Teeth are always in style.

The obi of a kimono tied into a bow.

Melville sensei helps Kayla Vaillancourt tie her obi.

A couple of weeks ago I tagged along with my friends as they bought kimonos. While they are beautiful I opted on the side of practicality and didn't buy one because: one they are expensive and two I have no idea where I would ever wear one back in the States. Today I had the opportunity to learn how to put one on.

I never wanted to take it off.

I felt a little like Mulan and my inner child relished in it (she's my favorite Disney princess). Even though it was slightly like being strapped into a corset and my feet couldn't move farther than five inches apart I was in love. Melville sensei just laughed as she tied it tighter and said this is why old people here don't have back problems. It was no easy task putting one on. You have to lift the fabric here and fold this way and tie one strap here and another there and then you wrap the obi around you and tie it all up. Eventually we all got it and we looked great.

The ladies try and figure out how to tie their obi's after Meliville sensei demonstrated it.

Robert Shelton and Peter Marheine figure out how to put on the obi.

My beautiful roommate Kendra Snelson models the final product.