Tag: birthstone

Birthstone Ensembles – May – Emerald

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It’s (roughly) the middle of the month, which means it’s time for another birthstone ensemble! This month, the queen of green gems, the emerald. Emeralds are often treated with oil to fill in microscopic fissures and fractures, and in certain lights those fill-ins can flash yellow or orange, so I knew this green odori piece with orange and gold accents was the perfect choice. I feel like they’re also quite often considered one of the more “regal” stones, and this flashy outfit works well in that aspect as well, doesn’t it?

Further emphasizing the green, the gold, the orange, and the dance aspect, my go-to pretied darari obi was the obvious pairing for this outfit. When I bought it I honestly did not think I’d end up using it as frequently as I do, but I am certainly not complaining. I decided to add a bit more pop and contrast with more yellow and gold accents in the accessories. Of course I had to use my green beaded obijime though. This whole birthstone project makes me wish I had beaded obijime in a whole array of colours, but they tend to be incredibly expensive due to the labour involved, and I’ve only managed to get the three I own through sheer luck. You can be darned sure I’m always on the hunt though. If you happen to come across any you don’t want to purchase for yourself, hit a girl up.

Items used in this coordination

 

Birthstone Ensembles – April – Diamond

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There really was only one choice for April’s birthstone – this shiromuku with sayagata pattern that looks like facets, and a white obi with silver hishi (diamond) designs. Add in a textured white and silver haneri and a white beaded obijime, and I honestly don’t know how I could have evoked diamond better without gluing crystals onto the ensemble. Which is not something I was keen to do on a wedding piece, frankly.

My only real wish was that the kimono and obi were both in the same undertone family. It’s not entirely evident here due to the blue background, but the kimono is more of a warm ivory white and the obi is a cool greyish white. But eh, lets pretend that’s to evoke light refraction or the colour variation you can find in natural diamonds.

I honestly don’t have a lot more to say about this particular coord. It came together like a dream, the kitsuke didn’t give me grief, and overall I’m beyond happy with this interplay of textures and now I’m even more motivated to stick with this project!

Also, does anyone else remember this Old Spice commercial? The “the tickets are now DIAMONDS” line has been looping in my head since I started.

I’m on a horse!

 

 

 

 

Items used in this coordination

Birthstone Ensembles – March – Aquamarine

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Welcome to the first/third installment of a year-long project. I’m determined to make a coordination every month that features the primary colour of one of that month’s commonly accepted birthstones. I say one of because many months have more than one accepted stone.

Should I have started this in January? Probably, yes. But I only got the idea a week or so ago, and here we are. I will be doing January and February’s shortly and backdating them. I will also have to do a few in advance, when I know I’ll be in California, but at least this way I’m guaranteed to get back to my roots and post at least one kimono ensemble per month, barring some unforeseen disaster like the Great Legsplosion of ’23 or some other such nonsense.

For March, we have the beautiful aquamarine. Not quite blue, not quite turquoise, but that ephemeral middle-ground. I knew I had to use this Taisho-era irotome, and the vintage mirror motif obi was a spot-on pairing. I love how it adds some sparkle and shimmer, very appropriate for a gemstone theme! I decided for a few hints of pink in the accessories because they’re already present in the kimono and read almost as neutral here. It also gave me an opportunity to use the amazing rainbow obiage I got from Chayatsuji Kimono recently. I am happy with how this all came together, and it gives me hope and encouragement for the rest of the project.

What’s your birthstone? Or, if you have several, which one do you prefer?

Items used in this coordination