Article about my grandmother’s style in her young age from Japan

[Manako J]

Hello, I am Manako and a graduate from Mlitt: Dress &Textile Histories program of Universities of Glasgow. I am always obsessed with wonderful vintage pieces!

I have started to post short writings on my instagram about fashion cultural contents, especially lesser-unknown Japanese modern fashion history (my home country). As the first topic, I explored my grandmother’s style in her young age.

Kindly, the admin of Vintage Fashion Guild offered me to share my post on this forum. I hope you enjoy reading it and I would be happy if you like, follow or share my posts. I am going to upload the second part about my grandmother’s content and regularly put further

My account: @manakojumonji

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View this content on Instagram

 

[poppysvintageclothing]

Thank you for sharing these wonderful old photographs of your grandmother.

 

[Metro Retro Vintage]

What a wonderful photo and article about your grandmother! I really like the knit top that she is wearing. I look forward to reading the rest of your article and will visit your instagram page.

 

[lkranieri]

Wonderful story and photos! I was interested to note that the combination of the light shirt (or whatever it is) under the short crocheted/knitted top and with the long skirt, gives a quick visual effect of an obi and kimono. It seemed to me to be an example of "how Japanese women incorporated Western elements into their everyday fashion when kimonos were still the predominant form as their daily garments."

 

[Karen's Fashion Backward Shop]

Such a lovely tribute to your grandmother. Was she an innovative and independent thinker into her mature years?

 

[amandainvermont]

Your grandmother was so independent to dress (and make her dresses) in western style while most of her colleagues wore kimonos. Very interesting. Please let us know when you post your second part.

 

[Manako J]

What a wonderful photo and article about your grandmother! I really like the knit top that she is wearing. I look forward to reading the rest of your article and will visit your instagram page.

Thank you! The photo of my grandmother wearing the knitted top is one of my favorites too. She looks very proud and happy with her creation

 

[Manako J]

Wonderful story and photos! I was interested to note that the combination of the light shirt (or whatever it is) under the short crocheted/knitted top and with the long skirt, gives a quick visual effect of an obi and kimono. It seemed to me to be an example of "how Japanese women incorporated Western elements into their everyday fashion when kimonos were still the predominant form as their daily garments."

Your point is very interesting. I am also interested in the colours. It is hard to identify them but in some cases, they could be predicted by searching trends of the time.

 

[Manako J]

Such a lovely tribute to your grandmother. Was she an innovative and independent thinker into her mature years?

Thank you! I will try to put some my thoughts about that in the second part

 

[Manako J]

Your grandmother was so independent to dress (and make her dresses) in western style while most of her colleagues wore kimonos. Very interesting. Please let us know when you post your second part.

Yes, that is definitely an intriguing point. I need further research to understand the reason, which requires extensively exploring the different working environments of women during that period.