Tall People Stuggles and Black and Green Bara Houmongi

As I have mentioned many, many, many, many, many times - finding kimono in taller and wider sizes is a hunt. You need patience and to able to handle the disappointment of finding tons of things you love but you'd never be able to wear properly. With the new year upon us, I am trying to lose some weight just like countless others. I have sadly gained 15-20 pounds since I got married, and it is starting to affect how I wear kimono. While I have some control over my waist size, I clearly have no control over my height. In all honesty, the biggest problem that I encounter is not only finding a kimono with the right length but the right wingspan. Not long ago, a kimono with a shorter wingspan didn't phase me too much. Now, especially after taking more lessons in nihon buyo and actually owning a few kimono with adequate wingspans, I can see that a proper wingspan really does makes one look more elegant - not to mention that it's near impossible to hold your sleeves for dance if they're too short! As I become more discerning (or maybe just picky!) about my size, the prey becomes even more elusive...

Enter this black and green bara houmongi, with a 173cm length and a whopping 152cm wingspan.

The seller states that it is a remade furisode, hence the really loud pattern. The super-wide wingspan was made possible by taking what was part of the old furisode sleeves and adding them to the cuffs of the remade piece. I think the seamstress did a decent job of matching the fabric so that the seams wouldn't be obvious from a distance.

This style is very opposed to what I usually select in a garment. The reason for my purchase is three-fold: the size, the price, and the need for a brighter kimono for shamisen performances (at my instructor's suggestion). With shipping, this piece ended up only around $50. And it certainly has the "in-your-face" factor of a stage piece.

As far as coordinating this piece goes, I'll likely go with an obi of minimal colors and simple design as to not compete with the pattern on the kimono. Without having the piece in my hands, I'm leaning toward a gold obi with lavender accessories that echo the color on the grid pattern overlaying the black part or red like the sakura, but that could easily change depending on what it looks like in person.

Kimono Buys Over the Last Several Months

I've been bad about not sharing my new acquisitions over the last several months. Here's a quick summary of some of the ones I forgot to post!

 Grey colored line pattern hitoe komon

Navy and white yukata

 

Pink sakura pattern furisode

Brown lattice pattern komon

Black zakuro pattern ro komon

Grey striped ro men's hakama

 

Burgundy ro men's kimono

Bingata tsumugi nagoya obi

Chain pattern odori obi

Geometric pattern hitoe komon

Green Ro Kakeshita

I'm so excited that I won this green ro (yes, RO) kakeshita today on YJA! It's a little bolder and brighter than what I usually use for my maiko henshin, but because it was a summer fabric, there's no way I could let that one go.

I just hope it will be here before the next event so the girls won't die of heat stroke!!!

More pictures of Tsuki no Ie Okiya at MTAC 2014

One of our guests kindly let me use his photos from a few of our panels at MTAC 2014. Here are some from our makeup and kitsuke panel as well as the ozashiki (sadly, none from the tea ceremony).

Photos by Matthew Ruley, used with permission.

Tsuki no Ie Okiya at MTAC 2014

This was my 6th year attending the Middle Tennessee Anime Convention in Nashville, TN. Many people have posted their "reports" from the convention, and honestly, most were not complimentary. To sum up, they had to move to a smaller venue because the convention center decided to break their contract after last year's event. I thought the hotel they moved to was nice, but I did have to sit in line for a very long time to get checked in and out (not the con staff's fault). I really didn't attend any events because I did so many panels. The only complaint I have is how they check in panelists. I was told at first to go to programming ops, but then no one knew whether I needed to wait in the regular pre-registration line for my badges. They used to have a separate check-in area for panelists doing 3 hours or more of presentations, and they gave them a special presenter badge. No special badges, and after some utter confusion with check-in, my sister (who used for work for their sister con and knows everyone) got me checked in without having to wait in the huge pre-reg line. That being said, the rest of the time went pretty smoothly for me (except for the 30 minute wait to get into the dealer's room on Sunday, but I digress...).

We did 3 panels on Saturday. The first panel was on how to put on geisha-style makeup and kimono. We dressed the newest member of our geiko-henshin group (and celebrated her "misedashi"). The second event was an Urasenke style tea ceremony. I was the host, my husband narrated, and the other members of my geiko-henshin group filled the main guest and assistant roles. The last event of the day was our "ozashiki". I performed two pieces on the shamisen ("Hana Momiji" and "Kurokami"), then the girls danced "Sakura Sakura" and I accompanied on the shamisen, and finally we demonstrated and played "Konpira Fune Fune" and "Tora Tora" with our guests. I hope some other people took pictures and will send them my way, because I forgot to have my husband take pictures during the 1st and 3rd panels. The pictures we did take were after the 1st panel.

All of the performers (by performing names, L to R): Tsukiteru, Tsukiko, and Tsukiuma

"Sisters" - Tsukiteru and Tsukiuma

Gratuitous obi shot!

My sister is a decent photographer, so she got some good shots of me in my new whirlpool hikizuri, and some good closeups. I am really proud of my makeup this time, especially the eyebrows! I usually make them messy (very shaky hands) and too thick for my taste. And I got to wear my new katsura that is in MUCH better shape than the old one and fits me so much better. I like how it frames my face better as well. Of course, I'm critical of myself, and I wish I had made the hikizuri tighter around my hips, so I'll try to do that next time.

From the front

From the side (This is my favorite shot!)

Obi shot - I love this gold shippou obi!

Close-up from the front

3/4 view, close-up (my second favorite picture)

Thank you for looking!

Black Goshoguruma Furisode

Another piece for my geiko and maiko henshin group, Tsuki no Ie Okiya! This is my second black furisode, so now I have enough for both of my maiko henshin performers (I have a kurotomesode and black hikizuri for myself since I do geiko henshin).

The design on this one is goshoguruma (royal cart).

From a distance, the colors don't look very interesting, but up close, you can see that there's much more depth and brightness:

I'd love to add our crests to both of my black furisode. Dyeing is not really an option since these are already black in those places, so either paint or embroidery would likely be the best bet. Suggestions?

Tsuki no Ie Okiya - Upcoming Misedashi

We have an upcoming misedashi (debut) for our newest performer at Tsuki no Ie Okiya this April, so I have been busily preparing (and spending lots of money...).

So far, we have accumulated these things:

A set of bekko kanzashi with crane and pine design (may actually be resin)

Another tama kanzashi. It's actually coral, though it looks kind of red here.

More bira oghi kanzashi

A black-based furisode, to which I will add our crest

We also have an obi that I have been working to make into a pretied darari for this - it's almost finished so photos will be posted later ^_^. We still have much to do!!!

Anime Blues Winterfest Remix - First time out in furisode!

This past Saturday was our local con's mini-con, the Anime Blues Winterfest Remix. While most people came in cosplay, I decided to use the day to wear my red furisode. The con was held at the Memphis Botanic Garden, and since I knew I would have access to the Japanese garden, I figured I would take plenty of pictures. It was the first time I have been out wearing furisode, so I got up super early to get everything ready. Despite trying to be meticulous, we did make one big oopsie... My tateya musubi is backward! BUT I had Josh tie my obi, and it was his first time tying, so honestly, I'm just so proud that it looks so nice otherwise! Anyway, I hope you enjoy the pictures!