I call these jackets ‘oversize’ because they are wonderfully large and roomy. They drape and hang in soft folds to fit a slim body or, because there is enough fabric, they also work for larger sizes.
The one below came from a gorgeous kimono. It was covered with cranes flying over a landscape of streams, bamboo, pine trees, cherry blossoms and chrysanthemums. There’s also a bridge and part of a boat peaking out.
And a cart too! Right in the center back, you can just see its wheel.
I love the gorgeous garden view on the jacket below. The background color gradates from a dark navy at the bottom, to a purple and cream at the top.
It is thickly covered with a jungle-like garden of flowers, trees, some water features and a few, barely seen, buildings.
A close up so you can see the detail.
How about those buttons? A perfect match.
One more, from a beautiful old kimono from a friend’s collection. I called it Fall Festival because the golden colored rice plants look to me like they are full and ready to harvest. And it would be the end of the season when you would see the side leaning, long blades of grass.
Interspersed are temple plaques. They are ’ema,’ the house shapes that you see. Ema are wooden plaques where Shinto and Buddhist worshippers can write prayers or wishes and leave hanging at the shrine. Because they are asking the spirits and gods to grant their prayers, Ema are considered a sign of hope.
There’s even the string for hanging the ema in the detail picture below.
The back, with more temple plaques, rice plants and long blades of grass. Maybe this design was a kind of a wish for a good harvest?
On the sleeve on the right, you can also see the crest of the family that owned the kimono. If possible, when I use a kimono with crests, I like to include them somewhere in the finished piece.
I’ve added these new jackets with more photos of each to my web-shop. Check them out here.
Here’ a wish from me to you: for the very best and happiest summer ever!
Elegant and beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank You Marion!