So today was a fun day.
I volunteered last Japanese class to wear a kimono today. There was a geisha workshop at Timm's Centre at the U today. They needed a student to model the dressing of the kimono on stage.
Before the geisha performance, I was sent backstage for a couple Japanese people to dress me in the 'under-kimono'. I think they were surprised that I wasn't asian and that I had piercings and blonde hair. So the under-kimono is basically underwear of kimono. It's still really pretty though. I had to strip right down in front of them and they put it on me. There were like 4 layers! They also put towels around my waist and under my boobs because when you wear kimono, you can't have a girl shape. Everything has to be flat. I even got to put on toe socks!
I then had to walk to the side of the stage and wait until the geisha finish their dance. There was a bit of Q and A and then it was my turn to stand out there with them putting the rest of the kimono on me for everyone to see. There were like 10 more layers. It was ridiculous. I also couldn't breathe normally as the obi is really fucking tight. I don't know how the Japanese women do it. But in the end, the kimono was super pretty. I had a really beautiful "ayame" shaped obi tied in the back. Ayame is a type of flower.
Walking in the crazy sandles and kimono was interesting. You can't take big steps because the opening of the kimono is so small on the bottom and the sandles are a bit strange to walk in. The lady who dressed me told me in Japanese(well she only spoke Japanese.) to not make clumping sounds when I walk. That was tough. I am so not lady-like.
Overall, cool experience. I gave my address to them so I'll get pictures in the mail sometime.
I volunteered last Japanese class to wear a kimono today. There was a geisha workshop at Timm's Centre at the U today. They needed a student to model the dressing of the kimono on stage.
Before the geisha performance, I was sent backstage for a couple Japanese people to dress me in the 'under-kimono'. I think they were surprised that I wasn't asian and that I had piercings and blonde hair. So the under-kimono is basically underwear of kimono. It's still really pretty though. I had to strip right down in front of them and they put it on me. There were like 4 layers! They also put towels around my waist and under my boobs because when you wear kimono, you can't have a girl shape. Everything has to be flat. I even got to put on toe socks!
I then had to walk to the side of the stage and wait until the geisha finish their dance. There was a bit of Q and A and then it was my turn to stand out there with them putting the rest of the kimono on me for everyone to see. There were like 10 more layers. It was ridiculous. I also couldn't breathe normally as the obi is really fucking tight. I don't know how the Japanese women do it. But in the end, the kimono was super pretty. I had a really beautiful "ayame" shaped obi tied in the back. Ayame is a type of flower.
Walking in the crazy sandles and kimono was interesting. You can't take big steps because the opening of the kimono is so small on the bottom and the sandles are a bit strange to walk in. The lady who dressed me told me in Japanese(well she only spoke Japanese.) to not make clumping sounds when I walk. That was tough. I am so not lady-like.
Overall, cool experience. I gave my address to them so I'll get pictures in the mail sometime.
shadowd:
Very cool experience. I look forward to the pics. The Japanese get used to it at a very early age so you shouldn't be hard on yourself at all.
glass_cat:
yay for pictures... I am intrigued now... would have been neat to see.