Kodomo no Hi + Kalesia Tea

It's possibly the last day I can tolerate awase kimono this year. And that is only because I am going to and from an air-conditioned place, in an air conditioned car, on a day where we will finally have some rain.

Today is Cinco de Mayo, but it is also 5-5, Kodomo no Hi (Childrens' Day). Plus, Kalesia Tea is having their Spring Tasting (but... it's almost summer?) which means lots of free tea to drink. How can I pass it up?

To get ready, I finally made myself a hanjuban layer. It was easy, really. I was frustrated that wearing only a tank top would still mean sweat might get on my juban, ruining the silks, so I cut the collar from a plain white cotton t-shirt. I need to sew on a binding piece of fabric to keep the knit from unravelling, but it didn't need to be done right then. T-shirt + susoyoke combo in white under a white hitoe juban, with a yellow nature and court scene patterned kimono in the shade of yellowed parchement paper. The obi is a parchment-patterned white, silver, and pale gold, woven with Heian-era court ladies and flowers to fit with the empty houses of the kimono. The ro obiage carries the muted oranges, greens, and purples within faded pale blue; the obijime is woven with the same blue and silver within rich brown. The zori, naturally, matched the metallics and silvers perfectly.

Even though it's Spring becoming Summer, I wanted to use muted colours as the kimono is still in the warm yellow-tan range that reminisces of heat in an already unbearably warm season. I think pairing the soft colours to emphasize blues and silvers might have helped 'cool' it visually.

My friends met up with me at Kalesia's to enjoy the different teas as well. It was nice to catch up with them. Eventually we decided that the tea was making us all hungry... and being Cinco de Mayo, we wanted to avoid any place that might have or be near a bar. Naturally, being in kimono and having a tea day, we decided to head to a sushi restaurant. It turned out to be very affordable, even on weekends! I can eat endless harumaki, okay? Even in kimono, I wear it so that the himo can be adjusted for a big lunch...

In any event, it was very comfortable to wear. I think it would have been even better if it hadn't been so hot... but I'm lucky that I escaped most of the rain! It suddenly started pouring on my way home, after threatening with grey clouds all day. Next time, I will remember to bring different socks for the drive. I take off my zori while driving because they slide, and I don't like that. But being the floor of an old car, the pedals get my white tabi absolutely filthy. So note to self: different socks to drive. Change them when I get to an event! And bring a tenugui to protect the kimono from the seat of the car!