Lesson Number One: Small steps. This goes for walking elegantly in Japanese dress and for wearing it.
I started with an informal court outfit, four garments total: nagabakama (trousers), kosode, hitoe and uwagi. I estimate about 23 yards of fabric went into that. (For semi formal, add five layers at 6 or 7 yards each, for full formal karaginu mo add another 4 for the karaginu and six for the mo.) I wish I had more opportunities to wear this stuff, but it's not exactly practical. Know that going in.
Cosmetic-wise, I use a paint-on tooth black (which tastes vile for a couple of minutes when it's going on), a white theatrical foundation, and good old drug store eyeliner, mascara and lip color. I would LOVE to get my hands on real geisha/kabuki cosmetics, but I cannot rationalize the expense in doing so on my budget when I only do the makeup at indoor events.
I did the wig thing too for my first outing, but my hair is long enough and dark enough I can mostly get away without it now.
Another option is the later period samurai-class things, which what you'll see me in at outdoor events. That might only be two or three layers - and I fake under-layers with false collars in hot weather. ;-D
If you really are interested in doing this, let's chat when I get back from Estrella. In the meantime, go take a spin through the Kyoto Costume Museum and see what in there makes you go, "I wanna look like THAT!" http://www.iz2.or.jp/english/
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2008-02-11 12:52 am (UTC)I started with an informal court outfit, four garments total: nagabakama (trousers), kosode, hitoe and uwagi. I estimate about 23 yards of fabric went into that. (For semi formal, add five layers at 6 or 7 yards each, for full formal karaginu mo add another 4 for the karaginu and six for the mo.) I wish I had more opportunities to wear this stuff, but it's not exactly practical. Know that going in.
Cosmetic-wise, I use a paint-on tooth black (which tastes vile for a couple of minutes when it's going on), a white theatrical foundation, and good old drug store eyeliner, mascara and lip color. I would LOVE to get my hands on real geisha/kabuki cosmetics, but I cannot rationalize the expense in doing so on my budget when I only do the makeup at indoor events.
I did the wig thing too for my first outing, but my hair is long enough and dark enough I can mostly get away without it now.
Another option is the later period samurai-class things, which what you'll see me in at outdoor events. That might only be two or three layers - and I fake under-layers with false collars in hot weather. ;-D
If you really are interested in doing this, let's chat when I get back from Estrella. In the meantime, go take a spin through the Kyoto Costume Museum and see what in there makes you go, "I wanna look like THAT!" http://www.iz2.or.jp/english/