The Kimono for Women, an emblematic garment of Japanese culture, fascinates with its timeless elegance and rich history. Much more than a simple garment, it embodies a true tradition, mixing art, symbolism and ancestral know-how . Today, the Kimono for Women is invited in various contexts, ranging from traditional ceremonies to modern fashion trends. In this article, we reveal everything you need to know about this unique garment: its origins, styles and meanings. Let's dive without further delay into the captivating world of the Kimono for Women!
Summary :
Kimono: Definition
The Kimono is the traditional Japanese garment , derived from the words ski (to wear) and mono (to thing), it has long sleeves, goes from the shoulders to the heels and comes in different styles and patterns depending on the occasion. As we will see later, kimono dresses intended for casual wear are much simpler than those intended for formal events. Usually made of four equal pieces of fabric called tans, they are hand-sewn in the shape of a "T" and tied with an obi (belt).
The history of the kimono
Before In the Meiji era (second half of the 19th century), all people, regardless of gender, wore Kimonos as everyday clothing. However, with the arrival of foreign culture, Kimonos gradually began to disappear from the Japanese wardrobe. However, even though they wore dresses and suits in the city until World War II, Japanese men and women still preferred to dress traditionally at home.
After the war, the Kimono gradually disappeared from everyday life, and today they are almost exclusively reserved for formal events such as weddings and New Year's Eve. Today, many young people need the help of professionals or special classes to put on their traditional costumes correctly.
However, geisha (entertainers), kabuki actors, tea masters, and other people in traditional professions still wear kimonos in everyday life.
Having made a comeback in recent years , more and more fashion enthusiasts are taking inspiration from it to create their own style and thus helping to keep the tradition of the Kimono alive.
The Different Layers of a Women's Kimono
Kimonos are particularly notable for their many layers . The obi belt, the lower kimono, the nagajuban, the unique laces and the garters for example are some of the pieces used to give the Kimono its full presence.
Here is a list of the main elements that you can find in a traditional Kimono:
- The Nagajuban is placed under the main kimono.
- The Ere-soin is an insert for the collar.
- The Obi is the belt that holds everything in place. The most popular Obis for women's Kimonos are the ma ru-obi (full obi) and the fuji-obi (pocket obi). Women often decorate the back of their obi to look like a flower or butterfly.
- The Obi-ira , a plate used to smooth the surface of the obi belt, is inserted at the front between the layers.
- The Obi-m'aura , a small cushion with ties, is used to give the obi the desired shape.
- The Obijime , a decorative lace, secures the entire kimono by being tied over the belt.
- The Obiage is a small piece of fabric (usually silk) used to drape the upper part of the obi.
- Ta bi are white cotton socks.
- The Joli is the traditional Japanese shoe.
Features of a Kimono for Women
Women's Kimonos are often colorful, with bright hues, such as red, pink, and purple, and feature nature-related designs, such as flowers and animals. The patterns and colors of the fabric used to make a Kimono have different meanings . For example, red represents the radiance of youth and is therefore suitable for young women. Bamboo, plum, and pine trees are considered lucky, as they represent renewal, perseverance, and longevity. The crane is a sign of longevity and good fortune.
Types of Kimonos for Women
There are many styles of Kimonos that women can wear on different occasions; for example, married women and single women should wear different types of kimonos. Let's take a look at the most popular ones!
Uchikake
The Chicane is a formal women's Kimono used exclusively as bridal wear or for classical theater productions such as kabuki. The term Chicane refers only to the outer layer of women's traditional wedding clothing. Additionally, this jacket is usually bright red or white, which symbolizes the bride's rebirth . Another characteristic of the Chicane kimono is that it is usually one size longer than the kimono worn inside and trails on the floor.
Shiromuku
The Shikoku is an all-white wedding Kimono , whose symbolism dates back to the samurai era. At that time, white represented the submission of the woman to her husband's family, as this neutral color made it easy to integrate the family's colors. These Kimonos occupy a very special place in Japanese history and culture.
Furisode
The most formal type of Kimono is called a furibonde and is intended for young, usually single, Japanese women. The furibonde has long, hanging sleeves, which are between 80 and 114 cm long. Furibonde Kimonos often feature dramatic designs intended to attract attention.
There are three types of Furisode Kimonos , each with a different sleeve length.
- The most popular and formal style of Kimono is the Ofurisode (large furious) , which has a sleeve length of about 114 cm. It also has some padding, which gives it weight and durability.
- The Chūfurisode, or medium furibonde , whose sleeves are usually 100 cm long. This type of kimono has gained popularity among young women due to its more casual style and lightness, since it does not have interior padding like the furibonde.
- The sleeves of the Kofurisode, or small furibonde , are about 80 cm long, making it the furibonde with the shortest sleeves. This kimono, less common than other types of furibonde, is generally worn with a hakama or evening pants. Its origin dates back to the Meiji era (1868-1912), a period during which it was often combined with hakama and boots. At that time, this style of kimono was particularly popular with Japanese schoolgirls.
Ode volumes
The Tomes ode is the most formal Kimono intended for married women. It is distinguished by its elegant patterns, always located below the waist, with gold usually being the dominant color. This type of kimono can be compared to an evening dress in Western culture.
To summarize, there are two types of ode tomes, the kurotomesode (black ode tomes) and the irotomesode (colored ode tomes) . Married women only wear the kurotomesode, while single women wear the irotomesode.
Irotomesode usually has soft, bright colors like white, pink, or peach.
In the imperial court, the black color of the kurotomesode symbolizes sorrow, and it is strictly forbidden to wear it. When a member of the imperial family wears a tomes ode or a commoner goes to the imperial palace to receive a reward or similar honor, he traditionally wears an irotomesode.
Houmongi
Houmongi, also called "visiting dress" , is a semi-formal kimono for women, whether married or not. It comes in a variety of colors and exquisite patterns, suitable for various ceremonies and semi-formal gatherings at home. This type of kimono is distinguished by the use of the "eba" technique, which creates the illusion of a continuous painting covering the entire garment. Although it has a long tradition, this style was revolutionary when it first appeared during the Taisho era.
Iromuji
An Iromuji is a Kimono of a single color, neither black nor white, without patterns or dyes , of simple elegance. Since the pattern is not flashy, it does not interfere with solemn occasions and does not draw too much attention to the person wearing it.
The Romaji is the most commonly used garment during tea ceremonies.
Romaji is more suitable for family occasions and graduation ceremonies. There is even a special style of Romaji Kimono for tea ceremony in Japan. The number of crests on the kimono determines its degree of formality.
Click here to learn more about the Japanese tea ceremony
Yukata (Summer Kimono for Women)
Yukata (bathing garment) is the most casual style of traditional Kimono . Its fabric is mainly cotton, linen or hemp for summer wear. People of all genders can wear the kata for various informal events, such as a trip to a hot spring, attending summer festivals, fireworks, summer activities or simply a stroll in a picturesque Japanese garden.
The Yukata is the summer form of the Kimono for Women.
Conclusion: The Kimono for Women
The Kimono for Women is much more than just a garment: it embodies the rich Japanese cultural tradition while adapting to modern trends. Whether you are attracted by its timeless elegance, its deep symbolism or its potential to enrich your contemporary wardrobe, the Kimono offers a multitude of possibilities. By choosing a Kimono, whether traditional or revisited, you adopt a unique piece that combines history, art and style . Let yourself be seduced by this emblem of refinement and explore the many ways to integrate it into your daily life or for special occasions.
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