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