Traditional Silk Kimonos make a Decorative Addition to your Wardrobe
Even though the kimono was originally from China, Japanese people have been wearing kimonos for hundreds of years, and the kimono attained its height of beauty in 17th and 18th century Japan.
Traditionally, the cloth and color combinations indicated the political and social standing of the wearer and the colors of kimonos changed according to the time of year. These days, the kimono is no longer a purely traditional robe.
Traditionally, all girls in Japan had to learn to master the art of sewing and clothes making. But sewing was simpler than in the west. The haori, kimono and girdle, and even the long hanging sleeves, had only parallel seams. The garments were, actually, taken apart for washing, and each piece, after being slightly starched, was stretched out on a board to dry, before being stitched back together again.
There are many kinds of silk kimono: the long-sleeved, gorgeous types worn by geisha or young girls, the formal kimono stamped with the wearer’s family crest and worn on ceremonial occasions; kimono for men and children’s kimonos. A young woman would wear a kimono with long sleeves and an Obi, a broad brocade or silk band about 12 feet long and twelve inches wide. As she grows older, her kimonos become smaller and the colors deeper and richer while the obi is worn lower and made narrower. In addition, haori, a short knee length kimono, is often worn too. These days, a kimono is usually only worn on special occasions and is mostly worn by women, but some men still wear this garment. Both kimono and haori can be hung on a hard wood hanging bar as wall art.
As an indulgence or ideal gift, kimono clothing is versatile, and makes a welcome addition to anyone’s wardrobe.
Possibly the most popular color for a kimono is red, derived from safflower. The yukata has much in common with the kimono, only it is made of a lightweight cotton and is less formal.