“Fashion is very important. It is life-enhancing and, like everything that gives pleasure, it is worth doing well”. Quoting these inspirational words by Vivienne Westwood, Harper Beresford tells us that this very quote embodies what she intends to do with fashion in Second Life®. While these would normally be the final words in an article, they were so moving and so appropriate for this particular Fashion Icon that the only place they belonged was at the beginning. Harper Beresford has given a new sophistication, a refreshing breath of sanity, and a skillful eye to the world of fashion. Her candid blog not only displays some of the trendiest looks around, but also takes time to cater to the readers a bit, providing visitors with not only eye candy, but a bit of brain food as well. Join AVENUE as we take a moment to try to get inside the mind of this scholarly blogger for just a moment. Sensuous Soulstar: As is tradition, I want to first congratulate you on being selected as AVENUE’s Fashion Icon, and more importantly, congratulations on being the first icon of the year! Now let’s just dive right into things, tell me about your background in fashion in SL®. How long have you been involved with fashion? Harper Beresford: I have been interested in fashion in SL since the first day I logged in. I was so intrigued by the idea of being able to change my avatar’s look. I took my first photo the first day I was here in April 2007, and I still have it! S.S.: Now along with all of your other duties, you’re also the Business Manager for House of RFyre and RP Couture. How did you get involved with these positions, and give me a brief overview
of what it is that you do in your positions. H.B.: I started working for Raven Pennyfeather of House of RFyre in July 2007, when she contacted Dirk Talamasca to help find someone reliable to help her while she would be out caring for her partner after an operation. He contacted me. I will never forget the day I got an email from him asking if I would like to work for RFyre. I was so happy. In retrospect, I was right to be happy. My friendship with Raven has been more wonderful than I could have ever anticipated. She has been an incredible working partner and soul sister. At this point, it’s “’til death do us part” for our friendship. As for my duties, they are pretty in-depth. Raven makes all final decisions, but they are with considered input from me. In a sense we are business partners. I write most of the promotions for RFyre, establish and write our operating procedures, do most of the building at RFyre (yes, I am secretly a builder), do some photography and modeling, and provide some customer service. That we are still working together after three and a half years is a testament to the integrity and affection of both of us. This is not a game for either of us--Raven derives her living from SL. She is my true friend in RL, so her success is important to me. That is always on my mind. S.S.: Alright, we keep tossing around the word “fashion,” but what is it? How do you define “fashion” and not just the latest trends, but truly iconic fashion? H.B.: My definition of what fashion is in SL is a very complex one and is much more based on my notions about the “meta” of the metaverse than about actual clothing. Entire theses