“… Her hair was ornamented with the dangling green bloom of a willow, and she wore a soft pink kimono with white flowers like cutouts all over it. The broad obi tied around her middle was orange and yellow. I’d never seen such elegant clothing…”
“…I had no doubt the gown was woven of pure silk, and so was the obi, embroidered in pale greens and yellows…”
“…Most people who know nothing of kimono seem to think the obi is simply tied in the back as if it were a string; but nothing could be further from the truth. A half dozen cords and clasps are needed to keep it in place, and a certain amount of padding must be used as well to shape the knot. Mr Bekku took several minutes to tie Hatsumomo’s obi…”
Memoirs of Geisha