Sissy Pessoa ‘s Baiastice
Baiastice is one of those stores that is constantly evolving. The store itself morphs slowly, reinventing itself , every time you go there is something just a bit different. It is also one of those stores every woman has on her list for check backs, simply because you do not want to miss out on a thing. With so much eye candy around the grid vying for our attention and our Lindens, that is saying something. Many of the stores we simply tp into, pick up what we saw on the blogs, and leave. Women go to Baiastice just to look. It is that kind of store.
The handbags alone are enough to make you gasp - every conceivable shape and texture, fun bags, classic bags, evening clutches, and perfect shoulder bags. It takes you time to look. You think you are going to buy one particular style and then you check around you and see there are so many beautiful designs ….and the decision becomes a painful process, or, maybe you throw in the towel, and buy 3 purses. You wander through one room and are overwhelmed, only to find there is another room, and another, and that is only the first floor. So many choices and all of them beautiful.
Sissy Pessoa herself, is incredibly well respected within the fashion industry. I was fascinated to find out more about her and the journey she has made into Second Life.
BW: Sissy I am always fascinated by how people came up with their name in SL and the name for their business. Can you share where yours came from? What does Baiastice mean?
SP: When I started my business, I took many days to decide what would be a good name, but my idea was and still is, to have a name without a real meaning...but just a new and original name with a good Italian sound.
BW: I found it very hard to get anything on the internet about your personally. Are you a private person in real life as well? How has being a private person helped you in SL? How has it hindered you?
SP: I never think about it, but yes this is me lol. For me it isn't important to mix SL with RL. I have some RL friends here but I think I like my private life to be separated from my SL life.
BW: One of the things I love about your designs is that you seem to have such an understanding of the female form. Your clothes fit and showcase a woman beautifully. Is that just an artistic gift or is it something you really work for and are conscious of when you design?
SP: Fashion is one of my big passions in RL and in SL too, so I don't think it's an artistic gift but all I make comes out from a lot of observation on what is going on in RL fashion and trying to make my interpretation of it here with my own personal touch always.
BW: Your frequently get asked to do designs for big events and shows, which means deadlines and a certain expected standard. Does that ever overwhelm you? If so, how do you handle deadlines and taking on special projects with all you do normally? Do you think it is important to give back to SL in some way?
SP: Deadlines are always terrible lol but in this case the only thing is working for a lot of time and having good work organization skills; it's very important give back to SL; it's an exchange in both directions.
BW: Your store is ever evolving and changing, are you active in its design as well - or do you just focus on the products for sale and let someone else handle the store setup, layout and design? There are so many little touches in the store … do they have some meaning for you.. Like the roses and the pigeons ….
SP: Building is another big passion for me here and for this reason my store is always evolving. I like, for example, to change the store layout for every season. As you can see, for this spring, I made a big original garden in the center of store with plants, little animals and a fountain.
BW: Of all the things you design what do you enjoy the most and why? What do you enjoy designing the least and why?
SP: There aren't things that I don't like to do; this is one good thing of SL, that you can do here only what you really like.
BW: Where does the inspiration come from for your outfits .. How do you start the creative process and keep coming up with fresh ideas? Do you ever panic about your creativity? If so how do you handle it?
SP: As I told you, my inspiration is RL fashion industry in all ways, fashion as art, and yes sometimes I fall in a panic when I have a wonderful idea in mind and it's difficult to put out it, but you can find this in all creative processes; all these sensations make this dynamic.
BW: I adore your grandma's closet and have played with that a lot .. as long as I have known it, it is something you have offered for free and there is so much in there .. What is the story behind that design?
SP: I decided to make this avatar (not original idea, as in SL there are some stores with and for aged avatars) for fun because in SL you have the possibility to be all you want, so why not be a granny? The beautiful don't have age, lol, and I made it free so many people can have a complete granny avatar in their inventory.
BW: People have told me about how you have inspired/mentored them and that they learn so much about fashion, attention to details, business, etc from you. They are very complimentary to you in that regard. Is it easy for you to share with others and to want to see them succeed? How do you handle helping others without giving away everything that makes you successful?
SP: This is one of the things that makes me happy, sometimes I receive IMs from new and known designers in SL telling me that I'm their inspiration and every time this makes me shy and happy in the same time. In SL there doesn't exist concurrency; everyone can be a designer and give original and personal ideas to the community and in this case I like much to give my support.
BW: What is the best thing that has ever happened to you in SL? Why did it mean so much to you?
SP: The best thing is, as I told previously, is that thankfully I found in SL another great way to express my creativity.
BW: What one thing are you most excited about in this coming year in SL for you and Baiastice?
SP: For this year I am staring with a very big spring collection, divided into many phases. The first is "couture", the second "casual", then "menswear new collection, after "new skin line” and in the last two releases accessories and bags."
By Bliss Windlow
