Pink kimono Spring kitsuke

For a party of a sake brand at a nice Izakaya I did a small kitsuke styling job.

As the occasion was festive but also a bit formal/chic, I chose a houmongi and silver zori.

The host of the party wanted young and fresh so I was contemplating a furisode, but I knew/guessed time would be limited, so a fresh pink houmongi with fresh blue and silver obi was a saver (time wise) choice.

And of course it is spring time and the blossoms are almost in full bloom here, so a pink kimono seemed very suitable to me at this time and place.

Originally there would have been a second girl and for her I had a blue kimono paired with a pink obi so they would look co-ordinated or like sisters.

Paired with silver zori and a darker pink/white obi-age I think she looks pretty chic.
Too bad, that, even-though I ironed the kimono and obi very carefully they still seem a bit wrinkled.

The make-up artist did a geisha/asian inspired look and hair-do I think she looks sweet.

Queens day kitsuke

Big coat

For this last queens day I choose an aqua blue wool kimono with orange and yellow dots. As it was cold, especially at 6 in the morning I needed wool, wool kimono with haori, which I almost never wear! And wool leggings and a big fat over-coat ^_^ I know it is huge, but so comfortable.

We where selling fun things (white nagajuban (over-stock) crochet hats and some old Japanese stuff so I had to wear a crochet hat too.

The obi is the backside of a pretty subdued and stylish hanhaba, and this orange was just perfect, the same as the dots.

All in all I was nice and warm. It was a very fun day and lucky enough, the sun did show her face.

But it was a good day to start wearing (and photographing) kimono again. I promise, now I am back ^_^

Haori

It's a bit yellow, as I wanted to show the real colour of the kimono

Sweet comment on my work

Monique wrote on her website Mo's World

This wonderful review about me and my work. So sweet! Thank you. It is always good to hear when people love your work ^_^ 

It's in Dutch:

Inspiratie: Berber Oostenbrug

Opening Exhibition @ Gallery Moon

My outfit for the opening:
Blue hitoe silk komon with silver stripes.
Autumn themed obi, silk chuya with large chrysanthemums, back-side has uroko (fishscale) pattern, you can see a hint of this on top of my obi. As the obi was not so wide I did,t fold it in half, but rather 1/3 so part of the back side would show too.
Orange nagajuban remnants as han eri.
White shibori obi-age
Bright blue obi-jime
(At the opening gold pin polka-dots tabi and black lacquered geta, but it was a hot day, so at home: bare feet)

 Jana in yukata with bamboo pattern, as it was hot, very loose and summery style ^_^
With fan!
And blue hanao geta.

 Nina in super cute strawberry yukata with red pin polka-dot red/white obi (Cute!!!)
Juli in dark blue yukata with iris pattern and yellow pre-tied obi.
And fans!

 Three girls looking gorgeous and sweet together in their yukata

 They are cool!

And my works @the exhibition. It was a great opening. It was fun, successful and really really great. Manny friends, all my family and lots and lots of interested people, loved it!

Galerie Moon at Grote Bickersstraat 71 Amsterdam, is a really nice gallery and shop. They are not only a great gallery/shop, but also organize wonderful events, see the website.
Go have a look!

The gallery is at the "Westelijke Eilanden Amsterdam" which is a gorgeous area of the city and absolutely worth of a visit.
So go there, enjoy the area for a lovely walk and every second Sunday of the month you can experience the "Atelier Route" which is extra fun.

Quick Preview

Just a quick idea what I want to wear to the opening next Suday.

Criteria:
1-It has to be Blue
2- Preferably Hitoe
3-It needs some autumnal theme

It better not rain as I really really want to wear silk

Exhibition

Today not kimono, but the flyers of my upcoming exhibition at Gallery Moon in Amsterdam.

I am very happy and exited that I got the change to exhibit at my friends place, Moon Gallery.
Tomorrow we will create the exhibition. All works are already at the gallery, so tomorrow, dressing time!

As always, it takes time and it's precision work, but I love it ^_^

The exhibition will show my latest photographs, the ones I made this year.
They're bigger then I usually do and it was a supprise for me to see them all finised I actually like this bigger size!

Can't wait for tomorrow and see how they will look, all together, real, on a wall in a gallery.

The opening will be on Sunday the 9th of September from 3 till 6
and the exhibition will continue till the firt week of november.

As many people like my work I hope all of them will sell and I will not have to take them home in November ^_^

Now I am contemplating about.... what kimono to wear!?!
Yes, that is of course a very important and difficult question, I really do not know yet. I will need to check the weather reports everyday and see how the sky, the surroundings look, as going by the Japanese rules will not do.
Maybe it's cold, maybe it's raining, maybe it's hot.

But, I will show the result here ^_^

Nihon Buyo

We went to see the performance of Nihon Buyo at DeLaMar in Amsterdam.
Leader of the group was Mr. Senzo Nishikawa, a National Living Treasure, thee group was specialy created from the Japanse Nihon Buyo Foundation.

They performed three dances and the second one Awa Mochi (sadly translated in the guide as "Gierst (millet?) cake" instead of Rice cake, correct me if I am wrong!)
I loved most. As it was the easiest to grasp.
The kimono where different from the video's, the video is a kabuki version, so that might be the explanation. The ladies kimono is here. The men's, though I remember it to be white?
The pictures are from this wonderful website.

First dance Sen Ou

The last one, danced by Mr. Senzo Nishikawa, was impressive but I am afraid, too subtle for me to fully understand ^_^

For the performance we dressed up in kimono. Me in my Mamechiyo Modern with Rose fukuro obi from Ichiroya and Anne in her lovely iromuji with wonderful subtle fukuro obi, both from Ichiroya.
There where quite a lot of Japanese ladies in kimono, which was kind of a first for me. I guess Japanese ladies start to be proud of their national dress again and go out in kimono. I love it!

vintage me

When I was doing the 1920's pictures I also wanted to try a kimono version.
So I looked for a twenties kimono and obi, went for the red han-eri with purple striped omeshi and satin black obi
Changed the saturation

Together in Kimono

A bit yellow, but we match!

Bright Bright

This bright meisen I bought last year at Toji I thought it was so cute and Dutch looking that even though I already bought three blue(-ish) kimono I still needed this one.

As there was a presentation at my job, Mr. boss asked me to please wear kimono, well for a change...

To make it even brighter I chose this bright red obi to complement the red flowers and a black obi-jime with extra blue cord to complement the blues in the kimono.

My sweet colleague was wearing a super cute Taisho peace, pictures next week, I will bring my camera next time.

60's Space

As I am in a 60's mood...
I thought this Mamechiyo Modern kimono would be perfect
Later I will try more styles with more styling
this was just a quick try dress.



Anyway, Mamechiyo Modern's Space kimono in green
it's wool, so perfect for the season
and I love wool kimono, easy to wear, to take care of soft... etc.

To completely go with the 60's style, I am growing my hair a bit to achieve a Twiggy Bob

It will take about 4 to 6 months, maybe less the hairdresser said.

But actually I am already quite happy ^_^

(and of course the heavy 60's make-up)

In the Clouds

Flower Princess

In the Clouds

Kabuki Princess