the old man underpants

There is something fantastically mysterious about vintage textiles.  Sometimes they retain something of the wearer.  Sometimes the wearer is mysteriously absent and only the mystery remains.

While frolicking a few weeks back, in excellent company, in my favourite Japanese textile store I unearthed a mysterious treasure.

Dark steel-blue grey, with long ties, a rigid panel, a fascinating tortoiseshell implement sewn into the inside, and beautiful, beautiful pleats.

Oh the pleats.

I immediately had to try it on to see the possibilities, and a pinafore presented itself.

The garment has been slightly refashioned.

Not knowing its true function and buying it anyway was fun, and even knowing that it may have been a pair of old man’s underpants (because Japanese clothing is so difficult to understand from here) was no deterrant.

It turns out to be Hakama,  feels fantastic on – is slightly transparent and needs layers underneath.

Arghhh treasure.