Traditional Silk Kimonos make a Decorative Addition to your Wardrobe
Posted December 26th, 2008 by adminThough the kimono was originally from China, they are nowadays more commonly associated with Japan, and the most beautiful examples were a product of 17th and 18th century Japanese design.
The combinations of color and cloth traditionally indicated the wearer’s political and social status and kimono colors changed with the time of year. These days, the kimono is no longer purely a traditional robe.
Traditionally, all girls in Japan had to learn to sew and make their own clothes. But sewing was simpler than in the west. The girdle, haori and kimono, and even the long-hanging sleeves, used only parallel stitches. The clothes were, as a matter of fact, taken apart for cleaning, and each piece, after being slightly stiffened, was stretched on a board for drying, before being stitched back together.
There are many different types of kimono clothing: the long-sleeved, beautiful types worn by geisha or young girls, the formal kimono stamped with the wearer’s family emblem and worn on formal occasions; kimono for men and kimono for children. A young woman wears a kimono with long sleeves and an Obi, a wide brocade or silk sash about twelve feet long and 12 inches wide. As the girl 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 donned on special occasions and is mostly worn by women, but some men also wear this garment. Both kimono and haori may be hung from a hard wood frame as wall art.
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 has much in common with the kimono, except it is made of a lightweight cotton and is less formal.
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