Kimono Fanservice scope discussion

Concerns were raised on the Trope Improvement Discussion thread over the scope and/or name of the trope. Let's continue that discussion here.

Trope Description Improvement Drive discussion on Kimono Fanservice starts here.

i get what the original idea of the trope was going for, as a kind of sub-category of Sexily Modest (though i think that came later), because there is definitely a distinctly different type of allure used by kimono: hinting at the idea of a naked body "wrapped" in ribbons like a present, while revealing certain intimate but not inappropriate areas, such as the nape of the neck. however, that makes it a bit unclear where to define kimono fanservice from either normal use of kimono or normal use of fanservice. in particular, there's a hard line between the "classical" allure of a kimono and the "modern" allure where it looks like you're going to spill out of it. and even then, the "modern" allure has been around for a very long time, as it's a very big part of obi-mawashi, a traditional type of foreplay in jidaigeki media where one spins the obi of a woman's kimono until she falls down with it undone around her body.

with that in mind, i feel like it should be broadened to include fanservicey uses of kimono in general, whether that be in the "classical" Sexily Modest style or the "modern" Theiss Titillation Theory style. something like French Maid Outfit doesn't have the hard line of "it has to be a normal maid outfit played for fetish, not a sexy maid outfit", so i don't think this needs one either.

Edited by NoUsername on May 23rd 2023 at 7:53:51 AM

Original YKTTW, which seems to have gotten disconnected from the discussion page at some point. Oldest Internet Archive copy.

So, is the trope "Kimono used for fanservice purposes, including intentionally worn off-shoulders and being open in ways that aren't normally worn like IRL" or "Sexualized Kimono"?

What concrete examples count as Kimono Fanservice, and what doesn't count as KF? I asked in the Description Improvement thread, but no one answered the question.

Needs a wick check to see whether the kimono is explicitly used for titillation or fanservice purposes, instead of just "character wears kimono".

x4 Oh, I didn't know about Sexily Modest. I agree with your post.

my understanding is that it's meant to cover examples of kimono played as a fetish outfit and not just sexy kimono, which is the issue the IP thread ran into. but it seems like the original intent of the trope from the YKTTW was to cover both cases, so it's entirely possible the blanket ban on "sexy kimono" was added unilaterally later on? especially since, judging from the examples, they still have a pretty even mix of Sexily Modest kimono and "slipping off" kimono. i can't really get a good feel for its current definition outside of that.

I get the idea that it originally meant to cover all inatances of sexy Kimono or fanservice to do with wearing a Kimono and someone just came and added the ban on Kimono worn seductively outta nowhere without a discussion/reason according to the trope's history.

I guess it might need a wick check to examine how the examples use and see the trope.