(no subject)

[gurdymonkey]

Those who were around on Wednesday of Estrella saw me setting up camp in this outfit.

I was inspired to make these after bovil turned me onto an article about what the fashionable Japanese construction worker is wearing. Then again, back in the 80s, I took a pair of baggy, pleated front jeans and turned them into a very nice pair of riding breeches....



The fabric is a kasuri (ikat) recycled from a yukata given to me by a friend who is significantly smaller than I am. I selfishly preferred to make it into something for myself rather than pass it on.


I started with the hakama pattern on Sengokudaimyo.com cut to mid calf length, then used a pair of my jeans to pattern the kyahan (lower leg) section to a width I knew would fit me and pleated the hakama legs into it.

Nice link to a museum devoted to kasuri textiles:
http://home.e-catv.ne.jp/tour-ehime/kasuri.html

Since I wanted to be able to wear these with t-shirts and so forth, I closed up the side seams to the waist instead of leaving the traditional side vents open. I have a single waistband that ties in a small bow at the front and I have a fly flap that buttons to the inside of the waistband on the opposite side instead of a zipper or buttons - this preserves the loose hakama-like fit and look I wanted without showing "all the way to Okinawa." I wore them for the drive to Estrella War and during camp set up and they're quite comfy, though trying to drive in something with a very low crotch seam took a little adjusting to.

Comments

[sasha-khan.livejournal.com]

A majority of my turkic pants have a very low crotch - which did take some getting used to. They're some of my most comfortable (and preferred) pants now.

[gurdymonkey.livejournal.com]

Naw, your legs are just that long. ;-D

[takadai-no-tora.livejournal.com]

No they're not. They're really longer than that.

[ducking and hiding behind Saionji-dono--doesn't work, he can see me anyway without even standing on his tiptoes]