The Garmet Rack: Sparkle

Tempest Sparkle, originally uploaded by Tempest Hennesy.

Okie, truth be told, I’ve rewritten this entry 7 times already and will decide to, simply, be the professional I am and have been known to be. Leave it to say that I wore this to a pageant event.

I found this fantastic surprise at Chic Dimensions. Frankly, I haven’t been to Chic in a while… not since the mink jackets, last winter, but my sl-aunt, gma and ggma all have their own little sections there (shame on me, I know. Sorry fam!). I was pleasantly surprised to find this little number and it more than deserves a bit of a spotlight.

Gown: Sparkle in black by Chic Dimensions
Hair: Lola in silver by Laqroki
Skin: Lizette in Cappucino

The Garment Rack: Lady in Red

Tempest

Originally uploaded by Prinz Photostudio

I’m trying not to fall back into old habits, neglecting my blog and all the beautiful fashions found in and around SL. Things have gotten awfully busy between commitments, the new corporate venture, my personal life, RL and all that other stuff.

I’ll give you this, though, to tide you over. In addition to having the honor of sitting with the talented Ludwig Prinz, of Prinz Photostudio, I also got to wear this gorgeous number. Add the blue eyes from my alter ego (yes, I’ve got one of those too), and… well, see for yourselves.

Outfit: Red Rum Gown - Haute Couture & Style
Hair: Carolyn - Diversety Hair
Skin: Tyra - Redgrave
Eyes: Happy in Blue - Mad Designs

Photo by Ludwig Prinz - Prinz Photostudio

A Sign of the Times

Spotlight

Originally uploaded by Tempest Hennesy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

*TEMPEST HENNESY ACCEPTS POSITION AS INSTYLE CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER*

Ms. Hennesy will be joining InStyle as the new COO, in this role she will be in charge of day to day organization and operations, joining Teena Basevi (President). Tempest brings with her a solid foundation in the modeling business, already a successful model in her own right, Ms. Hennesy will use her expertise to create and maintain an atmosphere of professionalism and experience for all the InStyle models and it’s clients; from teaching to shows Tempest will be a welcomed asset to the InStyle team.

The Garment Rack: Beach Babe

With inspiration from the Nex-Core show not long ago (July 19th), you know I just had to come away with a little something-something to wear while enjoying my new surfing past time.

Swimsuit: Buttons Baby in Mushroom by .TGA
Hair: Puma in Ash Brown by Laqroki
Skin: Lizette in Cappucino

The Garment Rack: Coastal Vistas

Recently (July 19th), I had the opportunity to attend a swimwear show put on by Nex-Core at Vanity Universe. While I didn’t attend wearing any of their featured… and I have yet to show you what I did manage to get my hands on, I did go dressed for the occasion. After all, who can resist going to a beach show dressed for the beach or, at least, relaxed enough to truly be swept away by the whole atmosphere.

Swimsuit, apparent: Silk lingerie by SWS Designs (trick of the trade: if it can pass for something it’s not, and still look hot, who’s going to read your label?)

Shorts: Hot Pants in Silver by Redgrave

Shoes: Zhao “Savannah” in Silver

Skin: MM Zero pack in Tan

Hair: Lola in Silver by Laqroki

Sunglasses: Kalnins Fashion Sunglasses – Mercury LE

The Garment Rack

“You may not be… but you’ve got style.” –anonymous quote

Some people have a closet, others have a wardrobe. I, though, have an overflow of both so we’ll just toss everything onto a garment rack and see what we can come up with.

For those who don’t know, or who weren’t in my classes when I explained the !!Wardrobe folders, a garment rack is something usually found in the company of RL models, back stage, as they prepare for their show. It contains everything from their assigned outfits, to accessories to, even, make up and hair extensions (if need be).

Keeping with that tradition I’ll be following suit of those beauties before me and give you a heads up on what drives my style on that particular week. I might include a rant, or two, but that’s just me. For now, though, sit back, relax and delve into the Temptable Garment Rack.

DANGER: Curves Ahead

Curves Ahead

Originally uploaded by Tempest Hennesy

I’ve seen it over and over again and, for the most part, ignored it over and over again. After all, how people choose to live their lives is their business; even within the fashion industry of both RL and SL.

I am, though, had it up to the proverbial here with hearing ‘Wow! Tempest is Curvy!’. Hell, yes, I’m curvy. Curvy AND successful. My body mass is well above 0, as is my musculature. My behind doesn’t even go down to 0 for a prim skirt, though I do keep it low enough to not look like I’ve got a 16-wheeler behind me.

Everyone has their idea of beautiful. For the better part, I try to leave people to theirs. I expect, though, to have mine left the HELL alone; especially by people who I have surpassed on many an occasion. Tyra Banks was, and still is, a beautiful not size 2 model. She’s not even a size 6 and has graced runways all over the world; and then some. The first black model to be, solo, on the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine. To be blunt… guess what? Twiggy is passé, and even she’s gained weight.

So, the next time my ‘curves’ come into question, consider this: Not only is the likelihood that I’ll hear it high… remember that these curves are dangerous and ever climbing higher.

Interview

(Make no mistake. The following is not my writing, though the interview was with me. The actual interview is part of the text for the EFA Runway Robics soon to be announced, and can be found here)

Here is an interview with Tempest Hennesy, our dedicated and driven models teacher and mentor to realize how important runway skills are in this industry…

======================================================

Bobie Woodget: Tempest Hennesy, you know better the anyone how to express the true attitude that makes one blossom.

Tempest Hennesy blushes. Thank you.

Bobie Woodget: So, when you’re at a show what makes you say: “that chick has been professionaly trained?”

Tempest Hennesy: Well, there are more than a few who think it’s easy to ‘walk’ in a show. As easy as pointing in a direction and moving there, but it really does take more than that. To me, when I see someone who knows what they’re doing, that person makes it look almost fluid… almost real; well as real as you can get in a virtual environment. Can they go from walking, carrying themselves, to a pose and make it look like it’s not being done by a robot or a doll? Can they make the people watching stop flipping windows and pay attention because, along with the mechanical, they’re also bringing the personality into it? Then, they’ve got. It’s all of that. The mechanics, the timing, the poise, the grace… the knowledge to pull it all together.

Bobie Woodget: So to you it starts by identifying the image you wanna show the audience?

Tempest Hennesy: Exactly. If you want to be a model, a professional model, then as much as it’s practice practice, practice, it’s also perception. If people can’t look at you and see professional, then you can practice till you’re blue in the face and your feet bleed. Show the audience that you’re serious. Then, they’ll be watching while you pull everything else together. Well… not you, LOL! You already do that.

Bobie Woodget: Hehe thanks! At your opinion… when does the model’s image interfere with the designer image? In other words, how flexible does the model have to be with his/her own image?

Tempest Hennesy: While I don’t agree with being a tool, like a hammer or a nail… that’s my personal choice, though… a model still needs to be the canvas for the designer and their clothing, or the photographer and their vision. Things such as hair and behind shape (to make the system skirts not so big) should be a given and easily changed. Piercings and tattoos, though… those are the individual. Those really have no place in the designer’s outfit unless that’s the look their going for. I have a tribal, and a belly pierce that I adore. They’re a part of me… same with my earrings, but if a designer, or coordinator, asks for them off, they’re gone. I also Neko, sometimes… but, again, that’s a personal choice and, as a canvas, it’s not my place to force it on my designer if that’s not what they want.

Bobie Woodget: I see, and what should be the limit for a model in her/his flexibility? When can she/he say no? Or can he/she?

Tempest Hennesy: Again, this is my personal… it could vary from person to person, for whatever reason because it really could limit their exposure. They have to decide if it’s worth walking away from one job and hope there’s another… I don’t change shape, and I don’t change my ethnicity. I am a proud, black woman, and I won’t be portrayed as anything else. I’m also a Tyra Banks style model, with all the curves, and I won’t slim down for anyone, either. But it takes /a lot/ of strength to walk away from a job because they don’t want that… It takes a lot of tears to know you were passed up because you can’t…won’t, change. But it also builds a lot of respect for people, even designers and models, who see you take a conviction and keep it. That’s where I am, now. That’s what’s made me successful. It’s hard… I wouldn’t recommend it to everybody, but this is me.

Bobie Woodget: Hehe, yes it is and everybody who’s worked with you (including myself) is glad you are “you.”

Tempest Hennesy blushes. Thank you.

Bobie Woodget: What kind of attitude on and out the runway is a deal breaker to you?

Tempest Hennesy: Oh, arrogance is a huge deal breaker. I tell my trainees that there are two sorts of divas… Diva demanded, and diva earned. A diva demanded is one who yells the loudest and thinks that everyone owes them everything. They’ve GOT to walk first, no matter what. If they don’t like the designer, they will say it out loud, in front of them, and if they don’t get what they want then they will throw a temper tantrum and everybody has to stop and feel sorry for them… A Diva earned is one who has worked hard, compromised where necessary, asked for whatever and stepped aside when need be. They don’t always have to be first, they’re just happy to be there… They’re the ones that you hear people say, “I respect her. She’s what a Diva’s about”. They give you the title.

A Day In the Life of a Career Super Model - Tempest Hennesy

Tempest Spotlight

Originally uploaded by Tempest Hennesy

(this may seem an exact copy of the article found in May 08’s Altamoda Magazine, but they had to cut, I guess, one part that was very important to me. They had to cut the credit to the people who helped make all my accomplishments possible. Here, I’d like to do that.)

I think the myth of the model sleeping till 3pm, waking to the sound of his or her manager calling for another show, then going to sip on some sugarless tea and a tic-tac have long since been dispelled; both in Second Life and, through those experienced in it, real life. Here is a peek into a day with me, Tempest Hennesy. I won’t dare say typical, average or normal because there is nothing about my second life, professional or otherwise, that can be called any of those things. Welcome to my world. Like anyone else, there are days that are busier, or more relaxed, than most but on the average my days swing like a pendulum from one moment to the next.

4:30am slt – Though fully aware that RL will pull me briefly away in about 15 minutes, I wake enough to collect my thoughts and begin to put my day in order; including reading through offline IM’s, company and group notices, and invitations.

5:45am slt – Sort through the odd gift from one generous designer or another to figure out what to wear for the day. Everything is a conscious forethought when it comes to appearance; from the hair piece to the shoes on my feet. What a lot of people, models, don’t get is that one becomes a public figure when you set onto this career choice in any amount of seriousness. Sure, I could wear any old pair of jeans, slap on a shirt and some miss formed shoes but my co-workers, trainees, peers, agent, blogarazzi and any designers that see me are expecting a certain amount of style; a personification of the ability to go, easily, from hood to, especially, haute in the change of a shirt or the swing of a hip. I try to represent the best of my agency and my industry.

In some of the morning catch-up, I do manage to look at the fashion emergency blogs. While I’ll never admit to falling under some of them… I do have to say that, on occasion, I’d toyed with an idea or two for an outfit only to find someone else featured, and blasted, for it by some blogarazzi or another…. and they weren’t public figures. I can just imagine the fallout of myself being caught with my virtual pants down. In this industry, appearance matters. Sometimes, perhaps, too much so.

On a side note, blogarazzi was a term that I had coined in reference to those of the (sometimes honored) profession of SL-journalism. Since, in SL, it’s near impossible to call them paparazzi; they don’t chase us with cars, or prevent us from leaving venues, etc, but make no mistake that reporters and photo-journalists do exist… sometimes sitting where you least expect it until you see your name, or photograph, in an article that you know you didn’t give an interview for. Make no mistake, very little flies under the radar.

8:00am slt – Meet with any European time zone people for interviews; whether it be show ideas, looking for a spokes model, or to arrange to make an appearance at their venues. On this particular day, I take the opportunity to meet with a European designer, then agency director-friend. Because SL is made up of various time zones, sometimes one has take opportunity where one can get it and it’s only considerate to try to at some sort of middle ground. Today, I meet with one, in particular, who was starting to do great things after a bit of a hiatus. A fantastic learning experience and an honorable show of faith.

11:00am slt - Saying pleasant goodbyes as my last appointments head off to their own To Do list, I collect myself for something I, surprisingly, dread. I take myself on an animation hunt. I hate shopping with a passion. Yes, I said that out loud for all to see, but my routine needs to remain fresh. I’m constantly pushing my limit, or trying to. That’s why, when I see people with unusual animations or runway poses, I’m dieing to find out where they get it… not to copy them, but to add my own swing to it. There is no such thing as a new mousetrap; you can only endeavor to create a better one.

1:15am slt - if I’m not instructing the up and coming, professional grade, models of SL at EFA Training, I’ll hit a runway, myself… whether it be the mock up in the school, the official EFA runway or I drop a holodeck over my house or in a sandbox.

On that runway, I’ll either create a routine, based solely on walk and timing, or practice whatever routine I need for a show… I work on my keystroke manipulation, my mouse manipulation, my Huddles, Zhao II and walk replacer manipulation so that, by the time I do hit the runway, it all looks smooth, natural and effortless; even in lag. I’ll also put together a few outfits into my ‘wardrobe/clothing rack’ folder and incorporate quick changes into my practice routine. This industry is as vicious in SL as it is in RL. There is no such thing as too much practice.

3:00pm slt - As a model, a career model or any other level, the path does not consist only of photo shoots, runway shows, rehearsals and shopping. Sometimes we need to sit back and be the spectator, as well. After, at least, a week’s notice (which is always welcome and preferable for those having to balance an agenda), the time has arrived for a rather high profile show. I’m not walking in it, though it would be an awesome opportunity, but I was fortunate enough to have my invitation given to me, in my ‘hand’.

Having been to quite a few of these shows, and others of equal high stature, I know full well that the venue will fill long before show time, creating lag enough to set the hardiest soul weeping. That being the case, I made sure to show up early; early being my M.O. (modus operandi). I don’t like late, I’ll avoid it if I can. It was a beautiful show, for what I was able to see of it. Not due to bad planning, or lag. Lag was no greater than expected and the planning was impeccable. What usually has me distracted are the multitude of IM’s from those wishing information, or looking for an in, or just wanting to say hello. The latter I like best of all.

6:00pm slt - After a short break for RL, I’m back again and looking over my calendar or hand-dropped invitations for the evening’s direction. Even going to a club, sometimes, is not just for the pleasure of it though I do have a few that I will frequent ‘just because’ or where who I am, or what I do, isn’t a big deal. Tonight isn’t one of these nights, though, as I change clothing, again, and make my way to the next venue. There will be no introductions, no shout outs, though the request was sent by the owner and my agency tag is firmly in place. In truth, no more than that will be needed to draw attention to myself; that and a thank you from the DJ for the good tip. The point of this? To show the clientèle that the club is good enough that a statured public figure will attend, standing in whatever area is set aside for the VIP, and partying with the likes of the owner and their friends. This, though, is usually one stop of many such in an evening.

11:00pm slt - Finally, I make my way back to my little hide away, security system on, window blinds shut and exhausted. By this point, it’s not a matter of falling asleep or tumbling into bed. By now, it truly is a matter of getting to bed (yes, I do go through the motions), and falling asleep before I lose consciousness completely.

One thing is certain, though; all of this is not something I could manage on my own, no matter how minute, or effortlessly, it seems. No man, or model, is an island and the best of them have a smooth running support system. Mine ranges from my personal assistant, to my partner in PR (who looks out for me, gets my name out, and makes sure that I have as much exposure as possible… as much as I try to do the same for him), my best friend and fellow model, my team of coworkers, my agent and SL-’family’. Keeping me sane, and the rest of the world safe, when the stresses become too much, my companion is most definitely an equally important part of my team. I could probably have pushed on my own but I would have never have gotten this far without any of them.

It might seem an easy day, to some, but to me it’s just an example of many different variations; each different, each equally exhausting both physically and mentally. Tomorrow is another day. Tomorrow, it begins again. Perhaps it will go as smoothly, perhaps there will be a few bumps along the way.

Whichever the case… It’s my love, my passion, my spark. I’d do it again in a heartbeat.

Oh, Hell to the No!

Y’know, it bothers me no end when one of the very backbones of commerce in SL and, especially, in this industry that I love comes under threat.  It bothers me on an even more personal level when the people, and businesses, under attack are those I both respect and call friend.

Thanks to the thievery of a few talentless imbeciles the hard work and dedication of  a few of our skin merchants has been put up in their shops for sale under their names.   This isn’t the first time this sort of thing has happened but enough is enough.  It’s time that the PtB actually DID something about it.  They can close our banks, stop our casinos but they can’t seem to stop THEFT of hard work of our designers who help float THEIR economy?  That’s going beyond ridiculous.

I don’t blame the likes of Emilia Redgrave or Minnu Palen for taking the step to not put their wares on the market until something is done.  They, and all designers; be it of skin, clothing, boots, jewelry and accessories, and hair have worked too damned hard for too damned long for it to be taken without so much as a thought.  Taken and called someone else’s prim for prim, pixel for pixel, texture for texture. 

They’ve worked too hard and they deserve our support or, at least, mine.

  Looking Glass article

Minnu Palen’s Blog