What does one where to a spring festival?

[CrabbyGoddess]

Konnichiwa,

I plan on attending the Cherry Blossom Festival in D.C. this year in April, and I have several questions. I am unmarried and I only have a blue vintage kimono. However, I bought the most beautiful pink furisode with a cherry blossom pattern, and I was wondering if that is overdressing for a spring festival. Also, should I wear geta or zori to the festival? And one more question. What would be an appropriate obi color (or colors) for a pink furisode and a blue kimono?

Any answer is welcome.

Domo Arigato Gozaimasu

[Kiyoaki]

Not to dampen your enthusiams, but strictly speaking, the furisodes you describe should best be worn before the cherry trees bloom. But since it's D.C. and not Japan, go ahead and compete with the flowers.

Because a furisode is considered a formal garment, you should wear zori, for certain.

As for the obi for the furisode, almost any color except another pastel would be preferred. If the pattern on the obi suggests spring, all the better. Don't be afraid to mix something geometric with the floral motifs of the kimono either.

The plain, blue kimono would look striking with a black obi (unless the kimono is dark blue), that has quite a bit of gold in it, since the occassion is a festive one. You could go with either something geometric, abstract, or floral (cherry blossoms?).

[CrabbyGoddess]

Oh, I wasn't aware of that. I would never want to compete with the flowers. I want to make sure I am doing things right.

Thank you for your advice

[bawsin]

I wouldn't worry about 'competing' with the blossoms, CrabbyGoddess. Your furisode would be lovely. Any visiting Japanese will be impressed and delighted that you are wearing it, and of course your fellow Americans will love to see it too! If you'd enjoy wearing it, I really think you should go right ahead and do so.

As Kiyoaki himself says, he's talking about the 'ideal' situation, in which the subject matter on the kimono anticipates the coming season by a few weeks. Nowadays, however, few women have so many kimono that they can afford to be rigid about these rules. (And indeed, many if not most Japanese women won't even KNOW these rules!)

For example, I belong to a tea group (Chado) in Canada. Most of the women, including the Japanese-Canadian ones, only own one kimono - or perhaps two at most. Therefore, regardless of type, they end up being worn to every Japanese event. At a recent chakai, I saw every form (and formality) of kimono possible - from casual komon right up to furisode and kurotomesode. And that's perfectly OK.

My only request is, if you do wear the furisode to the festival, I hope you are able to get a photo of yourself under the trees - and post it here!

bawsin

[CrabbyGoddess]

Thank you so much bawsin. I will surely get a picture to post here. Again thank you so much for your wonderful advice.