Japanese Clothing ABCs
Long-sleeved kimono
When it comes to occasions when you wear a furisode,
Coming of age ceremonies, weddings, engagement ceremonies,
Examples include parties that have been changed.
When a young lady wears her mother's furisode, it is called "mama furi." Even if the furisode is from several decades ago, it can be coordinated in a modern style by modernizing the obi-jime, obi-age, and haneri around the obi.
Although it is formal attire, modern arrangements using lace and pearls are popular for coming-of-age ceremonies where people of the same age gather.
However, when attending weddings, engagement ceremonies, and formal parties, you will be surrounded by superiors, so a classic, orthodox outfit is best.
Recently, rentals have become mainstream for the following reasons: people buy furisode but never have a chance to wear it, and it ends up collecting dust in their closets; every time they wear it, they have to pay more than 10,000 yen for cleaning; and when you buy a kimono, obi, and accessories, it becomes a large item that is difficult to manage and store.
Black formal kimono
At weddings and receptions, the mothers of the bride and groom
The kimono she is wearing is a black formal kimono.
It has five family crests on a black background and is matched with a woven gold and silver obi, making it one of the most prestigious kimonos .
When choosing a black kimono, the upper body is almost the same, so the color and pattern of the lower body is the main factor in choosing one.
In the past, there were certain rules regarding the color and pattern of the kimono to be chosen, based on the relationship between the bride and groom and their ages, but nowadays, people enjoy wearing the kimono of their choice.
In the days when brides were given black kimonos to wear when they got married, the family crest was printed on the kimono by their own family, but nowadays, rentals are the norm, so it is no longer a big deal if the kimono does not have the family crest of the bride's own family.
However, for those who want to be particular about their family crest, family crest stickers are available for sale and can be purchased online.
Visiting kimono (Homongi)
Depending on the occasion,
Homongi kimonos can be used in a wide range of situations.
For example, they are known as "mama kimonos" worn by young mothers for shrine visits, Shichigosan ceremonies, entrance ceremonies, and graduation ceremonies, as well as for weddings, formal parties, tea ceremonies, etc.
Even though it is the same Homongi, younger generations may wear it as a "mother's kimono," and when invited to a wedding, pale pink or blue with cute or refreshing patterns is preferred.
In contrast, when worn by people of a slightly older generation for parties, stylish pieces with unique colors and patterns are popular.
For tea ceremonies and other special events, we recommend chic colors and patterns, as well as classic designs.
Graduation Hakama
For graduation ceremonies of elementary schools, universities, vocational schools, etc.
More and more young ladies are wearing hakama.
A distinctive feature of the hakama is that you can choose the footwear and sleeve length.
For footwear, should I wear boots like Haikara-san, or white tabi socks and sandals?
The question is, should the sleeves be short, called "ni-shaku sleeves," or long, using the long sleeves of a furisode?
It doesn't matter which one you choose as your graduation hakama, as they both have their own cuteness and it all comes down to preference.
Recently, there are trends every year, such as white boots instead of black boots, or boots decorated with lace and pearls, so be sure to check them out on social media♪
Yukata
People often ask, "What is the difference between a kimono and a yukata?"
You may ask, but yukata is a type of kimono.
Yukata is only worn during the summer.
Therefore, you cannot wear a yukata in spring, autumn, or winter. If you were to compare a yukata to Western clothing, it would be like a T-shirt and shorts worn in midsummer, so you would wear geta on your bare feet, just like flip-flops or sandals.
Another major difference is that in spring, autumn, and winter, two layers of kimono are worn - a nagajuban and a kimono (nagagi), but in summer, only one yukata is worn.
Yukata is not only popular for summer festivals and fireworks displays, but has also recently become popular as a casual outfit for going to live shows and beer gardens. Wearing a yukata will make you feel even more summery and is perfect for making memories.
White wedding kimono
For Shinto weddings and wedding ceremonies at shrines, etc.
This is a uchikake kimono worn by the bride.
A white uchikake is worn over a white kimono called kakeshita, and a white uchikake with a colorful pattern is called iro-uchikake.
The white wedding kimono is worn only during the wedding ceremony, and a colored uchikake is worn for the dinner and reception after the ceremony.
By the way, at the wedding ceremony, the groom wears a kimono called a black crested haori and hakama.
The black kimono features five family crests, a white round haori cord on the haori, and black and white striped hakama.
This combination is considered to be the most prestigious among men's kimonos, and if the father of the bride or groom attends the wedding dressed in traditional Japanese clothing, he will also wear this black crested haori and hakama.
Shichi-Go-San
To celebrate the growth of our children, two girls are 3 and 7 years old.
What boys wear when they are 5 years old
This is formal attire for Shichi-Go-San.
Recently, boys as young as three years old are increasingly wearing them.
The day to visit the shrine for Shichi-Go-San is November 15th, but it gets very busy, so many people go at a more convenient time between October and December, and some people just go to have their photos taken without praying.
Three-year-old girls are generally expected to wear a sleeveless jacket called a hifu, called "mitsumi." It is designed to be easy on even small children and to keep them from coming undone.
Three-year-old boys wear haori and hakama, or a hifu-type kimono for boys.
Five-year-old boys wear "haori hakama," but sometimes the baby clothes they wore at the shrine visit are re-tailored and used together with the hakama.
Seven-year-old girls wear "yotsumi" kimonos, which are child-sized adult kimonos, but the necessary accessories and dressing methods are the same as for adults. Dressing requires an undergarment, half-collar, obi, obiage, obijime, and other accessories such as a folding fan and a box-shaped purse.