u/alaskan_Pyrex

The big pumpkin candy bowl is from Mr. Christmas ($90!?), the Eric Nafobia tombstone is 2025 Target, and the vintage cat and pumpkin is an Empire piece in flawless condition and came with the original cord!

Both of the new pieces are battery powered, which is a no-go in Alaska (cold eats batteries). The pumpkin will get a standard blow mold light while the tombstone is going to get a blacklight spotlight because the paint is reactive.

Translated: In the past, a summer haori (light jacket) was indispensable for going out during the summer. Antique summer haori are highly popular items among kimono enthusiasts because they often feature elaborate designs rarely seen today. The photograph shows a rare pattern of bats created during the Taisho period. It features not only hand-painted bats, but also sheer woven bats flying through the fabric. Since it is a formal summer haori with three family crests (mitsumon), it was likely worn over a visiting dress (homongi) or a plain colored kimono (iromuji). Having a summer haori expands the range of your coordination. You do not need to worry too much about the crests; why not try enjoying it by pairing it with casual everyday kimonos (komon) as well?

This kimono was found wadded up in a box of donations stored in a closet at the Japanese Immersion School in Alaska. I have no idea when it came in. It also has a matching haori.

My first thought was that this was an amazing heavy cotton yukata. Then I noticed it has the folded collar of a kimono.

From what I've read here, I then assumed it was a relatively informal summer kimono (komon?) because of the repeating all-over pattern and lack of lining. I thought it might be made out of linen. But then I translated the tags.

This kimono is 100% wool.

I'm guessing it's not super old because the tag in the matching haori lists both machine and hand stitching. It also has the names of the people who did each type of stitching which is pretty cool.

But what I am struggling to understand is what season this would be worn. To me, the citrus pattern screams summer and high summer at that. The lack of lining would also seem to indicate it was meant to be worn during hotter weather. But why on Earth would anyone make a summer kimono out of wool?

Also, I never would have guessed wool without the tag. Not in a million years. It has a linen-like texture, but this is the least itchy wool I have ever encountered in my entire life.

I would love some thoughts on when this would be worn, what situation it would be worn for, (although I do think I'm right about the informal aspect) and when it might be from.

Also, I absolutely LOVE the colors and pattern, which I am now calling Sprite (because it's lemon-lime). This kimono just radiates happiness.

Edit: after doing a bit more research it sounds like unlined wool kimonos may be a shoulder-season option, and citrus fruit ripens in Japan during the winter, depending on location, so maybe this is a fall komon? One source I found said that geometric citrus patterns lack seasonality, but I don't know if that's accurate.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/jun/29/naomi-osaka-wimbledon-day-one-crowd-kimono-inspired-outfit

According to the article the ensemble was created by Tokyo designer Hana Yagi and incorporates textiles from vintage kimonos -- including a shiromuku.

I can't seem to fix the blurry first image. Sorry.

This is my daughter (in a blue floral Uniqlo yukata with a vintage kanzashi set -- both thrifted) at Arctic Comicon with a friend wearing another thrifted yukata; with other middle schoolers performing their winning skit in Japanese at the Nihongo Speech Competition sponsored by the Japanese Consulate; at an event for the Fur Rondy/Iditarod celebration (her red taiko shirt is visible at the neck 😬); and at the Japan Alaska Association's December Rice Pounding Festival.

The other yukata in the skit were donated to the Japanese program over the years.

The only person with her face uncovered is my daughter's second grade Japanese teacher (recently retired) Sachiko Kono. She also co-founded the taiko program here, so she will forever be Kono Sensei. She, along with the JAA ladies, is teaching us to tie obi.

Kono Sensei is now dead set on teaching us a taiko song meant to be performed in kimono, so my newfound collection may come in handy.

I am so confused by this piece. The fabric and embroidery make me think yukata, but the folded collar makes me think kimono. Help? Also, some of the stitching looks machine-done, which also leans towards yukata, as far as I understand. There is also hand-stitchwork.

Also, how fun is the mid-century (I strongly suspect) embroidery?

I can't imagine this is silk, but can't easily access any loose threads for a burn test. Linen? Synthetic?

A retired Japanese travel agent is selling off her kimono and kimono fabric collection, so I am sharing the contents of my now-packed closet.

In addition to a handful donated to the program that I am evaluating and my recent purchases, I also have at least six more kimono and yukata that I found at local thrift stores.

This kimono is indeed silk. It's absolutely gorgeous in great condition except for a few stains on one sleeve. I would love any additional information about the pattern or style. Based on discussions with the woman who owned it, it is no newer than the early 1990s.

The collar is double width, and while some I own have snaps to hold it in place doubled over, this one does not.

I'm also interested in any information about the interior ombre dye. Several of the kimonos that I know are a bit older and have the same really cool ombre on the inside of the linings. I'm curious if it is tied to a certain style or time period.

I don't wear kimono because I am German opera singer levels of busty (fun fact, my aunt is indeed an opera singer!) and I struggle with restrictive clothing. But my daughter has been in a Japanese immersion program since kindergarten. She is now in 8th grade and next summer we'll be going on her second School exchange to Japan. She wears yukata and eventually kimono.

This all started because we found a mildewy box of cotton yukata and I volunteered to take on the task of trying to get them cleaned up. I did in fact get them all washed, cleaned up, sterilized, and stain free.

This is a silk kimono I just purchased off FB marketplace for $20. The seller is a retired Japanese woman who used to run a travel agency here. I have purchased three kimono, two boxes of obi, and two boxes of kimono fabric from her. I have also recently thifted several more kimono, yukata, and haori. Oh, and a really cute sakura donabe. The juban was rescued from a mildewy box in an elementary school storage closet.

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This kimono is my favorite from my unplanned collection. I think (??) it is a komon?

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I am assuming it is probably from the 80s, but she doesn't remember when she bought it. It was probably purchased second-hand in Japan for cultural outreach here in Alaska.

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The borders of the inner lining of the bottom and the sleeves are dyed red, which I love.

My daughter is in the Japanese Immersion program in Alaska (part of the public school system) and someone discovered a mildewy box of heavily stained and VERY stinky old yukata and kimono in a storage room at the elementary.

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We either had to wash or junk them, so I tackled the yukata first in a tub with alcohol soap (homemade Dawn Powerwash) spot treatment and and a long soak in Costco oxiclean. Everything is now stain free and fresh-smelling.

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I needed a way to dry them in the correct shape and I think my webbing and PVC Charlotte pipe did the trick!

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I really wish the one with hot pink chrysanthemum was for adults, but alas it is not. It is made of a lovely puckered cotton fabric, similar to seersucker.

I love light and airy refrigerator pies (the only safe way to say this without everyone snickering) and this hits the spot.

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What it is: Vintage icebox pie vibes. if you are a fan of the mid-century style no-bake pies served by Flo in a gritty 24-hour diner or from your Greatest Gen grandma's kitchen, you will probably like this.

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What it is not: a high-end dessert made from unstabilized whipped cream and loaded with organic berries. It is a massive sub-$20 pie that has to survive in a warehouse for chrissakes.

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I like both styles of desserts quite a bit, and this strawberry cream pie lands solidly in the camp of no-bake Cool-Whip and Jello desserts that appear at family BBQs.

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Also, I am not eating the whole giant fucking pie in a go, so I am a lot less concerned about micro-policing the ingredient list. Everything in moderation. A little bit of Cool-Whip isn't going to kill you.

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My coworker left me a bowl of fresh berries, which really added to the pie. If I was taking it to a summer BBQ, I would buy cartons of strawberries and blueberries at Costco to add on-site.

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The only thing I was underwhelmed by was the graham cracker crust. It needs a stronger salted butter taste. Just more salt might do the trick.

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Overall, it is a pretty decent refrigerator pie that is easily elevated with fresh berries. It is perfect for an unpretentious backyard family BBQ and won't dissolve the second it is struck by a sunbeam. I will be portioning out and freezing so I can grab a slice when I have a summer craving.