BEAUTIFUL, VINTAGE, PALE ORANGE, LUSTROUS FIGURED SILK, JAPANESE, HOUMONGI FORMAL KIMONO, PRETTY HAND PAINTED & EMBROIDERED DESIGN OF LEAFY PLANTS WITH GOLD PAINT OUTLINES
This is a really super example of a stylish, authentic, vintage, formal kimono.
This kimono is a hand-stitched, silk, lined kimono. This kimono is made of high quality, weighty, fairly soft, lustrous figured silk. The background silk is woven all over with a very fine pattern which catches the light nicely and adds interest.
The base colour is a vibrant pale orange.
The design appears to have been hand painted using a dye resist technique like yuzen. This is a high end technique where the outlines are first painted in fine lines of dye resist product. The colours can then be painted within the outlines without them running over the edges of the design.
The design shows leafy plants in various shades of deep orange, golden yellows and browns, with white stems and tendrils.
Some of the flowers on the front skirt are outlined in gold couching embroidery. There are some fine gold paint outlines.
I truly hope you can see how unique and beautiful the design is on the photos.
The lining is fine, lustrous, warm white silk or artificial silk in the body and sleeve. The skirt and cuff are lined with a fine warm white crepe silk with a deep and bright orange border.
The fact that the patterning is predominantly on the front skirt, hem and sleeve and crosses the seam uninterrupted, denotes this as a formal kimono. I believe it is a houmongi (visiting) kimono.
HOUMONGI kimono which literally translates as visit (homon) wear (gi) and can be worn by both unmarried and married women. They are ranked second in formality behind the tomesode for married women and the furisode for unmarried women. Houmongi are the most formal of this kind of kimono as they have more patterning than other slightly less formal types of kimono such as the tsukesage. They are worn to such occasions as parties, tea gatherings, galas, exhibitions, more formal celebrations like weddings, and for visiting people.
PLEASE NOTE, this item does not come with a belt - although any sash or ribbon can be used to tie it. Authentic Japanese kimonos do not have belts but instead are worn with an obi.
AGE & CONDITION: This kimono is probably fairly contemporary. I would suggest it dates from around the 1990s.
It is difficult to judge the age on some kimonos, as they are traditional items and have been made in similar ways over decades.
The condition is vintage near mint to the exterior with just a tiny pen line on one sleeve. The lining has some spotting which would not be seen on wearing. This is a gently used vintage item in great overall condition but please don't expect it to be exactly like brand new.
SIZE: This is a a typical size, slightly larger than some and is typically very long (see explanation for this below).
Please check the length measurement against your own clothes to check the fit.
This kimono is a fairly average body size.
It should fit a range of sizes up to a maximum of UK14, as it is a wrap over style.
Cuff to cuff width is 132m/52".
Overall length is 152.5cm/60”.
The width across the back (side seam to side seam) is 62cm/24.5". The width all around at the waist (from the front of one side, all the way round the back, to the front of the other side is about 52"/132cm and please remember you need a good crossover in the front. The fine quality of the silk is reflected in the relatively heavy weight of 1050g.
WHY ARE MOST WOMEN'S KIMONO SO LONG? Contemporary and formal kimonos can be very long indeed. This is because they are traditionally shortened by hitching up at the waist and hiding the excess fabric behind the wide obi belt. (I can send instructions on how to do this if you want them). If you want to shorten a long kimono for ease of use then of course it can be hemmed up in the normal way. CLEANING: Vintage silk items should not be washed. They can usually be dry cleaned. Old stains are not usually removable and some finishes like gold paint may be diminished by dry cleaning.
CLEANING: Vintage silk items should not be washed. They can
usually be dry cleaned. Old stains are not usually removable and some finishes
like gold paint may be diminished by dry cleaning.
If you need any more information, please send me a message.
All information is to the best of my knowledge. Please bear in mind, that colours do not always show absolutely accurately on photos and on monitors although they should be close to reality.
My items are mostly vintage and are not returnable unless grossly mis-described, so please check the details and measurements before bidding/buying. Please be aware that vintage clothing does not usually 'look like new' even when it is in excellent condition. Some slight general signs of ageing and use should be expected. If these are conspicuous, they will be mentioned in the description.
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