Geisha

[Elegance.Is.Refusal.]

a very interesting article on the history of the geisha

http://www.immortalgeisha.com/ig/history_01.cfm

 

[travolta]

i once took a japanese arts class and the teacher introduced a two tone lipstick that comes in tiny ceramic? jar. the color changes in the light from red to green gold ( i think) the jar only contains a small amount of pigment which is painted as a thin coat on the inside. you wet it and apply. he managed to acquire it in chinatown in nyc, so it's probably chinese? anyways, if anyone has more information i'd appreciate.

thanks fab fifties for the info

 

[Elegance.Is.Refusal.]

that sounds gorgeous but unfortunatly i have never heard of this before so i cant help

 

[Elegance.Is.Refusal.]

some more pictures from google images.

 

[travolta]

cowboyboots, i haven't read memoirs of a geisha. I think the movie starring ziyi zhang (controversy because she's chinese) is supposed to be released this year? i should probably check the book out though.

btw your welcome posh princess

 

[Elegance.Is.Refusal.]

i've just heard that its fiction and i dont mind that i was just wondering if it was true to geishas and the traditions that they follow. but thanks for the reply

'empress orchid' - if you find geishas interesting this book would be a great read. its about a chinese concubine and follows her story although fictional it still follows a story in history and was greatly researched. so stays true to the traditions and the descriptions of the outfits worn by them are wonderful and is also a very charming story to read also and will have you hooked.

 

[travolta]

....

 

[Witchbaby]

I personally wouldn't reccomend Memoirs of a Geisha because really it's just some white guys overly-fetishized version of Japan and the Geisha culture. He did use some real sources, but for the most part it's fiction


If you want to learn more about the Geisha lifestyle I would reccomend Geisha: A Life which is the autobiography of a real Geisha.


ETA:

Also, another reason for part of the neck not being painted is another turn on in Japanese culture, it reminds them of the "real life" woman behind the mask so to speak.

 

[Aida.Sevan]

 

[Elegance.Is.Refusal.]

I personally wouldn't reccomend Memoirs of a Geisha because really it's just some white guys overly-fetishized version of Japan and the Geisha culture. He did use some real sources, but for the most part it's fiction


If you want to learn more about the Geisha lifestyle I would reccomend Geisha: A Life which is the autobiography of a real Geisha.

thanks for answering my question

 

[Little Star]

i was wondering about buying 'memiors of a geisha' has any body read it and is it true to geishas?

I have read it too and I would back up what Witchbaby has said. The geisha in that book is more of a prostitute than a geisha in the traditional sense - I think.

 

[fab_fifties_fille]

I've got the book at the moment...and I'll have time to read it soon...I'll give a report back of it, my mam read it and really enjoyed it but how true it is to geisha i'm unsure.

 

[emma_leigh]

I lived in Japan when I was younger and would see the geishas walking around, but never knew their history. The tradition is fascinating. Thanks for the info, travolta.

 

[utopia]

I find the clothing and makeup incredibly beautiful and very inspirational, though it is not a lifestyle that I admire. I've been really interested in kimonos lately, and I find that quote travolta posted really interesting...especially how in bygone eras when the kimono was the standard of dress, they influenced popular trends. but now in the 21st century, the dress is very old world and traditional, sort of like a relic of a bygone era.

this is a really fascinating topic... especially when thinking about how the geisha influence trickles down into mainstream trends even now. if you're craving more asian inspiration from the runways, check out another relevant thread, asia society: http://www.thefashionspot.com/forums/showthread.php?t=26827&highlight=asia

 

[Estella*]

^ah, thanks utopia, i hadn't seen that!

and thanks for the interesting thread, travolta, i actually was about to ask where you found that picture you used for your last collage and now i see

geisha imagery by photographer nuboyoshi araki

 

[Estella*]

the attention for details is so amazing

 

[Witchbaby]

I have read it too and I would back up what Witchbaby has said. The geisha in that book is more of a prostitute than a geisha in the traditional sense - I think.

Yeah, that really pissed me off when reading it. He only backed up the Asian submissive woman stereotype and turned into his own kind of fantasy.

Geisha were not prostitutes, they really were the supermodels of their time. They would come to parties to sing, dance and entertain, but not for sexual purposes. They did take on companions who sponsored them (to help them pay for their clothing, lessons, etc.) and sometimes sex was involved but it wasn't a direct money for sex transaction that he made it seem. It was frowned upon if a Geisha had sex with too many men, they were supposed to be lady like at all times when they were with clients.

/rant over.

Sorry, that's just one thing that really bugs me.

 

[travolta]

i actually was about to ask where you found that picture you used for your last collage and now i see

actually, i didn't clarify. i got that image from this site
http://pdngallery.com/20years/editorial/04_jodi_cobb.html

 

[Estella*]

no, you didn't, but i am so computer-savvy that i right-clicked it eagerly and ... found out

 

[travolta]

^ smarty smarty pants