In Praise of Mikako

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Mikako of Gion Kobu, in a stunning purple snow-patterned hikizuri with a variegated purple obijime, bright green and metallic gold/white obi, and red obiage with gold and purple fans.

It's the fine details that really makes this outfit as fine as it is- look at the way the obijime alludes to the way the colours change in the fan! The colour changes in the collar! How the lining of the skirt changes against the main colour of the kimono! This kimono is likely the same deep purple as the fans but cameras often make this shade of royal purple dye turn 'blue' when photographed in light. Kimono buyers not familiar with this phenomenon tend to be surprised when buying... to make it "purple" again, it must be in terrible light and deep shadows.

This is what takes an outfit from ordinary to dazzling.

- Paler purple date-eri to match the obijime, very chic.
- The green in the bamboo is the green in her obi.
- The browns on the branches allude to how the golds shine, change, and glow in the lighting on the gold on her obi, the shadows on her fans.
- The white in the obi hinting at the snow falling heavy on trees.
- The twisted ume above heavy bamboo and pine trees- the Three Friends of Winter. This is a specific allusion to the season, and perhaps to the song she is dancing. 
- Deep purple is an allusion to the depth of cold, which is why it is also sometimes worn during the height of summer: to remind people of cool weather. 
- The twisted ume pattern is contained within a tortoiseshell pattern. Tortoiseshell is a pattern of longevity, and ume (plum blossoms) are often the first flowers of Spring trying to break through the harsh snows of winter. They are hardy and thought to ward off evil. 
- On that note, the Three Friends of Winter, known as shouchikubai, are known for withstanding the colder months. This makes them symbols of strength, beauty and longevity. Often you will find them also represented in the hexagonal kikkou (tortoiseshell) pattern, as the plum blossoms are here. This means the obi fits quite well to the hikizuri, but only for someone who knows how to look for it! Think of it like an Easter Egg for kimono lovers...

Of course, I own nothing so luxurious. 

And I really didn't want to take the time to sew new collars. I had a few, but my hands often hurt and also I run out of energy easily. I call this "laziness." I decided I wanted an outfit inspired by this, but wearable for an "everyday" person, not for a specialized entertainer or performance. 

But god, what a performance it must be. And what a decadent treat to wear that outfit!

So I tried to use plum blossom pink, a deep purple kimono with a snow pattern that had paler purple spots on it like shadows of snow? 

The layers of red, red momi and red obiage (alternative: red momi, white shouchikubai obiage with gold threads for shibori sections,), pink juban with chrysanthemums as you can see that hint* of pink juban at Mikako's sleeve... a brilliant green and gold pine and plum obi with a reverse metallic side of silver, which I wore for the plum blossom kimono outfit... and a variegated purple obijime, much like Mikako's. 

I think I wore silvery brocade zori for this one to echo the feeling of 'cold'. 

(UPDATE: it is true! Mikako's hikizuri is actually purple! You can see it here.)