5 Sep /14

Kimono

The kimono is the traditional dress of Japan for men and women. It was first referenced in the English language when the travel diary Le Japon pittoresque written by Maurice Dubard, was translated into English by William Conn in 1886. The English title was Japanese Life, Love, and Legend. A Visit to the Empire of the Rising Sun and it mentions the kimono as the “picturesque costume of travellers”.

Early versions of the kimono have been around since the 5th century and were influenced by Chinese fashions. However it was during the Edo Period (1603 – 1867) that the kimono began to appear as it does today. It was everyday wear for men and women until the post-war period when Western style clothes became the preferred mode of attire and kimonos were kept for special occasions.

The woman’s kimono is characterized by wide sleeves, and a long, slim skirt held in place by a wide belt, or obi. The obi fits firmly around the torso keeping the skirt pulled in tightly around the legs which makes it difficult to walk with much more than a shuffle. The man’s kimono is usually dark in shades of grey, blue, green or brown, with a much smaller belt around the middle and shallow sleeves.

The kimono is extremely difficult to put on by yourself because of the number of layers and pieces involved. The main garment and undergarments are precisely positioned and chords which keep the obi in place are tied using prescribed knots. This is one reason why they are only worn on special occasions nowadays, and women often go to a local hair salon for a trained kimono specialist to help them get ready.

Travelling around Japan’s towns and cities, you might see a woman dressed in kimono talking on her phone while running (or shuffling at top speed) for a train. It’s an image almost symbolic of today’s Japan – the perfect blend of grace and tradition in a modern, fast-paced world.

Two more types of kimono that are seen much more rarely by foreign visitors to Japan are the wedding kimono and kimonos worn by Geisha. The bride’s wedding kimono is a beautiful pure white kimono with a large white head covering. This headpiece was traditionally worn to hide the woman’s “horns of jealousy”. Geisha kimonos and especially the kimonos of apprentice Geisha (Maiko) are truly stunning. The colours are vivid, the obi elaborate and the large black hairpiece is accented by intricate hair decorations. The kimono hangs a little low at the back of the neck because this area was traditionally deemed erotic in Japanese culture.

Kimonos have changed from everyday dress in Japan to stunning outfits that are treasured by their owners. Although Western-style evening dresses have become popular for special occasions with their bolder styles for the modern woman, there is no doubt that the kimono will survive all the fashion fads to remain the epitome of elegance and a symbol of Japan.