Talter reveals how to be posh in the Metaverse!

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From designer bags to red carpet appearances, budding social climbers are well versed in the sort of status symbols they need to acquire if they want to make a name for themselves in the real world. But how about the metaverse? journalist Harriet Kean went on a deep dive to discover exactly what it takes to establish yourself as a social power player in this ever-changing virtual space, from digital designer fashion to a computer generated BFF.  The ‘metaverse’ is a set of virtual spaces where you can game, work and communicate with other people who aren’t in the same physical space as you. There is not one single platform or product that people use, rather it is a term that applies to a group of digital spaces, activities and transactions that are very much in development.   Tatler’s Lady Metaverse. Artwork: George Jasper Stone; 3D Scanning Director: Fred Hair; CAD Designer: Dovydas Pocius; 3D scanning and digitisation: Form Capture Its proponents compare it to the early days of the world wide web: the broad ideas of what could be achieved were discussed and champions, but it took decades for the full intricacies of the internet to be fully realised. Yet despite its nascent stage, the metaverse is big news. Celebrities, fashion designers and video game companies have all bought into this vision for our shared virtual future.  RELATED ARTICLES

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Leading the charge are companies like Facebook, now called Meta, which explains the metaverse as a digital space where ‘You’ll be able to hang out with friends, work, play, learn, shop, create and more.’It’s not necessarily about spending more time online — it’s about making the time you do spend online more meaningful. ‘Just like the internet, the metaverse exists whether Facebook is there or not. And it won’t be built overnight. Many of these products will only be fully realised in the next 10-15 years.’ BUILDING AN AVATAR  An avatar, an icon or figure representing a particular person in a video game, internet forum, or other digital space, is the first way in which people can signal their wealth in the metaverse. Ones like the one above are extremely valuable and sell for millionsAn avatar, a broad term that applies to any icon or figure representing a particular person in a video game, internet forum, or other digital space, is the first way in which people can signal their wealth in the metaverse. Rare avatars can cost millions of pounds and Paris Hilton, Jay-Z and Serena Williams are among the stars who’ve splashed out on their pricey digital alter-egos. Kean opted for one based on her own appearance, which was created by scanning and digitalising her body to create a likeness. This was then finessed by a 3D digital artist who highlighted individual features.  The result is a personalised avatar that looks something like a character in a PlayStation or X Box game.  But it is actually 2D, seemingly low-tech avatars which are the most valuable and exclusive in the metaverse.  CryptoPunk is a series of 10,000 individual avatars that have a cartoonish, pixilated appearance. ‘If someone has a CryptoPunk as their Twitter handle, I instantly know they’re worth a lot,’ said Cosmo Lindsay, grandson of Lady Amabel Lindsay. It is comparable to owning a priceless work of art ‘or a Rolex or a Lamborghini,’ according to Cosmo.  They have sold for as much as £391million, according to Tatler.  DESIGNER CLOTHES  Only some types of avatar can be dressed, but this gives users yet another opportunity to flaunt their wealth. Designers are making purely digital pieces which can be bought and worn in the metaverse. ‘Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana and Louis Vuitton have all released digital clothing,’ notes Kean. Above, a Google x DressX digital clothing collaboration released last yearOnly some types of avatar can be dressed, but this gives users yet another opportunity to flaunt their wealth.  Lady M is ‘dressed’ in a two-piece by Chanel which is ‘scanned’ from real life and made into digital fashion for her to wear. Designers are also making purely digital pieces which can be bought and worn in the metaverse. ‘Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana and Louis Vuitton have all released digital clothing,’ notes Kean.’People are spending thousands – sometimes even millions – on virtual couture to hang in their virtual wardrobes (Dolce & Gabbana’s digital collection went for nearly £4.2 million at Venice’s Alta Moda show in September).’Digital fashion has been around for over five years, but it’s only in the last couple of years that it has really taken off. In 2019, a translucent computer-generated dress made by ‘digital couture’ house The Fabricant sold at auction for £7,800, after Canadian tech executive Richard Ma bought it for his wife. Other companies like Tribute Brand and DressX, which partnered with Google on a range, offer a huge range of digital garments for prices rangi