vacation is awesome (kitsuke, fabric, tansu, youta)

[aimeekitty]

Mitch and I watched the old film noir peice, The Third Man. It was really good! I'm going to have to look up more films of the same.

yesterday I worked out, took doll photos (they're on my doll journal as always) ,
.......(warning, the rest of this post is fabric/kimono heavy! XD)........
..... I found a place in socal that carries kiri tansu, learned how to tie a fukuro suzume (SPARROW OBI! XD~) from the sweet ladies at Kyoei. Now we'll see if I can do it by myself :P
For seemingly no reason, the lady at Michael Levine's gave me 20% off my fabric! :)


(the red butterfly fabric is for my Yuuko hada-juban (underkimono)... the striped morning glory fabric is for a casual kimono, and the two pink fabrics are for hadajuban)... the dusty pink item is an iromuji, the white is for going over obimakura... the pink thing is an obi-tying-aid... the little basket purse (for yukata) only $7! (as were the kanzashi!)


some stuff I learned from the Kyoei ladies:
- even though, at 27, I'm considered "young" (and thus should wear brighter "young" colors) I CAN wear the plum colored iromuji that mom bought me for christmas. All I have to do, is to wear it with bright young obis (which I do like, actually!) So this will be a great combination for me. Ie, plum iromuji with a cheerful pink/silver obi!

- since I'm "younger" I shouldn't be afraid to have more bright accents, like pink, in the obiage and haneri, etc.

-you can wear fancy furisode-type obi ties (like fukuro suzume) with non-furisodes! (but they must be Houmongi or Tsukesage, NOT komon or iromuji). Also fancy furisode-type obi ties shouldn't be used for the more staid tea ceremony situations. With an iromuji, it should be o-taiko.

- for new years tea ceremony, you can wear fancier stuff than you would normally.

- it's ok for me to not have ohashori. (the fold at the waist) since I'm so tall. However, it is NOT ok for me to not wrap the obi twice around my waist. So I need to stick to longer obis.

Comments

[kellyhime.livejournal.com]

Wow! What beautiful fabric, Aimee, and I'm so impressed with how industrious you are about making kimono.

And thank you for all the interesting information! You're so lucky that you can still wear the bright kimono, although I'm bad sometimes and wear them for non-traditional situations. Also, I'm not nearly as tall as you, but have a number of vintage kimono that are still too short for me. Do you think that it's okay if I wear them without an ohashori?

[aimeekitty.livejournal.com]

I'm still a beginner, so please take any advice from me with a grain of salt...

however, the lady at Kyoei (appologies, I dont know her name yet)... she said that she wears some of her kimono without ohashori. She said it with a laugh. You know, that basically, you see some vintage thing that you must have, and it's ok as long as it's not too short without ohashori. I guess it's kinda a taste thing. I've heard lots of people say " you must wear it with ohashori!"
but the ladies at Kyoei said "well you know ohashori was made originally so that the kimono would be the right height for the person wearing it. and we are so short. You are tall, if the kimono is the right height without ohashori, then it's ok". That was basically the jist of what she said.
I'm still feeling kinda "WEIRD" about wearing them without ohashori though.
but there is a huge range of kimonos in the 163-165 cm range that would fit me WITHOUT ohashori, so I think I need to get over that. Finding any kimonos, even with kimono bolts... that are long enough for me are like 1 in 100. It's extremely disheartening.

another trick though, is you can wear a shigoki obi (basically a long sash with tassel-trim on the end) you tie it around your waist just under your obi (where the ohashori would be) and tie a bow leaving the ends dangling. kimono-hime mag has some stuff done this way, and you can see geisha do it sometimes too (in their case to tie up their long-trailing hems while they are walking, that sort of thing) point is, no one would know if you didnt have ohashori.

also though, I think if the rest of your kitsuke is really spot on, you know like you have good color combination, all your lines are smooth and your obi bow looks really good, people would be very happy, and not really begrudge you the no-ohashori (especially since it seems that even japanese women go without if they love the kimono)

[aimeekitty.livejournal.com]

also... it's been my experience so far, that people are just so interested that you attempted wearing kimono on your own, and also seem to generally have it right, that they are very supportive, even if you get some things wrong.

[kellyhime.livejournal.com]

Thank you, Aimee! That's good to hear. I actually have a couple of shigoki obi, so I should try that. A couple of years ago, I hit the jackpot at the estate sale of a Japanese family. Evidently, two of the daughters had done traditional Japanese dance and they had piles of kimono and accessories. Luckily, they seemed to be second generation, so a lot of their things were bigger than usual and even their zori and geta were long enough. I really haven't had to buy much other than new tabi since that sale.

[kellyhime.livejournal.com]

Yes, I've found this too. All the other tea students act impressed when I show up in kimono for our events. They very nicely help me tie my obiage better or fix my collars, but for the most part seem happy that I even try.

[merrycalliope.livejournal.com]

I wonder if I could wear the young colors. I'm old but everyone consistently mistakes me for being around 24. Maybe I'll ask Minakawa if his mom knows anything about kimono.

Let me know what you think of that Folkwear pattern. I've had that for years but I'm terrified to use it. So much material! *____*

[aimeekitty.livejournal.com]

from what I've heard, the folkwear one is the most accurate (ie simplicity, etc, etc... are not accurate kimono patterns)
from a look at the pattern peices, they seem to be correct to me. ^_^

the only reason I'm even bothering with making a kimono is that this way, I can make kimono out of fabric of my choosing and make it the right size (kimono bolts tend to run short for me)... (I'd much rather pay the money and have someone do it for me... I dont have much time for stuff like this)

[merrycalliope.livejournal.com]

The Folkwear pattern was recommended to me as the most accurate commercially available pattern. I was just too terrified to cut into that much fabric and risk messing up. Probably why I'm happier making doll clothing than human clothing. ^o^;

[aimeekitty.livejournal.com]

why not try it with some simple cotton at first? :) You could make a yukata with a cute fun fabric (not very expensive) :D

actually, I find sewing for people much more forgiving than sewing for dolls (a small mistake on something for a person can be almost un-noticable, while on a doll outfit, can ruin the whole thing)

[mognetcentral.livejournal.com]

Ooh, did you actually pick out a tansu? I've been shopping for a cha tansu, which will be a wedding present from my mom. Luckily, there are lots of Japanese antique and furniture shops in the Bay Area.

Also, thanks for the fun kimono facts ;)

[aimeekitty.livejournal.com]

I haven't picked one out yet! I just found a book with lots of addresses for places with Tansu though, so I think I'm going to look around a little! I really want a kiri one! (that kind of wood) the right size to put kimono in. because really those shallow long drawers are great for lots of things (including artwork)

here's some addresses for phone #s for places in the bay area, maybe you want to call and see if they are still in business and where they are?

Fumiki Fine Arts
415 922 0573 or 415 362 6677

Genji - Japan Center
415 931 1616

Gump's
1800 766 7628 or 415 982 1616

Japonesque
415 391 8860

K. Crowley Pacific Designs
415 459 7540

Kuromatsu
415 474 4027

Narumi Japanese Antiques
415 346 8629

Orientations
415 255-8277

Robert Brian Co.
415 621 2273
japaneseantiques.com

Takahashi Oriental Decor
415 552 5511

Townhouse Living
415 563 1417

goodluck! :)

[mognetcentral.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the list :D

My parents have a nice 3-section kiri tansu for their tatami room--it is a really nice wood and so easy to match. I'm not sure what wood I want yet, but it will probably have to be light-colored to match our living room. I was eyeing a few of the cha tansu at the Zetner Collection in Emeryville, but they have some kiri kimono tansu, in case you feel like a road trip!

http://www.zentnercollection.com/catalog.html