黒留袖(1)
Kuro-Tomesode(1)
(black formal Kimono)

留袖は晴の日の最高級の式服です。通常は身内の結婚式に既婚の女性が身に着けますが、媒酌人の夫人も留袖を着るのが正式とされています。また茶道や華道の師範免許の授与式に着る場合もあります。 
娘が嫁ぐ時にその両親が娘のために用意して持たせる場合が多いようですが、最近では着る機会が少なくなり、無しで済ませる方も多いようです。 
ご覧のように、裾に華やかな刺繍や絵が施されています。帯も着物に合せて作ります。矢張り金銀が入った艶やかなものが多いようです
写真の留袖と帯は、私が嫁ぐ時に母が用意してくれたものです。若い内は親戚の結婚式にも洋服やその他の着物で出席していましたから、私が最初にこの着物を着たのは、夫の部下の仲人を初めてしたときでした。 

'Tomesode' is the highest grade ceremonial dress which is worn on a special occasion such as celebration day. Kuro-Tomesode is a formal Kimono for married women.
On a bridal ceremony, Kuro-Tomesode is often worn by mother, aunts of a bride or bridegroom and 
the wife of the go-between usual. Also, it can be used at certification ceremony that one is authorized to be a grand master of Japanese tea ceremony (Sadou) and flower arrangement (Kadou).
Traditionally, it is presented to daughter from her parents when she gets married. However, as these traditional customs have faded out a little by little, it likely can be omitted nowadays.
As you see, it is gorgeously decorated with needlework and drawings on the bottom of Tomesode.
An Obi (a Kimono sash) is also created as it suits to Tomesode. Most of the Obi belts has also gorgeous pattern in gold and silver thread.
The Tomesode and Obi on the picture are the things my mother prepared for my marriage. Since I used to wear some western clothes or other formal Kimono when I attend to marriage ceremonies until I become at certain age, the first time I wore this Tomesode was when I was appointed as the go-between of my husband's subordinate. 


 
 
家紋(Family Emblem)

着物の式服には一つか三つ或いは五つの紋をつけることが多いようです。

Usually ceremonial Kimono has one, three or five family emblems.



この留袖には後に三つ、前に二つの五つ紋がついています。紋は私の両親の家紋 ”丸に抱き茗荷”です。

This Tomesode has five family emblems. You can see three of them on the back and other two emblems are put on the top of the front sleeves.The design is "Myoga:a Japanese Ginger".


 


Obi ( Kimono Sash )

改めて云うまでも無く、帯は着物と同じように重要な役割を担っています。この両方をしっくり合せて着こなすのが着手のセンスの見せ所と云えましょう。この帯の柄は、慶事に喜ばれる亀甲です。

Obi is just as important as kimono. The color coordination of Kimono and Obi shows if the wearer has a good taste or not about Kimono. 
Japanese people like tortoiseshell's pattern put on this Obi as an auspicious omen motif.

黒留袖(2)

Kimono&Obi