Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Kimono Challenge Tag #12 Evolution of My Kitsuke part 2

Hello Everyone, 


Today I will show you the second part of my kitsuke evolution. After I moved to UK, I had a hard time adjusting to a completely different lifestyle of no job, friends, online school, etc... Online kimono community helped me a LOT, because I already "knew" some people from the forums, and got to meet them in real life, sort of getting a head start on making friends. 


At first, I wore my kimono pretty traditionally, with occasional hat. Later I started wearing western shoes with kimono, and in general accessorize in a more non-traditional way. I also discovered the greatness of cold weather, which I could never take advantage of while in Florida. Now I can REALLY accessories my kimono outfits with fun stuff like scarves, gloves, and fur collars. My kimono buying habits also changed, and now I buy a lot more shorter kimono, which I would never bought before, or more vintage items. 


I've become obsessed with Taisho era too, but at the same time I'm not really trying to replicate the style completely. Instead, I'm trying to combine the western flapper style with Taisho kimono and western accessories. I even cut my hair to make wearing cloche hats better! :)


One thing I noticed is that during the cold month my kitsuke goes towards funky and modern much more, while in summer/warm month I go back to more traditional looks. I know it has to do with how cold/hot the weather is, because it's much easier to wear all the western stuff in winter. In summer all I want is just to be COOL, and not worry about layers. 


Post-England: 
In no particular order. 
First London kimono outing. 
London Matsuri 2009. Japanese people there were impressed with my hat and bow obiage. 

Ely Cathedral
Going to Cambridge in kimono. 
Visiting in Florida. 

Monday, December 19, 2011

Kimono Challenge Tag #12 Evolution of My Kitsuke part 1

Hello Everyone, 


I can pretty much divide my kitsuke into Pre-England and Post-England. Pre-England is when I was just getting into it, learning how to wear kimono properly, still couldn't tie an obi by myself, getting my collection going, and generally looking pretty "sad" most of the time :P. I also just started figuring out my kimono style. Post-England is when I moved to UK, and had no one to help me (other than my husband, but he wasn't always available), learned how to FINALLY tied the obi on my own, figured out my style, and which kimono I like the most. 


Pre-England: 
In no particular order. 


Can you say TRADITIONAL? About the most adventurous thing I did was wear a hat and a shawl (after I saw Okimono Kimono book). I was also learning how get my kitsuke better, so my ohashori, haneri and obiage left much to be desired. Good thing, practice makes perfect, and even wearing kimono just ONCE a month helped me improve. 


Anime Weekend Atlanta

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Kimono Challenge Tag #11 My Kimono Collection

Hello Everyone, 


Oh I remember the times when I still only had THREE kimono. I was so proud of myself for buying my very FIRST kimono on my own, only to figure out couple of years later that it was too small for me. And that I don't even like it that much. But the blissful days of a small kimono collection did not last that long, and pretty soon my collection just exploded (the link will take you to my Photobucket account, where I actually organize all my kimono stuff! Sub-albums are at the bottom right). 


Kimono


After several years of collecting and wearing kimono I've finally figured out my style, and that I really like stripes. Now I have more striped kimono than any other designs. I also love pretty much anything geometric and non-seasonal, as well as stylized flowers patterns (especially roses, poppies, ume and sunflowers). I tend to stay away from realistic flowers, many imaginary flowers in kimono, and very busy designs. For some reason I love "random" patterns too, like jars. I have a jar kimono and obi, and since them I've been on a lookout for more items like that. 



Monday, December 12, 2011

Kimono de Jack UK goes to Frankfurt Christmas Market Again


On Saturday Kimon de Jack UK went to our second annual trip to the Birmingham Frankfurt Christmas Market. I wore the same outfit that I wore few weeks ago to HPMSocial in London, and which I loved so much that I wanted to wear it again soon!.



The obi is the star obi from my Obi Lot of Doom that I got last month. I actually didn't realize that it was a fukuro obi!


My mom sent me this fur collar and the cape. I got the velvet gloves in one of the stores here in UK, and combining all of the accessories I felt very Taisho Chic. That is, until you see the whole picture and my very modern boots :) I am a firm believer that kimono really shines in winter time, when we can pull out all the fun accessories that we can't wear during any other time.

Sunday, December 11, 2011

My mailbox was happy this weekend.

Hello Everyone,

Right before I went to Birmingham for Kimono de Jack December meetup, I checked my mail and guess what? I big box arrived from Yamatoku! I sent it by sea mail, so at this point I even forgot what was in there LOL.

Fancy obijime set. I was especially happy for the purple/gold one, but all of them will match something in my collection. :)







Obiage set. I won them separately from obijime set, but surprisingly the purple obiage matches the purple obijime perfectly!



This one is more ice blue, it reminds me of winter.


I love the detail!

See that gold leaf/print/not even sure how it's done roses? They are all over the obiage. It is so much prettier in person. I seriously can't believe that I lucked out and got it. I would say that this obiage is the star of my collection.

Ok, I have to say right away that I'm NOT planning on having kids. I'm collecting kids stuff because every time I do photo opps on base, I always get asked for kids kimono and I never have any. Not anymore! Here are two synthetic 3 year old girls' sets.


And finally, for my super-in-your-face-bright wedding furisode! Normally I stay away from these kinds of bright kimono, but this one was speaking to me. Not only it's red (and NOT orange), but it also has poppies! And I love that the design is printed instead of embrodered. This furisode screams Lyuba. Now I just need to find the right obi for it, which so far is proving to be a challenge :(


Have you bought anything new recently?

~ Lyuba