Although I continue to evaluate the Free Mesh Bodies, I thought it important to make a little side-trip to Clothing. It seems that it is important to consider the availability of clothing for the various free, and almost free, bodies before you make a decision on selecting something to put you efforts into making “you”.
Since all new accounts now come with the Legacy Female Basic body, that might be where everyone starts. It has a couple of limitations: the feet are only flat, and the paired LeLutka heads are not very animated. I solved the head problem by buying a $0 Facial Ao on marketplace, so the eyes blink and the mouth seems to move a little. Not dramatic, but better than frozen. The Facial Animation Override (AO) is called “Xuxu. Calm Face AO” and it includes a separate animation to run in case you get stuck in something other than what you expect. I recommend you pick this up, especially if you are using the Avatar Welcome Pack (AWP) AO, which is fairly painful. If you are under 30 days old, head to the Body Language store and grab their free AO. It is different from the Firestorm Free Sotre version and between those two you will find a decent basic AO for your avatar. Much better than the AWP AO, for certain.
On to clothing? I was very excited to visit several stores with great gift opportunities. Unfortunately, three (3) of those stores either stopped the large gift selection or stopped being free of charge. While I believe Analogic and Sugar Dolls are with a look, their group fee seems excessive and I would not pay that if I have to choose.
One of the best deals has to be Wellmade, the store having 49 group gifts or free items, and several more for a nominal fee, as low as $1 for some. You must joi9n the Wellmade group (No Fee) for the first 41, and several different groups for the others. I tend to stick to the free items, with free being $0 and not a $1 that gets refunded. Not every new person has the $1 to start.
Wellmade does a very nice job in gifts that will work with Legacy Female from the Avatar Welcome pack. While the body is stuck with flat feet, you can find a foot alpha and wear various boots that hide the missing feet, or use one of the flat shoes included in the gifts. Over all, Wellmade has 18 gifts that are made for Legacy Female:
[WellMade] Arely Wedges GIFT
[WellMade] Bea Heels GIFT (unpacked)
[WellMade] Beatrice Set
[WellMade] Berta Boots – GIFT
[WellMade] Briar Top GIFT
[WellMade] Caitlin Outfit Gift
[WellMade] Marilia Socks GIFT
[WellMade] Navani Flatforms
[WellMade] Vega C-String
[WellMade] Gabriela Blouse GIFT
[WellMade] Peggy Outfit GIFT
[WellMade] Eva Shorts
[WellMade] Jade Sneakers GIFT
[WellMade] Monique Heels
[WellMade] Veda Bodysuit GIFT
[WellMade] Tinna Dress GIFT
[WellMade] Yareli Outfit GIFT
[WellMade] Isadore Outfit GIFT
While all 49 gifts include a Customization HUD, Legacy is tied for second place in body support with eBody Reborn. The older Maitreya Lara body has 46 items that include the size for it. (This might be a Lucybody opportunity for you.)
Head over to your Second Life Search and track down Wellmade Store and check out the gift section. Grab the 41 from Wellmade and the others from Group Joiner panels nearby. I don’t think you will regret it and it will jumpstart your wardrobe at a great price.
– With Compassion –
Anika Kay May
AnikeKayMay Resident
[At the time of this posting, the huge Scandalize gift selection was no more, the nice Analogic gift section was quite expensive, as was the Sugar Dolls”24″. I will find more places like Wellmade for you in the future, I hope.]
