We've all seen them. There are many stunning pictures out there of Kagome in kimono. However, I have not found one yet that shows proper kitsuke whether of the Sengyoku period, or the modern one.

Thus, I present the following challenge: To draw Kagome in a proper, MODERN kimono.

This challenge will be judged by me. I have currently completed with my yukata kitsuke license. I am a student actively seeking my degree from a kimono kitsuke dressing school in Japan.

1)The artwork must be colored- at least Kagome herself and the kimono.
2)The must be a dominant season in the artwork.
3)Backgrounds are not necessary.
4)You must label Kagome's age in the artwork description.
5)You must state what Kagome is dressed for in the description.
6)No yukata or hanhaba obi are allowed.
7)You may dress Kagome in either a komon, tsukesage, houmongi, furisode, or tomesode.
8)Chopsticks are not meant to be in hair. Ever. FYI: Everyone of my colleagues and instructors find it disgusting. We all thought it was weird when Ariel the Little Mermaid stuck a fork in her hair, right?

Here are each different classification of sets:

Komon, least formal. Good for out on the town running errands or a casual occasion.http://www.yamatoku.jp/classic/description.asp?tno=80764823

Tsukesage or Houmongi. Both are asymmetrically-designed kimono. Tsukesage's designs don't match up perfectly across the seams, but homoungi always do. Homoungi are more formal and often have at least one mon (family crest). You could wear a tsukesage out on a date like the Western "little black dress". Homoungi would be like wearing a long gown.

Furisode. Long sleeves for unmarried women, or women under their mid-twenties. By the way, I HATE this color combination.

Tomesode- a solid color kimono with a design on the bottom and five crests. Most formal. This would be a ball-gown in Western perspective. Most often worn by women over the age of 25.

Here's some video references so you can see how furisode and kosode-length sleeves move, and the difference between the two ages.

Kimono for older women always have a slightly lower slung obi, collars that are crossed just below the collarbone, and less obiage scarf over the obi noticeable.


Video Two (I couldn't get the link to work for some reason)
For a younger women, the obi is worn just a little bit higher, with more of the obiage scarf seen on top exposed, and the collars are crossed just above the collarbone.

There is always, always, ALWAYS a waist fold. It should be just under the width of the person's hand (or 7cm). This is called the ohashori.

Things that aren't kimono:
This,

This,

This, ...you get this point.

Here is a full list of proper motifs by season:
January
ShouChikuBai combination of matsu, take, and ume (pine, bamboo, and plum)
Eyeless Pidgeon
Unhusked Rice

February
Ume (Plum Blossom)
Daffodils
Pinwheels

March
Nanohana (Rape Blossoms)
Cho (Butterflies)
Botan (Peony)
Momo (Peach Blossom)
Suisen (Narcisuss)



April
Sakura (Cherry Blossom)
Bonbori (Lanterns)
Single Silver Large Cho (Butterfly)

May
Fuji (Wisteria)
Ayame (Iris)
Cho (Small silver butterflies)

June
Yanagi (Pinks and Trailing Green Willow)
Ajisai (Hydrangea)

July
Utiwa (Paddle Fans)
Maiogi (Folding Fan)
Running Water
Dragonflies
Tsuyushiba (Dewed Grass)
Fireworks

August
Asagao (Morning Glory)
Suskui (Pampass Grass)

September
Kikyou (Bellflower)
Kikyou WITH Kiku (Mum)

October
Kiku (Cystanthamum)
Red and White, goldenrod or orange Mum

November
Katsura/Momji (Maple Leaf)
Ginkgo

December
Take (Bamboo)
Mochi (Rice Cakes)
Mochibana (Rice Cakes in Trees. Can I have one without the sticks, plz?)
Maneki Tags (Kabuki Theater Reference)

Kimono:
Winter
Shouchikubai (Plum, bamboo, pine combo
Ume (Plum Blossom))
Camelia
Snow covered bamboo
Snow covered pine
Snowflakes
Bare trees
Bare branches

Spring
Sakura (Cherry Blossom)
Falling Sakura Petals
Cho (Butterflies)
Botan (Peonies)
Fuji (Wysteria)
Magnolia
Ayame (Irises)
Daffodils
Suisen (Narcissus)
New bamboo shoots
Orchids
Kujaku (Peacock)

Summer
Butterflies
Peonies
Grasses (green)
Willow
Pinks
Birds
Running water
Fireworks
(Bara) Roses
Dragonflies
Thistle
Fans
Koi
Clam catching baskets

Autumn
Kiku (Chrysanthemum)
Momoji (Turning Maple Leaves)
Bush Clover
Kiri (Paluownia)
Grasses (usually brown, or dry)
Falling leaves
Bundled bare branches
Bellflower

I don't mean to toot my own horn, but I feel I am capable of judging this challenge and look forward to seeing what you artists can create! Most of all, the biggest objective is to see what everyone can learn about kimono. It's a wonderful part of Japanese culture that is quickly fading away, so it would be inspiring to see some people stop and look at it a little closer. ^^



I leave you with this....just because it's too darned cute:

I always try to keep in mind that kimonos aren't meant to show curves.
I feel inspired to do this challenge. Thanks for all the info.


Interesting fact: Korean hanbok's are meant to resemble the outline of pottery. It would seem most northern Asian traditional clothing had the policy of covering up. Which makes sense since they're off shots of China.

dokuga.com/gallery?func=detail&id=3568

My entry. I did my best to make it accurate, not sure if I did a good enough job though.