Maiko Kitsuke Tutorial

Well, after dressing up my dress form in maiko kitsuke recently, I thought it would be a bit of a waste not to photograph the process, so I decided to make a maiko kitsuke tutorial to go with my geiko kitsuke tutorial: [link] I focus more on the actual donning of the hikizuri in the geiko tutorial, while I concentrate more on the preparation and tying of the darari obi in this tutorial.

This tutorial is a bit simplistic in nature, partly because I only decided to put it together AFTER I'd dressed the mannequin, so most of these pictures were actually taken while I undressed the mannequin. It's also a bit simplistic because the timer function on my camera decided not to cooperate with me, so I couldn't actually show anything in the pictures that required me to be in or hold anything in the image.

Please download the tutorial at its original size to read the text comfortably.

Lastly, I explain a few terms in the actual tutorial, but here's a list of relevant vocabulary for people who are new to kimono and kitsuke:

Chou Musubi - "Butterfly Knot" a type of obi knot commonly worn with yukata.
Darari Musubi - "Dangling Knot" a type of obi knot worn by maiko
Darari Obi - A special (extra long) type of obi used to tie the maiko's darari knot
Hadajuban - The undermost layer put on when donning kimono
Han'eri - Decorative collar put on beneath the outer kimono
Han'Juban - "Half juban" a type of under kimono which consists of two pieces, an upper piece including the sleeves, and collar, and a lower portion consisting of a wrap skirt (susoyoke)
Hikizuri - Long kimono meant to be worn trailing
Kitsuke - The art of wearing kimono
Korin Belt - Elastic belt with clasps on each end
Koshihimo - Fabric tie used to secure the kimono in place
Maiko - "Dancing Girl" Apprentice Geisha
Mommi - Long red cloth wrapped around the waist to give the body a more tube-like shape
Musubi - A general term referring to a knot tied in the obi
Nagajuban / Juban - Layer between the hadajuban and the outer kimono
Obi - Belt used when wearing kimono
Obiage - A piece of cloth used to help secure the obi in place
Obidome - A decorative clasp worn at the front of the obi
Obijime - A woven tie used to help secure the obi in place
Ohashiori - Waist fold used to adjust the length of the kimono
Obimakura / makura - A pillow used to padd the body and give shape to the obi
Susoyoke - A wrap skirt worn beneath the outer kimono
Yukata - An informal, cotton kimono