Fashion: Kimono with Gothic Touch

What made my eyes observing this picture so much was her peculiar yet well-match coordination. She wore yukata with fish-net stocking, choker, hair bow and platform shoes! Wuah, she was so bold. I wanted to see her back view actually, but the picture wasn't available T_T.











Quoted from source:

Meet 21-year-old Japanese college student Satoko. Her gothic-meets-traditional look caught our attention when we spotted her on the street in Harajuku.
Satoko’s outfit features a yukata from Japanese fashion giant Uniqlo, a handmade strawberry-print obi, and gothic platform shoes. Her accessories include a black lace hair bow, a purse from h.Naoto, a red wooden cross necklace from tutuHA, a choker with a chain attached, and several plush charms (a pink pandatone Gloomy Bear, Pickles The Frog, and Kuro from Sentimental Circus).
Satoko told us that her favorite fashion brand is the Harajuku-favorite Black Peace Now. Her favorite music is by the Japanese metal band Onmyo-Za.

Source: http://tokyofashion.com/harajuku-girl-yukata-strawberry-obi-hair-bow-gothic/

Fashion: Yukata kimono and Ice Cream for Summer

Yukata is summer kimono. Well...to be exact, yukata is actually a kimono wore after taking a bath, simply put, a bathrobe. But the tradition is evolved and now, we can see yukata in summer, whether for hanging-out together, watching matsuri (festival), or dating to some family restaurants. Since it's for summer kimono, yukata is made of light-weight fabric such as cotton. It seems that the far left girl have a tsukuri obi/ pretied obi for her black koi yukata.

Source: http://www.thesartorialist.com/photos/on-the-street-aoyama-tokio-6/

Fashion: Tartan Kimono with Polkadot Haori/ Jacket

Japan has four seasons and the fashion follows that periodical cycle. In winter, the fabric used for kimono is more heavy weighted like wool. Sometimes, additional items like haori, hand muffler or even boots are considered stylish in winter. Check the picture below. I love the checkered juban. They looked outstanding.

Source: http://www.tokyofaces.com/2011/12/15/kimono-works-in-the-winter-too/

Coming of Age (Seijin no Hi) in Tokyo 2012

What is Seijin no Hi? Seijin no Hi (Coming of Age Day) is a time for families and friends to celebrate the transition from childhood to adulthood of young Japanese men and women who have reached their 20th birthday within the last year. Coming of Age Day starts with “official” ceremonies at local government offices all over Japan. After that, many 20-year-olds visit a shrine with their families. The day usually ends in a more relaxed manner with young people gathering together to party with friends.

Beautiful girls and gorgeous boys in Shibuya celebrating Sijin no Hi. Ooh...the furisode kimono are very astonishing!

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of “Seijin no Hi” to fans of Japanese fashion is that it’s one of the few days of the year when you can see young people walking the streets of Japan in traditional dress. Young Japanese women celebrating Coming of Age Day dress up in beautiful furisode kimono and visit salons to have their hair and makeup done for the ceremonies. FYI, furisode is the most formal kimono for unmarried woman. It has long sleeves and the patterns are gorgeous and fancy. In between events, and after they are done with the official ceremonies, you can see groups of 20-year-old girls walking all over Tokyo dressed in colorful kimono. Guys celebrating Coming of Age Day dress up as well – but in suits, not kimono. Of course, the young men look handsome, but it’s the kimono-wearing young women who turn heads all over Japan on Coming of Age Day.

Because of the beauty of the kimonos – and because it’s so rare to see so many young people wearing them on the same day – we go out every year on Coming of Age Day to take photos. Our usual place to take pictures (and one that we can recommend if you are ever in Tokyo on Coming of Age Day yourself and looking for kimono) is Meiji Shine in Harajuku. Many young women and their families make a pilgrimage to Meiji Jingu on “Seijin no Hi”.























































Source: http://tokyofashion.com/kimono-pictures-coming-of-age-day-tokyo-2012/

Fashion: Kimono Inspiration Tower-print Yukata with Striped Tight and Boater Hat

Look at her kimono! The motif was so original and bright. Surprisingly, the striped tights went well with her high heels. Ooohh...just realized that her obi had parrot print on it ^_^.








Quoted from source:

This is a 23-year-old Japanese girl that we met on the street in Harajuku. She’s wearing a yukata with a retro print featuring graphics of Tokyo Tower, musical notes, televisions, and other objects. Along with the yukata, her outfit features a hat, vertically striped tights (which appear to have a Vivienne Westwood logo), heels decorated with flowers, a ring, and a bag from MOMA.
When we asked what she likes to wear other than yukata, she told us that her favorite fashion brand is Vivienne Westwood.

Source: http://tokyofashion.com/harajuku-girl-tokyo-tower-print-yukata-hat-striped-tights/