和服屋の催事 Kimono Sale

I went to the kimono sale at the new AEON supercenter in Odate. Their flier advertised houmongi for 6-man (~$533). There were actually only 3 kimono offered at that price. I tried one on and it looked very nice. The cream was とても顔映りがいい。It's yuzen-dyed with the flowers of the four seasons so it can be worn all year round (except summer of course). Conservative color but the flowers are bright enough so it doesn't look too old. Okay, maybe it looks a little "young mother at kid's graduation"-ish but that can be fixed with obi and accessories...

There were also furisode sets (33 piece with juban and shoes and bag etc included) for just under 10-man (~$890). This blue furisode is made out of cloth beautifully woven with a sakura pattern. That's why it doesn't have that much stuff dyed on it. The other cheap furisode were really red and pink and screamed SEJINSHIKI(coming of age ceremony)!

とても悩みました。I had begun wanting a formal kimono for a while now... and 6-man is the price it normally takes to get it tailored. ie. The houmongi I tried on normally costs 105,000 + 60,000 = 165,000. So I was thinking and thinking... at this price I can just get the kimono and find a good obi at a recycle shop (looked on line just now and there is stuff to be gotten from 35,000)... maybe some of my friends will get married soon... I can wear this until I'm 60... maybe I start doing tea ceremony...

So I BOUGHT IT. Actually, I haven't paid for it yet but I promised to do so next week after payday... I have 3 paychecks left I can handle it... but I shouldn't have because I'm moving back to the States and probably becoming a student again.

However, I will eventually need to get a fukuro obi, formal jyuban, formal zori, formal obiage and obijime...

So there you go: kimonoholism is very very scary.

Anyway, if you want to ever see this kimono, invite me to your wedding. :P