Wednesday, March 24, 2010

How Much? Yukata

If you're thinking about putting together a kimono look, to wear normally or for a cosplay or costume, you might be wondering how much you're probably going to spend. I've seen hideously overpriced items in my time collecting, and ones that are real steals. Another ongoing series, "How Much?" will give you my highly subjective, personal experiences in Kimono Price Land on what is a good price, what you should snap up immediately and what you should pass on with raised eyebrows. ;)

Before I get started, and I'll repeat this in every entry for this series, it's not impossible to occasionally see a really high-priced item, due to age or rarity, etc. However, most of the time in my opinion you're more likely to see prices in this range. I pull my estimates from a long time spent on Ebay, online with various dealers, and a bit of convention-going thrown in.

The lowest price is the lowest price I've ever seen, and the highest I consider reasonable, give or take a few bucks, with both prices including shipping if you see this on an online site. Usually most pricing will fall around the middle.

Yukata Look (Casual cotton summer outfit)

What You Need (the absolute basics):
1. yukata kimono: ~$20-$100, the $100 for excellent-condition unused ones, as new ones can at times sell for $150-ish in Japan)
2. simple (one color, synthetic) hanhaba obi: ~$20-$60

Don't Forget!
-Sports bra
-Kimono underwear or a white tanktop and white skirt or leggings/shorts
-2 koshihimo or long cords or strips of fabric to tie the kimono shut and set the hem and collar
-1 obi ita board or stiff piece of posterboard to keep the obi flat in front
-cute footwear (geta ideally, but I've seen cute low heels and sandals worn by Japanese girls)

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