#green obi

This kimono is a rich orange covered with a simple grid pattern of hand-drawn doodle flowers, which is incredibly whimsical in itself. Then they paired it with an obi with sage green and cream, keeping in tune with the almost 70′s color palette– then threw it for a loop with an almost spooky rabbit-head purse and pink socks!

Just when you thought this kimono coordination was going to be austere and sweet! 

Your accessories don’t have to be pristine, they don’t have to be formal, they don’t even have to be special for kimono. Use what you love and don’t be afraid to show your spirit, even in kimono!

Is it too early for yukata?

Um,no! XD 

Machigiya is offering this incredibly retro-cool black peacock and floral yukata that just brings a smile to my face. I honestly don’t know whether i like the lime-green or the pale grey peacock obi better with it, but the lime green does add a bit more pop to a yukata that’s already in danger of popping to death.

With bright teal, blood red, at least two greens, pink, white, mustard yellow and violet dancing around on the black ground, you need to be careful with your visual balance and they’ve done it by increasing the size of the lightest color flower and leaving a vaguely diagonal strip of negative space across the whole garment (in the manner of a houmongi). 

You can grab this designer piece for a mere (!) 40,000 yen. 

As I was scrolling across Rakuten looking for kimono to post, I stopped dead in my scrollwheel tracks because this one just made me smile automatically.

I am so pleased with the background cream color, the soft salmon pink, bright traditional blood-red and olive-green, but best of all is the super-delicate wash of spring green that is designed to look like swirling water— but despite all these complimentary colors going on, the whole design looks super fresh, light and clean. 

This motif heavily features chrysanthemums and maple leaves, but I also see some plum blossoms hiding in there– a very early spring motif, and the arches of sensu fans, which are also a fall or winter motif. This kimono is doing its best to play to all the cooler seasons, but it carries a breath of a clear summer day. Just imagine walking into a museum in the darker days of autumn wearing this kimono– you’d look like a little piece of sunshine!

Available from Kisste Kimono.