|
|
Post by Galatea on Nov 4, 2003 19:49:44 GMT -5
I just got in a really beautiful kurotomesode from none other than Ichiroya and I absolutely love it. I'd really like to wear it and although I'm sure its formality doesn't matter so much in England, would I get really strange looks if I wore it around in Japan? Also, I know that when dressing formally, a white obiage is proper. Is a kurotomesode too formal for, as an example, a green obiage that matches the design?
From what I've read, a kurotomesode is really only supposed to be worn for the most formal of occasions (especially when five crested like mine), but is this changing at all in Japan? Is there any flexibility in the rules for its wearing?
I know that I should wear it however I want, but it does make me curious if I could get away wearing it the same way in Japan.
|
|
|
|
Post by fraise on Nov 5, 2003 7:39:25 GMT -5
You're right that kurotomesode are only for the most formal of occasions - and even at them, not everyone can wear kurotomesode. For example, in a wedding, I believe only the mothers and grandmothers of the bride and groom can wear kurotomesode. Other relatives and friends should wear irotomesode, houmongi and/or furisode. Kurotomesode should be worn with white accessories (obiage, obijime, han eri and nagajuban), no other color. So yes, it would look strange wearing a kurotomesode to not-so-formal occasions in Japan. It's something like wearing an evening dress - you wouldn't wear one to lunch with friends, for example. About the most formal kimono you could wear visiting would be a houmongi - you can find black ones, though they're not so common. You can wear any color of accessory with them, though the obijime should be a formal type (with gold or silver threads). A little less formal is the tsukesage, a bit harder to find in black though. You have a bit more leeway in the formality of obi, zori (shoes) and accessories with tsukesage. Kurotomesode are really beautiful, aren't they?  I love mine too, it's easy to understand why you'd want to wear one often! |
|
|
|
Post by Galatea on Nov 5, 2003 18:24:40 GMT -5
It's actually quite a shame that the proper wearing uses for kurotomesode are so restricted, because I find that they are amongst the most striking and beautiful of kimonos. It makes me sad that if I lived in Japan, I would never be able to wear it because I know I would never attend anything formal enough. Maybe one day its uses will be opened up. Until then, they always make for dramatic wall hangings. Now I just need to find a casual kimono that is as lovely as my kurotomesode so I have something I could really get some wearing use out of. (speaking of hanging kimonos - has anyone found the definitive way of displaying them? I know that just allowing them to hang can damage the fabric and seams because of the weight, but has anyone experimented with textile conservation mounting techniques? Like special mounting tape and sandwiched between acrylic glass?) |
|
Flock
New Member
:o Flock!
Posts: 46
|
Post by Flock on Jan 11, 2005 16:48:08 GMT -5
A similar thing happened to me, I got an iro-tomesode, a lovely rich purple with phoenixes on, 5 crested to, but I realized I'd never go anywhere that would require the wearing of one.
I guess basically the more elaborate and dramatic and beautiful the more formal, the black of kuro-tomesode is gorgeous and a change from everyday wear, sophistication to the Nth degree.
Yes, I'd reccomend a Homongi too, I want one myself, visiting wear is more flexible, they can have the option of adding up to 3 crests, and they can be worn with formal obi or the less formal nagoya obi too, without people sniffing at you!!
They're generally not much more expensive than komon second hand, though it depends on the condition etc.
|
|
I love mine too, it's easy to understand why you'd want to wear one often!
