Kimono Challenge Tag #7

Hello Everyone, 


Did you know that I rarely pick out my outfits in advance? I'm pretty spontaneous when it comes to coordination, and most of the time it works. The rest of the time I say it works :) I find that I work better when I don't plan and come up with the best results as I go along. 


Other than that, I really don't have any other confessions to make. 

~ 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. 

Kimono Challenge Tag #6 What do you like and don't like about kimono

Hello Everyone, 


There are not many things about kimono that I don't like, but the #1 of them is FOLDING! I simply hate folding kimono after I'm done wearing it! I literally have to force myself to fold it up, or it will stay on the couch (bed/floor/dresser) for weeks at a time. 


Another thing I don't really care for is that majority of kimono that I like are too small for me because they are vintage. Or too expensive if they are modern and new. There is no way I can spend hundreds or thousands of dollars for kimono items I want, and it sucks! I would love to wear Yumi Yamamoto's or Mamechiyo's kimono, but alas... I'll have to win a lottery first. 


Now, the things I love about kimono are endless! Or maybe I can just sum it up in one word: COOL! Kimono are just too cool for their own good :) And how many other garment out there can make you feel so beautiful and graceful in a matter of moments? The designs are gorgeous too, and pretty much anything can be put on kimono. But of course, it's the obsessed kimono person talking in me. 


~ 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. 

Kimono Challenge Tag #5

Hello Everyone!

I generally don't have any trouble coordinating ensembles with kimono, so it's probably easier to ask me which coordinations I'm NOT happy with. But since the question asked for my favorite ones... well here goes nothing :)

I wore this kimono to Japanese New Year and all of the Japanese ladies there were nodding in approval, saying how my ensemble was very festive. You can't see it, but nagoya obi has pine needless on it. :)

I wanted to wear a brown only ensemble. :)

This one I'm particularly proud of because after wearing kimono in such a non-traditional way, I realized that I love western shoes + kimono combo. Oh, and  TokyoTelephone loved it too. ;P

Obviously this is not me, but I coordinated the outfit and I must say it works together wonderfully! Even better than my first coordination (see first photo).

What are your favorite coordinations?

~ 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. 

Kimono Challenge Tag #4

Hello Everyone,

Today I will tell you about my least used kimono items. Unfortunately I have way too many of those.

I fell in love with this obi the second I saw it, but it's missing the ties. No big deal, it will take a grand total of 5 minutes to sew new ones on.... and that was last year. I really need to attach new straps on this obi, so I could wear it.

 Same this with this obi, it was love. But since it is a not-so-typical tsuke obi, I had a hard time figuring out how to put it on. Oh, I know in theory how to do it... but in practice not so much. I was considering either sewing it all back up together (it really just cut in 2 parts, and can be put back together quite easily) or making a permanent taiko part. I think this week I'll do it, so I could finally wear it!

 Once I got married, I felt like I HAD to buy a tomesode. Well I bought it, haven't worn it since lol.

My poor juban, they are so unloved in my kimono drawers. But it seems like I collect more jubans that I can wear, just in case. Or just because I like juban.

I don't even know why I bought this one (below). It has karako on it, and I hate karako. Guess now I'm too creeped out to wear it lol.

I was so excited when I got these sets of ro haneri, but I didn't count on how much I HATE sewing haneri on! So I only used one of them, and gave 2 away as gifts. The rest are just sitting in their boxes, being sad.

So do you have any items you know you should give more love too, but you do not?

~ 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. 

Kimono Challenge Tag #3

Hello Everyone, 


Not surprisingly my favorite kimono items are also my most used ones. 

I love this kimono because I've decided that it's non-seasonal one, and even if paper cranes and big sister dolls (Ane-sama nyngyo) do have a season I don't care! The same goes for obi. Although it is a fukuro, it so informal looking that I have no problem wearing it with komon. I would say that these two items are the best two purchases I've ever made :) And they look great together too! 


Here are some photos of me wearing (or using on others) these kimono and obi :) 

What are your most used items? :)

~ 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. 

Kimono Challenge Tag #2

Hello Everyone,

I had a hard time with this question, because it was so hard to narrow down my absolute favorite items.

2. Your dearest kimono item(s).

I think this is my absolute favorite kimono because I actually have to stop myself from reaching for it every time I get dressed in kimono. 

I don't wear this kimono nearly enough, but it is very special because of the crest. The crest it has on it is a hawk feather, which my husband and I choose as our "family" crest. Now I can only buy kimono with that crest. Also, the color is absolutely GORGEOUS! Finally, this kimono reminds me of the time my closest friends went to take professional photos in kimono for our kimono club. 

I also don't wear this kimono much, but it is very special because this is literally my dream kimono item come true. It's bright red, just the right shade I was always looking for.

And this would probably be my favorite obi that I own. I also have to stop myself from wearing it every time lol.

Another obi that I absolutely love, it is just perfectly funky and matches a lot of stuff.

I love fun cotton tabi, but these are my favorite because they are red and have bunnies on them! :)

Finally this obiage is very special for me because my husband got it for me at a convention. He actually got me  4 others, but this was the one I grabbed and refused to let go.

So what are your most special kimono items?

~ 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.

Kimono Challenge Tag #1

Hello Everyone, 

I saw this clallenge over at Kira Kira Kimono, a new blog that I had no idea existed until today. I've seen the lovely owner at Immortal Geisha before, and every time I see her I always think that she looks like a doll and I just want to dress her up in my kimono! Creepy much? :P 

Here is the list of all challenge questions: 

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. 

1. How did you discover and got into kimono? 

I actually don't know what exactly made me want a kimono. I know I've always been interested in it, but since I was living in Ukraine kimono was an unattainable goal for me. Then we moved to US and I was too busy fitting in and starting a new life for myself to worry about kimono or any other hobbies.

Fast forward to 2005 and my first year of college, I was taking a jewelry making class and I've met a very nice Japanese lady in my class. We became friends and when she told me that she was going to Japan to visit her aging mother, I gathered all of my courage and asked her to bring me a kimono back. I gave her a budget of $300 (since I knew kimono were expensive), told her what I liked (butterflies, any colors) and off she went while I settled to wait. 

Couple of month later I got a call from Momo-san saying that she is back and she brought me STUFF! I don't think  I ever made it on the other side of town that fast in my life before, but in a matter (of what felt like) minutes I was over at her house looking at all the things she brought. And she brought a lot! Kimono, haori, obiage/obijime, nagoya obi, 4 pairs of stretch tabi, pair of geta and very nice zori, coin purse (I'm still using it now), KERA magazine, and I think another magazine or two. Overall, it was a LOT of stuff and a lot more than I was expecting. 

Of course I wanted to try wearing kimono right away, so Momo-san dressed me up. Yup, that's me on that faithful day, wearing kimono for the FIRST time in my life. We quickly realized that there are some stuff missing... except I had no idea about all of the dressing accessories until much much later, but Momo-san was able to make it work. Looking at it now I can see how wrong everything looks, but on that day in 2005 I felt as the happiest person alive. 

And then my kimono got put away in my closet and stayed there for over a year until in the summer of 2006 I got interested in kimono again. This time, I properly started with the basics aka yukata. 

And it went downhill from there! My OBSESSION with kimono had officially started. 

I tag all my kimono friends! I would love to read your answers. 

~ Lyuba