Ladies garb for Pennsic

[Mega Zenjirou Yoshi]

So my lady has requested I make her a "kimono" for Pennsic..

I pretty much know what I am doing with kosodes now. So making one to her size, longer than I woukd make my own, I've got that. Add an extra fake eri or two, to give her that layered look, tabi and zori or geta. Check.

What am I missing?

She is still new and hasn't decided on a persona yet. I've got at least a weeks wardrobe for her of hand me down nanban garb, so I'm not worried about clothing her in Nihon-jin splendor for the whole week we will be there. But if I'm going to put her in a kosode for even an evening, I want her to come correct.

She is not a girly-girl, and mundanely we share the same t-shrts and such. She is attracted to the kosode I've already made (a linen juban) as she thinks it will be comfortable in the heat.

Links? Threads I have overlooked? Suggestions?
Should I just dress her up in one of my outfits (yet to be made)?

Thanks in advance!

[Deleted]

Jul 12, 2014 2:11:40 GMT -5 Mega Zenjirou Yoshi said:

What am I missing?

1) A hat. Some kind of head covering is absolutely necessary for Pennsic or she is going to catch fire in the sun, and hide in the tent when it is drizzly or cold. There's been some debate about exactly what women are wearing in those old paintings, but even a simple piece of white fabric tied like a bandanna is better than nothing.

2) Speaking of cold, Pennsic often gets cold at night. No, really; like down in the forties cold. Make sure she brings thermal underwear at the very least, but a warm overlayer like a dobuku or uchikake can really spiff things up.

3) I don't see any mention of hakama. It's difficult to walk around all day in ankle length kosode. Hakama are much more comfortable for movement. Lady Hara (my wife) prefers non-bifurcated hakama "skirts" since they make using the porta-castles easier.

Don't worry about the "dressing like a boy" stuff. As long as she doesn't mind looking a little common she will be fine. Pennsic is not a highly restrictive event. That bothers some people, but minor garb sins don't bother me that much at Pennsic. It's hot and dusty, and we're all just trying to stay comfortable. Strollers, on the other hand, and people talking on the phone...

[Saionji Shonagon]

Jul 12, 2014 7:29:05 GMT -5 @ishiyama said:

Jul 12, 2014 2:11:40 GMT -5 Mega Zenjirou Yoshi said:

It's difficult to walk around all day in ankle length kosode.

Wait, what?? Since when? I do it all the time. I use porta-johns in them all the time - and it's a lot easier than in hakama. I even fight in kosode!

You can get away without tabi in a pinch, but don't forget to sunscreen the tops of the feet if you do!

Seconding some sort of head covering. Add a fan.

Do one outfit and see if she likes it BEFORE you start going bonkers on layers. If you have time, field test it at a day event at home.

[Deleted]

Jul 12, 2014 10:58:50 GMT -5 Saionji Shonagon said:

Wait, what?? Since when? I do it all the time. I use porta-johns in them all the time - and it's a lot easier than in hakama. I even fight in kosode!

Did you think the powers of the Laurel would be limited to the Matrix?

Dealing with kosode alone in the porta-castles is easier than with any kind of hakama, but hakama skirts are easier to deal with than regular hakama.

You can get away without tabi in a pinch, but don't forget to sunscreen the tops of the feet if you do!

Some people have reported fair success simply jamming the fabric of regular plain white cotton socks between their toes and putting on the zori. Personally, I sew my own tabi socks by taking regular plain white cotton socks and sewing a split into them using the buttonhole stitches on a sewing machine.

[Saionji Shonagon]

Jul 13, 2014 8:39:26 GMT -5 @ishiyama said:

Jul 12, 2014 10:58:50 GMT -5 Saionji Shonagon said:

/quote]Did you think the powers of the Laurel would be limited to the Matrix?

Now you're just being silly.

Documentation for relieving oneself in kosode: www.tnm.jp/uploads/r_collection/LL_C0016936.jpg