Outfitu Du Jour: All of the colors of the rainbow . . . in pants!

Something that I've recently picked out in my shopping adventure and have become completely enamored with are colored pants (silk and cotton materials) and slacks. (I will be reviewing the slacks in another blog post with more options for an office look!) I also have been loving my colored jeans as well so keep reading for styling tips for both men and women as well as reasons why you too should get some more color in your closet!

Here's a picture of my pink, acid-wash jeans and my bright green jeans. Such fun color combinations!

Suggestions for looks with colored jeans!

For women . . .

Pair the acid wash jeans with a black tank top or black v-neck and boots to create a more militaristic or edgy look. For makeup to wear with this look, use a metallic eyeshadow and mix it with a black eyeshadow to add a pop of color and create a smokey eye. For hair, slick your hair back with gel in a high ponytail to bring attention to your mesmerizing eye makeup and facial structure. Don't be afraid to add some darkness to your life!

Pair the bright green jeans with a flowy, floral print top that you can either tuck in to the pants or let it out and belt it. Some simple gladiator shoes can be worn to add to achieve a more whimsical look. For makeup to wear with this look, try pale pinks, whites, and browns with a shimmer. For hair, try doing a braid or a soft curl. Though this look seems to be more natural, your onlookers will notice your "play" with color.

For men . . .

I would do only slight variations from my suggestion for the women's outfit. Pair them with a black v-neck or white button-up shirt to create a casual or rocker look. Like I suggested, use boots. You can slick your hair back, or wear it au-natural.

And here are my new colored pants in hot blue, hot pink, and champagne.

The hot blue and champagne pants are from Forever 21 and the hot pink pants are by Calvin Klein.

Here's why I love my newest additions . . .

1. They come in such vibrant and beautiful colors!
2. I love that the zippers are on the side on some of the pants. Not only that, but I love the extra button that keeps them in place.
3. I love that the pockets aren't so bulky. I don't use pockets often to carry things, but rather purses or clutches.
4. The length is wonderful! They aren't too baggy or long, and they can be easily dressed up or down.

Paired with a silk tank top or a button up blouse, these pants are a fabulous addition I would highly recommend for women's closets or men's. Don't be afraid of color, boys. You are allowed to own colors other than the "basics"!

Boys! Here's some suggestions that I have to integrate color into your wardrobe.

1. Baby steps- Try purchasing more earth tones like a rust or deep khaki. As you become more comfortable with colors that are slightly different from your "comfort zone", try venturing out and purchasing some blues or yellows! (I'll show you some examples in a future blog if you're feeling nervous so never fear!)

2. Highs and lows- Try and play with pant lengths to your closet as well. You don't always have to wear full lengths and shorts. You can always roll up your jeans (neatly) to have a more casual look... or show off some snazzy shoes!

3. Don't go cray- Try and be realistic about your selections- though I appreciate enthusiasm! Ask yourself if you will realistically wear them or whether your present wardrobe will embrace the new color. If you answered no to either question, either put them back or find some new tops! Your closet will thank you.

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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: Clutch me close to your heart!

In the words of Alexander Wang, American Fashion Designer and the Creative Director for Balenciaga...

I've always loved when girls carry their wallets as a clutch instead of a bag.


Now I understand that there are times when having a full-on purse is completely necessary. I mean, come on . . . how does one go to Disneyland with anything less than a full wallet, chapstick, camera, snacks, water, and a change of clothes? Or maybe, that's just me. However when it comes to hitting up a club, bar, upscale party, or any event where you need to solely carry the necessities (a lipstick, ID, and some cash and/or credit cards), a clutch bag can be your friend in a pinch.

Why do I personally love clutch purses?
Other than the obvious fact that clutch purses are more manageable than a purse in a good amount of situations, a clutch purse can add a level of sophistication into your ensemble. It can also be an excellent way to add some complementing "pops of color" into your wardrobe and have some fun with funky materials and patterns. Finally, I love that you have the versatility of being able to use straps or tuck them away with ease. You know that you're going to need to free up your hands to photograph you and your friends via Instagram!

So why should you get a clutch purse?
You can dress them up or down depending on the style and material of the clutch purse. I would suggest getting some "basic" colors that will allow you to interchange them to outfits such as black, silver, gold, brown, etc. As you build your collection, you can graduate to colors that will allow you to play with your outfit such as with a teal, pink, red, or purple. I personally own many black dresses in a wide array of cuts so by having a couple of colors other than black for clutches, I have the option to look a little less formal. However, I personally think there is nothing wrong with going in an all black dress with a pair of black heels and a black clutch- bring on the drama! Pair that with a smokey eye and you'll be turning heads! 

Here's a few of my clutches that I currently own . . . more to come! 

1. Gold and bronze clutch (Able to tuck in strap!)
2. Black, patent leather clutch with gold detailing (Able to tuck in strap!)
3. Black, beaded clutch (Able to tuck in strap, but it is a bit heavier than the other clutches due to the intricate beading on the outside and on the strap. Meant for a classy affair.)
4. Burgundy, snake skin embossed clutch (You can unclip the strap, but I tend to always use it. And yes, that is the Mickey Mouse emblem on the front!)

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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: Japanese Street Fashion from Dolldelight

Hello, all! I've been pretty busy with school and my love of fashion to the point that I've been trying to pursue modeling by participating in a couple of local fashion shows. One of the fashion shows that I had the honor of modeling for was Dolldelight Designs. Dolldelight's designer, Cyril Lumboy, creates CUSTOM Japanese street fashion inspired clothing which include Lolita, Punk, Gothic, and Dolly Kei. That's right, this talented young lady sews and imagines her designs herself.

For the fashion show that I was a part of, I modeled the dress entitled "Marvel". It's considered to be a "Lolita Kimono" style dress. (Check out the fantastic sleeves and the way that the top of the dress is draped left over right just as you would a yukata or a kimono!) Instead of an obi, a corset is used to keep the top in place and to give it a little more of an edgy look.  The dress includes a material that has Iron Man, The Hulk, Thor, Spiderman, Wolverine, and Captain America. Ms. Lumboy was even able to have the dress designed by Stan Lee himself- too cool for words. Basically, it's safe to say that not only is the dress super duper unique, it's priceless.

Here's a couple of shots of me in the dress in the show:

(The model on the right is wearing a dress from the "floral" set entitled "Ms. Wendy". The model on the left is wearing a dress from the "sexy" set entitled "Cheetah Gal".)

How can you achieve this look? 

You can't entirely tell from the pictures, but all of the dresses use (a) petticoat(s) underneath them to give them that cupcake, "bubble" look. It gives the outfits a little more "life" and makes them look even more feminine. I personally had two short, black petticoats underneath my dress in order to achieve the look. Depending on the length and color of the dress, you can use just one petticoat in a wide array of colors. Check out Malco Modes company for a petticoat if you're interested in achieving this look! ReSashay Square Dance, Inc. is the direct place I purchased mine and they were very professional as well as prompt with fulfilling my order- highly recommended! (:

Another essential part of the look are the accessories. Love the bows? They are even cuter and larger in person if you can believe it! As I've said in previous posts, accessories can be the make or break of an outfit and that definitely holds true with these designs. You can also wear tights and stacked heels to add a more doll-like effect. I wore stacked, black, patent leather heels that I keep in my stash for costumes or special events like this!

Finally, make-up and wigs are also an important part of the look. My hair is usually long and lighter brown, but for a more edgy look I selected a short, dark brown wig with bangs and used false eyelashes for drama. Although I definitely am not a fan of false eyelashes, they definitely translate better in photos when on stage or in a fashion show. However, part of the idea of the look is to look "doll-like". Therefore the bigger your eyes can look and the more porcelain your skin can look, the better.

Overall, partaking in the fashion show was a wonderful opportunity I'll never forget. Being able to actually wear the outfit makes me appreciate those who have the ability to have the patience and skill to be able to sew as well as give me an appreciation of the beauty and transformation fashion has had over the years.

Here's the link to DollDelight's facebook. If you go to the page, you'll find the link to the shop where you can ogle all of the beautiful designs Cyril has to offer. https://www.facebook.com/dolldelightpage

Here's me with the ladies! Gotta love the stacked heels and tights!

(Photographs #1-4 by Masamune Photography; #5 by Richard Shimizu)

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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: Yukata be kidding me!

In honor of the upcoming Cherry Blossom Festival that Long Beach, CA is holding for the first time, I thought I would create a bonus post in order to talk about some of the unique fashion that Japanese and Japanese-Americans partake in wearing for festival time. I will also be giving a short presentation on Japanese festival attire at the event so if you're unable to attend, here's the scoop! (Info on the festival is located at the bottom of this post.)

So here's the first of many Japanese vocabulary words I will be using: yukata.

What is a yukata you may ask? 

A yukata is sometimes confused with its formal, heavy, and very expensive relative, the kimono. They are worn during the summer when Japan experiences weather that is described as mushi atsui or comparative to a monsoon weather with bugs, humidity, and heat. A yukata is not only more accessible to people that love the Japanese culture (a yukata runs from $60+) , it is also more manageable in hot weather since it is made of a lightweight cotton. 

They were first worn in the Heian era in Japan by nobleman to protect themselves from the heat and sweat and because it was not customary to be unclothed outside of the bath. Though the word yukata translates to "bathing clothes" in Japanese, this ensemble is not restricted for the home. Sumo wrestlers and Kabuki performers also wear yukata everyday. Other places you can find people dressed in this robe are at festivals and outdoor, summer events. 

What's the difference between a yukata and a nemaki yukata?

A yukata is not lined and a nemaki is. It is also used for wearing at home rather than outside. The sleeves are usually straight-shaped and they are not colored as brilliantly as a yukata. They are usually secured in place using a simple sash rather than an obi. (Keep reading to find out what an obi is!)

What's age got to do with it?

What I found to be interesting is that in Japan, certain colors of yukata can signify an individual's age. As you age, you are expected to wear more conservative colors and patterns. Men's yukata are usually just darker regardless of the age of the wearer. 

What is another alternative to a yukata?

Another popular form of yukata is the happi-coat. In the past, they were used as a uniform for labor jobs or professionals such as firefighters, chefs, and servants.

Happi coats are usually made of cotton and are available in a variety of styles and colors today featuring designs such as family crests, business logos, or scenery. It is distinguished from a yukata due to its length: knee-high size. Today, they are almost exclusively worn as an alternative to a yukata during festivals accompanied with a hachimaki. They can be worn open or with a koshi-imo sash.

How is a yukata worn and with what accessories?

A man's yukata usually has shorter sleeves (10 cm) than a woman's (20 cm). In order to wear a yukata, you need a juban (or something that can be worn under your robe), a yukata, 2 koshi-imo sashes, an obi, and a pair of geta.

A juban is a cotton undergarment worn under the yukata.

The yukata is the outer robe. 

A koshi-imo sash is worn to keep the yukata in place.

The geta are the special shoes worn with the yukata.

An obi is the the band worn around the waist that serves as the cherry on top to your beautiful Japanese ensemble!

Step 1: Put on your juban or some sort of undergarments. (Keep in mind that if your yukata is a light color, you will probably want to wear something underneath that isn't too dark so it will not be seen.)

Step 2: Put your yukata on. Don't be worried if it is too long as you will be using sashes to keep them in the perfect place for your body. Also when putting on your yukata, make sure to wrap the left side of the robe over the right side. (Wrapping the right side over the left is how Japanese prepare bodies for funerals!)

Step 3: Tie one of the koshi-imo sashes once you have adjusted the length of your yukata in place. Then, take a moment to smooth out any wrinkles and tie the second sash when you have found the desired waist width. (Try to tie the sash firmly and as tight as you can wear it comfortably. If the sashes are in place, that will ensure no outfit malfunctions and will allow your obi to easily be tied on top.)

Step 4: You have two options with an obi: a pre-made one or one that is DIY (do it yourself). I prefer the pre-made obi as it is already beautifully shaped and very simple and quick to put on.

Step 5: Put on your geta and accessorize! Here's some ways you can add some flair to your ensemble...

A kinchaku is a carrying bag for your cell-phone, wallet, etc. 

A sankakkei fan can be multi-functional for cooling yourself down and for ondo dancing.

Kanzashi is an ornate hair piece that can be easily clipped or pinned.

And there you have it! You're all dressed and ready to go to the obon, japanese festival! ^_^

For those of you in Long Beach, CA that are looking to learn more about the Japanese culture and have an opportunity to wear your yukata, here's the website for the first annual Cherry Blossom and Anime Festival as well as the event on Facebook. After all of the hard work and planning, it will be rewarding to see it all come to life. I will be attending decked out in my yukata as the "Cherry Blossom Queen" with the beautiful, "Anime Queen" Noriko at the event! 

 Stay tuned for pictures of myself, Noriko, as well as other attendees of the festival in my next blog! (:

Also, here's some other links if you're interested in more information...

For more information on yukata, here's an adorable site you can check out!

Happi coats galore!

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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

Zombie Dressing: An Outfit That You Thought Was "Dead", But Now it LIVES!

Okay, so I took a bit of a break. I was worried that I had lost all of my inspiration to share thoughts and ideas on fashion via blogging. However, I have returned and am ready to write and work it. (Snap, snap.)

Part of the reason I decided to pick blogging back up was reading another person's blog on fashion. Though theirs centered on recycled fashion (thrift shopping, then sewing and tearing the outfit apart until it resembles something they find to be trendy), I liked the idea that they had taken one thing and turned it into something else that suited them more. Therefore, I am going to dedicate this blog post to the power of an open mind as well as incorporating accessories into an outfit.

When you meet someone for the first time, you can usually size them up in a matter of minutes- maybe even seconds. However, if you take the time and have an open mind, you could find that you are compatible and have many common interests. On the other hand, if you attempt to meet someone with a closed mind, you may not be giving the person a chance which could prevent you from forming a friendship. The same can be applied to fashion: you can glance through a rack in seconds and determine whether you could commit to buying an item. However, judging an item so quickly can make you miss out on some great pieces.

What are some reasons that could make you say "no way" to an item?

1. Color-me-mine: I'm the biggest believer in the fact that my skin tone clashes with orange and yellow. Therefore, I tend to pass up anything that comes in either color. However, I try to look at the item and see if there's anything I like about it. If I decide that there is, I peruse the racks to see if it comes in another color.

2. Cut to the chase: Another complaint is in the cut of the piece. The cut of an outfit can bring out the best or worst in you. By knowing what your body type is and what plays it up, you can taper your search more towards things that are more flattering. However, some cuts can be deceiving. (Keep reading!)

3. Breaking out from the pattern: Finally, pattern can be another deal-breaker. Some pieces feature patterns that use a pallet of colors that are in harmony whereas some have no rhyme or reason. Others have patterns that are wild or dated. What's a girl/boy to do?


Well, what's the answer to the majority of problems when it comes to cut or patterns in an item or an outfit that you think may be beyond repair? Accessories.

Of the accessories, I'd like to highlight the power of belts. So, why do we like them?

Ladies....
1. They're fabulous. (Duh.)
2. They can serve as a pop of color to an outfit that may be gasping for some creative air.
3. They can change the shape/cut of almost any outfit.
4. They're cost efficient since you can use them again and again- especially if you stick to belts in solid and/or neutral colors.

Gentleman...
1. They're fabulous. (Did you really expect anything else for the first point?)
2. They can transform your outfit from casual to formal.
3. They're necessary for every outfit. (Please, boys. Just because your shirt isn't tucked in doesn't mean I don't know the truth.)
4. As crazy as it may sound, there isn't just one kind of belt buckle or style of belts so be creative! (You can also find belts that are reversible or feature some sort of stitching to add a unique and modern twist.)
5. They're cost efficient since you can use them again and again- especially if you stick to belts in solid and/or neutral colors.

(Belts by Marc Anthony, Kohls. Notice the belt buckle on the left and the stitching on the right?)



So ladies, here's a few examples of the power of belts.

1. Original belt. (Cute, but no distinct color selected in ensemble.)

2. One of the belts in my collection. (Conveys a more edgy, but casual look. Emphasizes the grey in the dress. This belt also clearly defines a waist in the outfit and emphasizes the narrowest part of the body.)

3. One of the belts in my collection. (Berry color is emphasized over the other colors. I tucked in one end so it would stay in place. This belt is very subtle and allows the user to dress it up or down through the use of heels or other accessories. Once again, the belt allows the user to clearly define a waist and emphasize the narrowest part of the body.)

4. One of the belts in my collection. (The color black is emphasized in the dress. I used a belt that had a distressed finish rather than patent leather for a more unique and everyday look. If a more dressy look is desired, a patent leather or plain leather belt would do the trick. Once again, the belt allows the user to clearly define a waist and emphasize the narrowest part of the body.)












My verdict? A skinny belt or a wide belt can be interchanged to convey a different mood or feel to the outfit. Though a dress, top, pants, skirt, etc. may come with a belt, you do not have to be beholden to their selection. Instead, have a multitude of belts that allow you to be creative and tailor the outfit to your occasion.

Here's another example of the power of belts with this dress that appears to look like a floral printed potato sack.

This dress does NOTHING for my figure nor anyone's figure. For those individuals that believe they can hide their weight behind a tunic or square-shaped dress, you are mistaken- this makes you appear larger than you are! Instead, try incorporating a belt.

Why in the world did I still buy this? By using a a skinny, aqua-colored, glitter belt, I was able to bring out the blue in the ensemble as well as define a waistline. Though the pictures on here suck (Anyone want to be my photographer?), you can see that the belt is able to make something that you thought was horrific, into something wonderful. 

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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