@mainichikimono.bsky.social
👘 Certified kimono teacher/stylist | 着付け師範 • mixed Japanese American | 日米ミックス • based in Kansai area, Japan • 日本語 / 中文 OK • PROFESSIONAL INQUIRIES: mainichikimonos @ gmail • personal account: @christinedaae
Regarding patterns, I’ve written about summer kimono before. Because it’s so hot, traditionally patterns used for summer here in Japan are supposed to evoke a cooling feeling.
You can have a read here:
ko-fi.com/post/Summer-...
Kimono aren’t also always traditionally made of silk (we have wool, linen, hemp, etc). But since most foreign tourists equate kimono = silk, they can be easily sold that this trick
It’s similar to how fashion brands say “wool coat” when it’s 10% wool and 90% acrylic.
Rental shops in Kyoto can get away with this because most foreign tourists have no idea what real silk should genuinely feel like. Tourists also often have no idea what different kimono weave types are either.
Tourists often use synthetic, *mass-produced kimono* with overly bright, clashing patterns. These shops claim they’re authentic silk, but they’re not. (Sorry!) They’re polyester-silk blends… but the actual silk content can be as low as 5%!
As a certified kimono stylist, sometimes going to Kyoto can be jarring. I can immediately tell when a tourist picked out their kimono via a factory-line rental shop versus when their kimono has been styled with true professional care.
Hello everyone! Some news!
Back in January, I was filmed for a YouTube channel to talk about what it was like to be a kimono stylist! It was my first time being filmed, so I may have been a little clumsy. Regardless, I did my best! You can view it here:
Long time no update! I did a kimono photoshoot in Tokyo last month with a gorgeous furisode! It was extremely cold and windy, but worth it!
If you’d like to see more photos from the shoot, head over to my IG: www.instagram.com/mainichikimono
I’m booking kimono clients for March (cherry blossom season at the end of the month!). Interested? Shoot me a DM here:
ko-fi.com/mainichikimo...
Long time no update! I did a kimono photoshoot in Tokyo last month with a gorgeous furisode! It was extremely cold and windy, but worth it!
Earlier this year, I did a kimono photoshoot in Tokyo with the absolutely gorgeous @ishikawasachi.bsky.social. It was my pleasure to dress you that day!
All kimono items are secondhand from my personal collection
I hope you've enjoyed this thread! I'm still in the process of bringing over my old posts from The Bad Place. In the meantime, feel free to check out my Ko-Fi! I have other threads there.
ko-fi.com/mainichikimono
Hair for brides is usually styled with a wig and the wig is set with a 角隠し (tsunokakushi), which literally means "horn-hiding". The implication was to "hide the horns of jealousy" that the bride may have, and so she may be gentle and obedient in her marriage
The 綿帽子 (wataboushi) is a bridal hood. It's typically only worn with all white bridal ensembles during the ceremony, and isn't paired with colorful uchikake, nor is it worn during the reception when the bride is mingling with guests
Uchikake can come in a variety of colors. Red is more traditional, but there are no limits.
Patterns traditionally focus on cranes, tortoises, etc, but as kimono has changed and modernized over time, patterns also have changed to reflect clients' individual tastes
(Uchikake, for the record, refers to the outermost kimono, which is very heavy!)
It's common to see shiro-uchikake with red or even accents due to the auspiciousness of the colors.
色打掛 (iro-uchikake) were originally the formal attire of samurai wives during the Muromachi period, and slowly became preferred by rich merchants and aristocrats during the Edo period. As bridal attire, they were changed into from the white (shiro-uchikake) after the actual ceremony took place
白無垢 (shiromuku) - used in Shinto wedding ceremonies since the Muromachi period (1336-1573), were originally for samurai families. White symbolizes purity, as well as signals that the bride is taking on the colors of the groom's family she's marrying into. A clean transition, so to speak
A couple of years ago, I did a course for bridal kimono dressing, so here's a thread introducing the types of bridal kimono and a brief history!
Actually, the one from Yahoo is on sale at the moment! store.shopping.yahoo.co.jp/kimono-kyouk...
Here’s another from Yahoo JP shopping. A little pricier than I thought (¥12,980!)
Kimono is not just made with silk. In fact, kimono can come in various fabrics such as linen and wool.
But did you know that denim kimono are a thing? That's right, there's kimono made with the same material as jeans!
Here's one from Rakuten:
Anyone who spends time in more traditional sightseeing areas of Japan has no doubt seen plenty of services where you can rent kimono. But which kind of service should you choose?
As a professional kimono stylist, I'm here to give you a quick guide on types of kimono rental, and what to expect.
My goal is to one day run my own kimono atelier full time. My dream is to help fellow Japanese and mixed diaspora connect to their culture via kimono as well as help kimono be better understood outside of Japan. I hope to someday make this a reality!
Thank you for stopping by! Have a nice day!
I've also written about kimono for @unseenjapan.com and others.
If you are an artist, designer, or writer who has some questions about kimono, I am available for consultation! You can either book me for a ZOOM consultation to go or feel free to buy me a Ko-Fi and ask me a question!
I often write informational posts about kimono both on social media and on Ko-Fi. Some of my posts are public and more specialized kimono knowledge is locked ($3 USD to unlock!) You can see my posts here:
ko-fi.com/mainichikimono
As a kimono stylist, I offer kimono dressing opportunities complete with a mini-lecture on kimono as well as a photoshoot. I am willing to travel to you if need be within Japan!
I am LGBT+ friendly and can style you based on your personal preferences! Please don’t hesitate to inquire!
