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"Kimono" means "clothing" in Japanese
The kimono is the wrapped-and-tied, robe-like garment that is the national costume for Japan.
Whether your kimono interest is historical, theatrical, fashionable or textile, this lens has something for you!
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Shown here, a young girl wearing a beautiful kimono and elaborate obi, fan dancing during the Bon Odori celebrations.
Learn all about Kimonos!
table of contents
My Favorite Kimono-Oriented Event
Seattle's Annual Bon Odori Festival
Bon Odori is a part of the Japanese Buddhist festival of Obon, which honors the ancestors and the dead. At the more celebratory part of the two-day gathering, there are displays of traditional music, arts and clothing. And for several hours each day, ritualized line dances are conducted in the street outside the temple. The public is welcome to join in, and you can follow along with special dance masters who stand where lots of people can see them and you can just watch them and follow along.2008 Bon Odori - This year Bon Odori is July 19-20. You can get more details at the Seattle Betsuin site.
Books on Kimono
Kimono Glossary
- chuburisode - medium sleeves, approx 90 cm.
- furisode - brightly colored, patterned kimono with long sleeves worn by young women.
- furisode uchikake - a brightly colored unbelted kimono worn over a white bridal kimono.
- homongi - "visiting kimono" - these are worn for non-formal occasions, and traditionally have an asymmetrical pattern that crosses from the side seams to the back hem.
- iro tomesode - a brightly colored kimono worn by married women, it's less formal than kuro tomesode.
- kofuisode - short sleeves, approx 75 cm.
- kuro tomesode - the most formal kimono worn by a married woman, it is black with five white crests on it.
- obi - a wide sash, elaborately tied, that fastens a kimono.
- oburisode - full sleeves, approx 105 cm.
- shiromuku - the all-white bridal kimono.
- wafuku - traditional clothing.
- yofuku - Western clothing.
Buy Vintage Kimonos
The trick with getting kimonos online or at auction is to get a true evaluation of the condition of the garment and the fabric. You will find kimono in silk, rayon and cotton. Hand-painting and hand-dyeing add more to the value of the garment than commercially printed fabrics as will embroidery.
The more reputable sellers will have close-up photos and notes of any flaws, stains or wear that exist on the garment, the better to present a true description of its condition.
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About Kimono
- KIMONO ENCYCLOPAEDIA - KIMONO
- Over 55 pages of kimono pictures, kimono style descriptions, kimono history, kimono fashion competitions, places to buy kimonos and articles relating to kimonos.
- Japanese Culture - Costume - Kimono
- The kimono, which literally means "clothing", is one of the world's instantly recognizable traditional garments. Thanks to the popularity of ukiyo-e woodblock prints in the West at the beginning of this century, the kimono-clad maiden became one of the quintessential images of Japan. There are different types of kimono for different occasions and seasons, including those worn by men.
- About Japan: The Kimono Page
- The traditional form of clothing worn in Japan is generally referred to as kimono. The term, which means simply "Japanese style clothing", is used today to differentiate this style of attire from yofuku, the western-style garments most contemporary Japanese men and women prefer to wear.
- Kimono Hypertext: History
- From the primitive Jomon period through the Yamato, Asuka, Nara, Heian, Muromachi, and Edo periods, factors including climate, life and customs of the Imperial court, laws, the development of skills in weaving and dyeing, and the availability of materials have influenced the style of Japanese clothing.
- The Kimono fanlisting
- Hello and welcome to Timeless Elegance, the only fanlisting for kimono listed at The Fanlistings. If you are a fan, join us and get listed!
- Japanese Costume Glossary
- As Japanese clothing is quite varied, especially when the whole history is taken into account - which has been well documented for a millenium - the glossary must needs be incomplete. Some garments even have changed the context in which they were worn. We are looking at the more modern contexts here.
- Virtual Kimono - Kimono - Kids Web Japan - Web Japan
- Welcome to the Virtual Kimono Dressing Room! Here you'll be able to match kimonos with obi and other accessories to create a coordinated look. After you have put together your outfit, you will see a picture of the kimono in a setting where it is usually worn. Try different combinations and see all the finished pictures!
- Weaving and the Japanese Kimono - All Fiber Arts
- Kimonos date back to 300 A.D. (the Jomon period) and were were made of hemp. The Chinese introduced the raising of silk worms to Japan in the Yamato period (300 - 550 A.D.)....
- How to Fold a Kimono - eHow.com
- The Japanese kimono is an expensive article of clothing. Take special care to make it last a long time so you can pass it on to future generations.
- Kimono for Men
- When a man dons a kimono he will feel masterly, perhaps infused with the samurai spirit to realize his fullest potential. We recently invited two leading figures in the Japanese fashion industry to discuss the concept of kimono for men and what makes the wearer iki.
- BBC NEWS | Asia-Pacific | Kyoto rewards kimono wearers
- Japan's Kyoto city is offering free public transport and entry to tourist attractions to anyone wearing a kimono.
- Kimono Buying Guide
- Note that this guide only deals with buying kimono in Japan. When you get to go there, you may want to bring one back, either for wearing or as wall hanging, souvenir, or for using the fabric to make something else out of it.
- Metropolis - Kimono hunting
- It's hard to resist staring at someone in traditional Japanese costume, standing out in a sea of Luis Vuitton handbags and Ralph Lauren sweaters on the subway in the morning.
- BLACK MOON - Traditional and Contemporary Kimono.
- A look at kimono, the traditional clothing of Japan. With a web page "kimono exhibit."
- Civilization.ca - Homage to Nature: Landscape Kimonos of Itchiku Kubota
- This exhibition, presented at the Canadian Museum of Civilization from June 2 to October 29, 1995, featured 45 kimonos representative of Itchiku Tsujigahana. Complicated tie-dyeing is the most distinguishing characteristic of Tsujigahana, an ancient Japanese decorative textile-design method that also features elaborate brush paintings, intricate embroidery and gold-leaf appliqués. Itchiku Kubota revived this ancient method fifteen years ago, but he also incorporated new designs, and unique coloration and tie-dye methods in what is now known as Itchiku Tsujigahana.
The Kimono in Fashion History
The kimono is a unisex garment, with sleeve cut, color choice and fabrics, and the manner in which the obi is tied all handling the specialties of social occasion, gender, class and marital status. One thing to note is that men's kimono have sleeves that end with a square shape, women's and children's are rounded. The more circular the sleeve ending, the younger the person the kimono was intended for.
Highly specialized kimono dressers charge hundreds of dollars to provide formal kimono and dress men and women for very fancy social occasions. Most Japanese who chose to regularly dress in kimono do so after completing elaborate educational classes.
Kimono are collected not only for wearing, but for display as art objects as well. Some textile techniques and designs are particular to certain points in kimono history and others have evolved along with the dress form.
Kimono Photographs
Buy Kimonos posters and prints at Art.com
This photo gallery features pictures of people wearing kimono, images taken at fashion shows, and more.
Kyoto, Japan, 14 May 2005.
kimono by teruterubouzu
Kimono Model
This layer goes under the kimono itself.
I loved the pink kimono
making a kimono that fits me
Japanese women wearing kimonos.
Kimonos on show at town festival
hand weaving kimono fabric
Buy Vintage Obi
Obi are the elaborate sashes and ties worn to belt a kimono. You will want to take classes if you really want to know how to tie an obi properly. They are many-layered and wind up being almost as stiff as a corset in the more elaborate forms.
An obi should contrast with your kimono, not match it. And it gets tied in the back. When you see an image of a woman in historical paintings with her obi tied in the front, it means the person shown is a prostitute, the belief being that she spends so much time on her back, she can't tie her obi that way.
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Kimono, Yukata and other Japanese Clothing
- Kimono, Kimono Fabric, Yukata and Japanese Clothing
- Kimono site offers info on japanese kimono, japanese clothing, kimono fabrics, patterns and yukata robes. How to tie an obi sash, make a kimono, how to wear japanese yukata, hakama pants and japanese shoes zori, geta sandals and tabi socks.
- Japanese kimonos, vintage kimono and kimono fabric from Kyoto Kimono
- Kimono, Japanese kimonos, obi, haori, yukata, vintage kimonos and kimono fabric from Kyoto Kimono. Each piece is unique with its own history and charm.
- Vintage Japanese Kimono - From the collection of MARLA MALLETT: TEXTILES
- The elegant Japanese kimono on these pages are one-of-a-kind works of textile art that can either be displayed or worn.
- Kimono Flea Market Ichiroya
- Kimon Flea Market Ichiroya offers you the authentic and charming old kimono directly from Japan with a reasonable price just as the price of the Japanese flea markets !
- Japanese Kimono, Obi, Wedding Kimono, Fabric - Moto-ya.com - Home
- We specialize in authentic silk Japanese kimono, obi, and wedding kimono. In addition, you will also find in our store a great selection of obi and kimono fabrics, Uchikake, Furisode, Tomesode, Kakeshita, Shiromuku, and many accessories. Take a stroll through our pages and enjoy the beauty!
- Japan Shop - Kimono
- Online Mall specializing in Japanese goods and services for people living outside of Japan.
- Kimono Narae - Japanese Silk Kimono and Obi
- Kimono Narae specializes in vintage kimono and kimono fabrics for everyone- from gift shoppers, to textile artists, to collectors of rare japanese kimono and obi.
- Katie's Vintage Kimono
- Katie's Vintage Kimono was born in 1995 ? we've been selling kimono fabric for the past 7 years and during that time have built up an extensive collection of fabrics.
- Vintage Kimono at Kimono Place!
- Vintage Japanese Kimono, textiles & decor--vintage kimono, haori, children's kimono, michiyuki, uchikake (wedding kimono), obi, kokeshi dolls, kimono accessories & Japanese actor postcards.
- Ah! Kimono
- Ah! Kimono offers unique and beautiful vintage Japanese kimono fabric, Burmese silk, Australian Aboriginal prints and other designer fabric as well as embellishments from around the world.]
- Japanese Kimonos from garden-gifts.com
- Our kimono, japanese kimonos and kimonos make wonderful japanese kimono robes. All japanese kimonos include kimonos belt and made of quality kimono fabric.
- i-kimono
- Search items you like from the site. Input various conditions to find items fitting your needs such as size, colors, patterns, material conditions, and so on.
- Kimono from Japan - Vintage Kimono Online Shop Yamatoku
- Vintage Kimono Online Shop YAMATOKU Corporation from Japan. We can send the items within 5 business days to all over the region!
- CHUU - Fine Kimonos & Japanese Antiques
- We sell Japanese & Asian antiques on-line from NY. Edo to Meiji period tansu, kimonos, Imari, Satsuma, dolls, lacquer, Buddhist items and samurai cards are our specialties. New items up every day!
- PLUM BLOSSOM KIMONO
- Plum Blossom Kimono sells vintage Japanese kimono, silk scarves sewn from kimono, and pillows sewn from obi
- Kimono Source : vintage Japanese kimono, haori, obi, and michiyuki
- Kimono Source is your online source for wonderful vintage Japanese kimono, obi, haori, michiyuki and more. We also feature links to books on kimono, obi, Japanese fabrics and textiles, quilting, and other traditional and contemporary Japanese fiber arts.
- The Japanese Connection: Yukata-Summer Cotton Kimonos
- A yukata is a cool, lightweight kimono worn during the sweltering Japanese summers. Japanese love their tradition of matsuri, Shinto festivals celebrated during the hot summer months in Japan, and the yukata, made of soft cotton or silk, is the natural choice of dress for these hot nights. Both men and women adorn themselves in yukata during the festivals, the women donning brightly colored patterns with large, flowing obi (belts), while the men often choose darker tones and sober obi.
Buy Modern Obi
One of the blessings of the modern obi is the version that comes pre-tied. Sort of like a clip-on tie, this allows women to have the look of a more formal kimono obi, but in a fraction of the time. Most often these come in two pieces, one being the waist sash part and the second being the pre-tied arrangement that goes in back.
These are most often worn with summer kimono, also called yukata, which are worn more casually. And remember, obi are supposed to contrast with the kimono.
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Kimono Collections
- KIMONO COLLECTION
- About Kimono, worn by both adults and children
- "Kimono" Collection
- Marubeni official web site. This page offers you information about paintings by famous artists and beatiful kimonos owned by us.
- The Enchanting New Collection from Chocolat Moderne!
- Stunning chocolates designed to look like kimono textiles and including traditional Japanese ingredients/flavors! These are too cute...
- Kimono Collection from Hoffman Fabrics - Erica's Craft & Sewing Center
- Erica's has a wide selection of fabrics, including selected fabrics from Moda, RJR, and Hoffman
- Japan Style Kids Kimono Collection 2006
- Kids clothes that are inspired by and incorporate kimono.
Comments and Questions
Thank you for visiting my kimono lens!
I really like working on it, and your feedback is my best guide. Please take the time to give this lens a star rating, or leave a comment if you enjoyed it.
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Silver_Lotus
Beautiful lens - and very informative. I'm into Netsuke, which Japanese gentlemen used to carry small items (e.g. tobacco pouches) since their kimonos had no pockets - it became a fascinating and beautiful art form. Posted May 06, 2008 |
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CrypticFragments
very nice! I am infatuated with al things Japanese right now! I rated you 4 (I rarely give out 5s) and lensrolled you to my Japan-related lenses! Posted March 23, 2008 |
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Timewarp
Great lens! I've featured you on http://www.squidoo.com/groups/fashionfile Posted March 18, 2008 |
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Tiddledeewinks
You have lots of nice kimono stuff here! Posted March 13, 2008 |
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EelKat
great lens! I found you while looking for Kimono info for my new lens about a CosPlay costume I'm making. I'm lensrolling this lens onto mine, and aslo featuring it after the "kimono section" on my lens, so that my readers can get more info by coming here after reading mine. Here is the url of my lens if you want to see where I put the link back to yours. Posted March 09, 2008 |
