Fitting a Kimono

Fitting a kimono for a woman depends not on her size but her age, marital status and the occasion.

In Japanese, kimono means "item to wear." While most kimonos are the same size, the color, material, cut and accessories convey different, discreet messages about the wearer. In fact, a kimono that is considered a good fit is not one that enhances the body, but one that effectively conveys messages about a woman's age, marital status, social status and the occasion. A kimono's specific cuts also monitor Japanese women's nonverbal behavior, writes Yasuko Tohyama in the book "The Empire of Signs," reinforcing idealized Japanese feminine behaviors such as discretion, docility and demure. Fitting a kimono requires choosing the appropriate type of kimono to wear based on the occasion and fitting it properly to the body with the required accessories.

Things You'll Need

• Resources on kimono types
• Measuring tape
• Kimono
• Undergarments
• Obi

Instructions

1. Research the different types of kimonos at a library, online or by contacting a Japanese cultural center. Kimono types often reflect a woman's age and marital status, as well as the level of formality of an event. For instance, a homongi is for both married and unmarried women, while young unmarried women wear furisodes.

2. Decide on a kimono type to wear and gather information about it from the research. Check out the book or print out necessary information on styling, folding and accessories and keep close at hand. Choose a kimono style that is most appropriate for the occasion and the wearer's personal circumstances. Young unmarried women should not wear kimonos for married women, for instance.

3. Measure the length of the wearer's shoulder to wrist bone. A kimono should come just to the wearer's wrist bone. While most kimonos come in standardized sizes, it is possible to have a kimono made to fit.

4. Pick kimono fabric based on the measurement of the arm length and options available for the particular kimono style. While most kimonos are made from silk, the weave and designs can vary. For instance, a uchikake kimono, for a bride or for a performer, is heavily padded. It's most often white with an elaborate red covering that fits over the white garment, while a homongi kimono is generally a pastel color such as pink or lilac.

5. Acquire necessary undergarments and accessories. Kimonos emphasize a woman's upper chest, her face, her wrists and her ankles. To achieve this look, wear a flattening bra, a slip with padding to minimize curves and a stiff collar, all to flatten bodily curves.

6. Try on the kimono. Fold the fabric so the left shoulder fabric is under the right. Double over at the waist so that the fabric falls just below the ankle. Secure the kimono with an obi, a sash or cummerbund and padded at the back with a pillow or towel. There are more than 10 ways to tie an obi, depending on the style and occasion.

7. Accessorize the kimono with fastening cords and zori platform shoes. Powder the wearer's face and put the hair in an elaborate coiffure. Follow instructions or descriptions about the particular kimono style chosen, as details can vary. A woman's kimono consists of 12 or more separate pieces worn and secured in prescribed ways based on the particular style.

Tips & Warnings

• Take a kimono dressing class. These classes are popular in Japan for women to learn how to fit and wear a kimono.

• Purchase a used kimono online or at a second-hand market in Japan. A new kimono can be as much as $10,000.

• Obis, the specific sash worn with a kimono, can be as expensive as kimonos.

References

• Museum of Anthropology, University of British Columbia; Kimono: Beyond Fluttering Sleeves; Jennet Taylor; 1997
• "The Empire of Signs"; Aspects of Japanese Nonverbal Behavior in Relation to Traditional Culture"; Yasuko Tohyama; 1991
• "Japanese Goods: How to Select a Kimono"

Resources

• Kimono Hypertext: A Woman's Kimono