Modesty's Costume Closet

There two things to consider when designing a dance costume:  Allow the dancer to move safely without interference Enhance the dancer's movement and body aka draw attention.  Let's discuss these considerations.  Movement Safety For a dance costume, you don't want the dancer's movement impeded or restricted by the costume. The style of dance (or the choreography) plays a role in the design. A dance costume for a dance that includes leaps and landings will have different design considerations for movement safety than a more deliberate, slow dance.  There are a few areas of focus for this on a dance costume: Feet/Legs (Hem), arms (Sleeves), and Torso (bodice). Hem This refers the the bottom edge of any skirt or pant leg.  A hem should allow for what I like to call "foot clearance". This is what I failed to realize with my earlier costumes for ballroom dance: the hem needed to be at my ankle or higher while in the high heels.   The style of shoe and the co...

This past year was very productive. Lots of progress was made and I've had some reflection on my spending habits. A small space feels a lot smaller with clutter. Organizing and interior design was never my forte, you should see how rough my Sims houses are. 😂 Making plans comes a bit easier so I've been working on new ways for me to keep track and make progress on the myriad of projects rotting on the backburners.  My new promise or maxim is: Do not keep supplies that are not attached to an active project.    Let's try to keep this promise.   Organization The first thing I did was find all my scattered lists of project ideas and put it in one place. I put things into categories because that's how my brain works.  Evaluation Going through the list, I checked the projects and evaluated certain aspects about the project like if I have the supplies, how long I think it will take, and how interested or passionate I am about the project. The passion is an in the mome...

It's November and the year is rapidly drawing to a close. The hectic costume month of October has passed and now I'm taking stock of what I've done and what I have planned to do in the next year. It was very productive.  2024 Costume Review  Since adopting a new schedule for myself, I've found my projects making steady progress instead of sporadic updates.   The 7 kimono project: This was an ambitious undertaking and I'm so pleased how it came together. I learned SO much in this process and hope to clear out room in my apartment to do a proper photoshoot. I do still intend to make zori for these outfits and some kanzashi out of the leftover fabric.  Morticia Dance Costume: This came out so well! It also gave me some challenges and taught me things about fabric choice. It was perfect for the Halloween dance party.  Updates to my Ballroom Gown: While I plan on making my own dress in the future I wanted to spruce up my comp dress with some rhinestones and a ne...

To wrap up this series of blog posts, I'm going into how to dress in a kimono.  Learning how to dress yourself and others in a kimono is called Kitsuke. You can be certified to practice as a teacher! The style and way you wear a kimono has a lot of dependencies that take years to comprehend. So...I've only done this for a year, so I'm no expert, but I know where to learn from! ☝Basic Tips : There are schools, fashion trends, and cultural expectations. These things CHANGE over time and vary based on location. For cosplay, observe the character's presentation and try to mimic that. For everyday wear, do your research. For special events, reach out to a consultant.  A Kitsuke Kit These are items you need to wear your kimono and obi ensemble.  Bare Minimum Requirements:  2 - 3 ties (himo) Juban: Hanjuban (paired wrap skirt/susuyoke)  or Nagajuban obi ita (feminine only) eri shin (feminine only) Common for Masculine Kimono 2 ties/himo. One for the juban and one for t...

This should round out the things you can make or acquire for your kimono ensemble. This is not an exhaustive list but there are a few things I wanted to cover. Tabi  Geta or Zori Korin Belt Haori Himo Haori/Nagabaori Kanzashi Hair Pins Fans and Bags Footwear Tabi are socks made to be worn with sandals. Although, based on construction, Tabi can also be slippers or proper shoes themselves! It all depends on how it is made.  Knit Tabi Socks are a modern version of tabi that behaves just like a sock. It's stretchy because it's knitwear. And as you know, I've knit my own tabi , so you can learn how to knit your own too !  Sewn Tabi are a bit more like making clothe shoes if you are familiar with the process. The outer sole of the shoe may be a fairly thick or leather-ish material because these can be used as indoor shoes and may need that extra protection to last longer. The outer and inner material can be made from stretch or non-stretch fabric.  Pattern for Tabi Zori an...

The obi is supporting actor of a kimono ensemble. They can be equally as extravagant in design motifs and materials. Any design motifs can be woven, embroidered or painted onto the obi. Silk painting being the most formal.   Types of Obi  Kaku Obi - This is typically the Men’s Obi but women can wear it too. Consider it gender neutral. It has a width of 9 - 10 cm (3.5 - 4 inches) and a length between 3.6m - 4m.  Hanhaba Obi - Informal Female Obi, which translates to Half Width because it is half the width of a formal obi. Hanhaba obi are 15 cm wide and 3.6m - 4.5m long (Suggested: 3.80 - 4.20m) (4m - 4.40 m for wider waists). Nagoya Obi - Semi Formal Obi made of stiff fabric or reinforced with a fabric stiffener/interfacing. There are a few ways to make a Nagoya obi (named after the region.) One way is to make the entire obi all one uniform width for the full length. But there are some that are pre-folded to make an Otaiko musubi. So it is half-width for a few yard...

There are a few things you can do to increase the formality of the kimono. Most of these things you should consider in the PLANNING phase before you start measuring and cutting.   Fabric Fiber Choice One of the hallmarks of a formal kimono is the fabric type. You will not find a formal cotton kimono. All formal kimono are silk. And usually a NICE silk too. Silk with "shlubs" like silk dupioni are a less formal silk even in polyester form. A nice silk is smooth or has a purposeful design in the weave. However, even if you have a nice silk if it has a komon pattern it's not considered formal...it's just a very nice informal outfit.  Sleeve Height (Feminine Only) Furisode sleeve heights vary which affects the occasion and formality level.  Ko Furisode has a height of 75 - 80 cm long when finished. This type of furisode was worn as a school uniform back in the early 1900s, so it's good for that kind of historical outfit and some cosplay. In modern day, this is only wo...