was a guy. I dated some ladies, and they told me [most] guys are creeps in SL. So then I created a lady account… this one…”Old Robin.” I created an entire sim dedicated to Victorian art and culture, a “Disneyland for Victoriana,” as a lady. About 30 months ago, I came out as trans. I visited the other [trans] clubs, and thought there should be at least ONE with a focus on relationships, not quickie pose ball sex. Thus the Pearl. 🙂
V: Tell me a bit about the art gallery in the Pearl.
R: Well, the one in this club is called the Gerda Wegener Art Gallery. Did you see The Danish Girl?
V: Not yet, no. It’s on my list of movie to watch, though.
R: Eddie Redemayne won an Oscar as a 1920s SRS [Sex Reassignment Surgery] trans. His wife was Gerda Wegener. Gerda was fem, but an advocate for trans in the 1920s, a heroic person and great artist. I created the gallery as a draw to real-life trans people. We can have exhibits that no other gallery in the real-life world can ever have. I want to promote trans and trans-friendly artists like Gerda. No porn, no BDSM; pride, dignity, beauty, and elegance only.
V: So you want to bring more real-life trans people into Second Life?
R: Exactly. I forget the figures, but the UN estimates at least 2% globally are trans. So, of 8 billion people….we’re talking millions.
V: Can you tell me what sets your club apart from other trans clubs in SL?
R: I’ve come to feel that a huge majority of current “SL trans” are cosplay trans… young boys playing games for some quick sex. And the other [SL trans] clubs are mainly part of the global “Adult Entertainment” industry…i.e. porn/BDSM.
V: And you wanted to provide an alternative space?
R: Yes. One tiny island of social engagement, love, joy, laughs, chat, romance. and relationships for SL trans people. I am liberal. I do not judge. If you want porn/BDSM, fine… but I just want to offer an option.
V: How long has the White Pearl Salon been operating?
R: Yes, we’ve been growing a lot after the “Covid drop.” As COVID restrictions eased, visits here fell. I guess it was true for all SL.
V: Yes.
R: Since January 2023, we have had strong growth We track traffic to the club. I try to run Pearl as a real-life business.
V: Oh, interesting. I notice that you also have a room devoted to a matchmaking and/or dating service. Could you tell me more about that?
R: Well, as a great part of my vision is relationships. I thought a direct dating service for trans would be useful. Again, not porn or escort stuff.
V: Understood.
R: This year, I’ll try to get some RL corporate sponsors…. perhaps Bud Lite? LOLOLOL!
V: You can always dream! Tell me your vision for the White Pearl Salon, Robin. What is your dream for this place?
R: To have 1-2 million members. 🙂 Truly, the global potential is almost infinite. Within SL, it is limited; Linden Lab does not [really] understand that at all. Of LGBTQ, the T can use SL the most. A huge percentage of global trans people are in the closet. Second Life can be a path out of that closet.
V: So you see SL as a way for trans people to step out of the closet.
R: Exactly.
V: Experiment with how they wish to be perceived by others.
R: Exactly. 🙂
V: Thank you! Before we end this interview, is there anything else you want to add, Robin?
R: One sec. About 20% of our Flickr photos have a text. Let me get it for you:
SECOND LIFE – A Path Out of the Closet
For the LGBT community, and especially for transgender Ladies and Gentlemen, Second Live (secondlife.com) offers a world of opportunities to explore new worlds, both romantic and exotic, adventurous and relaxing, beautiful and mysterious.
But most importantly, Second Life (SL) allows you to explore yourself – your heart, needs and desires – and to share your journey with thousands of other lovely people – both transgenders (TGs) and their friends and admirers.
Basic membership in SL is free. Create your account, your avatar, your wardrobe and begin exploring.
Searching for a friendly companion? Come to SL. Searching for a shoulder to cry on? Come to SL. Searching for virtual romance? Come to SL.
As in Real Life (RL), SL is not without perils. We are all avatars—we all create our perfect self-images, whether close to our real selves, or dreamboats. But take a chance. Step into a world of endless virtual possibilities.
And if you do, please visit the White Pearl Salon (in your Second Life client, Search > Places > “White Pearl Salon”). Here’s your limousine to the Pearl. Our calendar of exciting DJ dance and costume/theme parties is here. Photo albums of past and future events are in our award-winning 7,000,000 view Flickr albums can be found here (there’s also a visitor’s photo pool). We also run a fashion blog.
For transgenders, their friends and all people, the White Pearl Salon is dedicated to the principles of respect, dignity, pride, beauty, charm and, well, the best time ever in a virtual environment. The Pearl is Second Life’s most “safe space” for transgender people.
So take the next step and join Second Life. Celebrate the woman… or man… within.
In addition to the main club, there is a small store, The Cultured Pearl, off to the left of the main entrance, selling fashions for avatars of all genders (along with a generous selection of fashionable freebies, no group required!):
A selection of gifts available for free from The Cultured Pearl
Also off the upstairs balcony are a changing room, a ballet studio, the previously mentioned matchmaking/dating services room (please click on each image in the gallery below to see it in full size).
Upstairs, you can also find the previously=mentioned Greta Wegener Art Gallery:
Please note that there will soon be a second art gallery on the same sim, the White Pearl Art Center (SLURL), which will have its official grand opening on May 7th, 2023. If you are an artist who is interested in having your work shown at any of the galleries, please contact the White Pearl Salon art curator, Juana Ametza (Juana Secretspy).
The main floor of the White Pearl Salon is down the winding staircases. Tucked under the stairs is a cozy, well-decorated bar:
The dance floor offers both couples and singles dances, as well as one of those fancy synchronized dance floors! Just touch the gold ball next to the grand piano to dance in sync with the other avatars, or use the pink dance balls for couples and singles dances. There’s even a blind dance board if you want to find a dance partner!
The main stage at the White Pearl Salon
There’s an extensive calendar of events, with a list of DJs performing. Many days at the White Pearl Salon have a theme (e.g. Formal Friday, Hat Day, Angels and Devils, Spring Fling).
The recent Spring Fling day at the White Pearl Salon
I leave you with a two-hour Netflix documentary on YouTube, which Robin Palmer highly encourages those people, who might want to learn more about the trans community and why she created the White Pearl Salon, to watch:
Why not pay a visit to the White Pearl Salon? Tell’em Vanity sent you… 😉
HOUSEKEEPING NOTE: The RyanSchultz.com blog will be on an indefinite hiatus, as I am working on a brand new project: writing up a proposal for a VR lab for my university library system! More details here. I’ll be back as soon as I can, folks!
The full-length documentary by Bernhard Drax (a.k.a. Draxtor Despres in Second Life), titled Virtual Cultures in Pandemic Times, has now been released on YouTube, where you can watch it for free! (I first wrote about the film here.)
It’s 1 hour and 24 minutes long, so go get yourself some popcorn, and settle in!
In the 85 minute film, protagonists from all over the world speak openly about their anxieties and everyday challenges during this global crises and about what virtual worlds and social games mean to them in the context of a pandemic.
Mixed reality interviews and group discussions provide the basis for a sprawling narrative: a mosaic of impressions, shared by people from all walks of life, some well known figures from science, arts and culture, some just regular folks (like the research team itself), trying to make sense of a new age dominated by uncertainty and physical isolation.
Enjoy!
P.S. If you watch the documentary, you can see my main SL avatar, Vanity Fair, sitting in the audience at the Virtual Ability 10th Annual Mental Health Symposium: Mental Health in Trying Times virtual conference, held on April 16th, 2021 (at which I also was a presenter on the topic of acedia). At exactly the 25:10 mark in Virtual Cultures in Pandemic Times, you can see Vanity, busily knitting away… 😉 I’m tickled pink that I made a (brief) cameo in Drax’s documentary!
Screen capture of Vanity Fair (with her animated knitting needles!) sitting in the audience at the Virtual Ability Annual Mental Health Symposium (taken from Drax’s documentary)
P.P.S. Starting at the 1:17:42 mark of Drax’s documentary, in the discussion of social media/networks versus virtual worlds, Drax has an image of my popular list of metaverse platforms appearing on the screen of a virtual television set in Second Life! He even scrolls down the listing! My blog got a cameo!!!
My list of metaverse platforms gets a cameo in Drax’s documentary!
