Outfit Du Jour: Hallo-We-Love-Costumes

So it's that time of year again, folks: Halloween. As much as I love dressing up and wearing costumes, it makes one appreciate the beauty and the creativity that is possible all the more. Although I had a blog prepared in advance concerning men's fashion- don't worry, it will be up next week- I felt that I couldn't help but scoop up this opportunity to do something a little different.

It's hard to stay creative and to try something new when there's such an array of pre-made, "safe" costumes that will ensure you not only look good, but should guarantee that they last more than a few hours before falling apart. (I'm definitely not the most gifted in sewing!) It can also be an issue to come up with a costume when you're not only short on money, but also short on time to "throw" something together.

Here's a few costumes that are not only easy to mimic (you can find similar items within your personal price range), but can also make you feel accomplished since you put them together all on your own (:

1. Circus Ringleader (Inspired by Britney Spears' video for her single "Circus") and Tiger
What you need: Top-hat; (cream-colored) form-fitting, lacy teddy (camiknicker, bodysuit) or (cream-colored) corset; black, satin jacket; high-waist (black) hot shorts; (riding, knee-high) boots.
Optional accessories: Lavaliere (bold, statement necklace with lots of pizazz); whip; (black) tights.
Possible companion costume ideas: Any exotic animal such as a tiger, elephant, or zebra; clown; tight-rope walker (tutu?).

My interpretation:

Tiger
What you need: Mask (needs to be tiger print or any exotic cat print, can include whiskers); orange and/or black attire (shirt, tank, pants, shorts, etc.); tail (you can either purchase a tail or you can use a tie from a robe and pull it through your pants loops or pin it on the back of your pants/shorts).


My Tiger and I:

2. Mary Poppins and Bert 

What you need for...

Mary: Black trench coat; white, button-up blouse; red neck tie or scarf; black bowler hat adorned with flowers made of fabric; black skirt; red belt; black tights; black pumps; umbrella.

(Optional) accessories: Carpet bag; glovelettes; red lipstick.

Don't forget to style your hair into a bun!

Bert: Scarf; (gray or black) newsboy cap; (gray or black) button-up shirt; (gray or black) button-up vest;  black jeans or black slacks; black shoes.

(Optional) accessories: Suspenders; chimney sweep.

How to make a chimney sweep and what you need:

Dowel, styrofoam ball, black pipe cleaners, black paint.

Spray paint the dowel and the styrofoam ball. Then, once dry, take the dowel and stick it into the styrofoam ball. Finally, take the black pipe cleaners and stick them into the styrofoam ball.

3. Where's Waldo?

What you need: Red and white striped shirt; knit cap (white and red striped, or one that is just red or just white); fake glasses; jeans; sneakers.

4. Cotton Candy

What you need: Pink/blue leotard or tube dress; pink/blue tutu; pink/blue tights; cotton candy "hat", pink heels.

(Optional) accessories: Wear pastel pink and/or pink glitter eyeshadow and focus around your eyes to give a "sugary" appearance. Cotton candy is spun sugar after all!

How to make a cotton candy "hat" and what you need: 

3-4 pink/blue loofahs, white construction paper, glue, scissors, elastic string and/or bobby pins.

Take the white paper and roll it into a cone shape. Glue to maintain the shape and cut off excess paper in order to keep the bottom even. Next, take the loofahs and glue them together around the bottom of the paper so it almost looks like a daisy flower pattern. Finally, fasten the elastic string to one of the loops on the loofah by tying it. Keep the hat in place while you party by using bobby pins under the hat to your hair. 

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Thanks for reading, everyone!

Write me a little something in the comment box below or on my Facebook "like" page: https://www.facebook.com/midorioutfitdujour.

I also have started a "like" page for my modeling here: https://www.facebook.com/MidoriEsmeralda. New post will be up soon, so stay classy!

XOXO Midori

Outfit Du Jour: Witchcraft?

Last week, I focused on professional attire. This week, I'd like to focus on the benefits and how-to's of transforming a day-look to a night-look. Okay, boys. Now's your chance. Here's a post entirely dedicated to you and your wardrobe and to showing you that there's no "secret" or "magic" to being able to rock a casual and/or formal look with ease. However, ladies, make sure you take notes so you can share this information with your fathers, brothers, boyfriends, husbands, uncles-twice-removed, etc.

Casual/Day Look:

First, I picked a black jean by Levi's. For any man, I highly suggest at least one dark wash jean and one black jean for a wardrobe. No psychedelic washes, please! Please also rethink purchasing a distressed jean. I should not be able to see any holes, tears, or patches on the pants for a jean to pass my test. This also means no distress to the back of the leg of pants due to it being too long or worn. $5-$10 should be able to afford you a neat and well-done hemming by a professional at most dry cleaners. It may not seem like something that most people would notice, but small details like this are a perfect and classy touch to any outfit.

For the top, I picked a respectable and classic white button-down shirt by Marc Anthony. Due to the fact that the blazer is my statement piece (see Night/Semi-Formal or Formal Outfit below) where I want the eyes of the onlooker to go first, I want the other pieces to be in harmony and complement the "subject" or "main idea" of the outfit; not detract or overwhelm the onlooker. The white button-down shirt is a neutral and therefore a classic piece that is acceptable and encouraged for a man's wardrobe. By not buttoning up the first two buttons on the blouse, this makes the wearer appear to be relaxed and, therefore, more casual. It is also not a necessity due to the fact that there is no tie nor bow-tie included.

I selected black, leather, slip-on loafers by Steve Madden. These are a classic style of shoes that require little maintenance other than conditioning of the leather occasionally or merely wiping down the shoes after each use and using tissue paper or a soft paper product to stuff in the shoes to maintain the shape.

I selected a leather belt in black. Make sure that for both day/casual and night/semi-formal or formal looks that a belt is included whether or not you tuck in the shirt. I would suggest a black and/or brown leather belt due to the fact that it is something that is interchangeable between occasions and because both colors are very common or easy to match to outfits. Remember, black goes with (almost) everything!

And, with out further adieu, here's the ensemble altogether.

Night/Semi-Formal or Formal Outfit:

In order to transform this outfit from day/casual to night/semi-formal or formal, I made three simple changes.

1. Tie me up, baby: A tie is a simple and classic way to put a finishing touch on an outfit. There are many options to think about when picking out a tie. However, I have two points that I want to make on ties.
a. 50 shades of gray- Once again, decide where the focus of your outfit is. For my outfit, the blazer is the main event. If your outfit needs a kick to it, don't be afraid to add some bold colors such as blue, red, or green.

b. Size does matter- Decide what size you want your tie to be. Sometimes, a wide tie can be overwhelming to an outfit. Other times, it can be just what the outfit needs. However, the tie has made a transformation and lost its waist-line with skinny ties. Skinny ties are trendy but also a very unique touch to an outfit.

I chose to use a black bow tie to give this a more preppy look.

2. Pick up the slack: Trading the black jeans for black slacks takes this outfit to the next level. Slacks are not only respectable pieces for the office, but even a night out on the town. Due to my model's slender body, a slim-fit is a very flattering choice of cut for slacks as well as dress/button-down shirts. However, a straight-leg cut pant is usually a cut that works for everyone.

3. Blazing through life (But not that kind of blazing!): I picked a piece of clothing that I thought would make a statement: a tweed blazer by Marc Anthony. This blazer is sold as a separate which means that it is not made to match pants, vests, or blouses. But boys, don't let this intimidate you. This doesn't translate into more work for you, the consumer; it means that you can be more creative and experimental with your ensemble. Clothing is a wonderful way to not only show off your personality, but have fun with color and patterns. Something else that is notable is the color palette of the blazer. The color palette featured in the blazer are cream, brown, and black. By having a color palette that features more than one color it allows the owner to mix and match other pieces of clothing that aren't necessarily even the same brand,  and makes it more interesting and unique than the "safe" choice of purchasing a black or gray one.

With the changes made, my model is now outfitted in my next and final look.

By knowing what's in your closet, you can mix and match to create an outfit that's perfect for whatever social or business outing you have planned. Pair that with a unique accessory such as a bold tie, jazzy cufflinks, or a classy watch and you're set!

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Thanks for reading, everyone!

Write me a little something in the comment box below or on my Facebook "like" page: https://www.facebook.com/midorioutfitdujour.

I also have started a "like" page for my modeling here: https://www.facebook.com/MidoriEsmeralda. New post will be up soon, so stay classy!

XOXO Midori

Outfit Du Jour: Just because it zips, doesn't mean it fits.

In my previous blog post, I pinpointed what I believe to be the top "complaints" of dressing professionally. What do I hope to achieve from this particular post? My hopes are that although dressing professionally may not be a necessity at this time or for your particular career path, there may come a time when it may be and the insight I provide within this blog may allow you to view dressing professionally in a new and, most importantly, positive way. In addition, these points are also pertinent to every-day or casual clothing as well.
To my readers: Please don't ignore this post just because you have XY chromosomes. Keep in mind that this particular post is not only applicable to my female readers, but my male ones as well!

1. Is it really possible to have a wardrobe that is high in quality, but doesn't leave a hole in your pockets? It depends on if you shop smart and where you shop! In order to do so, analyze a product before you buy it and decide the amount of use you realistically will be able to get out of it (i.e. purchasing a cute, sensible, and sturdy handbag in a neutral color versus a knock-off, one that is gaudy, or has a "busy" design) as well as its price. If the amount of use is high, and the price is right, it should definitely be considered as an addition to your wardrobe. However, if the amount is low, but the quality is low, you should probably reconsider due to the fact that you'll probably have to invest in yet another bag in a few months time.
Sales racks are probably the best way to steer yourself in the right direction. As tedious as going through sales racks can be, it can be worth your while to spend some time in this section. That way you not only purchase something at a more reasonable price, but you also purchase something that can have style in addition to quality. And try to remind yourself that the sale section isn't the "reject" section. Usually the items are moved to this section to either make way for new merchandise or to transition to another season. Disclaimer: Sometimes you leave empty handed, but other times you might find a real steal! 

Another way you can show off your personal style and not break the bank is by investing in accessories for your outfit (belts, purses, jewelry, etc.).  This gives you the ability to revive an outfit rather than go out and buy a completely new outfit . Keep in mind too that accessories can be responsible for transforming your day-look to night-look with a simple pair of heels versus a clutch for the ladies, or jeans versus slacks for the gentlemen.  

2. Dress for your next job, and dress to impress. When going out, you never know who you might meet. So why take the chance of networking and letting yourself be "forgotten" by wearing a bland and unconfident ensemble of clothing? People may say that you shouldn't judge someone based on their outward appearance, but everyone does it; especially employers. There's a reason why ear plugs and tattoos aren't widely acceptable in the workplace or even in daily life. So don't give someone the chance to short-change you on something that is easily tweaked. 

For both the ladies and gentlemen out there, I would also like to make the point that this section of my blog can easily be applied to dating. When you look confident on the outside, chances are you will feel the same way on the inside and people (the opposite sex or same sex, whatever your preference) will take notice and respond. 

3. Don't play the "should've, would've, could've" game. Don't buy something that SHOULD fit you before hitting an all-you-can-eat buffet, COULD fit once you start using your gym membership, or WOULD fit you if you laid down on your bed and sucked in your stomach to snap your pants on. If you plan on making life changes and moving down one or more dress and/or pant sizes, then I highly advise that you wait before investing any more money in your wardrobe. Chances are if you have changed your lifestyle to change your outward appearance, you've probably had a good amount of mental/internal changes as well. 

Another point I'd like to make is concerning comfort. There's nothing worse than being uncomfortable when interviewing for a job, working, or knowing you're going to be stuck sitting for multiple hours. My advice? Wear something that isn't form-fitting or too small: something that you can do more than stand in. Remember that sitting, walking, and completing tasks that require arm movement are important features all pieces of clothing should allow you to do with ease. Form-fitting clothing may also seem like it hugs all of your curves or that you exude confidence in your body shape, but it usually is less flattering than wearing something that flows and allows you to breathe. The same can be said about clothing that is too big. Try adding some balance to your wardrobe by having a flowing top tucked into a pencil skirt or a slim fit blouse and a straight or wide leg trouser. For men, don't purchase a top, pants, jacket, or vest that are JUST your size or ALMOST your size. Make sure you have a little bit of room so that you can wear outer-wear easily and so you can wear an undershirt as a layer underneath your button-up shirt. This also allows you to have a bit of "wiggle" room for any minute fluctuations in weight. Overall, just because it zips, doesn't mean it fits.

"My Look" Pick of the Week:

What I'm wearing: A tunic blouse with a floral print by American Rag Cie, a wide, woven, black belt (to accentuate and bring attention to the smallest part of my body), a straight leg jean in a dark wash by Michael Kors (which is acceptable for professional attire as well as for casual affairs), metallic, pastel pink pumps by Candies, and a purple and blue purse by Ed Hardy featuring vinyl and satin material. 

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Thanks for reading, everyone!

Write me a little something in the comment box below or on my Facebook "like" page: https://www.facebook.com/midorioutfitdujour.

I also have started a "like" page for my modeling here: https://www.facebook.com/MidoriEsmeralda. New post will be up soon, so stay classy!

XOXO Midori

Professional Attire: Stop Whining!

So I hear complaints about dressing professionally every now and then. But in my honest opinion, I cannot understand why there are complaints. Here's a few of them:

1. Too expensive/More expensive than "everyday" clothing.

2. Too matronly/dowdy/blah.

3. Impossible to find something that not only fits, but is figure flattering. 

Basically, I have a response to all three of these complaints/concerns. Check out my next blog to hear 'em (:

Now on to my first outfit choice for this blog.

When putting together an outfit, I try to keep a few things in mind.

1. Inventory: What the hell is in my closet?

2. Tough Love: Does it fit? Will I ever wear it?

3. Cleanse: No, I won't wear it. Bye! Or... Yes, I will. Yay!

4. Hello, there: Pick an item. Any item. Or maybe THAT item. 

5. Get inspired: Find things that are potential pieces that will go with the chosen item.

6. Vogue: Put it on. Check it out. Pose.

I'll start with my first item I was inspired by:

These are retro-inspired, charcoal gray heels by Lauren Conrad whom I absolutely adore. It's really not a mystery as to why these were so easy to grab from my closet.

Next, I wanted something that would either match or complement my heels. This is what I found:

I found this Ellen Tracy pencil skirt in a charcoal gray. The material is stretchy so it not only is figure flattering, but eliminates the need for a belt. You just simply tuck in your top and you're good to go! It's also a neutral which makes it easy to pair it with practically any color. 

For the top, I wanted a pop of color. Though a pop of color can be achieved easily when you are pairing it with a charcoal gray, I decided to go with a blue top rather than simply a white one:

A tailored fit, light blue Gap shirt served as my finishing touch. Though individually my items may seem "plain" or "predictable" to onlookers, it is clear from trying on the outfit that it is anything but that. Especially after adding this little baby:

A blue, leather handbag by Michael Kors. He is truly one of my all-time favorite designers. I made sure to pick a bag that not only would serve as my "pop of color", but one that I could see myself using on numerous occasions due to its price. However, keep in mind that there is usually a reason for an item to be priced a certain way. (Don't always bow down to all that designers release in their clothing lines, as tempting as it is!)

However, I'm not quite finished. For every outfit, you get to show a little creativity and pizazz with your jewelry. Whether it be a dangly earring, or a statement necklace. Here's what I chose as the finishing touch for my outfit:

I personally wanted to be a little more conservative due to the fact that I was completing my observation hours with middle school students and don't want to be too flashy so I used these Vera Wang, dangling earrings to show off my creative side.

Here's what my outfit looked like altogether:

  

And with the hot weather, rolling up the sleeves (neatly) can make the outfit more casual or a cool alternative to having the sleeves buttoned and down. 

Remember, check in to see my blog next week where I break down the complaints of professional attire and give some tips on how to put together a mind-blowing outfit!

P.S. Got a ton of compliments on my shoes. WINNING!