Summer Trends - A Customizer's Guide

The Theme

The first step is to pick a theme to work with and for summer there are many to choose from! Frolicking in flowers, fun at the beach, summer picnic and of course the Altador Cup are a few examples you could choose. It is very important to stick to your theme and to make sure the items you have chosen AND their colours all blend well together. It's easy to throw a dress and wig on your pet but you want to make sure they look good don't you?! Moving on:

Backgrounds

After thinking of a theme I like to start with choosing my background and work with colours present to base my outfit around.

Wigs/Hat, clothing etc

Next I dress my pet. I always start with a wig first but you can start with the clothing if you like it doesn't really matter. Remember to make sure that the outfit you have chosen not only matches the background but your theme too!

Foregrounds and Garlands

This is the last step to a great customization! I like to think that foregrounds and garlands are what really makes the look. Just make sure they fit the theme and match the colours used. You may notice some garlands and foregrounds over lap features in the background. While nothing much can be done about the garland apart from choosing a different one imperfections in the lower foreground area can be masked! I like to use a shrubbery for this. This is a MUST HAVE Neopoint item for anyone's closet. There are a few others that could be used but the Shrubbery is my favourite.

My top summer essentials

1. Summer fun beach background

A popular background chosen by customizers and I'm sure you can see why. It features a swaying palm tree and soft blue waves met by white sands. An idyllic holiday location in anyone's book! This background is perfect for a chilled out holiday/beach theme. For a Neopoint alternative, I would recommend the Romantic Sunrise Background.

2. Sun Shower

A very common item as it is still currently buyable in the NC Mall! A must have item for anyone's closet; who doesn't want to catch some rays while on holiday? Beware, though; this is a higher foreground item so you won't be able to wear garlands with it and it could make your customization seem bare with the wrong background.

3. Nostalgic Summer Bathing Suit

This bathing suit is perfect for those trips to the beach or the pool. It features a lovely vintage design and the stripes scream youth. Unfortunately the only Neopoint alternatives are species only for Kacheeks, Quiggles and Tonu. These items are: Pink Kacheek Bathing Suit, Quiggle Swim Trunks and Yellow Tonu Swimsuit.

4. MiniMME8-S2: Extra Reflective Wig and Visor

This item came from the MiniMME8-S1: Extended Holiday Luggage which was available in the mall during summer 2011. Although this item is retired I don't think it will be too difficult to track one of these down. The wig boasts beautiful beach waves and comes with a protective visor in bright summer colours.

5. Vibrant Summer Stripes Dress

I simply adore this dress! This cute, flowing dress has subtle summer colours and has the potential to work with a variety of different themes. As of yet there is no set Neopoint recommendation I can give apart from the number of different species only dresses that are available.

6. Straw Hat

For those of you who prefer hats over wigs, I recommend the Straw hat. This hat brings back memories of a simpler time but this doesn't mean it isn't fashionable and it will also protects your pet from the suns rays. Not only are straw hats the height of fashion but it's cheap too! You can pick up this Neopoint item for less than 20K!

7. Backyard Summer Background

This background is perfect for those people who want to break away from the cliché of a summer beach theme. Who doesn't just love those summer days relaxing in the comfort of your own back garden? Well now your pets can too! With pale background colours it is perfect for chilled out summer theme.

8. Festive Summer Picnic Table

This is one of my all time favourite closet items, it occupies the background item area which means it can give customizations just that little big extra it needs and is perfect for a summer picnic look. Be warned; if you are using garlands and foregrounds, it may overwhelm the whole customization and cluttered is not a good look.

9. Goparokko Fruit Punch

What better way to cool off on those warm summer days than to have a sip of cold punch? I love using this if I have a beach or picnic theme in the summer. This is a Neopoint item that can be bought for around 80k. I understand this may be out of some peoples price range lucky there are other Neopoint alternatives! These are the Delicious Smoothie and Summer Fun Water Bottle.

10. The baby items: Baby Summer Hat, Baby Polka Dot Dress, Baby Summer Swimsuit

I know a lot of people have baby pets, myself included! So in this last section I will recommend you baby items.

The baby summer hat is perfect for protecting your babies head and features a beautiful pale pink colour and floral design. This hat is also very common and won't be hard to find at all.

The baby polka dot dress is simply darling, also in a pale pink colour. This item is very new and can be obtained from the baby Wonderclaw machine in the NC Mall.

Last but not least the Baby Summer Swimsuit. This adorable swimsuit is bright pink and features three frills in bright summer colours. Although this is named as a swimsuit I like to use it as onesie as well so it has versatility. The downside to this item is it can be very hard to track down but it's well worth it and is a baby's wardrobe must have!