Kimono Dressing Classes: Part 1

This photo is my first attempt at kimono dressing. The kimono is too small for me so I decided to put it on my cousin. I didn't have a juban at the time so I used a light blue yukata. I really like the kimono/obi combination here but the kimono is too small!! ~whine~

Now fast forward a few months and now I'm taking kimono dressing classes through the Japanese Culture Centre. Below is me from class 2 out of 4. The kimono is absolutely stunning, but again, too small for me. My juban is even bigger than the kimono; it's sticking out the sleaves it's so big!

I love how I struggled so much with setting my collar right and then sensei coming over and gracefully placing it in the perfect spot like it was nothing at all.

Obijime Location

Came across this post..

http://kimononagoya.tumblr.com/post/42397401742/ageha-fashion-magazine-a-magazine-for-hime-gyaru#notes

kimononagoya

Ageha fashion magazine, a magazine for Hime gyaru in Japan often features Kimono.
Ignoring the make-up and hairstyling, this Kimono would be respectable and suitable for Tea.
Choosing a light obi of similar hue and value to the detail of the Kimono, choosing accent colours from the kimono for the Obijimi is Kimono 101. The obi is a fancypants variation on the Otaiko and wouldn’t be horribly out of place [depending on sensei and school] at Tea or a semi-formal event. Interestingly, although the obi is tied in a very formal fashion bordering on furisode, she is wearing her obijime lower than center—which is where an older woman would wear it, advertising that she is no longer ‘available’.

And for those of you who who plan ahead, you could wear this until You’re “OLD”..!

I didn't know that where you wear your obijime came with a meaning. Oh wow, so many subtleties....

Japanese Doll

Found this gorgeous doll at a parking lot flee market. It's so beautiful! But now I'm wishing that I asked the retailer more questions about were she got it from...

Artist Serge Mouangue's Kimonos

I came across these posted on tumblr. They were just so cool I had to re-blog them!

"Artist Serge Mouangue’s work fuses African and Japanese traditions. "

 

 

The furisode above is my favorite. So beautiful!! 

Images from http://odasho.co.jp/html/brand.html. 

Official website: http://www.wafrica.jp/.

Profile of designer: http://www.egodesign.ca/en/article.php?article_id=341.

Ohashori

For the longest time I had no idea what that "flap" of fabric was below the obi. Do you see it? It's like a fold.

(Image source here.)

For years I didn't know what that was. Now I do. I can't remember how I learnt it but it was finally shown to me that it's the kimono folded underneath itself and tied up under the obi. This picture below has it labeled as the "ohashori".

(Image source here.)

Since kimonos have been made a standard size for a while, I can imagine that this fold naturally came about as a means to make the garment fit the individual wearer.

Now here's me in a yukata! I bought it from a vendor at Anime Revolution 2012 (but just the robe part. I didn't buy the obi).