Do you know that there is many types of Kimono?
For women we have:
Furisode
Who is wearing a Furisode ?
This one is for young unmarried women.
The sleeves of Furisode have an average between 39 and 42 inches (1,100 mm) in length. In fact, there are three lengths possible the oburisode that have a length of 105 cm, the chuuburisode have a length of 90 cm and the kofurisode is 75 cm length at last.
In the past, Furisode was black and with time it becomes such a beautiful and colourful design. It is richly design kimono.
When to wear it?
They are usually worn at coming-of-age ceremonies (seijin shiki).
At a wedding, unmarried female relatives of the bride are wearing it.
This Kimono is for all formal and ceremonial occasion of the unmarried women.
Hōmongi
Who is wearing a Hōmongi?
Worn by both married and unmarried women
This one is characterized by patterns that flow over the shoulders, seams and sleeves and a little more “Chic” then other Kimono (Tsukesage).
When to wear it?
At a weddings and receptions they may also be worn to formal parties.
Iromuji
Who is wearing an Iromuji?
It is worn by married and unmarried women.
Only one color kimono (monochrome) and the material making of this kimono is satin ( mon rinzu), crepe (chirimen) or tsumugi.
When to wear it?
Those kimono are worn to do Tea ceremonies.
Komon
Who is wearing a Komon?
It is worn by married and unmarried women.
This Kimono has a small and repeated pattern throughout the garment.
When to wear it?
It is to wear all around. To make it more formal for going out to restaurant or to go for a diner you put a more formal obi.
Edo komon
Who is wearing a Edo Komon?
It is worn by married and unmarried women.
What is typical difference with other kimono?
This is komon characterized by tiny dots arranged in dense patterns that form larger designs. It can be decorated with some Kamon too.
When to wear it?
May be worn as visiting wear
Mofuku
Who is wearing a Mofuku?
The completely black kit is reserved for family and others that are close to the deceased.
What is typical difference with other kimono?
The mofuku is a formal garment intended for mourning. It is made of pitch black silk, without any embellishment other than the 5 kamon.
All accessories are also black.
White being symbolic of death in Japan, the mofuku was made formerly of white. These days, the modern mofuku is now a black garment, to contrast with the white kimono of the dead
When to wear it?
The mofuku is worn on the days of the wake, funeral, and cremation of the deceased in a Buddhist funeral ceremony.
Due to white being symbolic of death in Japan, the mofuku was formerly a white garment; however, the modern mofuku is now a black garment, to contrast with the white kimono of the dead.
Tomesode
Iro Tomesode
Who is wearing an Iro Tomesode?
It is worn by married and unmarried women.
What is typical difference with other kimono?
It is a single-color kimono, patterned only below the waistline.
An Iro tomesode may have three or five kamon.
When to wear it?
Iro Tomesode are slightly less formal than Kuro Tomesode so it worn for close relatives of the bride and groom at weddings.
Kuro Tomesode
Who is wearing an Kuro Tomesode?
It is worn by married.
It is a black kimono patterned only below the waistline.
Kuro Tomesode usually have five kamon printed on the sleeves, chest and on the back of the kimono. The length of the sleeves are more shorter then a formal Furisode and opening of the sleeves are smaller too.
When to wear it?
They are often worn by the mothers of the bride and groom at weddings.
Tsukesage
Who is wearing a Tsukesage?
It is worn by married.
What is typical difference with other kimono?
It is more modest patterns that cover a smaller area under the waist.
When to wear it?
It is worn to visiting, school entrance, ceremony, parties
Uchikake
Who is wearing a Uchikake?
Back in time this kimono was worn by ladies of warrior or noble families.
In our days it is only worn by Japanese bridal ceremony.
What is typical difference with other kimono?
Uchikake is a highly formal kimono.
The Uchikake is supposed to be worn otherwise then the actual kimono and obi, it is taken as a sort of coat now. You can understand that we never tie the obi around the Uchikake. It is meant to trail along the floor. The color is all white or red.
When to wear it?
It is Japanese bridal ceremony costume.
Shiromuku
Who is wearing a Shiromuku?
A bride.
It is a whole white kimono that signify the pure intention of the bride to fit into her husband’s family.
When to wear it?
It is Japanese bridal ceremony costume.
Susohiki / Hikizuri
Who is wearing a Susohiki / Hikizuri?
Maiko (apprentice geisha), Geisha or stage performer.
It is a longer kimono then a traditional one. The skirt of is supposed to trail along the floor. Susohiki literally means "trail the skirt". The length of such a kimono can be 2 m long. That’s why Geisha and young Maiko are lifting up their Kimono while walking in the streets.
Here is a chart to help you with all this:
| Kimono | Formality | Occasion |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| | Visiting School Entrance
Ceremony Parties
|
|
| | |
I hope you enjoy this reading.
Next post on Kimono will be Part 3 – Parts of a Kimono and accessories.
