こんなん着れんと思ってたし････
やっぱり母さんに勧められたし着物と帯
27年以上前のお話です。
母さんが選んでくれました。
こんな上品で華やかな着物が着こなせるのかわからへんかった。
着こなせていたかもわからへんかったけど････
兎に角、私のイメージやなかった。
四季折々の花が流水の周りに飛ばしてあります。
私がこの着物に袖を通したときにはすでに、
母さんは亡くなっていました。
どんなに見たかったかと思いますが、
思いのほか短く濃い人生を走り抜けていってしまいました。
そしてこの帯、交通事故の泡銭で手に入れた
正倉院柄の綴れ袋です。
これもまた上品な格式あるものです。
この帯で一番好きな時は、解くとき。
「衣擦れの」 とゆう言葉があるけど、
長い間忘れてましたが、
思いがけずチャンスが･･･････
タイに来て着付けのお手伝いをしていました。
ある結婚式に出席されるお嬢様が、大声で泣き始め･････
聞いてみると 「帯を忘れた」 と・・・
丁度，こちらへ来るとゆう家人に頼んでこの帯を貸して差し上げました。
「変わり福良雀」 を作りました。忘れていたあの音を聞くことが出来ました。
私の人生で何度も聞くことのない音です。
この帯、私の健康と引き換えで手に入れた、そぉ，事故の慰謝料。母さんが「泡銭やからしっかりしたもんを買っとき！」って、私は「事故帯」とも「泡銭帯」とも名前を付け手よく眺めている。
Tricky Kimono
I bought this Kimono at the same time as the Obi in Kyoto 25 years ago. It is not a set but they compliment each other well. At first I didn't like it, it wasn't colorful enough, but my mother talked me in to it. She knew that if the person is strong she should wear a softly colored Kimono. On the two times that I wore this Kimono I felt different and people believed that I was gentle and ladylike, standing behind the male in perfect Japanese tradition. T tricked them.
The material is silk and it has a soft pink background with circles of flowers. depicting each season. The scenes are delicately painted and have highlights of embroidered color in the centre of the flowers. This gives 3D effect, helped by the raised areas of silver in the backgrounds. The circles float on a bright red water motif that spirals around the bottom of the Kimono and is reflected on the left sleeve. The middle of the Kimono is plain, so that the Obi doesn't interrupt it's design. The inside of the Kimono is also delicately colored going from pink to a translucent cream. This is how you know it is a high quality Kimono and it can not be worn in summer. I wore this Kimono in January and February.
The car Crash Obi
This is an elaborately woven Obi named Nishijin-Obi that I bought in Kyoto 25 years ago. At that time I was involved in a terrible car crash and received money as damages. My mother called it "easy money" so I should buy something that will last a long time. So I traded my health for a Kimono and this Obi. My mother helped in its purchase and I have worn them only twice so far, on very special occasions. At these times I have felt very happy and glamorous. On the other hand I have no idea what my husband was thinking and feeling during these occasions standing next to someone so glamorously dressed. All he said was "beautiful" and that is all.
The pattern as you can see is very rich, using a combination of Chinese and Japanese motifs. Waves, clouds, splashes, phenixes, hexagons and circular flower motifs in gold, silver,pink, red and blue. A texture has been combed into the embroidery with finger nails and small combs. I look forward to wearing this again. If an opportunity where I can wear it does not present itself, then I will be forced to create one.
