Why it's wrong that I want this outfit

[gurdymonkey]

Screenshot of Mieko Harada as Kaede, from Kurosawa's Ran. http://www.kurosawamovies.com/gallery/main.php

Well, for one thing, Kaede is the Goneril character in Kurosawa's adaptation of the King Lear story to feudal Japan. I'm not all sweetness and light, but she's way meaner than I am. 

For another, see the triangles all over her kosode? That's a serpent scale motif, traditionally used in Noh costumes worn by the Hannya, a woman who is turned into a demon by her own jealousy.
https://eee.uci.edu/clients/sbklein/images/NOH/nohmasks/pages/surihaku.htm shows two examples of snake scale Noh robes.

Lastly, she dies in it.

It's still freaking gorgeous though.

Comments

[karisu-sama.livejournal.com]

See, all this cool cultural reference stuff that went completely past me when I saw this movie eons ago as a teenager... :D

Yeah, she's nasty, but she has a valid motive. I can't blame her too much.

And the "arrow bundle example" is a rip-off from Genghis Khan, I believe.

[takadai-no-tora.livejournal.com]

It is freaking gorgeous.
Her sleeves are interesting; the openings seem bigger than most kosode, but they're still partway sewn closed. Maybe a theatrical costume necessity? It looks to me like she's got her outer layer off her shoulders and hanging down around her waist, am I seeing that right?
The color combination with the cream/bronze/black/red is great; I may have to steal it for a braid.

[eleryth.livejournal.com]

It's gorgeous! I've never seen the movie, unfortunately. I'd love to see your version, should you ever decide to make one.

[ladycelia.livejournal.com]

It's a gorgeous robe--and really, how many people who saw you in it would understand the symbolism?

[danabren.livejournal.com]

Patchwork? Print? DELICIOUS!

(and here I was, wearing autumn pine LOL)

[horsefriend2.livejournal.com]

Ummm,

And you wearing a pattern with that significance is wrong how?


; >



a/s

[saiaiko.livejournal.com]

Sister, wear it! Lady Kaede is my absolute favorite. There is often talk of commitment to a purpose in bushi living, but rarely is it so exemplified as in her complete devotion for revenge. She, alone, accomplished from within what armies failed to do from without. Demon, or her darker Buddha nature?

In any case, if I were you, I'd make it and wear it. Very similar to Marquise de Merteuil in 'Dangerous Liasions', "And I've succeeded because I've always known I was born to dominate your sex and avenge my own."

[sarcasm-hime.livejournal.com]

Now I'm tempted too; that's my favourite colour combination.