#summer patterns

[nerdykeppie]

a little preview of one of our our summer patterns!

[tanuki-kimono]

From our recent event of the fourth of July in the USA, I was also thinking of Japan's summer festivals. Besides yukata, are there kimonos that have festival themes like fireworks, festival decorations/sceneries, specific patterns, specific colors, etc.?

Japanese traditional culture is all about celebrating seasonality so indeed summer matsuri themed patterns are pretty common on summery items :)

(note that I used summer here in the Western sense of July/August. Traditional Japanese summer goes from something like May to July)

Yukata+kimono+obi+uchiwa are a staple, you can also find happi (tube sleeves coats) but those tend to bear mon (crests) and auspicious kanji.

Other festival garments count for example yosakoi (type of dance groups) uniforms, but those are more performance oriented. Otherwise, what would be a matsuri without fundoshi loincloth ;) (see how to tie one here)

On the top of my head, summer festival patterns can include (please note some are not summer only):

hanabi (fireworks)

dashi/yatai (parade float), used during processions. Mikoshi (portable shrine) is theorically possible but I don't remember seeing such a pattern

kingyo (goldfishes), kingyosukui is a popular summer game

fuurin (windchimes), often sold at matsuri

men (masks), most often kitsune or tengu but many more exist

toys, like dendendaiko (rattle drum) for ex.

matoi (firemen poles), brigades often present acrobatic shows in summer

chouchin (paper lantern), also see Obon below

etc.

Japan holds a myriad matsuri all across the country, each with their own traditions. But big celebrations often have related patterns:

Tanabata has stars, bamboo, tanzaku, magpies, ox, etc.

Obon has lanterns, cucumber, eggplant, death themed motifs (like nozarashi or graveplates), nod to Kyoto's Daimonji kanji, etc.

Famous festivals also have their own imagery (yamaboko float for Gion matsuri ex.).

As for colors, scarlet red is often found on matsuri decors, and indigo blue is a classical summer color (yukata were once dyed with it), but tbh any can be used nowadays :)

[thingsorganizedneatly]

Flower Mandalas by Kathy Klein

via Colossal

[galdrgobrrr]

Country girl who has Got to stop the cycle of martyrdom

[ghw-archive]

'Marigold' wallpaper design, 1875, William Morris

[angie-in-a-jail]

This stupid scene rotates in my head all day because I still can't understand it. Does Yuri think they've been dating since forever? Tamura says no!! Then why is he upset?? Because he always thought that Fujisaki only wanted to fuck and not date?? No because dating shouldn't change his experience at school that much, Fujisaki willingly let's him do other men in the school, and it's not like he can control Yuri anyways. Because he brought it up in the middle of it?? Maybe?? But if he didn't want to he could've just ignored him??Fujisaki single handedly caused this man to do even more weird things because he's the only person who managed to make Yuri upset, the guy that Tamura specifically said only has friends because he's never upset about anything whatsoever. He's also the only person (outside of Tamura ofc) to see his face properly without it being some occasion where he is required to take his glasses off. Yuri willingly speaks FULL SENTENCES with this guy, I don't even know if Fujisaki knows how special he is.

[etherealarte]

Omar Baban Design

[thedeafprophet]

The sun meets the horizon...but which way does it turn?

[Id from alt text: a digital art drawing of Summer from Fallen London, standing before a golden-orange sunset over the sea. She is depicted in a green silk sari with gold sun patterns and small dotted gold designs, part of it drapped over her head as a veil. Her dark hair peeks out from under the veil in loose waves. She raises one hand in a loose gesture, palm facing the viewer, and wears gold bracelets and earrings. The light from the setting sun creates a warm glow on her skin and clothing, casting long shadows. Her expression is poised and unreadable, but with a slight smirk. The sky is streaked with soft clouds, and the sun sits just at the horizon. /End id.]

Ever since Chapter 2 of Firmament introduced us to Summer and described the veiled silk dress she wore, I had such a strong urge to imagine how that could look... I'm obsessed with her and everything we've learned since.

[nocsa]

So I'm just a seamstress working out of my house doing my own thing, but for some reason the idea of maybe getting some of my designs manufactured and selling them or doing some kind of fashion show is on my mind rn.

So

Out of curiosity, if I were to make this dress available for sale (the design, not the exact fabric) would anybody out there be interested in purchasing this thing? It's made out of bamboo/rayon, is incredibly lightweight and flowy and twirly, and has pockets.

[stanford-photography]

Summer Long Ago By Jeff Stanford, 2025

Buy prints at: https://jeff-stanford.pixels.com/

[miamaimania]

Christopher Kane SS 2016 - Geometric appliqués create a vibrant visual on a minimalist silhouette.

[jadafitch]

Lighthouses of Maine art is now available on fabrics and wallpaper at three different scales in my SPOONFLOWER SHOP. You can also get the designs on ready made blankets, sheet sets, tea towels and more!

[oddestishottest]

4/18/25

[masterofiodine]

bbc ghosts modern au!!

making up their outfits was really fun (especially kitty and thomas, he would look great in skirt)

[perfectlyscentedturtle-7]

Moth by night:

[thecutestgrotto]

Can we please get some picnic themed dividers? Please and thanks!

Hey anon!! Thanks for the request, I decided to add some foods as well to match the baskets and blankets 🩵🌸

Summer Picnic