Nov

30

Traditional Silk Kimonos make a Decorative Addition to your Wardrobe

Filed Under Miscellaneous 

Though the kimono was originally from China, the Japanese have been wearing them for hundreds of years, and their great beauty is attributable to 17th and 18th century Japanese designers.

Traditionally, the cloth and color combinations indicated the political and social standing of the wearer and the kimono’s color varied with the time of year. These days, the kimono is no longer a purely traditional robe.

Traditionally, all girls in Japan had to learn to make their own clothes and sew. But sewing was easier than in the west. The haori, kimono and girdle, and even the long-hanging sleeves, used only parallel stitches. The garments were, in fact, taken apart for cleaning, and each piece, after being slightly stiffened, was stretched on a board to dry, before being sewn back together.

There are many kinds of kimono clothing: the long-sleeved, gorgeous kinds worn by young girls or geisha, the formal kimono stamped with the wearer’s family emblem and worn on ceremonial occasions; men’s kimonos and children’s kimonos. A young woman would wear a kimono with long sleeves and an Obi, a wide brocade or silk band about twelve feet long and twelve inches wide. As she gets older, her kimonos become smaller and the colors deeper and richer while the obi is made narrower and worn deeper. In addition, haori, a short knee-length kimono, is often worn. These days, a kimono is typically only worn on special occasions and is primarily worn by women, but certain men also wear this garment. Both haori and kimono can be hung from a hardwood hanging bar as wall decoration.

As an ideal gift or indulgence, kimono clothing is versatile, and makes a welcome addition to any wardrobe.

Perhaps the most popular color for a kimono is red, derived from safflower. The yukata is similar to the kimono, except it is made of a lightweight cotton and is less formal.

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