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Description
I've been trying to make a picture catalogue of my kimono collection for insurance and organization needs, and I thought I might put it up here for everyone's amusement (and in case my other copies of it get lost).

This is a Taisho period white crested furisode, or a formal long sleeved kimono from the the 1920s. Furisode are kimono that are worn by unmarried women. Modern furisode are the most formal kimono an unmarried woman can wear, but it used to be that a furisode in and of itself did not equal the height of formality for a young lady. The most formal furisode was black with five crests, but formal kimono of this time were worn layered. Two was a standard set for formal wear, but in extremely formal situations, a three piece set of black, red, and white matching kimono would be worn. This white furisode is most likely a part of this formal set, and was separated from its matched set sometime in the past.

The white kimono was the one that was usually worn on the bottom, and as formal kimono were still occasionally worn trailing at this time, the white kimono in the set usually picked up stains the fastest. Finding a white formal furisode which has a minimal amount of staining is thus pretty unusual, so I was really surprised at how well this piece has been preserved. The worse staining is some dirt on the hem and a red mark on the lower collar.

I find this kimono really charming. The colors are innocent and playful, it doesn't have the usual seriousness of highly formal kimono. I can imagine a girl with a youthful spirit and bright smile wearing this.

For a name I chose Tamachiyo, combining the kanji for jewel/ball and a thousand years/forever. Chiyo was a common girl's name and name element in the earlier part of the twentieth century, but sounds a touch outdated to the modern ear. It showed up in the names of a fair number of geiko, and since the large design on this has a maiko-ish feeling to me, I thought a maiko-ish period name suited this piece nicely. Although, I tend to call her Tama-chan most of the time.

Description
I've been trying to make a picture catalogue of my kimono collection for insurance and organization needs, and I thought I might put it up here for everyone's amusement (and in case my other copies of it get lost).

This is a Taisho period white crested furisode, or a formal long sleeved kimono from the the 1920s. Furisode are kimono that are worn by unmarried women. Modern furisode are the most formal kimono an unmarried woman can wear, but it used to be that a furisode in and of itself did not equal the height of formality for a young lady. The most formal furisode was black with five crests, but formal kimono of this time were worn layered. Two was a standard set for formal wear, but in extremely formal situations, a three piece set of black, red, and white matching kimono would be worn. This white furisode is most likely a part of this formal set, and was separated from its matched set sometime in the past.

The white kimono was the one that was usually worn on the bottom, and as formal kimono were still occasionally worn trailing at this time, the white kimono in the set usually picked up stains the fastest. Finding a white formal furisode which has a minimal amount of staining is thus pretty unusual, so I was really surprised at how well this piece has been preserved. The worse staining is some dirt on the hem and a red mark on the lower collar.

I find this kimono really charming. The colors are innocent and playful, it doesn't have the usual seriousness of highly formal kimono. I can imagine a girl with a youthful spirit and bright smile wearing this.

For a name I chose Tamachiyo, combining the kanji for jewel/ball and a thousand years/forever. Chiyo was a common girl's name and name element in the earlier part of the twentieth century, but sounds a touch outdated to the modern ear. It showed up in the names of a fair number of geiko, and since the large design on this has a maiko-ish feeling to me, I thought a maiko-ish period name suited this piece nicely. Although, I tend to call her Tama-chan most of the time.