#KIMONO 2014

[savage-kult-of-gorthaur]

THE ART OF RED LIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY -- ICELANDIC MUSIC MEETS AN EXPERIMENTAL MUSIC LEGEND.

PIC INFO: Spotlight on the late, great Damo Suzuki, formerly of experimental rock band CAN, performing live with the Icelandic rock trio KIMONO, at Faktorÿ in Reykjavík, Iceland, c. 2014. ���: @benedikt_reynisson of @skatar_official.

Source: www.picuki.com/media/3432391996789053771.

[dailyfigures]

everyone reblog/reply with your favourite figure you got in 2023! <3

[dia-oro]

There this fic that is very old and a classic in the sesskag fandom, I didn’t even remember I downloaded it by a page that is already dead so I give it a cover that was well deserve, maybe at vacaction in the university I reread it.

[frary-us]

Still one of my all-time favorite Toby Tweets/Instagram posts a decade later.😍👘🔥💙 (x x)

So one of my best friends tweeted Toby Regbo yesterday and well…

[ellas-journey]

From a thing to wear to an icon of culture 👘

There is this hidden detail in Muzan that when I noticed I could not help but smile. Remember how he said that the thing he hated the most was change? Well coming from someone that had to live in 5 different eras is kinda funny, and it's even funny when you realize that he ended up adopting the Western fashion pretty fast. But that's the twist, if you look at Muzan's vest you come to realize that it's the exact same pattern as the kimono he used to wear. The best part? That was a thing that actually happened in history.

Wanting or not, the clothing that the people used to wear represents the history they lived through. "To look seriously at art objects of the everyday, such as clothes - their discourse and practices, their meaning-bearing forms and their codes of internal and external interpretations - in an essential, and often neglected, component of any study of modern aesthetics." - Slade, 2009 Yofuku [Western Clothing] is a type of clothing that is now common all over Japan, but during a lot of time, it was a type of clothes that only selected few grew up with. The 1st contacts with these types of clothing [even if extremely different from what we now call western clothing] was in the 16th century when the Portuguese arrived in Tanegashima. With them came not only different shapes but also different fabrics. But the “true” introduction to western fashion would only happen with Commodore Matthew Perry, catharsis to the Meiji restoration, where Emperor Meiji would start to dress in a typical western military outfit, and soon after the empress would start to aper in the typical victorian dresses. In the Edo period clothing visually distinguished the social classes. "Certain articles of clothing visibly differentiated people of diverse social classes, and simultaneously distinguished an individual within a specific group. The materials, motifs and construction of military campaign coats, for example, marked their wearers as men belonging to the military class." - Milhaupt, 2014; Samurai ranked on the top, followed by farmers, artisans, and merchants on the bottom. What happen was that most of the times the samurai where poor while the merchants lived in economic success. But samurai had the privilege of using certain types of fabrics and patters, even tho most of the times they could not afford them, and so, the merchants would start to adapt the fabrics and patters they were allowed to were and would end up becoming the patrons of arts and fashion. The trends of fashion would later be documented in ukiyo-e, and not only in the work of art sense, but also in pattern books were people could browse the prevailing styles. After the 1st contacts with the westerners, what would start to happen is that slowly but surely the Japanese would start to integrate the western ways of dressing into their lives. The Japanese started to introduce some of its elements with the kimono, shoes, hats, gloves, glasses, umbrellas, etc. Then in the 19th century a full change would happen starting from the man in the highest classes to the man in the lowest classes. The emperor decided to cut his topknot in 1872 and started to dress in western clothing in official appearances, also changing some of the more cultural habits like eating meat and more wester kind of meals. In the official portraits he appears adorned with a French-style military uniform with ornaments in gold and ostrich feathers. Before this, the emperor was never a public figure, so when pictures of the Meiji Emperor became available, and he started to appear more publicly the nation would have their eyes on him and start to imitate him. Women would, for the longest time still dress in the now classic kimono, that would develop as a symbol of the old and traditional Japan. The idea of the western clothing being associated with a modernized Japan and the Kimono [that literally means “thing to wear”] to a traditional country came from the fact that the emperor would choose to wear western clothes in more formal, international events, and for religious national events would choose the traditional Japanese court dress. The western clothes will end up being a symbol of the modernization of Japan, and the Meiji government would use it as yet another tool of national control. For all the Japanese born after 1945 the western clothes became the norm. Most families would end up transforming their kimonos into western clothing pieces, and the patterns sold for kimonos would double for kimonos and western clothing.

But it is funny to notice how despite it all Muzan is the one being presented in western clothing and Ubuyashiki is the one in traditional clothes, always being the contradiction of the other, but also it can also be interpretated as the Ubuyashibi family being "trapped" in the past since in hundred years the corps never killed an upper moon, the history never changed. And Muzan in his ever-changing cycle of his life, in the changing of eras and changing of personas he decided to reuse the only thing he could: his clothes. And just like him, they would adapt through the times.

MILHAUPT, Terry Satsuki. 2014 - Kimono: A Modern History. London: Reaktion Books [Ebook]; SLADE, Toby. 2009 - Japanese Fashion: A cultural History. Oxford, Berg. [Ebook];

[iamjapanese]

Nora Akino（Japanese/American）

Kimono Moon 2014 monotype 15″x21″ via

[mrmousetolliver]

Tou Katsu in an editorial for Kapuki denim kimonos. (2014)

[frary-us]

Toby's recent blue velvet suit reminded me of one of my all-time favorite Regbo selfies -- when he looked gorgeous wearing a crushed blue velvet & paisley kimono made by his ex-girlfriend in May 2014😍💙👘🔥:

[2010s-nostalgia]

Does anyone know what's up with the "2014 aesthetic" thing? I keep seeing these moodboards that are, apparently, meant to be pictures that look like 2014, but they're like images of eos eggs, TOMS, kimonos, and hoards of victoria secret body spray. In case yall did not know, eos eggs were not cool anymore in 2014

[eunicecorn22]

Blossoms of Spring - Draw this Again 2024 🌸

Happy 10 years to the creation of Kimono Girl 🎉

I'm gonna keep the sappy sentimental part short bc I don't think ya'll wanna read it lmao.

Crazy 10 years has passed and a lot has changed since. I look back at the 2014 version with such fondness despite all my technical art errors hahaha

I think 2014 me would be beyond happy to see the 2024 version of her artwork 🥹

And to celebrate 10 years, I decided to make her an official OC and give her a name. She will now be called Honoka ✨✨🎉🎉

[maigeiko]

Hello ! I really admire your blog and knowledge , I want to start by saying thank you for your hard work and dedication ! I would like to ask , what’s the difference between saying 〜をどり and 〜おどり ? I assume they must be read the same , but is it a difference of dialects , type of event , etc. ? If you don’t mind me putting another question there and if it isn’t too personal , what made you create this blog and start diving into this world ?

Hello! I'm glad if you can learn something new with this blog :) As far as I know, yes - をどり and おどり are read the same, but the spelling with "を" is older and likely used to make the "odori" look more traditional. Don't think it is related to dialects or different events. What made me create this blog and start diving into this world? Some time in 2010, I was hanging around on tumblr, followed some Japan-related blogs and came across this picture:

Although I knew about the existance of Geisha in general before (misconceptions mostly), this specific picture was the start of a deeper interest. It was all super fascinating. The colours, the kimono, the seasonal changes... so, a Maiko from Kyoto was the gateway drug for me, as for many other people too :D In December 2012, I was still very confused about everything and joined Tsurukomaiko forums (back then, they were partially open to public). There, I came across the fact that there's Geisha outside of Kyoto too and found it even more confusing. But tbh, there were still a lot of misconceptions like "she wears a wig? Can't be a real Maiko. She wears Furisode, not Hikizuri? Can't be a real Maiko. And what's this weird Obi knot?" (a more advanced challenge was "is she a Furisode-san or an Asakusa Hangyoku?"). The topic of "Geisha outside of Kyoto" didn't let me go, and I learned more and more (over the years, there was more info available on the internet, compared to 2008, when Tsurukomaiko forums started, and 2014, when I actively started collecting pictures and searching for infos. This blog was started in 2016 to share my growing hobby of "Geisha outside of Kyoto" with other people who might be interested in it, and there's still so much to discover! That's it :)

[kkat-astrophic]

heyy^^ sorry to bother I just wanted to ask is your pfp official art?? if so where did you find it?

not a bother at all!!! My pfp is official art from the anime in 2014, some rare posters. It comes in a box set with the popular image of kiyotaka, mondo, and yasuhiro in Kimonos. The image of my pfp is of Leon in a byakuya outfit, he's with Makoto and Byakuya. The original image has a big sample text over the top. I'll try and find the original image and reblog it later (I have the image on laptop rn but I'm on phone). Search up "#Leon Kuwata" on my tags if you want to find it quickly!! <3<3<3

[omegaremix]

Omega Radio for February 24, 2014; #47.

Laura Nyro “Buy And Sell”

Tim Weisberg “Killing Me Softly With His Song”

Smoke “Shelda”

Gianni Oddi “Kimono Pop”

William B. Tanner “The Cat”

Jacky Giordano “Train”

Puccio Roelens “Northern Lights”

Blue Mitchell “Delilah”

Phil Upchurch & Tennyson Stephens “South Side Morning”

Eddie Harris & Les McCann “Set Us Free”

Joe Simon “It Be’s That Way Sometimes”

Rance Allen Group “Give My All To You”

Exuma “Silver City”

Orchestra Julian “Do It With Class”

Modern Soul Band “5 Hach Nalb 7”

Eddie Bo & Inez Cheatham “Lover And A Friend”

Black Sugar “Kathy”

Lalo Schiffrin & The Mike Curb Congregation “Burning Bridges”

Blackrock “Yeah Yeah”

Bayete “Free Angela (Thoughts…And All I Got To Say)”

Michael De Albuquerque “Sweet Mirth”

Gladys McFadden & The Loving Sisters “Never Gonna Turn Around”

Jeannie Reynolds “I’m Hooked On You”

Riff Raff “Original Man”

General Lee & The Space Army Band “We Did It Baby” part 1 & 2

John Tropea “Can’t Hide Love”

Teddy Lasry “Los Angeles”

Gil Flat “End Of A Story” part 2

Leroy Vinnegar “Doing That Thing"

Modern Sound Quartet “Eerie Night”

Pierre Arvay “Sky Way”

Rubba “Way Star”

Guru Guru “Taoma”

Bill Summers “Brazilian Skies”

George Duke “Feel”

Herbie Hancock “Spiraling Prism”

Tony Hymas “Final Inspection”

Azymuth “Fly Over The Horizon (Vôo Sobre O Horizonte)”

Bonus broadcast of vinyl treasures, sampling, crate-digging, soul, funk, groove, R&B, jazz, and fusion.

[tanuki-kimono]

Helllooo I would love it if you could find some lovely green kimonos to post ❤️❤️ I feel like green is an underappreciated color on kimonos!

Green is actually quite present in Japanese traditional color palette! Kimono fashion uses many green hues from deep jewel ones (mostly for winter), to light and soft ones (reminding people of young spring sprouts).

I rarely tag colors, but you can check the blog archives page which will let you see all past notes since blog creation in January 2014 ;)

[savage-kult-of-gorthaur]

"IS THERE A GEISHA IN THE HOUSE?" -- IN MICHI HIROTA'S OWN WORDS.

NOTE: I cropped the hell out of this "Kimono My House" outtake and am currently using it as my cellphone wallpaper. Michi is such fun to look at!

MADELINE BOCARO: "What led you to become a model on the cover of "Kimono My House"?"  

MICHI: "We were both actresses touring with a Japanese theatre company in Europe and the USA. My husband Joji Hirota was musical director. A record company (Island records) approached our director looking for Japanese women, and we were asked to do the modeling. I am the woman on the right (with a fan)."

MADELINE: "Do you know the whereabouts of the geisha on the left?"

MICHI: "I have no news about the other lady since I left the Japanese theatre company at that time, however her maiden name was Kuniko Okamura. She married a Frenchman soon after finishing our tour and bore 4 children."

MB: "What kind of instructions did Ron Mael, or the photographer give you?"

MH: "We were not told much, they just let us move freely. We didn’t know how to arrange our hair properly or how to fix our kimono. There was nobody to dress us. The session took 4 or 5 hours."

MB: "Karl Stoecker also photographed models for the ROXY MUSIC album covers. Did you ever work with him again?"  

MH: "I’ve heard that he is the one of the foremost photographers in the world, but unfortunately I never had a chance to work with him. (I would like to, if he is looking for an old Japanese lady!)"

Source: https://madelinex.com/2014/12/25/sparks-iconic-album-cover-kimono-my-house.

[itsmarjudgelove]

Age, physical appearance, and abilities are the key distinctions between geisha (geiko) and maiko.

Maiko typically looks younger than 20 and has poor conversational abilities. She also wears a more vibrant kimono with a red collar. Maiko, which is Japanese for "dancing child," refers to aspiring geisha. For a period of five years, Maiko must reside with their mother (okami-san) in the geisha lodging house (okiya). Maiko is not permitted to possess a cell phone, carry cash, or date.

What is a Maiko?

Maiko are the trainee geisha who are still honing their cultural and performance abilities. Maiko's attire draws extra attention in order to hide her inexperience and lack of understanding. Geisha attire is typically more sophisticated and understated. Maiko is forced to live with her "mother" and is solely dependent on the meager stipend she is given by the geisha house. In contrast, geisha are more self-sufficient and have their own home in the geisha communities. The pictures below show how you can tell a geisha from a maiko without any effort.

What does a geiko (geisha) do?

Professional performers of ancient Japanese arts and crafts such shamisen playing, dancing, and tea ceremony, geisha are members of recognized geisha groups. In the Kyoto dialect, geisha are referred to as geiko. "Geisha (geigi or geiko) is a traditional Japanese female entertainer, whose skills encompass many arts like dancing, singing, and playing music," according to Broma-Smenda (2014). In contrast to courtesans (yujô), geishas were exclusively trained in traditional Japanese arts and served as men's dinner companions.

The definitions of Maiko and Geisha

Gei-sha is a term for an artist, and mai-ko is a term for a dancer. Performing arts are what the word gei in gei-sha and gei-ko refers to. In this context, sha and ko essentially imply the same thing: a person. Japanese for "dancing" is mai, and -ko here denotes a young person.

Communication abilities

Maiko would generally say less and nod or smile more during a conversation because she is still in training. Geiko, on the other hand, is a master at starting and keeping up a conversation in any setting. Geisha would be aware of the kinds of talks that help their clients feel peaceful, at ease, or joyful.

cultural knowledge

Maiko would often go to the dance school and perfect her shamisen playing while there. Geiko is a skilled dancer, shamisen player, and tea ceremony expert. Geisha dance to various themes and music practically every month as the seasons and festivals change, which is why the training takes so long. Each geisha neighborhood in Kyoto has its own unique musical instrument and tea ceremonial traditions. Therefore, it is untrue that all geisha were proficient musicians.

Age

The geiko is over the age of 20, whereas Maiko is between the ages of 15 and 20. In the past, young girls were sold to okiya at the age of 7, but because this is now prohibited in Japan, many girls join the okiya after completing junior high school, which is the minimum level of education required by law. Despite the fact that the maiko stage might occasionally span 7-8 years, the usual maiko training lasts 3 to 5 years. Therefore, maiko who are older than 20 years old do exist in Kyoto. Readers should be aware that maiko are unique to Kyoto; the maiko-stage does not exist in the other geisha districts.

The attire worn by maiko today still shows signs of the young females who formerly were. For instance, maiko typically wear a sash with a large depiction of the okiya's emblem. Due to the fact that these young girls used to become lost and that people could identify the crest to return them to their homes, the mark is very large.

Appearance

Geiko typically have mature, refined appearances that are straightforward, attractive, and polished. Maiko expresses her youth and innocence in her vivid, vibrant clothing.

Face covered in white powder

Contrary to popular opinion, neither geiko nor maiko always wear white makeup, but when they do, there are variations. Maiko has a small gap between her hairline and her white-powdered skin, whereas Geiko would have a fully white face. Geiko and Maiko wore white makeup so that they could be seen clearly in the dark as there was no electricity in the past.

Lips

While Maiko, particularly Junior Maiko, only tints the lower lip crimson, Geiko colors both of her lips red. Maiko's lip makeup varies between the senior and junior versions.

eyelids that are flaming

Maiko have a recognizable red eye makeup, however geiko's redness is less prominent. The red eye makeup is frequently associated with the kabuki tradition, which frequently uses white, crimson, and black colors to stand out to viewers who may be seated far away.

rosy blush

Unlike the geiko, the maiko have pink blush on their cheeks. Maiko is supposed to always appear innocent and childlike.

Wig

Maiko has no wig on. They are need to style their own hair, which takes time and money. Maiko frequently spend the night sleeping on a piece of wood (takamakura) to preserve their hairdo. Geiko wears wigs because aging makes hair a little oily, which is hard to maintain, and style typically causes damage to hair over time.

Hair styles

The hairdo is one of the greatest distinctions between a maiko and geiko. Maiko have the wareshinobu hairdo, which is shown in the drawings, while the geiko have the shimada haircut. The hairdos of senior and junior Maiko differ. Maiko wear monthly-changing, brightly colored hair accessories with floral themes. The only hair accessory Geiko wears is a straightforward comb.

Hairpins

Maiko sports bira, which are silver, dangling metal hairpins. Geiko typically wears no hairpins or just uses very basic ones.

Kimono

Maiko dress in a vibrant, typically flower-decorated kimono with long sleeves, as seen in the pictures, while geiko dress in a straightforward kimono with short sleeves. Maiko and geiko wear separate inner garments, as was already mentioned. Typically, the chest of the maiko is suppressed to highlight her youth and purity. Maiko and Geiko both dress in pricey, custom-made silk kimonos, which are never found in shops.

The color of the collars worn by maiko and geiko is one of their primary distinctions. Geiko wears a white collar, while Maiko wears a red collar. Because of this, when a maiko transitions to a career as a geiko, they refer to it as "turning the collar."

Sash (Obi)

A 5–7 meter long silk sash is worn by Maiko. Geiko dons a straightforward, short sash. In the winter, Maiko's outfit—with the long sash, the intricate undergarments, and the jacket—can weigh up to 15 kilograms.

Sandals

Maiko wears okobo, which are tall sandals, while geiko wears zori, which are little sandals. Maiko typically wears sandals with a bell that jingles while she walks. Despite the fact that the sounds of these tiny bells may make them appear infantile, the locals refer to this sound as the sound of Kyoto streets.

How can you turn into a geisha?

The first stage in becoming a geisha is to apply to and be accepted into an okiya, where one can receive maiko training before becoming a geisha. However, it is still possible, just not typical, for foreigners to be accepted for training. Geisha are traditionally women of Japanese descent.

How do Geishas sleep?

To keep their haircut, Maiko was frequently taught to use a takamura as a pillow when they slept. Despite the fact that geiko or geisha would occasionally do the same, some choose to wear wigs because the haircut frequently wears down natural hair over time.

How can a Geisha be hired?

There are numerous opportunities to interact with geishas in Kyoto, particularly at the Kyoto Maikoya Tea Ceremony, where guests can watch geikos or maikos perform. Other opportunities include online meetings and in-person private sessions.

Why do geisha wear white makeup and have black teeth?

Geiko and Maiko wore white makeup so that they could be seen clearly in the dark as there was no electricity in the past. The black teeth, or "Ohaguro," are a custom used to indicate that a person has reached adulthood and provide a beautiful contrast to the white cosmetics. Although it is no longer done, certain geishas in Kyoto used to color their teeth.

In Japan, are geishas revered?

Geishas are highly regarded as entertainers and artists in Japan; becoming one is a lengthy and challenging process, particularly in Kyoto where the traditions are rigidly upheld