@Danieru:

See http://forum.koohii.com/viewtopic.php?pid=18225#p18225

Everyone gets defensive when they are called a liar, though.

Jarvik7 wrote:

roderik wrote:

Which is what Ryuujin27's girlfriend is not doing at all. She is not discouraging people from venturing into something that they might not be an expert on, she is merely commenting on the fact that a lot of people here are making fact-like statements about things they in reality know very little of. Therefore I think this little comment of yours is a tad misplaced.

Actually her comments were not called for at all. People were making statements based on what Ryuujin said, which turned out not to be entirely accurate. Also, I doubt anyone considered that she was looking for damaged kimonos or store leftovers on clearance (since it was something that had been resized, it was already paid for by the original customer that ordered it and would have been garbage bound if left for much longer) Thus the fact-like statements remain as valid facts. Quality new kimono and used kimono in newish condition are indeed expensive. For example, a polyester made in China yukata is about 9800 at Isetan. That is neither brand-name nor good material yet is indeed expensive compared to comparable western clothing.

Throwing around words like a showoff and then telling people to shut up if they don't know them is not the way that this forum operates. It's especially rude for someone who isn't even a regular forum user to talk that way.

Actually, I think they made it clear they were bargain hunters right around the time they first mentioned the flea market, and so I totally DID assume that they were looking for stuff with minor flaws.  And I really think that her "supremacy" comments were more than a little tongue in cheek.  I actually got a few chuckles from the post and learned a bit too.  I don't see the point in compulsively sanitizing one's posts of all humanity just to appease the forum gods' delicate sensibilities. lol  :p

Honestly, I think bargain hunter for kimono is the way to go anyway. But then again, my kimono knowledge is minuscule compared to my girlfriends. But let's look at the practical facts:

First, the fact that the kimono (pure silk) that we got from Daimaru for $105 is a Yamato designer kimono. We hunted around for a cheap one, and this one happened to pop up.

Second, my girlfriend has amassed well over 30 kimono at this point (not including accessories, of course; and also grouping together all the different kinds into one group  "kimono"). All of her kimono (excluding one hand tailored for her, and the two we brought at Daimaru) are used kimono. Not a single one is in bad condition, nor have any visible disformities, stains, etc. And yet, all her kimono look just as good as all those $5000+ designer kimono, if not better.

So, honestly, I think it is way more practical, and even better to hunt for those bargain kimono. Because when you can look just as good in a $200 kimono as you can in a $5000 kimono... well, which do you choose?