How to Choose the Right Size for a Yukata
Yukata are a type of traditional Japanese dress robe that is commonly worn in the summer to view fireworks. The word yukata comes from the Japanese word "yu," meaning "bath," and "katabira," which means "under clothes." Yukata are made of cotton and are lightweight for the long, hot months of summer in Japan. While some yukata come in one-size-fits-most, some also have one to two sizes to choose from. In order to choose the yukata in the right size, you need to take the proper measurements first.
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Instructions
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Measure your height from shoulders to feet. Yukata usually come in one or two fixed lengths and can be folded up to make them shorter if they are too long. The length of the yukata should come to your ankle or 1 to 2 inches above it.
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Measure your arms from wrist to wrist. The sleeves on the yukata should come to your wrist or 1 to 2 inches above it.
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Measure your waist, hips and chest. The part of the yukata that wraps around you must be able to fold over comfortably and not leave any gaps in the fabric.
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Write your measurements down.
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Measure the yukata in the store or read the measurements online to make sure the yukata is large enough to accommodate your measurements. The yukata should be 20 to 30 inches larger than your maximum chest, waist and hip measurements. Try the yukata on, if you can.
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Choose the yukata that can accommodate your measurements comfortably.
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Tips & Warnings
You will need an obi in order to close your yukata. Obi are Japanese sashes used to close yukata and kimono.
Always fold a yukata with the left side over the right side. Folding the right side over the left side of a kimono or yukata is reserved for dead bodies.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Japan doll image by Dmitry Sosenushkin from Fotolia.com
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Comments
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aichaku
Aug 11, 2010
Ideally, the length of the yukata should be within a range of give and take 10 cm from your height. It is best NOT to get a yukata that falls to your ankle before even tying the ohashori. You should always get a yukata that drips to the ground to have sufficient room to make an ohashori. If, unfortunately, you have purchased a short yukata that falls at your ankles without an ohashori, you must wear it in the tsuitake style (without an ohashori). This means that old ladies on the street will tell you that you are wearing the yukata in the wrong way.
