Have you ever thought that your favorite color is too bright for your Kimono (着物) to wear?
If so, what about incorporating the color in Kimono accessories, such as Obiage (帯揚げ) or Obijime (帯締め)?
Obiage is a sash to hide Obi-makura (帯枕, a pillow-shaped fuller of Obi belt). Since it is very eye-catching, it is a very important part of your look which can even change the overall impression. As you can see in the pictures below, the red sash over the Obi belt is Obiage. For formal occasions, there are certain rules for wearing Obiage, but there's none for casual occasions. For summer, semi-transparent types are often preferred.
Obijime is a decorative band to fix the Obi belt. The origin of Obijime is in the Edo (江戸) era: a popular Kabuki (歌舞伎, Japanese traditional theater play performed by male actors) actor tied a string in order to prevent his Kimono from getting out of shape, and it became popular among women mimicking the same style. Today, Obijime in lovely colors are widely used. Even on Yukata (浴衣, very casual summer Kimono), which is originally worn without Obijime, adding Obijime is not unconventional any more.
Choosing such accessories is a big fun part of wearing Kimono. Enjoy and take your time to find the best one.
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