The Ladybug on how to wear a vintage kimono at the office

When I traveled to Japan last summer I finally got the chance to buy a couple of vintage kimonos.  This piece has always been iconic for me: the kimono has an oriental vibe that feels like wearing history and culture from another world; it is incredibly fashionable and stylish and it can add the “great touch” to any outfit, even the most boring one! I had a couple of vintage kimonos in my wardrobe, mostly bought during my vintage trips in Europe, more precisely in Brussels and Madrid but the chance to buy a vintage kimono in Japan was priceless!

As I told you during my Japanese chronicles, I found a couple of beautiful vintage shops in Kyoto and Tokyo where I bought three kimonos, one of them is the one pictured here, a beautiful vintage piece that I found in the most incredible vintage kimonos shop that I saw in Kyoto (I bought two pieces there). Kimonos are quite pricey in Japan, that’s why buying a vintage piece can be the best option also for those who are not that much into vintage! The prices for vintage kimonos are fair (this was around 30 euros) and the most pricey ones are real pieces of art (the second one that I got there was indeed more expensive but it was an hand-painted silk piece that stole my heart at first sight!)

My friends were asking me why I was buying kimonos as it was such a difficult piece to wear! Difficult? At all! It is a very versatile piece, quite easy to wear, with almost everything, both dressed-up and dressed-down. I answered that it was so easy to wear that I could also wear it at the office! They were not convinced so I accepted the challenge and once I came back home I prepared this easy look to wear at the office. No need to say that they admitted my victory!

No jokes, the outfit was simple yet stylish for the office, I just wore something very “smart” (an handmade white shirt and black Dixie culottes) and put my pale blue kimono instead of a boring blazer! That’s all! I added a tiny vintage belt that I bought in a lovely vintage shop in Osaka and, as I like it to push it a little bit I paired with golden accessories: a pair of Dune London golden ankle boots, brass earrings and ring from Metalica Creazioni.

My colleagues were impressed and they loved the outfit, what do you think? Would you wear it at work?

The Ladybug explores Japan in a vintage kimono

Saturday afternoons that I love:  brunch, exhibit and movie with my best friends! I can’t really ask for more!

In preparation of our Deejay run we decided to feed our soul with art (but also with food!) and we dedicated our afternoon to see the beautiful exhibit dedicated to the Japanese artists Hokusai, Hiroshige and Utamaro at Palazzo Reale in Milan.

This journey through the art, nature and culture of Japan was full of amazing moments: the beautiful landscapes of Hokusai (especially the ones dedicated to bridges and to Mount Fuji) made me feel the need of traveling to this amazing country that I’m dying to see.  So did the nature drawn by Hiroshige and the beautiful Japanese women described by Utumaro.

The Great Wave of Kanagawa is definitely one of the most powerful pieces but it is hard to pick up your favorites among two hundreds “ukiyoe” prints that you can admire there.

As I was in a Japanese mood I thought it was the perfect day to wear my vintage kimono from Episode Vintage in Brussels paired with my new Frida tee by Vanna Vinci and mum jeans from Topshop.

I added my BFF heart chain from Black Heart Creatives , Superga shoes, Celine sunglasses and Michael Kors bucket bag.

If you want to visit the exhibit it will be in Milan until the 29^th of January, I am sure that you will love it too !