North Carolina Kimono Club
For some reason, there is a kimono club here in North Carolina where we simply get dressed in kimono and meet for lunch once a month.
When I learned how to dress in kimono 30 years ago, I never imagined that I would have so many opportunities to wear one while living overseas. You really never know when or where something you learned will become useful later in life.
The members range in age from their 30s to their 80s, so it is quite a wide age range. Still, we always have plenty to talk about, from life in the United States to fashion and style, and conversation is never a problem.
This time, we were celebrating a birthday, saying goodbye to someone who will soon be returning to Japan, and also celebrating another member’s recovery. It turned into a very enjoyable lunch.
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Getting together in kimono always means getting dressed first, and then getting ready to go out. Since life in America is so dependent on cars, I usually travel on my own, and driving to a restaurant I have never been to before while wearing kimono can feel like a small adventure.
Today I wore an Ojiya-chijimi kimono from Kimono Yamato in the Tone Check Navy × Brown design. My obi was a belt-style obi from Kimono KAPUKI.
The scrunchie I intentionally included near my hand in the illustration is handmade by chiko on minne.
Each piece is beautifully delicate, and I own several in different colors.
Even with a casual outfit, simply adding one of these scrunchies makes the look feel a little more elegant and instantly lifts my mood.
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