A lot of questions :)

[amelie]

Hello, I am new here ^^

I have several questions to ask, I was not sure where to post this but I think this is the right place!

Ok, first, I want to know if it would be ok to wear yukata without any accessories (except obi)

I read a few topics about washing kimono, but I don't remember anyone talking about yukata... Can I just put it in the washing machine? Or do you suggest I hand wash anyway?

Would yukata and unlined komon considered on the same rank, regarding formal/casual aspect?

Can hakama be worn without obi (for men and for women)?

Could you name me some casual obi knots to wear with yukata, and if possible links to how to do them? I can only do cho cho musubi

I want to buy/make kimono, but I want to wear it the traditional way. I am not married yet, I am engaged, so do I have to wear furisode or tomesode since I am not single?

Also, which type of formal kimono would be ok for all formal occasions? Since they are expensive, I'd prefer to buy only one that I could wear in all situations...

Ok, that's all for now ^^ Sorry it was long, thanks for reading me!

[Kiyoaki]

Hi Amelie,

I'll try to answer what questions I can, but I have to say that I'm a guy so I may be mistaken on some points.

1. All you need for yukata are 'geta' (Japanese wood clogs). Tabi (socks) and a fan would be optional, (though only children are likely to dispense with them). Traditional yukata (blue and white patterns, without bright colors) can be thrown in the washing machine without a care. Wash them with the 'whites'. If some of the blue should bleed while washing, it will help to 'whiten' the look of the whites. Yukata are usually starched and ironed afterward, so they can look crisp and pristine.

A yukata is actually meant to serve as a bathrobe. The only other times it's appropriate outside the home, is either at hot spring resort, or during O-bon (late summer festival for the dead). It's considered completely casual, whereas a komon would at least be suitable for informal, everyday occasions.

Originally hakama [the women's variety does no have the board at the small of the back], were worn over the unbelted kosode. In modern times, a han-haba iobi s perhaps more in keeping with the older look than a full width obi. However, either is possible nowadays. The hakama tend to be placed fairly high up on the rib cage, perhaps just below the bust.

Until you actually marry, a furisode would be appropriate, unless you are in your late 20's or so. Then, a tomesode might be more in keeping with your age. However, for the actual marriage ceremony, a furisode is the absolute rule.

The only style of kimono that could come close to being the most appropriate, for the most types of occasions, might be the iro-muji. It's a single color with no decoration other than one, three or five 'mon' reserved at the shoulders and breast. Perhaps one with three 'mon' would be ideal. The kimono would tend toward semi-formal, while five 'mon' says most formal.

If you want to buy only one, then a furisode, in a solid color, with mon might be the best bet. After you're married, the sleeves can be shortened to the that of the tomesode. You can also have the obi make the statement of formality you are striving after and add variety to the look.

However, you're unlikely to find a furisode that is also an iro-muji. Your next best bet would be to buy a subued furisode that has its sleeve decoration confined to the lower edges. Some furisode are decorated that way, with the future intention, that the sleeves will be shortened after marriage.

I didn't address all your questions, but I think I've made a useful start.

Kiyoaki

[Flock]

Kiyoaki is right, but I would like to make a few points on yukata etc:
Geta can be worn without tabi socks pretty much, but this is extremely informal, so reserved mostly to yukata.
I seriously would reccomend handwashing of yukata, just to be on the safe side, unless it truly needs a thoughrough washing.
Yukata are primarily bathing/festival robes, at least the blue and white ones. More colourful elaborate yukata can be dressed up, maybe even with an under kimono and nagoya obi! There is a line somewhere when cotton robes become more "komon kimono" than regular yukata.
If you're still not sure you can always choose a summer unlined wool kimono, a little higher up the scale.
Just use your judgement and do some background reading.
I hope this helps!

[bawsin]

Hi Flock, Kiyoaki, everybody:

I know how (and when) informal yukata should be worn, but how about the fancier shibori yukata? Like this beauty, recently sold on the Ichiroya site:
www.ichiroya.com/item/list2.php?number=75992

Or this one, from the Yamatoku site:
www.yamatoku.jp/classic/description.asp?tno=80510239

I actually bought one of this type of yukata back in the autumn, but now that the right season is approaching, I'm a little baffled about how best to wear it. Hanhaba obi, no juban, geta? Plain Nagoya obi, lightweight juban, zori? Any tips, please?

bawsin

[amelie]

Thank you very much for your answers!

[Flock]

Oh and by the way welcome to the forum Amelie!
Baswin:
I see it (though I may be wrong) that just as a tsukesage/homongi can be dressed up or down depending on the footwear/crests/obi/colour of collar etc, so can yukata to a certain extent..
It is a matter of instinct.. for example if I wore a nagoya obi (and thus a taiko musubi) with yukata I would certainly wear an underkimono, a short unlined one it being summer, and wear nice geta. I am not sure about zori, exept that it is ::compulsory:: in kimono rules to wear tabi with them! -I am making my own tabi.. if they work out I will post instructions.. It can save people 20 dollars.. compairing to ebay prices-.
I have noticed that a lot of women wear yukata with highstreet sandals, it doesn't look the same, but it seems acceptable. I am always looking around for sandals I can modify.. Tatami zori (which I am sure you can wear tabi without) with fabric straps are worn with yukata, it is only the more formal ones I havn't seen used for such a thing.
I do think that beautiful shibori yukata deserve a good enseble!
Oh and one last point, the hanhaba obi can be tied into many diffirent styles, the butterfly bow (cho cho musubi) is probably the most common, easy to tie, even avalable in a pretied form, musubi.
But if you wanted to dress things up a bit for the fine yukata there are plenty of diffirent styles acheived with hanhaba obi, some more elaborate and attractive than others. Some of the more complex styles I would wear with a wool kimono, or a simple komon, I just have the feeling it would go - like with a simple striped silk, or a tsumugi kimono.. or one with a simple checkerboard pattern.
I hope I havn't been to long and boring and repeated the same thing!
-Flock