July Kitsuke

Okaasan Geiko Kikuyu

For hot summer ozashiki okaasan has chosen special light gradient hikizuri that goes from grey at the top to sea blue at the hem, giving the viewer a feeling of coolness - a good thing during hot days, ne?! The pattern is pampas grass, which is considered late summer - autumn plant. Susuki is usually found typically in the gravel beds alongside rivers, as well as wherever land is untended.

The obi belt is woven with simple motif on the golden background. Geiko san do not wear pocchiri or obidome, only a small knot.

Make up is subtle, less pink is used, lips fully painted and more of black signify that this is a mature geiko san.

The footwear worn by Kikuyu san is known as Sentrou Geta, and these are unique geta, worn only by geiko. Geiko as well as maiko do change to more comfortable zori or other type of geta in some cases.

Maiko Kikutsuru

This month Kikutsuru san had many appointments, that is why you may have seen her in different semiformal kitsuke. Today we will look at several outfits, Kikutsuru san has worn this month:
- elaborate stripe hikizuri with fan shaped design and flowers, tied firmly with green Darari obi, that has golden geometrical motif. Her hair is decorated with pink clematis hanakanzashi, small maezashi featuring clematis buds and a summer comb. Clematis is a rare summer kanzashi, yet it can be worn in June, July and August by senior maiko.

- burgundy red hikizuri with white waves, tied with long white Darari/hakata obi with red Kenjo gera design (that type of obi design has length-wise stripes). I should also mention the unique hanakanzashi Kikutsuru san s wearing with this outfit - a mini uchiwa which has Kikutsu san's name on it - a rare and specially commissioned piece!
- delicate pink hikizuri that features summer slower design, such as bell-flower, morning glory etc. The obi she is using is a twin obi of the obi worn by her imouto, Maiko Kikumaru, and has wheels and waves on a light yellow background. Not seen from this angle Kikutsuru's hairstyle is not ofuku but Katsuyama, worn by senior maiko during Gion Matsuri. You can also see special kanzashi, worn only during this time (motifs change yearly, and okiya have to commission new ones every time) This outfit and hair ornaments Kikutsuru san wore specially during the celebration of Gion Matsuri festival and will no longer use it.

Maiko Kikumaru

For July, Kikumaru san is wearing light blue hikizuri that has wheel and wave motif. The light background color of this hikizuri reminds of the cold spring waters coming from the mountains or event a summer sky and has a calming effect not only on the body but also
on the mind.
I have mentioned before that the Darari obi worn by Maiko Kikumaru has a twin and is worn by Maiko Kikutsuru. It is not unusual - if kimono of obi are beautiful no wonder okaasan wanted to have another one so it could be worn by her daughters.
In her hands she is holding brown kago bag that is embroidered with golden paulownia pattern. All Maiko and Geiko always carry one with them to their appointments - kimono/hikizuri have no pockets and during ozashiki Maiko/Geiko might need things such as spare tabi socks, fan, comb, lipstick, business cards etc. and this is when kago comes in handy.

Maiko Kikune

This month Kikune san is wearing most stunning  and elaborate outfit.
Her dark purple hikizuri depicts pond with pure blue water and lilies growing in it. It is a pity that this masterpiece can only be worn in summer! The obi is simpler yet is also worth attention - it is ro with blue hydrangea flowers and hexagonal pattern.
In her hands she is holding special kago bag that she firstly used suring her misedashi - it has her name  kanji embroidered with silver.

Kikune san hairstyle is wareshinobu and, as i have mentioned in my previous posts, Junior Maiko do not change their hairstyle right until the become seniors. Decorated with hanakanazashi that feature summer flowers and several small uchiwa, Kikune san looks like a living work of art!

Maiko Kikushino

During July you can see Maiko Kikushino wear bright green hikizuri with flower and butterfly design. Junior Maiko's outfits are always more colorful and eye catching, while senior Maiko use more mature and subtle ones.
It is tied with long Darari obi, that has geometrical motif of gold green and white.
The eri collar she is wearing has silk bobbins embroidered with white, green, yellow threads and, as you have noticed, has more red than Kikune san. In times of Mineko Iwasaki and before, the collars were step by step embroidered with more white thread till there was no more red, only ta the back. You can notice that Senior Maiko do not wear purely white collars - they are white from the embroidery at the front while geiko san wear simply white collars. Nowadays, Okiya own different styles of the collars for every stage and occasion.
This is her first Gion Matsuri as Maiko and she couldn't wait to wear her special Gion Matsuri kanzashi, that are same as her older sisters'.