Kimono Day!

Our friend Migiwa was very nice -- not only did she lend us her kimonos, but also she dressed us and stayed in Western clothes to help if we had any crises (it's impossible to bend over in a kimono, and nearly impossible to use the bathroom, and if anything came undone, Mayumi and I would have no idea how to fix it). So we were lucky to have a very relaxing day thanks to Migiwa. It felt like playing dress-up. The picture of me in a pink-and-white cotton thing is the kimono "underwear," and they were shocked I wanted my picture taken "in my underwear." But I thought the process of getting dressed would be interesting to share. Actually, I have on about 4 layers under what you see in that picture, including real underwear, long underwear, hose, and a bath towel wrapped around my waist. These undergarments are followed by more layers and bands aroud my waist to eliminate any curves, making me straight up and down. There's a reason kimonos are designed not to show off curves: a long time ago when everything was made of silk, they passed kimonos down from generation to generation. All kimonos are pretty long, but each woman's waist and height are different. So if tons of fabric is wrapped around your waist, including the outer kimono, it's easier to have one kimono fit many women: you simply adjust the length by rolling the fabric into bands around the waist, and there's no need to worry about waist size, leg length, etc. One size fits all.

So the idea is to look curve-less, which may seem strange to westerners. But fear not, some parts of the kimono are designed for purely "sexual" purposes. (Why else is "scoop-neck" or "mini" in a western woman's vocabulary?) The most obviously sexy part of the kimono design is around the neck. The nape of the neck is considered very sexy, I'd venture to say almost erotic, when exposed. This is one reason why the pinning of all the layers is a delicate process: the kimono is wrapped very tightly, but must be done in such a way that the collar stays away from the back of your neck. The effect is really beautiful. See pictures.

Also, the big "bows" in the back are created by a waistband called an obi. There are many ways to tie the obi and of course everything is symbolic. The one I have was only worn by the highest caste of women in the Edo Period (Meiji Period? Meg please help!). Sometimes it's used today in weddings. Other parts of the kimono symbolize different things about rank and age and purpose, from the colors and designs on the fabric to the length of the sleeves.

Anyway, it took 45 minutes for Migiwa to complete both of our kimonos. There are so many layers, special knots, wrappings, pinnings, and unpinnings, the process is truly an art that requires both muscle (to wrap so tightly) and patience (to be yanked and wrapped and pinned for about 20 minutes). While we were getting dressed, Mayumi put on a Kelly Clarkson CD, and I couldn't help but laugh at the irony: the stereo was blasting "It Feels Like I Can't Breathe" as Migiwa was tying all my knots.

I don't mean to complain, though -- it's quite a lovely experience and, with hairdos and more make-up than usual, we felt quite feminine. It was somewhat similar to the prom. After we spent most of the day getting dressed, we went to the temple, where we prayed, read our fortunes for the year, and then had coffee and cake (uh, a very tiny piece of cake) at a coffeeshop. Then we came home and danced around Mayumi's apartment a bit before finally getting undressed and calling it a day.

Hope you enjoy the photographs. Mayumi doesn't realize how beautiful she is.