Minipost: Azeroth's hottest new fashion trend: FABU


Fabulor decided this weekend that it was time for him to take up a craft. He mused over the potential choices for some time, weighing the various merits and drawbacks.

Blacksmithing and Mining were immediately out, of course. All that soot, dirt and dust? Unthinkable! Herbalism was similarly discarded. Rummaging around in the dirt like some rodent would absolutely ruin Fabulor's perfect nails, you realize.

Inscription seemed intriguing, until Fabulor realized all those inks and pigments would unquestionably stain. Rejected!

Jewelcrafting, however, seemed a perfect match. Expensive gems, elegant jewellery? Mithril Filigree? Totally Fabulor. He told his butler to purchase some basic gemcutting supplies and put them aside for later.

As for the second choice? It was a no-brainer, really. Fabulor was entirely sick of his flying mount, a plebian, hairy, smelly wind rider. An Elf like Fabulor needed to fly around in style...something that would immediately set him apart from his "peers" and visibly indicate his vast superiority. A Flying Carpet was really the only way to go.

Plus, Fabulor mused as he collected his various silks and cloths from the mailbox, there were so many delightful shirts and outfits he could make! In fact, he may have made himself a beautiful Robe of Power because it complemented his Silvermoon tabard marvelously, despite the Robe being absurdly expensive and utterly useless to him.

Ah, the price one pays to look good.


Fabulor tried to teach a Troll about the fine art of fashion. Sadly, it may have been a lost cause.


Soon, Fabulor's fabulous shirts were a hot item, flying off the Auction House as fast as Fabulor's servants could list them. This was no surprise, of course. Just the latest in a lifetime streak of unbelievable success.

Word spread quickly - everyone wanted to be like Fabulor. Of course, this was utterly impossible, but they could at least pretend to be like their handsome idol with one of Fabulor's special creations adorning their gangly frames.


Fabulor quickly realized the lucrative opportunity on his hands, and decided it was time to take his craft global. He labeled his clothing brand - what else?- FABU, then expanded his wares, established a healthy stock, and before he knew it, FABU had swept across the planet.


Martin Fury wears FABU. What do YOU wear?

FABU.

Available at an Auction House near you. Supplies are limited, so don't delay!

(I couldn't decide which of the following FABU "ads" to use, so here's all four! Click the following images for full-size version.)




21 Responses Subscribe to comments

  1. gravatar
    Anonymous

    Hahaha, love it! The combination of your robe and tabard is perfect, and even the belt too!

    August 15, 2011 at 7:01 AM

  2. gravatar
    Windsoar

    FAB-u-lous! I especially like the third one for your brand <3

    August 15, 2011 at 7:09 AM

  3. gravatar
    Grimmtooth

    Now, I simply can't see that Fab would pass up a chance to rip his shirt off and show off his sweaty abs; blacksmithing gets the ladies!

    Well, that's what Ratters said.

    August 15, 2011 at 7:16 AM

  4. gravatar
    skinnemuva

    HAWT. I like the first and last ads the best. Have the butler send them out for publication ASAP!

    August 15, 2011 at 8:44 AM

  5. gravatar
    Rades

    @Ironyca - I had to go searching for that belt! Blood Elf starter zone, so it wasn't a long search, but still. ;) Better than all options on the AH!

    @Windsoar - I really like the third one too! It was SO HARD to get them to both "pose" with their hands around each other. If only I could have had the flashy lights and colors, too! (Pally Cleanse)

    August 15, 2011 at 11:53 AM

  6. gravatar
    Fantaslor

    Not the wisest career choice, my dear cousin.

    Cloth is too flimsy, too delicate, too stainable. We all know how you get once you've had a glass of Eversong wine. You start sloshing it around. Funny your set choice is the colour red, to mask the stains I assume? If you want something to last, just take a look at Jewel Crafting.

    The results are magnificent, full of sparks, glows like the sun well, hard as steel, and always a pleasure to look at... and the gems aren't bad themselves.

    Best get back to slaying some demons in Hellfire.

    Ta-ta.

    -The ever fantastic, Fantaslor

    August 15, 2011 at 1:47 PM

  7. gravatar
    Anslym

    I think I might need to switch to Fabu. Giorgio Amani is sooooo last patch.

    -Anslym

    August 15, 2011 at 1:50 PM

  8. gravatar
    Anonymous

    Twitter isn't really an appropriate medium to unpack issues, so I figured I'd leave a comment.

    As you know from Twitter, I removed OAK from my feed reader earlier today. I'm actually contemplating shutting down my own blog now, because I see that BlogAzeroth is a community with a set of values that are vastly different from my own, and I'm tired of swimming upstream. So, once more, with feeling:

    The very idea of the internet personality known as Fabulor is insulting, homophobic, and downright dangerous. It's based on the concept that there's a pre-defined set of gender characteristics one must display in order to be seen as male, and when one doesn't display those characteristics, it's absolutely hilarious. It's safe and expected and normal for someone to be hairy, brutish and gruff, to carry a big shield, etc., but a big nelly blood elf who carries flowers and is into fashion is just HIGH-LARIOUS and everyone should point and laugh. That is the message I get from Fabulor.

    What then, when I want to interact with the people behind Fabulor and the people who think Fabulor is hysterical? That's what perplexes me and is honestly why I'm so worked up over this one (because srsly, it's Teh Internets and who really gives a damn). While I've interacted with you on Twitter a number of times and I've been reading OAK for a while, and find you generally wise and funny, I'm sad and puzzled by this sudden hateful behavior. Essentially by being a part of BlogAzeroth and interacting with these folks, I'm standing in a (virtual) room full of folks who think it's ABSOLUTELY HILARIOUS that I don't fit into pre-conceived notions of the "right" gender roles. I can't do that. Beyond just being nauseating and wrong, it's dangerous.

    So that's it. I've said my piece. Back to the back of the room for me.

    August 15, 2011 at 4:21 PM

  9. gravatar
    Stormy

    And apparently I fail at Blogger, because my comment above was posted as Anonymous. It was me, and FTR I'm not trying to weasel out of responsibility for it by posting it anonymously. I just suck at Blogger.

    August 15, 2011 at 4:23 PM

  10. gravatar
    Grimmtooth

    @Stormy - So, just so you know, at least one person in the room did not connect Fabulor to homosexuality until you drew that line right here.

    Fab is shallow, narcissistic, quite impressed with himself, and ridiculous in an endearing way, but, really, that was the character I read there. I don't think any of those characteristics exemplify 'gay' in any but the most slangish terms, and I don't approve of those, either.

    I'm not trying to throw out accusations of my own here. All I'm saying is that we often make our own prejudices.

    If it turns out I'm wrong, then fine. I agree that making light of 'gayness' is no more funny than making fun of 'blackness' or 'woman-ness'.

    But shallow, narcissistic blood elves that have a UI in their own image. Oh, yeah. Loads of fun.

    August 15, 2011 at 5:42 PM

  11. gravatar
    Anslym

    @Stormy ~ I agree completely with you, 150% on everything you said. Strict gender roles are hateful, malicous, not-at-all entertaining and, just plain wrong. I agree with everything you said except when you applied it to Fabulor and by extension, Rades.

    To be completely honest, I had many issues the way your response was written. Maybe you didn't mean for it to come out this way but here are my thoughts:

    "I'm actually contemplating shutting down my own blog" ~ It's your blog and it's your choice to do with it as you please but just because someone did something or said something you don't agree with shouldn't constitute you to cut them out or cut yourself off. My brother has down syndrome and if I were to cut myself off from everybody who used the word "retard"... well I would find myself in quite a lonely place.

    "BlogAzeroth is a community with a set of values that are vastly different from my own" ~ I count 28 comments on all the Fabulor posts. Some of these are repeat posts and I count Fantaslor and my post as one because we are one. There are pages among PAGES of blogs at the Blog Azeroth "New Blog" forum, I find it biast of you to lop everyone together even if they don't even know who Fabulor is, whether he is mocking gender roles or not.

    "very idea of the internet personality known as Fabulor is insulting, homophobic, and downright dangerous" ~ Isn't this a double negative? You're upset that saying anyone who doesn't follow gender roles should be mocked. You're doing the same thing. Anyone who plays into the Blood Elf archetype is a bigotted homophobe. Same story, different characters.

    "That is the message I get from Fabulor" ~ Regardless of whatever message you got from Fabulor is irrelevent. The message that matters is Rades' when he sat down to write this post.

    And the last point I can't believe is, "While I've interacted with you on Twitter a number of times and I've been reading OAK for a while, and find you generally wise and funny, I'm sad and puzzled by this sudden hateful behavior" Let me get this straight. You've spoken to him, you've read his blog for months and all it takes is one. not a series, not ten, not five, but ONE post to change your entire view of him. Either you didn't read his posts very well or it was something else that made you keep him in such low esteems, for one post to completely alientate Rades from you.

    I agree with everything Redbeard said, and I'll take this time to expland on it:

    Fabulor isn't a face used to bash on people not with in the gender roles of the 1940's. Fabulor is an archetype. An archetype being a reference to a generic version of a personality. He isn't the first to use this archetype and he certainly won't be the last. I think you need rethink your positon on this, or at least reread the post because I feel you're going to be missing out not reading this blog.

    -Anslym

    August 15, 2011 at 8:15 PM

  12. gravatar
    Unknown

    @ Stormy - When precisely did the post get "hateful". Maybe I fail at reading but I did not see anything resembling 'gays suck, lets kill them all'. Frankly I saw Fabu as being Metrosexual, and I saw the piece as a celebration of fabulosity.

    Some people are campy and FABULOUS, and not all of them are gay. My best friend (a girl and proudly heterosexual cause that's ok to be proud of too right?) is the most campy and delicioulsy diva person I know. Another friend (a male and proudly homosexual) is only slightly campy and feminine and also belongs to the army. My neighbours are a lesbian couple, one of whom is slightly masculine in appearance, dress and behaviour while her partner does nothing to the extreme.

    My point being that all sorts of people with all sorts of sexual preferences behave and portray themselves in ways which bring a hell of a lot of colour to a usually otherwise drab world. Is it wrong for my gay friend to behave slightly campy? Is it wrong for my straight friend to be a bigger diva than most trannies? No. So if Rades wants to roleplay Fabu, a smart dressing, seemingly Metrosexual BElf of undeclared sexual orientation, what the hell is wrong with that? Nothing.

    How about we all cool down and stop seeing personal attacks in every corner.

    August 15, 2011 at 8:26 PM

  13. gravatar
    Unknown

    And I defintely vote for picture number 4, no open mouths, just stern and slightly disdainful blood elves.

    Cheers,
    E

    August 15, 2011 at 8:32 PM

  14. gravatar
    Stormy

    @Anslym

    The use of the term BlogAzeroth was a screw-up on my part. I didn't mean to imply any involvement of the official BA community or anyone having to do with it. I only mean to refer to the motley collection of people who maintain WoW blogs or interact with those of us who do.

    To your point about judging Rades (or anyone else who has commented here/on Twitter/elsewhere re: Fabulor) based on only what they say about Fabulor: up to this point all of these people have been intelligent, funny, jovial people to have great conversations with. Rarely does the subject of gender expression/sexual orientation ever come up. It's like mingling with people at a dinner party--for the most part you stick to subjects you have in common (WoW), but now that it's branched out into topics that are less safe, I'm seeing how certain people are reacting to this topic and I'm just finding that I'm disturbed at what they're saying. People I thought were safe and fun to talk to...aren't. In short, I do not feel safe interacting with the people in the WoW blogosphere anymore (Also, for the record, that's why I'm contemplating shutting down my blog. I'm finding that the kind of people who hang out in this part of the internets are just not the kind of people I want to have anything to do with.)

    Finally, to the idea that what readers get out of a work is irrelevant versus what the writer intended to say: complete and total hogwash. If all that matters when a writer writes is what they think of what they wrote, what's the point of publishing it? At that point it's a private diary to be kept to oneself, not a work meant for public consumption.

    @Eccentrica

    "I have gay friends. Ergo I can't be a homophobe." OK. If you say so. Also, this is not a "celebration of fabulosity." It's "Hey, let's point and laugh at the gay one!" The trope of "male blood elves are effeminate and therefore if you play one you must be gay and if you're gay that's bad and I will laugh at you!" is as old as blood elves themselves, and frankly it's getting damned tiresome.

    August 15, 2011 at 10:31 PM

  15. gravatar
    caerphoto

    The trope of "male blood elves are effeminate and therefore if you play one you must be gay and if you're gay that's bad and I will laugh at you!" is as old as blood elves themselves, and frankly it's getting damned tiresome.

    I think you're seriously misunderstanding the humour here. A small minority of people might be "lol ur gay" types, but I suspect most find the humour in the exaggerated over-the-top, diva-like and self-absorbed stereotype that belfs embody.

    It's certainly worth bringing these issues up, to avoid misunderstandings and hopefully to enlighten a few people, but by reacting the way you did, you come across as massively over-sensitive and going out of your way to find things to take offence at.

    August 16, 2011 at 3:17 AM

  16. gravatar
    Anonymous

    I think its sad you take it this way. Fabulor is just fab. I have a friend (female) who could serve as template, its fashion she loves and peasants should not touch the hem of her robes. She is also intelligent and successful and great company.

    My friend would recognize herself and still be able to laugh. The fact you took is at an insult is really sad.

    August 16, 2011 at 3:57 AM

  17. gravatar
    Unknown

    @ Stormy

    You seem to carry a chip on your shoulder so huge that you are now bound and determined to think that anyone who dares to notice your existence must hate your. Lighten up. Self hate isn't pretty.

    Have you stopped to consider that I might be gay? No you haven't because you are too busy in a McCarthyesque way seeing Reds Under the Beds.

    Not everyone hates you but attitude certainly doesn't help anyone like you either.

    August 16, 2011 at 5:22 AM

  18. gravatar
    Anslym

    @Stormy ~ let me be a little more direct with what I mean when I said what message you got doesnt matter, the message that Rades wrote it with is what matters.

    Let me get straight to the point. The message you got was WRONG and the message Rades wrote it with is nothing like you suggest.

    And another point I take issue with, "not a "celebration of fabulosity." It's "Hey, let's point and laugh at the gay one!" " Rades NEVER specified as to the sexual orientation of Fabulor. You're the one jumping to the conclusion that Fabulor is a gaybasher. Which he's not.

    -Anslym

    August 16, 2011 at 6:42 AM

  19. gravatar
    Jamie

    I would just like to point out, as a member of Rades's guild, that one of the people participating in the chat/screenshots on his Fabulor post (Muckbug, the troll) is a gay man. Muck isn't stupid; I'm pretty sure if he was upset about it, he wouldn't have participated, and would have said something about it. Moreso, I'm sure Muckbug would have said something about it to me, because he is also one of my good friends AND my roommate.

    There's nothing gay about being a dandy, and everyone else here gets that. That's why it never crossed anyone else's mind that these posts are homophobic - because they are NOT. We understand this. Another gay man understands this. Please get on board with us.

    Or don't; however, I do think the aforementioned facts in my post take the heat out of your argument.

    Peace,
    Jamie.

    August 16, 2011 at 12:03 PM

  20. gravatar
    Anonymous

    Even though this is an uncomfortable subject, I think it's healthy to have a discussion about it.

    @ Stormy
    It's entirely likely that I'm less prone to pick up on the homophobia as I'm hetero, so I went back to re-read the posts.
    I can say as much that I couldn't find any mention of Fabulor being gay. The ads on this post even feature him with a female bloodelf as a couple. In other posts Fabulor addresses the reader as "my lady" and "ladies". The post depicting 5 blond male bloodelves in BRD could have been swelling with homophobia if Rades wanted to, but there is no mention of romantic interest between them.

    I see Fabulor the same as other commenters have described him, as being narcissitic and self absorbed. If I were to pull out something that is being mocked for laughter it's upper class more than it is gender. Would it have been funny if it was a female? I think so, but not as much, so there is a little gender stereotyping at work. But it's not about being gay, but rather the whole aristocratic demeanor and its obsessions with appearance. (I think you have conflated these two).
    However, to call it hateful is a gross excatteration.


    @ Everyone else
    Also I think we all should remember that comedy can be both funny and offensive at the same time. It's when it hits a personal soar spot we don't find it funny any longer, especially if the stereotype is relentlessly repeated over and over, it starts grinding. I can also see the gay blood elf trope being a little grindy, so I'm personally happy that this is not the case with Mr Fab.

    The people here saying Stormy has a chip on his shoulder is forgetting with what ease anyone not marginalized can laugh at fx gay jokes while being completely ignorant to the fact that they are not laughing with them, but at them. It's easy for us to just brush Stormy off as over-sensitive when we aren't the ones whose personalities and preferences are made fun of constantly.
    So even though I don't agree with Stormy, I see where they initially are coming from.

    August 16, 2011 at 3:27 PM

  21. gravatar
    Anonymous

    I am a gay man. When I read this, I assumed it was written by a gay man, about his over-the-top gay belf toon.

    And somehow I found the entire thing exceedingly fun, lighthearted, and amusing.

    Some people need to lighten the eff up.

    August 17, 2011 at 10:03 AM