There is an episode in "Makurano soshi" (the Pillow Book) that informally dressed and relaxed court ladies were surprised at the sudden appearance of the Emperor Ichijo and quickly slipped on karaginu or mo, and also there is a scene at the chapter 'Wakana (New Herbs), Part One' in "Genji Monogatari" (the Tale of Genji) that Akashi no onkata (Lady Akashi) appeared alone wearing mo in respect to the other wives of Genji.
『枕草子』では急な一条天皇のお出ましに略装でくつろいでいた女房が慌てて唐衣や裳を着用するというエピソードがあり、『源氏物語』「若菜上」では明石の御方が他の源氏の妻達に遠慮して唯一裳をまとって登場したと言うシーンがある。