| A Geishas Clothing |
| Geisha always wear kimono. An apprentice geisha (Maiko) will wear a highly colourful kimono with an extravagant obi - which is brighter than the kimono she is wearing - to give a certain alluring balance. Maiko wear the obi tied in a style called "darari" (dangling obi) whereas, older geisha (Geiko) wear more subdued patterns and styles (most notably the obi tied in a simpler knot utilized by married women known as the "taiko musubi", or the "drum knot"). A maiko’s kimono, in addition to the heavy dangling obi, will have pocketed sleeves called "furi" which dangle all the way to the ground. During a dance or performance, an apprentice must wrap the pocketed sleeves around her arms several times to avoid tripping. Geiko wear red or pink “nagajuban”, or “under-kimono”, whereas a maiko wears red with white printed patterns. The junior maiko's collar is predominantly red with white, silver, or gold embroidery. However, two to three years into her apprenticeship, the red collar will be entirely embroidered in white to show her seniority. At around the age of 20, her collar will then turn from red to white, to show that she is now a full geisha. The colour, pattern, and style of the kimono is also dependent on the season and the event that the geisha is attending. In winter, geisha can be seen wearing a three-quarter length haori (lightweight silk jacket) lined with hand-painted silk over their kimono. Lined kimono are worn during the colder seasons, and unlined kimono during the summer. A kimono can take from two to three years to complete, due to painting and embroidering, so the price range can easily exceed £10,000. |
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