#i just really like describing clothes in stories dsjfjsldkjflk

[ofmermaidstories]

Helloo, I’ve never asked anything before but my curiosity is absolutely killing me lmao.. did you have an inspiration for the kimono reader is wearing in something (just like this)? It sounds so intricate and pretty so I was just wondering ◡̈ I rly love the story btw you’re one of my favorite writers

omg okay so—i collect a magazine called kimono hime!! it’s out of print now im pretty sure (???) but it’s basically like a fashion mag with varying kimonos and yukatas and furisodes in all sorts of amazing prints, like, really contemporary stuff!

it’s such a beautiful magazine if you’re into fashion or design or are a weeb (me).

but as for Reader’s summer fit, there’s no real one-for-one inspo for it. 🥺 i kinda just took my cue from the issues of kimono hime and the designers within it—and tried to think up something fun! black and white stripes seemed fun because a) they were bold and b) could conceivably be imagined on a range of skin tones (like—i personally love wearing pastels and dusky pinks, but one of my besties is quite pale and can’t wear the same shades because it washes her out, so i thought we needed something that could maybe cover more ground than like “you’re wearing a green yukata” or whatever). i love roses, and tiny teeny spiders hiding among them seemed like a nice contrast (and also meant i could have our cool-guy kimono seller make his “you look like someone who’s a mix of both worlds” remark, because like, who among us doesn’t hold conflicting qualities? something pretty, something more repellent unless you really like spiders ig so then it’s like, something pretty and something cool LOL).

when i was on insta i was following a japanese designer who had these amazing patterns for kimonos and things, like, vintage cat faces on the obis and stuff so i knew when giving Reader one we could get away with like, something really neat—so the toads, snakes, roses and diamonds that’s meant to be on it is a nod to one of my favourite fairytales! tbh it’s mostly a little textual inside joke with myself, because the fairytale is about a pair of sisters who are each blessed and cursed by a fairy; the sister that treated the fairy sweetly is blessed so that when she speaks diamonds and precious jewels and flowers fall out of her mouth with her words. the sister that treated the fairy cruelly is cursed—so that it’s snakes and toads instead. it’s the same sort of line of thinking as the “mix of both worlds” comment: it’s the idea that Reader (like us all) is capable of saying both kind and cruel things. 🐍💎🌹🐸

it’s hard trying to come up with outfits in a reader-insert fic! and look, not everyone is going to be happy. but i did do a lil faux-kimono hime mock up, to show the general vibes of what i was going for with Reader’s fit. maybe with more roses though??? hmmm hmmm hmmm.

#ofmermaidstories-asks #hello anon hi hi—i hope you have a good weekend ahead of you 🤲🏽 #thank-you for asking this—i got a little carried away there 😭 #i just really like describing clothes in stories dsjfjsldkjflk #but also reader’s yukata makes a come-back in the last chapter sooo 🥹 #gotta get your yenjamins worth!!! #passion for fashion: the dress-up tag