Kimono Challenge Tag #12 Evolution of My Kitsuke part 2

Hello Everyone, 


Today I will show you the second part of my kitsuke evolution. After I moved to UK, I had a hard time adjusting to a completely different lifestyle of no job, friends, online school, etc... Online kimono community helped me a LOT, because I already "knew" some people from the forums, and got to meet them in real life, sort of getting a head start on making friends. 


At first, I wore my kimono pretty traditionally, with occasional hat. Later I started wearing western shoes with kimono, and in general accessorize in a more non-traditional way. I also discovered the greatness of cold weather, which I could never take advantage of while in Florida. Now I can REALLY accessories my kimono outfits with fun stuff like scarves, gloves, and fur collars. My kimono buying habits also changed, and now I buy a lot more shorter kimono, which I would never bought before, or more vintage items. 


I've become obsessed with Taisho era too, but at the same time I'm not really trying to replicate the style completely. Instead, I'm trying to combine the western flapper style with Taisho kimono and western accessories. I even cut my hair to make wearing cloche hats better! :)


One thing I noticed is that during the cold month my kitsuke goes towards funky and modern much more, while in summer/warm month I go back to more traditional looks. I know it has to do with how cold/hot the weather is, because it's much easier to wear all the western stuff in winter. In summer all I want is just to be COOL, and not worry about layers. 


Post-England: 
In no particular order. 

First London kimono outing. 

London Matsuri 2009. Japanese people there were impressed with my hat and bow obiage. 

Ely Cathedral

Going to Cambridge in kimono. 

Visiting in Florida. 

Kimono Challenge Tag #12 Evolution of My Kitsuke part 1

Hello Everyone, 


I can pretty much divide my kitsuke into Pre-England and Post-England. Pre-England is when I was just getting into it, learning how to wear kimono properly, still couldn't tie an obi by myself, getting my collection going, and generally looking pretty "sad" most of the time :P. I also just started figuring out my kimono style. Post-England is when I moved to UK, and had no one to help me (other than my husband, but he wasn't always available), learned how to FINALLY tied the obi on my own, figured out my style, and which kimono I like the most. 


Pre-England: 
In no particular order. 


Can you say TRADITIONAL? About the most adventurous thing I did was wear a hat and a shawl (after I saw Okimono Kimono book). I was also learning how get my kitsuke better, so my ohashori, haneri and obiage left much to be desired. Good thing, practice makes perfect, and even wearing kimono just ONCE a month helped me improve. 

Anime Weekend Atlanta

Kimono Challenge Tag #11 My Kimono Collection

Hello Everyone, 


Oh I remember the times when I still only had THREE kimono. I was so proud of myself for buying my very FIRST kimono on my own, only to figure out couple of years later that it was too small for me. And that I don't even like it that much. But the blissful days of a small kimono collection did not last that long, and pretty soon my collection just exploded (the link will take you to my Photobucket account, where I actually organize all my kimono stuff! Sub-albums are at the bottom right). 


Kimono


After several years of collecting and wearing kimono I've finally figured out my style, and that I really like stripes. Now I have more striped kimono than any other designs. I also love pretty much anything geometric and non-seasonal, as well as stylized flowers patterns (especially roses, poppies, ume and sunflowers). I tend to stay away from realistic flowers, many imaginary flowers in kimono, and very busy designs. For some reason I love "random" patterns too, like jars. I have a jar kimono and obi, and since them I've been on a lookout for more items like that. 

Kimono de Jack UK goes to Frankfurt Christmas Market Again

On Saturday Kimon de Jack UK went to our second annual trip to the Birmingham Frankfurt Christmas Market. I wore the same outfit that I wore few weeks ago to HPMSocial in London, and which I loved so much that I wanted to wear it again soon!.

The obi is the star obi from my Obi Lot of Doom that I got last month. I actually didn't realize that it was a fukuro obi!

My mom sent me this fur collar and the cape. I got the velvet gloves in one of the stores here in UK, and combining all of the accessories I felt very Taisho Chic. That is, until you see the whole picture and my very modern boots :) I am a firm believer that kimono really shines in winter time, when we can pull out all the fun accessories that we can't wear during any other time.

My mailbox was happy this weekend.

Hello Everyone,

Right before I went to Birmingham for Kimono de Jack December meetup, I checked my mail and guess what? I big box arrived from Yamatoku! I sent it by sea mail, so at this point I even forgot what was in there LOL.

Fancy obijime set. I was especially happy for the purple/gold one, but all of them will match something in my collection. :)

Obiage set. I won them separately from obijime set, but surprisingly the purple obiage matches the purple obijime perfectly!

This one is more ice blue, it reminds me of winter.

I love the detail!

See that gold leaf/print/not even sure how it's done roses? They are all over the obiage. It is so much prettier in person. I seriously can't believe that I lucked out and got it. I would say that this obiage is the star of my collection.

Ok, I have to say right away that I'm NOT planning on having kids. I'm collecting kids stuff because every time I do photo opps on base, I always get asked for kids kimono and I never have any. Not anymore! Here are two synthetic 3 year old girls' sets.

And finally, for my super-in-your-face-bright wedding furisode! Normally I stay away from these kinds of bright kimono, but this one was speaking to me. Not only it's red (and NOT orange), but it also has poppies! And I love that the design is printed instead of embrodered. This furisode screams Lyuba. Now I just need to find the right obi for it, which so far is proving to be a challenge :(

Have you bought anything new recently?

~ Lyuba

WHERE will I put all this?!

Hello Everyone,

I've been waiting on a few big boxes full of kimono greatness for some time now, so of course when I went to the post office today, and park far away from the door, two of those boxes choose to arrive. Thankfully I had a friend with me who helped to carry one of those boxes. :)

Yup, the Obi Bundle of DOOOOOOOOOOOM had finally arrived! It sure took it sweet time, but I wasn't too worried because I knew that anything other than Priority mail takes a while to get to me.

The other box was from Shinei, and here is what was inside:

Meiji tsuke obi

Chuya obi

Funky komono

This one is extra puurrrrty!

My second furisode! 

Furisode juban

Kimono coat

Have you gotten anything new lately?

~ Lyuba

Kimono Challenge Tag #10 Biggest Kimono Inspiration

Hello Everyone, 


Today's post is a fun one! It's pretty easy for me to narrow down where I draw the inspiration for my kimono style, however I still end up doing "my own" thing at the end. Some people even said that I have my own kimono style, and while it might be true, I still didn't get there on my own. I looked at these people for inspiration. 


Mamechiyo Modern: 
When I first saw their style, I was blown away. Kimono with modern prints?! OMG please sign me up! I loved everything about this style, the accessories, the colors, the SHOES! I know that when I go to Japan, one of my stops will be in Mamechiyo's store. 

I'm pretty sure this is the image that sent me looking for a cape for kimono.

Motoki Okimono Kimono: 
I randomly came across the Japanese version at a local comic book store, and while it was pretty overpriced, I didn't care and HAD TO HAVE IT! Everything in that book just screamed "Lyuba" to me, if only I could read it. Thankfully, the book was published in English too, so now I have both version. 

KimonoHIME: 
Oh KimonoHIME, I obsess over your style. While some of the coordinations are a little out there for me, I still love them. This is where I figured that I too can wear Western shoes with my kimono, and got some ideas on what kind of shoes and how to wear them best. And the hats and accessories! Unfortunately I only have 2 magazines so far, but I'm looking for more! I will have them all! :)

Yumi Yamamoto: 
Imagine meeting someone who basically embodied YOUR kimono style. That pretty much happened to me when I met Yumi at the Japanese Art Festival in 2010. The festival itself was ok, but it was so much better because Yumi was there! She love combining traditional and modern, and has some wicked accessories. I also love her footwear designs. I keep telling her that I was made to be her model ;P and only wish I could wear her designs again. :) 

What are your biggest kimono inspirations? 


~ Lyuba


1. How did you discover and got into kimono? 
2. Your dearest kimono item(s).
3. Your most used kimono item(s) (not counting jubans, datejimes etc.).
4. Your least used kimono item(s).
5. Your favourite coordination(s) so far.
6. What do you like and don't like about kimono. 
7. Kimono confessions. Did you know that... 
8. Your dream kitsuke items (or at least items you really really want but can't get for whatever reason).
9. Your biggest kimono fears. 
10. Your biggest kimono inspiration. 
11. Your kimono collection. 
12. The evolution of your kitsuke.
13. Your special kimono memory.