Trying to decide.....

[gurdymonkey]

I have this:
 

I also have this:

Do I want to make this (with the purple geometric)?

Or this (with the white)?

Or just wear my karaginu mo to Twelfth Night?

EDIT. Bad girl, no citations! Both those pictures come from the Kyoto Costume Museum website at http://www.iz2.or.jp/english/

Comments

[reynardine.livejournal.com]

I vote for the white, although the other is lovely as well, I really like that white fabric.

[ldyanna.livejournal.com]

I vote for the purple. Mostly because, while the white is gorgeous, the style of the top picture is more unique and less seen here in the West.

[callistotoni.livejournal.com]

I was thinking that same thing...

[danabren.livejournal.com]

Do you want to be in drag? Or a woman in a drag costume? Because I think that you should be a woman in a drag costume and make the second one. (POMPOMS!)

[gurdymonkey.livejournal.com]

Men's suikan also sometimes have the dorky pompom things.

Suikan and kariginu are fairly similar in construction, but kariginu are longer and worn "out" while suikan are tucked into the hakama or sashinuki.

[danabren.livejournal.com]

Ah knows.

What I'm saying is, while these garments are both technically male, one is designed to be worn by a woman dressing as a man (which is the one I think you should make) while the other garment means that you'd be dressing as a drag king.

Is there a difference? Hell if I know, I don't think I'm explaining myself properly. Either way, you certainly won't be half-assed about it, and you'll look fabu.

[kass-rants.livejournal.com]

No, it's actually a woman dressing as a woman who just so happens to wear men's clothing. If I'm not mistaken, the second picture is of a shirabyoshi dancer. They typically wear kariginu and carry men's fans. But they are not in drag. They are not attempting in any way to look like men. It's just what shirabyoshi wear.

I agree that she should make the second one, though, for similar reasons. Who wants to dress as a boy? Huff!

[danabren.livejournal.com]

*brain breaks*

It's much too Victor/Victoria at this point. As always, I bow to your much greater knowledge and just say

MAKE DA SECOND ONE!

[kass-rants.livejournal.com]

I CONCURR!

[bovil.livejournal.com]

The hints are always where you're not looking.

The way the sleeve cords are styled is one of the details that indicate it's not an adult male's suikan (where they would work as drawstrings), nor is it a boy's suikan (examples of which I've seen have a much more complicated appliqué faux cord).

[kass-rants.livejournal.com]

I'm for option B because it is a woman's garment. As you know, I do not agree with women dressing as men. ;)

[momstable.livejournal.com]

I vote for A. I like the purple geometric fabric. And the outfit looks easier to manuever in. (Ramon adds - "so that you can dance with Ramon")

Plus it looks completely different from any of your previous Japanese outfits...at least the ones I've seen.