antiqueandsilk

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Anime North 2025

Silk rust orange furisode with shibori seigaiha waves in black, pine trees, flowers and butterflies (FK2024.01, silk, a.1950) and black, white, purple and gold striped fukuro obi (FO2020.01, silk, 1960-1979) worn for the annual Anime North Fashion Show.

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Sakura Blossom Viewing 2025

A lovely kimono club member arranged for a Sakura Blossom viewing party this spring. It was a little chiller than expected so a perfect day to pull out the wool. This is a hitoe wool floral komon (WK2021.01, wool, 1960-1979) with a pink checked nagoya obi (NO2020.9, synthetic, a. 1950). I paired this with a wool-blend shawl and was quite comfy for the day.

We also got to watch others take their cute model photos for the day!

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Costa Rica 2025 - Santa Elena, Curi-Cancha & Monteverde

In the quest to achieve Bird (i.e. see a Quetzal) we took a white-knuckled drive up to the mountains and stayed in Santa Elena. I have a fear of heights which was re-realised on this particular drive.

I got up incredibly early (this was not a trip for sleep) and saw a ton of birds and local wildlife at Curi-Cancha National Reserve with our wonderful guide. I dont know how they spot some of these animals under a million leaves like 20 yards away. There are many blobsqatches and blorbs but some of the photos turned out surprisingly well. Below is a blue tanager, white-faced capuchin monkey, northern emerald-toucanet (same one 3 angles), lessons motmot, slate-throated redstart, toucan, crested guan, a hummingbird of some description that I took a photo through my tiny binoculars with, and a coati. (Among many many others.)

And of course a QUETZAL!!!!!!

That evening we did the night tour and saw a bioluminescent mushroom, many sleeping birds (silver throated tanger & highland tinamou), an oligo (see blob photo) and snail eating snake.

I finished up the trip at the Monteverde Butterfly Gardens, which featured a ton of different insects and, of course, butterflies.

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Costa Rica 2024 - Pacific Coast & San Jose

Things started out a little unexpected in terms of travel, but we had a great first day on the beach off of the pacific coast. We saw a salt-water crocodile, wild dolphins (yes that is a dolphin fin), tons of sea birds, red monkeys and found a hermit crab.

We then spent some time in San Jose taking in the different architecture, museums and markets.

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Winter Break 2024-2025

Had some fun visiting the smiling residents of Cloverdale Farm, walking through U of T on a sunny day and roller skating for the first time all during winter break.

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J-Fashion Outfits 2024

Featuring outfits from: JapanFest featuring a cotton yukata with tachibana fruits & flowers (YK2022.01, a. 1950) and one of my most favourite obi - woven red, black and white tsumugi nagoya obi (NO2019.17, silk, 1960-1979). I also brought my fancy umbrella and it turns out my friend had brought the same one. Since she is one of my style icons, I was thrilled.

ANHalloween market tabling outfit wearing "Mushrooms has Power" EGL dress from the Chinese indie brand Dream in July. I paired it with a sweater from Winners and Sorel wedge boots. Somehow this coord worked great even with "normie" clothes.

JCCC Tea Festival outfit with a wool floral komon (WK2018.02, wool, 1960-1979) since it was a colder day paired with a fukuro obi featuring prowling lions and traditional diamond pattern (FK2023.03, silk, b. 1950). Technically, this is a very formal obi with a very casual kimono but the obi feels more casual when its on and styled, although I could make it fancy in the right context.

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Montreal 2024

Continuing with my poor decisions of walking long distances while it is super hot, here are a few snapshots of Montreal in 2024.

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Birthday Tea 2024

I had a chance to do a lovely formal tea for my birthday this year. Myself and some friends dressed up for the occasion. I have a fantastic shochikubai and camellia komon (KM2022.10, synthetic, a. 1990) with one of my favourite silk purple hakata-ori nagoya obi (NO2020.06, silk, 1960-1979) paired with a vintage wicker purse and platform heels.

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Tokyo Finds 2023

Last year on a last minute trip to Tokyo I was lucky enough to find a few kimono pieces for my collection. Since it has grown I tend to be careful about what I add. I haven't photographed the yuktata I purchased yet, but I styled the haori and kimono during kitsuke practice. Possibly silk komon kimono in olive with stripes, lattice pattern and flowers (KM2023.15, silk(?), a. 1950) purchased in Asakusa with a modern nagoya obi in a slightly different shade of olive green featuring cream and gold "bubbles" hassun obi (HS2018.01, synthetic, 2017).

I actually bought this kimono to pair with a delightful haori purchased from Chicago vintage store in Harajuku (HH2023.01, silk, a. 1950).

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Anime North 2024

Silk peach pink and cream furisode with shibori and a variety of traditional floral and bird patterns (FK2023.03, silk, a. 1950) and maru ball fukuro obi (MO2021.01, silk, b. 1950) worn for the annual Anime North Fashion Show.

This year I had good luck in the Dealer's Room and found this amazing antique silk (likely meisen) komon with red and yellow roses (MK2024.01, silk, b. 1950). I have paired it with this lovely vintage dark red grid pattern nagoya obi (NO2019.07, silk, 1960-1979). This obi somehow goes with everything and is very comfortable so it is a go-to for events where I would like to be comfortable.

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Styling a Kimono Hot and Cold

Black tsumugi kimono (KM2024.14, silk, a. 1950, likely Showa era) features no crests so currently classified as a komon. I have styled it in a warm colour and cold colourway using different obi and coordinating haori. For the "cold" colour styling I have paired this kimono with a light blue vintage hakata-ori nagoya obi (NO2021.21, silk, a. 1950, likely Showa era) and antique haori featuring cream flowers with black leaves (HH2022.02, combined weave, b. 1950). I found this lovely black and teal blue obi dome that matches this ensemble very well.

This warm coloured ensemble features a orange, peach and black striped woven tsumugi obi (NO2023.03, silk, a. 1950, likely Showa era) and antique meisen haori featuring black lions and red flowers (HH2022.01). I didnt get a chance to switch out my obi dome however I have a ceramic daruma obi dome which would have looked fantastic with this colour scheme.

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Peggy's Cove - 2023

Day trip from Halifax to Peggy's Cove featuring excellently cloudy skies.

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Oshogatsukai 2024 (New Years Festival)

Tachibana motif on arrows komon kimono (polyester, around 2018, Reiwa era) and vintage cream hakata ori nagoya obi (silk, a. 1960?, likely Showa era), paired with modern accessories and vintage feather stole.

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Kimono Outfits 2023

A selection of outfits from Winter/Summer 2023.

Red komon kimono with blue an yellow Mari balls (silk, b. 1950 Showa era) and grid patterned Nagoya obi in dark blue with red and white stripes (silk, 1960-1979, Showa era).

Summer komon kimono with metalic birds (silk, a.1980?) with vintage cream hakata nagoya obi (silk, a.1960?).

Summer houmongi with dyed goldfish pattern (silk, a.1950) with vintage woven mesh summer nagoya obi in a plaid pattern (silk, b.1950). Dressed up for a summer picnic meet up with a pair of platform sandals and black and white haneri.

Purple furisode with butterflies and noshi ribbons featuring traditional patterns (silk, a.1950) paired with a deep blue hakata ori obi with white woven pattern. Paired with block sandals, vintage beaded bag and blue and white butterfly haneri.

Purple silk houmongi featuring chrysanthemum (kiku) flowers and boats floating on the water (silk, a.1950) with pink woven nagoya obi in a fan and flower pattern (silk, 1930-1949).

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Halifax, Nova Scotia - 2023

A relaxing time poking around in Halifax, Nova Scotia in the fall off-season.

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Montreal, Canada - 2023

In exploring Canada, I of course chose a heatwave. Here are some views from Downtown Montreal.

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Tokyo, Japan - 2023 - Senso-ji Temple

Photos taken at Senso-ji Temple, generally quiet at 6am while very jet lagged vs. noon when the tourist traffic comes full swing. The monks and locals pray in the mornings and its a lovely quiet time to have a tea and sit to listen.