Clothing..?

[sebastian]

I've been planning a not so triumphant return to the SCA lately, and switching personas (from late german to edo or pre edo era japanese) and I'm in need of clothing. I'm not for sewing, or putting the time in to do it, at the risk of not getting something right and having said time wasted. Does anyone make, or know a good website, where I could purchase them, instead of endeavoring to make them? Any help would be greatly appreciated Thanks!

[Otagiri Tatsuzou]

I don't know of SCA people making wafuku for reenactment for sale.

If you are shooting for the Momoyama era, you can make do with a lot of 'vintage' clothing or commercial Edo-jidai clothing. But it really helps to look at a lot of Momoyama clothing and illustrations first, to develop your eye for the fashion of the times. Try here:
www.wodefordhall.com/kosode.htm

These guys sell Edo-period reenactment stuff:
www.shop-japan.co.jp/

You can search on 'vintage kimono' or 'vintage hakama' on Ebay.

Here are some ideas of my ideas for conversion. Feel free to correct me!

Some of the differences between modern kimono and muromachi kimono?

* Koshi-ita were rare or non-existant in the Muromachi.
- Tuck the koshi-ita under the obi or cut it off.

* Muromachi hakama were often colorful and could come in wide stripes or full patterns.
- Look for vintage hakama with some color or designs.
- Avoid 'martial arts' hakama of plain black or white
(although I'm not claiming that plain white or black was never used,
we just tend to over use them)
- Avoid 'martial arts' hakama with any kind of writing on them.

* Note the difference beween andon or gyoto (undivided) and umanori (divided) hakama.

* Measure from your belly button to the top of your foot. Ideally, your hakama should be this long.

* Some vintage women's kimono have color and design suitable for muromachi men's kimono.
- Note the collar. Is is 4" or more wide? Then fold it over and sew it in half.
- Note the 'detached' sleeve on the modern kimono. Careful seperate the seam along the body from the armpit down towards bottom hem in a line 0-4 inches shorter than the length of the sleeve. Sew the sleeve to the body.
- Modern sleeves tend to be more square than Momoyama sleeves. Pull the sleeve inside out and sew a rounder corner into it.
- Note that women's kimono are longer than men's - convienent fact for western men. But if you are wearing hakama with it, the kimono only needs to hang to your knees.

[Saionji Shonagon]

- Note that women's kimono are longer than men's - convienent fact for western men. But if you are wearing hakama with it, the kimono only needs to hang to your knees.

CAVEAT: Fit can be an issue regardless of length, especially if you are taller or broader than the average Japanese. Have someone measure you from wrist to wrist with arms outstretched, and from the nape of the neck to back of the knees (for wear with hakama). Most of the reputable eBay kimono sellers post the measurements of the garments offered for sale and you can get an idea whether the item you're looking at will actually fit you.

BTW, if you are modifying kimono, women's kimono sleeves are open in the back to flutter and show off linings. You men get to use yours as pockets, so the bottom back will be sewn closed.

Another option is to throw yourself on the mercy of a local friend who does sew. Japanese garment construction is mostly straight lines and rectangles.

Saionji no Hanae

[sebastian]

Otagiri, that second link is just what I'm looking for..but I don't know enough Kanji/katakana/hirikana to make orders, lol.

Nevermind, I just saw the english site button..Gomen, it's early, lol.

And I'll probably have to employ someone to sew a special kimono for me. I plan on modifying an outfit to be SCA rapier legal.