Maiko Kanzashi

Geisha always wear kimono. Apprentice geisha wear highly colorful kimono/yukata with extravagant obi and hair ornaments (Kanzashi). Always, the obi is brighter than the kimono she is wearing to give a certain exotic balance. Maiko wear the obi tied in a style called "darari" (dangling obi). Geiko wear red or pink nagajuban, or under-kimono. A maiko wears red with white printed patterns. The junior maiko's collar is predominantly red with white, silver, or gold embroidery. Two to three years into her apprenticeship, the red collar will be entirely embroidered in white (when viewed from the front) to show her seniority. At around age 20, her collar will turn from red to white. Photo taken in Kyoto, Japan.

foxy-lady-jacqueline featured this in her [link] journal

[link] More Japanese Photos