The Ornamented Being
Ornamented: -verb: Adorn; beautify
Be·ing: -noun: Fulfillment of possibilities; essential completeness
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“Spirited Away: Blooms stand out against a snowy forest backdrop - a promise of the spring to come”
(Source: http)
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I really wanted to share this with everyone because it’s unbelievable.
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It’s hard to believe I took this screenshot one year ago today.
I sat in the meetings room at university next to my Japanese classmate, holding his hand, and watching everything unravel live. He kept squeezing tighter, and tighter, and tighter until I thought my fingers would break but he never once cried. I did that for him.
Even though it’s only a small meaningless contribution, my thoughts and prayers are with the people of Japan who have faced this entire disaster with quiet dignity and honor.
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Kimono-style tea gown, c.1905
“Elegant tea gowns were worn by society ladies in their homes before dinner. They could relax with loosened corsets hidden under the flowing designs. When Orientalism swept the fashion world, loose Eastern garments were adapted to be worn as tea gowns. Many were imported and sold by Liberty & Co. in London.
Oriental garments for the Western market are eagerly sought today by collectors as evening wear. This fine piece was made from Japanese fabric, probably in a Tokyo kimono shop for export to the West. The style was adapted for Western tastes, while retaining traditional Chinese sleeves. The sash is more like a scarf than an obi. Without the traditional padding, the gown is lightweight.
The kimono is fashioned from very pale peach (almost beige) silk crepe and is lined with matching silk crepe de chine. The kimono is skillfully hand embroidered with trailing vines of wisteria in shades of lavender and green.
The exotic floral design has a magic as potent and restorative as the deepest slumber. The leaves have the haunting verisimilitude of nature in full bloom. The ends of the sash are finished with hand-knotted silk fringe.”
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I love this woman.
Murasaki Shikibu (ca. 973-1014) was one of the world’s great literary geniuses. She wrote the first novel in history—The Tale of Genji—and with it created not only a timeless masterpiece of Japanese literature, but an entirely new art form. The photos above show performers garbed as Murasaki: the style is elaborate Heian period court dress. To really pull this off you’d need about 12 kimonos layered on top of each other, which we’re thinking might be a bit much. We’re proposing a simpler approach.
The pieces we suggest, from left to right:
1. Miko cosplay costume. The miko costume consists of red hakama (divided trousers) and white haori (kimono jacket). This is similar to what Heian ladies wore under all their kimonos: you can see the red hakama on the performer in the photo up top.
2. Brocade kimono. Wear this beautiful kimono over the miko costume. Don’t use the obi: let the kimono hang open in the front.
3. Tabi socks.
4. Zori shoes.
5. “Geisha” makeup kit. Not really geisha; just classic Japanese makeup, which is what you need to recreate the look of an aristocratic Heian lady. (The “geisha” tag on everything drives us nuts.) The easiest thing to do makeup-wise in North America is just go with theatrical makeup, and this kit is an inexpensive choice.
6. Long black wig. Really long: 60 inches. Why do you need a five foot long wig? Because this is what Heian ladies were doing with their hair:
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I’m pretty obsessed with this costume also.
“Another headdress was made from an antique piece of beading from an exotic dancer’s skirt, circa 1920. Part of the headdress comes down onto Portman’s forehead; the beads are then draped up over the rest of the headdress, which results in a bangs-like look. The accompanying dress was based on a Japanese kimono look, with Biggar adding unique designs of her own. She accentuated the sleeves quite a bit, calling them “penguin sleeves” because they were so rounded they looked somewhat like a penguin. Machine and hand embroideries were used for this complex creation.”
I’m not exactly sure how I went from historic embroidered costumes to Star Wars but I don’t really mind!
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Two words.
THE BACK!!!!!
This is also attributed to Callot Soeurs and is dated 1921.
The sides remind me of a furisode!
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Callot Soeurs (French, active 1895–1937)
Madame Marie Gerber (French)
Dress, Evening
Fall/winter 1915–16Met
I’m getting a very Orientalism vibe here!
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It’s very Poiret-ish in style but it’s actually designed by the famous socialite and Titanic survivor Lucile, Lady Duff-Gordon in 1910
Fun fact: The dress sold for $35,850 (without buyer’s premium) at Doyle New York in November of 2004.
Very in vogue with the Orientalism theme that captured this period.
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Ok a little off topic from the Edwardians but oh my God it’s so brilliant.
When I die I’ll be buried in a Moitie Casket.
Edit: Guys please don’t over think this. It’s funny and it’s ok to giggle.
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c. 1880
The Met
Le robe d’interior was worn solely in the home by the hostess or by those in attendance at overnight or weekend house parties. The visiting house guest was afforded the leisure of changing for afternoon tea.
Celebrating the enhancement of a woman’s beauty these gowns, derived from the undress, were special garments. The afternoon tea gowns were visual confections. Intimate and often more luxurious than even an evening toilette their construction was loose, floaty, and exotic. Themes of the Orient were influential reflecting in the kimono drapings and classical motifs.-Ellen Easton
