On a whim, I picked up colorful Haori jackets of Kimono. Six of them. Guess I was in holiday party mode.
They were authentic Japanese, shipped from Kyoto and Okayama, famous production areas for kimono. Yen was still quite weak, and the price looked right on ebay.
Hakama pants are worn as a formal attire in Japan. You can get married or receive an award in it. So it is qualified as formal party dress.
But you can move in it, as shown in Hakama pants being used for Kendo or Aikido practice.
My parties are dance parties. I tested Haori jacket + Hakama pants (basically super wide pants) attire in Salsa and West Coast Swing. And they were fine, no problem.
But these dances are "far apart" dances.
Now, can I dance Tango in Haori + Hakama attire?
I googled for "Tango and Kimono" video, and got nothing. Well, my attempt might be actually very rare (or perhaps, just don't work?).
As wide pants, Hakama might not be ideal for leg entanglements. But without cuff and with not-too-long length, it is less likely to catch her heel. Probably the wide dark pants can work as background curtain to show her legs, while concealing my leg movements from viewers. A different look.
Wonder how it looks. Might be like some Turkish dance with "floating" look?
I am a scientist. I'll test it in next local milonga and find out.
Difference from science; even if it does not work for all others, if I can get it to work, it will be fine for me.
If it is fine, I'd bring it to upcoming Tango festival I signed up for a night's costume. An experiment for fun.
