How Amber Midthunder Celebrated Native American Designers at Yaamava' Fashion Daze
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"Prey" star Amber Midthunder gathered with stars like Julia Fox and Jeannie Mai for Yaamava' Fashion Daze at the Yaamava' Resort & Casino at San Manuel to celebrate the beauty and enduring legacy of Native American culture. Guests at the two-day extravaganza, which lasted from April 20-21, enjoyed runway shows and a speaker panel, alongside the hotel's elevated pool deck, full-service spa and salon, state-of-the-art entertainment venue, gaming rooms, and more. For the event, Midthunder, 26, nailed festival style, sporting one of Jamie Okuma's original designs, a black tribal-print dress paired with a blue beaded necklace and gold flat circle earrings created by Jennifer Younger, David Thomas, and Ashkii Sneez. While speaking on the panel, she donned a cream satin halter-neck dress and a pair of white New Balances.
"It's amazing to feel all the love and support that's in the Native fashion world. To see all the designers love on each other was so inspiring."
"Normally, I work with a stylist named Isabella Coleman, but I was fortunate to have the amazingly talented designer Jamie Okuma offer to dress me for her show," Midthunder tells POPSUGAR of selecting a look for the appearance. Okuma made history as the first Native American designer to be admitted into the Council of Fashion Designers of America. And Midthunder is a big fan of her work. "I love her designs so much — they're always unique and beautiful and reflect such original creativity while also honoring her culture."
The Indigenous star, who is a member of the Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux tribe, was particularly inspired by the unity among Native American fashion designers. "It's amazing to feel all the love and support that's in the Native fashion world," she said. "To see all the designers love on each other was so inspiring."
Keep reading for more details on Midthunder's getting-ready process for Yaamava' Fashion Daze 2023.
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On Her Process For Choosing Outfits For Red-Carpet Events and Fashion Shows
"I definitely look to the help of the professionals around me, because fashion has been something I've learned over time," Midthunder admits. "I think about the time of day of course, inside or outside, practical things like that."
She also considers the emotional impact of the garments she wears. "Always what is most important to me is the way it makes me feel and what is the goal of how I want to feel. Powerful, sexy, cute, edgy? There's a feeling that comes when you put on the outfit and it just feels good. So, I look for that feeling."
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On Her Makeup Look for Yaamava' Fashion Daze
"Ever since I was young I loved playing with my mom's makeup and looking through beauty magazines. So I always love the opportunity to create and express that comes with glam," she says. For Yaamava' Fashion Daze, Midthunder opted for an easy day-to-night look, rocking her favorite Tower 28 tinted sunscreen and a shimmery yet subtle smoky eye using Charlotte Tilbury eyeshadow, Urban Decay's Moondust eyeshadow, and Glossier's Lidstar on top. To finish things off, she sported her go-to Kosas gloss.
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On Selecting Jewelry to Wear to Yaamava' Fashion Daze
"Jennifer Younger [as well as] David Thomas and Ashkii Sneez kindly offered that I could wear their beautiful necklace/earring set that they collaborated on," Midthunder reveals.
"I'm proud to wear these pieces that these artists took so much time to create and put so much work and love into," she adds. "It's amazing to feel all the love and support that's in the Native fashion world. To see all the designers love on each other and support each other was so inspiring."
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On Collaborating With Designer Jamie Okuma
Midthunder typically works with a stylist for event dressing, but Yaamava' Fashion Daze offered her the opportunity to work directly with designer Jamie Okuma. The history-making brand founder, who is the first Native American designer to be admitted into the Council of Fashion Designers of America, had a rack of clothes ready for the actress to choose from. "The whole weekend honestly happened so fast I didn't have [my stylist] Isabella, but Jamie invited me backstage where I got to get a sneak peak of all the beautiful pieces she showcased, and I love her work so much so it was an easy yes," Midthunder says.
"The dress [and] legging set from Jamie just jumped out at me," she continues. "The cut, the colors, everything about it felt like a perfect blend of what I love about her designs, and it felt effortlessly honest to what I feel comfortable and powerful in."
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On Her Upcoming Projects
Midthunder is definitely an actress to watch. Her upcoming film "Rez Ball" is being directed by Sydney Freeland, who's directed episodes of "Reservation Dogs," "Grey's Anatomy," and "Fear the Walking Dead." She adds, "[I'm] happy to say I'm in development on a project with [TV writer] Siena East for 20th Century Studios."