Kimono

by Flemin on February 10, 2010

Most people have heard of or seen a kimono. This type of clothing is not worn every day by most people, as it was traditionally, but it is still worn from time to time. Some people in Japan do actually wear the kimono daily. It may not be known by everyone, but women are not the only ones that wear kimonos. Men also wear a kimono sometimes, especially at special events.

The left side of the kimono is always wrapped above the right side of the kimono. The only time this isn’t the case is when a kimono is used to dress a deceased person before burial.  The kimono is secured with an obi, a sash, that is tied in a bow on the back. Traditional wooden sandals and socks are generally the footwear worn with a kimono.

The kimono has gone through different versions over time, in the same way that modern and western clothing has. However, as society is modernizing the kimono has been almost fully replaced by western clothing. Despite this trend towards more modern clothing, kimonos can still be seen in Japan. In addition, their influence can be seen in different types of modern styles, such as a kimono dress.

A kimono for women can be an amazing work of art and be valued upwards of 20,000 dollars. In general, a kimono will not be this expensive, but it shows how much care goes into these beautiful pieces of clothing. The kimonos that men wear are different from the ones that women wear because of their more simple design and the cloth that is used. These kimonos generally have shallow sleeves, are only 5 pieces, and are made with a dark color fabric.

The more modern clothing inspired by the kimono, can be seen with a kimono dress that has a more modernized look. Despite the differences in appearance, the modern kimono dresses wrap around whoever is wearing it and a sash is used to tie it. The kimono can be an incredible work of art and is an amazing part of Japanese culture.  They are a great way to get a taste of Japanese culture and to discover Japan slowly.

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