Sarah Konrad, Caitlin Compton and I found out today just what it takes to get done up in a Kimono. Here we are after we got dressed in front of the Girls' Day display. 
First the undergarments. We were beset on all sides by Japanese women dressing us.
Sarah Konrad getting done up in her base layers. We each basically stood still like statues and tried not to obstruct the talented women attending to us.
After multiple layers, the actual kimono finally gets put on.
I really wish now that I had counted how many seperate pieces of clothing were put on us. I was too busy watching Konrad and Compton being dressed to count though.
For small, dainty looking women, they could definitely pull the many cords, bands and ribbons wrapped around our waist tight. Our posture got ten times better wearing these.
There is a LOT of fabric being wrapped around us, one way or another.
I paused from watching Konrad and Compton being dressed to check out what was going on with my kimono. I think I had the best kimono dresser working on me because she took the longest. But just wait until you see my obi.
After a few finishing touches. Oh, wait, I mean infinitely many finishing touches, we were beautifully dressed and ready to ceremoniously drink some tea.
Sarah Konrad called her obi a monkey hanging onto her back.
Compton's obi is a clever little crumple.
My obi if awesome. I cannot fathom how they take a strip of cloth and convince it to stay in these convoluted shapes.
Compton participates in a Japanese tea ceremony.
Sarah Konrad learns how to make tea properly for a Japanese tea ceremony.
I enjoy my green tea and try not to squish my obi or wriggle any of the knots and tucks and folds loose. I also learned how to make the tea. Fun times. I was surprised that there weren't more of the athletes partaking. We were there for an hour and there was only one other girl there (one of the Canadians). I thought it was awesome that they had kimonos for us to wear and the tea ceremony all set up.um... we do ski occasionally too.
posted by LAV at 23:20
2 Comments:
Great photos and interesting reading! The snow is just beautiful there. I had no idea that kimonos were so involved. I'm really enjoying learning about Japan through your eyes.
Wow, what fun you are having, I second what katemv said. Great cultural experience that will last your lifetime. Thanks for sharing. Steve E
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