By Jin Lovelace, HSM team writer & filmmaker

This article is going to come off to some as self-indulgent. So be it.

For a long time I’ve been observant, and reserved, on a particular subject within PlayStation Home due to the occasional fevered lunacy and lack of common sense that occasionally arises in places like the SCEA forum. I say this because the truth of the matter is that many have their opinions and ideals on how to express this very subject: art.

And by art, I mean fashion. And by fashion, I mean ourselves.

Think about it: a powerful element of the Home experience is self-expression. We get to convey ourselves to one another as we wished we were — or perhaps as we truly see ourselves as — rather than how we are. While this has led to Home having an “uncool” reputation as a haven for broken people in the gaming community, because no one wants to tacitly admit that they’re uncomfortable with themselves, it is nonetheless one of the key motivational triggers that fuels social MMO experiences.

It’s no secret now that the social experience on Home is returning to its roots. The last time we ever saw a pop in such content was when costumes were the big trend; before, the lot would complain about the boredom they experienced while logged into Home. Ah, boredom: the endless cry of the unimaginative.

And if it’s not that, I have a list of other complaints about Home’s social structure and what it says about us as people, in a sort of Lord of the Flies rant, but the main topic for this article surrounds the people that many don’t really care to understand: fashion. 

What most don’t care about is the term itself because some feel that virtual fashion, for the most part, isn’t something to be taken seriously — especially in a video game. They view the MMO as a gaming experience and not at all what it’s made out to be. Thus, it would be ideal to run around with just a bikini bottom and a pair of sneakers and have your avatar dry-hump another avatar (of whichever gender) for selfish humor derived from a fixed vision that it’s just a game.

The social spectrum of the average fashion “model” in Home

What exacerbates this are those users who do choose overtly provocative skimpy wear as a reflection of what they are either genuinely feeling, looking for or wanting to express. What this says about them is potentially concerning. But it’s not surprising: Home is a place where the Freudian id can run free. And thus, they feel that there is only one way to express themselves: through sexy couture style of outfits. And follow it up with an attitude that conveys the “know-it-all” stance that rebuffs any new information that they could learn on how to apply to their character.

In essence, it’s about them — the model — and not about the fashion. It has nothing to do with fashion, in fact: it is nothing more than damaged people desperately trying to feel better about themselves at the expense of others.

In some ways, perhaps, Home reflects the real world a little too well. When the filters are removed and people are free to behave as they wish with little to no concern of retaliation or repercussion, too many people are revealed to be far less than they ought to be.

Fashion is, at its heart, freedom of expression. And this makes it a double-edged sword: fashion can be expressed artistically and ideally for enticement to the minds, and not necessarily about setting a trend, though it can workout that way. This is the positive aspect of fashion: it reflects us as a culture, with our individual interpretations thereupon, much like the sprezzatura of Gianni Agnelli’s wristwatch worn over the French cuff, or the revived trend of wearing an expensive jacket with the cuff buttons undone (since conventional jackets have the cuffs sewn shut, the buttons merely an adornment).

On the other hand, you have the ones who feel it’s about them and make their fashions tailored towards the expressions behind the attitude. Here’s the trap: when it goes from simply running around in a self-image of your choosing and makes the unhealthy leap to actually taking on that persona (to the point of owning multiple consoles to do so) and then belittling others from that persona, that’s worse than improper. It’s disturbing. And it suggests a deep-rooted psychological problem.

So. With all of this said, allow me to really introduce to you the truth about Twilight Touch. 

It’s a name for elegance, classy, subtle, sultry, sensual, suave, unique, and perhaps sexy. These are the words that were given by the brand’s audience. I can honestly say Twilight Touch is a fashion group and organization that caters towards the fashion medium on PlayStation Home. I always state this to anyone that inquires (if not before or after the Twilight movie references and jokes) but truthfully, the brand should be considered a breath of fresh air in the increasingly absurd and ego-driven world of virtual fashion. Whether anyone wishes to believe it or not, fashion on Home has always been a social enhancement. The social growth behind the medium has been the driving force on what makes all of us unique within this MMO.

In a virtual world where anyone can look like anyone, and be perfectly bilaterally symmetrical with the most idyllic blend of genetics that less than one percent of the species actually ends up with, I’ll wager you’re sick of Home fashion machinima that’s little more than thinly-veiled “look at me!” screams for attention.

Honestly, enough. Fashion machinima should be about the fashion, not the avatar wearing it. You are not Christy Turlington strolling the Promenade des Anglais; you are spending your time indoors, trying to compensate for your actual appearance by getting people to adore you for what you wish you were. Just stop.

Stop and celebrate the fashion itself instead, which is what you should have been doing from the beginning.

Every Twilight Touch video, article, and photo has meant something more:  it’s a story being told. From one perspective, Lockwood’s Classic Mini Skirts and the Bodycon Dresses can be portrayed as a simple garment with four different colors that literally goes with almost every shirt, blouse, and/or tank top available on Home. One can conceive a skimpy top and call it couture and it would look good to everyone, resulting in a trend. But, for me at least, I wish to know of its labor; its purpose. Going beyond the perspective of classic to see how it can compliment one’s character. Moreso, on how it feels, the type of experience one immerses themselves into with the item worn, and lastly exploring every possible way on wearing the item and the appeal afterwards.

What you notice throughout that whole ordeal is that I, or whomever the user is being shown in the video, is never the equation: we’re merely exploring fashionable styles for everyone to enjoy.

The idea of the brand is to provide a comprehensive, yet thorough, explanation of the items you see in Home which can be worn to showcase character and identity; as brilliant as Lockwood is, and for all their market dominance in this arena, there is life beyond Drey and the costume items most seem to simply combine with other pieces. It should be explored.

What’s interesting is that real-world clothing brands translated into Home (usually by VEEMEE) carry a higher price tag due in part to the three-way revenue split, which for some reason turns off a number of users. Good lord, have you never paid a premium for something other than the absolute cheapest clothing brand at Walmart? Okay, perhaps a particular piece isn’t for you, but to simply turn up your nose at an entire clothing line without so much as examining it? Really?

This is where Twilight Touch comes into fray. Let’s use the Wrangler Molly Jeans as an example: many just don’t know what to do with Wrangler’s Molly Jeans that are available in a various assortment of available colors. They are turned off, first hand, because the certain color just doesn’t pique the interest or the style doesn’t abode too well to them. They need to see it first. And thus Twilight Touch machinima provides that service.

The dedicated labor that’s been put into this project isn’t just to put either myself or any of the models into the front line and say how gorgeous any of us “looks” — because they’re freaking avatars, ferchrissakes. The “models” aren’t the star. The fashion itself is. You’ve been curious about the brand clothing but wish to expand beyond the preview window in the store? There are over 106+ videos available (with more coming) to satisfy that curiosity.

If you’re wondering if something is worth your money, then someone had to provide a service to showcase the content. There are articles available that I’ve written for HSM and even my own site, and that’s not even counting other organizations whom I’ve written for. Simply put: I desire to go beyond a thread, a typical runway, or just some fashion fam group that focuses on popularity and instead actually express what I love: art and fashion. I’m not perfect by any means; I’m not claiming to be the best filmmaker, the best literature writer, the best artist, et cetera. Nothing of the such. But I refuse to attempt to set an example by being a part of the populace that feels necessary to look for power, fame, and biased opinions to exert one’s mind into a bloated ego with a false pretense that they’re the star. Much akin to this organization that I’m writing for, I have standards, and it’s even gone far as receiving criticism for taking what I do seriously. I’d rather learn how to express what I enjoy than to be angry and jealous over what others are doing. Because of how ephemeral virtual worlds are, how important will any of this be, five years from now?  All that pointless questing for internet fame…

What matters are two things: the people you helped and the works you created for others to enjoy. That’s it.

So when you see another presentation featuring me or any of TT’s models — Jlizbeth, Ruby Princess, Cristal Clare, Catbaby Love, Team Illusion, or any of other special guests modeling their own brands (such as Dani) or wish to enjoy being a part of a fun environment (Terra Cide) — don’t be surprised; that’s just us expressing what we love most about Home.

That’s the truth about Twilight Touch.

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One Response to “The Truth About Twilight Touch”

1. Burbie52 says:

   September 9, 2013 at 3:35 pm

   Bravo for standing up for what you believe in Jin. I love fashion as you know, finding that right combination that expresses my artistic flair is a great meta game. You are right about the clothing being the star. When I go out on one of my rare public jaunts wearing something new, people don’t come up to me and ask “who are you?” They ask “Where did you get that shirt, or dress, ect.” The clothes are what they seek.
   There are many things that we can use to define ourselves in Home, and fashion is one of them, it should reflect your personality and perhaps even your mood. Fashion defines us, but it doesn’t define Home because Home means so many different things to so many people and respect should be given to all of these viewpoints.
   Nice article.

   Reply