Akemashite omedetou!
Happy New Year! To celebrate 2004, I finally tried on my red and black furisode:
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From left to right: The first photo is with a datejime, before putting on the obi; the second and third photos are fully dressed. I’ve posted the first photo because of what becomes apparent in the second: my furisode is too short to be worn with an ohashori. You can see that the hem is well above the floor, when furisode should just touch the floor. (That way when you wear zori, your heels are completely covered by the kimono.) The third photo shows that the kimono has started to sag at the waist, which is due to the too-short ohashori. It only just covers the koshihimo beneath! Because of this, next time I’ll try wearing it without an ohashori, much like wedding kimono are worn. The obiage also needs some work, but aside from those concerns, I’m very happy with the ensemble.
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I also tried on my favorite komon with a fukuro Nagoya obi. This kimono is just the right length, and it makes all the difference! The obiage looks very good (hurray!), as does the obijime, the collars are well done, the ohashori is just right, and my Nagoya obi musubi looks nice, although it has a slight tilt to it. As for the downsides, my han eri inched up in the back (it should be covered at the nape) and the front panel is too far to the side.
Overall, progress has been made! And my furisode rang in the new year :)
January 9th, 2004 at 04:51:16
just stumbled across your site.
it’s comforting to know there are other kimono-crazy people out there ! ;)
akemashite omedetou gozaimasu !
March 9th, 2005 at 04:48:44
Hi!
found your site on a search for obi-tying. It’s fun to find other kimono-crazy people on the internet. you’re so lucky you’ve got real stuff to use; i’m 15 and can’t afford real kimono/obi (or anything else, for that matter) so i have made EVERYTHING i use myself; by hand. at least that way, i can make wrist to wrist measurements long enough for me! (i’m 5′ 8″) but anyway, thanks for keeping this going!
March 20th, 2005 at 06:03:45
Konijiwa!
I’m exchange student from Hong Kong. One of my parents is Japanese/Chinese, but she never taught me how to wear a kimono. I have a Talent Show on April 22nd. My teacher told me to wear my Kimono, but the problem is that I did not have an Obi. Can you teach me how to make the Obi? I could not find here in America. =.=
I don’t know what to do now.
October 22nd, 2005 at 01:25:00
Aw man, I wish had money to get a kimono like that, It’s SOOOOOOOOO pretty! And I’m glad I’m not a loner for loving almost any kimono to wear! *blushes* Anyway, I just saw this site while searching for how to tie an obi because I have a kimono and obi that my grandmother is going to let me use for halloween. Even though it doesn’t exactly help, it was nice to see a kimono-crazed person like me wear a kimono so pretty as that one.
Sayounara!! ;D
October 24th, 2005 at 23:46:13
hi i like kimonos.(like everyone else). i have my own its lilac with black red and green disigns on it. it also has a little bit of white.well anyway i gotta go, Kilolo Olindi.
April 9th, 2006 at 20:23:19
hiya ^_^
i was wondering; did you notice how on the center back horizontal seam, the dyed pattern doesn’t match up?? it seems to have been shortened quite a bit; you might want to investigate that. :) then you just might have a long-enough furisode for an ohashori!
April 28th, 2006 at 14:39:46
The horizontal seam is to strengthen the kimono :) It reinforces the back where the obi is worn, and is used on quite a few kimono.
April 24th, 2007 at 16:56:34
hi ! Im producing kimono handwritten batik, for these 2 years im doing this, i have 1 regular buyer from tokyo, i would like to be more serious in it, to really go for japanesse market. it would be interesting for us to share ideas !
July 1st, 2007 at 17:55:43
Hey! Wow your furisode is so pretty! I just recently got a furisode, which I thought would be long enough, but turned out way too short!!! (I am no good at metric conversions sadly) When I put it on, the hem reached about 2 inches above the top of my ankles, and that was without the ohashori- not good!!! O.o I think I might just have to use it to display instead of wear, but I paid good money for it. Any tips or ideas on what I can do to make it wearable? I thought perhaps to buy some extra fabric in the same color as the furisode and create a “fake” ohashori of sorts by folding it and sticking it under the obi, but that would still leave me with the matter of length. Perhaps I could add extra fabric to the bottom, but I don’t really like the thought of sewing things onto it. Any ideas?
September 29th, 2007 at 04:39:10
I have recently returned from a visit to Japan and purchased a kimono (male version) and have been very frustrated trying to follow the diagrams showing how to tie the wide Obi sash.Can anyone help?
April 10th, 2008 at 21:30:01
I’ve fallen in love of the red and black furisode. It’s just amazing. And it fits you really well, even being a little short.
Nice experience! i wish someday i could have one ^^