A JAPANESE KIMONO, 20TH CENTURY

Initially the primary fashion choice during Edo-period Japan, the beauty of kimonos has made these fashionable Japanese pieces beloved around the world since their creation. It is not unusual to see kimonos featured not just in traditional wear for Japanese ceremonies, but in everyday and special occasion fashion worldwide. Kimonos are characterized by straight seams and wide sleeves that form a T-shape and are tied closed by a belt called obi. Traditional kimono robes are always worn with the left side over the right and fall right at the ankle. Unlike modern day clothes, kimono makers did not concern themselves with the wearer’s body at all, with the straight cuts hiding the human figure underneath. During feudal Japan, kimonos were the primary means for Japanese displays of wealth. The samurai and wealthy of Japan flaunted their status with rich silk kimonos embroidered with flowers, trees, birds, and fish. Length: 178 cm.