月別: 2014年2月

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It is very cold in February, and we need to have a measure to protect us against coldness. We have no clear rule for outfit to prevent coldness. If possible, we can use the one for western clothes.

As we cannot hide sleeve of kimono when we wear coat for western clothes, we need a coat for Japanese clothes. But we can use poncho in stead depending on design.

We cover neck by shawl, but if we wear casual kimono, knit muffler goes well with it.

The sleeve of kimono is not closed, and we sometimes feel cold at our hands. It is useful to have long glove and arm cover that are as long as elbow.

As for tabi (socks when wearing kimono), the one with cotton flannel at back for winter is sold, but some people wear tabi after wearing socks with five fingers and tabi socks.

We feel warm with under shirt whose length of arm is as long as 70 percent of the arm and spat. But if we select long one, people can see the shirt, and please select the one whose color is similar to beige if you put priority on warmness.

It is very cold in February, but it is also time to select design of spring for kimono and obi. The most typical design is daffodils and plum, but after middle of February design of doll festival is used as motif.

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In January, we have a occasion to wear kimono such as hatsumode (visiting shrine or temple to pray for good luck for the new year).

In Japan, we have a custom to wear kimono on New Years Day.If we assume that hatsumode is “greeting of new year for God”, it is natural to wear formal kimono including furisode.

In the meanwhile, if we consider actual situation where we spend in large crowd outside for a long time, it is a reasonable selection to wear komon and tsumugi which are comfortable to wear.

Everyone has a different way of selection, and we cannot say which is correct.
You can wear what you want.

Unless new year party is very formal, formal and casual kimono will be welcomed.

Speaking of kimono and obi in January, design of zodiac is very popular. Even if it is not zodiac of the year, for example, we are allowed to wear design of zodiac
when we were born, but we mind about what people think of us.

We can recommend the one where 12 animals of zodiac are described, especially the one where several animals of zodiac are described, because we can use it every year without worrying.

Other than that, “takarazukushi” and treasure ship, which have good luck, make us happy and lucky.

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Kimonos can be largely divided into three types, Awase, Hitoe, and Usumono.

From autumn to spring, you wear Awase.You begin to wear Hitoe in early summer, and when it becomes hot you wear Usumono.When the heat begins to cool down, you wear Hitoe again, and in autumn you go back to Awase, and the cycle goes on.

Awase is a kimono with lining cloth.Specifically, the season to wear Awase is difined as October to May of next year.This period consists more than half of a year, so you wear Awase most frequently.

Therefore, if you say kimono, it normally indicates Awase.

Hitoe is a kimono which doesn’t have a lining cloth, but the material is the same as Awase.You wear Hitoe around June and September, as a rough indication.

Usumono is a kimono made from translucent material, with no lining cloth.Normally, you wear it in July and August.

Of course, in days during the change of season, there are cold days in spring or hot days in autumn, and there is a temperature difference between places, so there are times when you wear Hitoe in May or Usumono in September.You should adjust it according to the actual weather, based on the basic seasonal range.

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If you are interested in kimono and want to wear it, what should you do?

In Japan, it is said that kimono has been handed down from generation to generation,and your mother or grandmother have them.Let’s ask them first.

Regrettably if they don’t have one, you can rent it. You might feel that “rental kimono is expensive and high quality”, but some stores sell kimono we wear every day.

Recently some stores in sightseeing spots have simple rental system of kimono.

As a merit of rental kimono, you don’t have to take care of it after wearing it and you don’t need a place to maintain it. In most rental stores, you can consult about how to wear kimono and setting of hair.

If you want your own kimono, it is good to purchase recycled one and one already made at reasonable price. When you purchase it, you should decide maximum price of it in advance. If you purchase it at high price without having sufficient knowledge, you might regret about it.