WIP - Mulan...

I wasn't satisfied with Mulan's sketch, so I made a few changes - minor details in her clothes and, most important, her hairdo - I used as inspiration her assimetrical hairdo from the matchmaker scene.

 

I think it looks much better now! <3

 

Here's a small teaser of her face ;)

I'm busy and working slowly, but I'll try to finish her as soon as I manage to...

I can't wait to start the fun part - coloring her clothes! 

...Unfortunatelly, now it's still the super boring inking step... meh! >_<

Chibi Sketch!

So, ever wondered how Hana's hairline looks like under that farmer kerchief?

Wonder no longer. XD

Tiny pic of Hana on her day off - no kerchief and no apron. 

She still wears her usual kosode, thou. ^^

And... new character on the way... stay tuned! ;D

Kurotomesode-Furisode?

Going from "a little rare" with the previous post's black and pink 

homongi, to something that, to my eyes, looks very uncommon!

 

I found this piece on R-Komachi. It is cleary a furisode, formal kimono for young unmarried women. BUT with this solid black color and decorations below the obi line (plus, in traditional gold-based tones)... it looks a lot like a kurotomesode, formal kimono for older and married women (usually, the bride's mother and grandmother at a wedding)!
 

Since the sleeves are long, this is surely a furisode (plus, there are some tiny flowers and petals above the obi line, and decoration on the sleeve, wich wouldn't happen on tomesode*). I found this kimono's resemblance to kurotomesode very peculiar, thou. Even the sleeve main decoration is low, so it follows the hem line visually when the kimono is worn.

Uncommon, but beautiful kimono, and it definitely looks elegant.
Would fit nicely to a young woman who wants a specially
formal, dignified and traditional look!

* There are two types of Tomesode kimono: 

 - kurotomesode: black, the most formal kimono, only worn by married women.

- irotomesode: colored, also formal, but usually a little less than kurotomesode. Can also be worn by unmarried women.

   Both have decorations only bellow the obi line, usually closer to the hem of the kimono.

Black Homongi

Now, that's a little rare. 

Black homongi found on Rental Poem. Homongi usually have pastel light colors, so black is somewhat ununsual - althou, the pink botan (peony) motif still gives this kimono a very delicate feature.

I like it. Making black look soft is not easy, and this homongi definitelly pulled it off very nicely - wonderful choice on the antique-pink details, both style and tone-wise. <3.

Waa!! I want one!

Beautiful 18-century stools by Jean-Baptiste-Claude Sené. <3

Beechwood and pink silk, 1786.

Photo source (and more info) on the Metropolitan Museum website.

Aahhh... I so wish I could have one of these!

Golden Uchikake

Featuring this absolutely stunning golden uchikake found on K-Bridal <3.

Wedding reception kimono are most commonly red, so this golden one instantly caught my eye. I wouldn't really call it quaint, thou... Gold is a typical color in formal kimono, and this soft, light shade with hints of red and white (other two kimono classic colors...) over the white shiromuku gives the whole garnment a delicate, somewhat pastel effect - wich evoques a classic look.

The tsuru (cranes) are also the theme for uchikake, and the kiku (chrisanthemum) makes me think this would be perfect for an Autumn wedding (a most auspicious season for the occasion, if I'm not mistaken).

I loved how this escapes the "obvious" red
uchikake and still looks so elegant and traditional!