Tag Archives: Shopping

Blog Sale

04 Wednesday Jan 2012

Posted by in kimono, Kimono Projects

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Part of my New Year’s resolution for 2012 includes whittling down my kimono collection. I simply have too much stuff to keep it all in the limited storage that I have! Therefore, I will be listing some of my collection for sale on ebay in the upcoming months. However, before I do, you can have an “early bird” chance at getting some items by contacting me via flickr.

In terms of pricing, things will probably range no more than the $5-25 USD price. I’m more interested in giving these items to people who will give them good homes than I am with making money. Most things will have at least minimal staining…they are vintage pieces, after all. ;) I’m not going to be selling anything museum-quality here, and the prices will of course, be dependent upon the item’s condition. I can also bundle items to save on shipping, If you are so inclined.

If you are interested, you can see what I have for sale on my flickr. Additionally, feel free to make me an offer on some of the other pieces in my collection which may not show up in my “For Sale” set. I can’t guarantee that I’ll sell it, but we can certainly negotiate and see where that leads. :D

November Thanks

20 Sunday Nov 2011

Posted by in coordination, kimono, Kitsuke, obi

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I wanted to dress in kimono for Thanksgiving…but since all my relatives are coming down here this week, I knew I would probably be too busy. So I decided to dress a little early!

If you remember from IG Holiday Swap Gifts, IG forum member azusa was the “Secret Santa” who gave me several gifts to be used in a 1920s/Taisho outfit. I finally got the chance to wear them…I can only hope that I’ve lived up to expectations!

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Hagoromo Wedding Kimono

31 Wednesday Aug 2011

Posted by in Buying Sprees, kimono, Kimono Projects

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If you are interested in Japanese Noh theater, one of the first plays you will likely come across is one known as Hagoromo (羽衣 Literally, “The Feather Mantle”). It is a play about a fisherman who comes across a magical feather-mantle (called a Hagoromo) of a heavenly being known as a tennin. He takes it, but the tennin begs him to give it back to her, because she will not be able to return to Heaven without it. The fisherman agrees to give it back as long as the tennin agrees to dance for him, which she does.

Nowadays, the term hagoromo refers to a specific type of stage kimono, and is mainly used in plays. However, it can also refer to an organdy uchikake (the topmost kimono of a wedding ensemble). It is very beautiful and gives a light, airy feeling to a wedding outfit. You can see it being worn as examples here, here, and here.

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Maiko Items

13 Wednesday Jul 2011

Posted by in Buying Sprees, Geisha, kimono, maiko

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I have been collecting maiko items for a little over two years now, with the end goal of doing a henshin (a word which literally translated means “to change or transform the body”. In this context, it means to dress oneself as a maiko). If you go to Japan, you an pay to have this done, but I think it is usually poorly done, and does not look nice at all. So I am planning on doing it myself. (Hopefully I will be able to do a good job!) Today, I moved a little closer towards this end goal with the purchase of two very hard-to-find items.

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Farewell Winter! (KimonoHime Style)

18 Wednesday May 2011

Posted by in coordination, kimono, Kitsuke, obi

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So I recently had the urge to dress in the kimono style known as “KimonoHime”, which stems from a publication of that same name, and is characterized by bold patterned vintage kimono and obi paired with western accessories. (And also gigantic headpieces haha.)

I had originally planned to wear this outfit in January as a sort of New Years’ ensemble (hence the cranes and bamboo on the obi, and the uhm….poinsettias), but I kind of forgot. So now it’s more of a “farewell to winter” outfit. This particular kimono has come to be known as the “Zebra Gum Kimono”, obviously because it resembles the packaging of the “Zebra Gum” (Fruit Stripe) that I ate as a kid. It is one of my favorites.

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False Darari Auctions on EBay

10 Tuesday May 2011

Posted by in Geisha, kimono, maiko, obi

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I am writing this post in the interest of keeping those of my readers who collect maiko items from potentially losing a lot of money, and to also give you a heads up.

Recently, there has been a case of a seller on ebay named hope-kiboutrying to sell darari obi that they do not own.

Those of you who are IG members can view the original discussion thread here.

Basically, this seller claimed to have a ro darari in their possession that they were selling on ebay for a starting price of $1.00 USD. Below are the photos from the auction:

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~Mountain Maiko Hikizuri~

20 Wednesday Apr 2011

Posted by in Buying Sprees, Geisha, kimono, magazines, maiko, obi, scans

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So…those maiko hikizuri and darari obi sales that ryujapan99 had over the weekend? Well, when it was just the darari up on eBay, I promised myself that I wouldn’t buy anything. (Since I already have a darari, and I knew they’d go for a lot of money.) Then the maiko hikizuri were put up for auction. I knew these would go for significantly less, and was oh-so-tempted. To deter myself from purchasing though, I promised myself that I wouldn’t buy one unless I found a picture of a maiko wearing it. I thought that this would be a good way to keep me busy and away from the bidding. Since there are so many hikizuri that are worn without being photographed (and since the hiki for sale were vintage and therefore from a time when not so many photographs were taken of maiko as there are today), I figured that the chances of finding a picture were slim enough to be a deterrent. That worked fairly well…until I found the picture hehe. :p

So, please allow me to introduce to you my second maiko hiki ever….this time, it’s blue with multi-colored mountains and golden squares. I seem to have a thing for the bold graphic hiki. (Then again, I have a thing for any boldy patterned kimono haha)

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Sakkou Katsura Win!

08 Friday Apr 2011

Posted by in Buying Sprees, Geisha, maiko

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The latest member of my maiko katsura collection will be joining us soon…this time, it’s a sakkou-style wig! Sakkou is the name of the hairstyle that a maiko wears 2 weeks before “turning her collar” in a ceremony known as erikae, which marks her transition from maiko to geiko. (In other words, she graduates from apprentice status to the big-time.)

Sakkou (short for Saki Kougai Mage 先笄髷) is the most complicated hairstyle that a maiko will ever wear. Personally, I love this style! (To see what sakkou looks like on maiko-san, scroll down this thread here)

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Love Makes the World Go ‘Round.

30 Wednesday Mar 2011

Posted by in Charity, coordination, kimono, Kimono Projects, obi

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The auctions were a roaring success! <3

I would like to thank everyone who commented, shared, spread the word and bid on my kimono auctions! In total, we were able to raise exactly $119 USD to send to GlobalGiving‘s “Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Relief Fund”!!! It may not seem like a lot, but every bit counts, and those that bid did a good deed by helping out the people of Japan in their time of need. ^^ I’m so glad that we were able to make a difference.

Thanks to everyone who helped!

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Photo Caption: “Did you hear how much the kimono that we’re wearing raised for Japan?”

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Resolutions? What Resolutions?

19 Wednesday Jan 2011

Posted by in Buying Sprees, kimono, Kitsuke, maiko

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Every New Year’s, I make resolutions regarding the upcoming year. Should it be any surprise then, that I also make resolutions pertaining to kimono? :)

Last year’s goal was to not buy any more kimono for three months. I barely made it!
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So here are this year’s goals:

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