10 Different Types of Kimono for Women

[Kazimiera]

10 Different Types of Kimono for Women

Source: https://www.tsunagujapan.com/10-different-types-of-kimono-for-women/

Furisode

Furisode is worn by unmarried women. Basically, furisode means swinging sleeves due to long sleeves that fall into 39 to 42 inches. They are decorated with color pattern that cover fully the whole garment. The longer the sleeve is, the more formal it is. It is the most formal clothes for unmarried women to wear in special occasions including coming of age ceremony, voting, wedding ceremony (unmarried female relative from the bride’s family) and tea ceremony.

http://41.media.tumblr.com/c21707404fdbf0de5acd232a810a1456/tumblr_muwelqIRDA1qhsylio1_500.jpg

http://nihongirls.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/miyu-yoshimoto-kimono-3.jpg


Komon

Komon (小紋, literally small pattern) are worn by married and unmarried women. They have a pattern covering the entire kimono but with no particular direction or layout. Komon are the most informal silk kimono.

https://sites.google.com/site/lovekimono/komon_15_005a.jpg

http://kimono.fraise.net/gallery/kitsuke/komon-front.jpg


Tomesode

Tomesode (留袖, literally fastened sleeve) are the most formal kimono worn by married women. They always have crests, and the patterns, which may incorporate gold and silver, are only below the waist.

There are two kinds of tomesode kuro (黒, black) and iro　(色, coloured); kuro tomesode are the most formal, and always have five crests. They may be worn by guests at formal events like weddings. Iro tomesode can have any base color other than black, and may have one, three, or five crests.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--9zNNT0mY1I/UQatjtZujsI/AAAAAAAAAoE/9F2Gbmvh3u0/s1600/IroTomesode.jpg

https://elegantgirl24.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/kurotomesode-front22.jpg


Susohiki/Hikizuri

Worn by geisha or stage performers of traditional Japanese dance. In comparison to a regular kimono, these are much longer and trail the floor.

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http://geishaofjapan.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/kimono_patterns.jpg


Odori Katamigawari

Odori means dance, so this is a traditional Japanese dancer’s kimono. Katamigawari means half and half, referring to this kimono being half one design and half another, which is more likely to be seen on an odori kimono than any other. Many odori kimonos are tsukesage, houmongi or komon in style. They are often in synthetic textiles, so they can, unlike silk, be washed regularly and they are most frequently unlined or just lower lined, to keep the dancer cooler

http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo95/wafuku4/women/wk/wk401/3.jpg

http://i996.photobucket.com/albums/af81/waf01/womens/wk/wk526/6.jpg


Iromuji

Iromuji (色無地, literally plain colour) are unpatterned kimonos in a single-colored kimono worn by both married and unmarried women. They are most appropriate for tea ceremonies. The formality is determined by the absence or presence and number of crests.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-viyzJxdLMPw/UpYFifClbvI/AAAAAAAABJg/5z_CrIcn1aI/s1600/Iromuji_examples.jpg


Mofuku

Mofuku is the mourning dress worn by both male and female. They wear a complete plain back silk with five crests over white undergarments and white tabi. As for women, obi and other accessories are also black. The completely black mourning clothes is for family and those who are close to the deceased.

https://curiositasjaponicae.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/mofuku-2014-1.jpg

http://anime.mx/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/mofuku.jpg


Yukata

Yutaka is worn at festivals taking place in summer. Yutaka has a bright color and simple design. It is a cotton and unlined kimono that is informally worn by male, female and any one in any types of ages. Compared with other types of kimonos, Yutaka kimonos are much easier to wear and maintain and less expensive. In Vietnam, this type of kimono is very popular, noticeably, they are mostly worn in manga and cosplay festivals.

http://tokyofashion.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Yukata-Fashion-Harajuku-13-027.jpg

http://tokyofashion.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Yukata-Fashion-Harajuku-13-001.jpg


Houmongi

A houmongi, sometimes spelled homongi, often has a pattern around the hem and sleeve and sometimes up over the body of the kimono. On houmongi, the pattern joins up at over the seams. Houmongi means visiting dress and they are less formal than tomesode but more formal than tsukesage or komon kimonos.

http://訪問着レンタル.net/img/houmongi_2.jpg

http://image.rakuten.co.jp/kimono-de-kyobijin/cabinet/rental-houmongi/midoriji-kusabana.jpg?_ex=60x60


Uchikake

A very formal kimono only worn by brides or at a stage performance. It is usually all white or very colorful with red as a base color. It is to be worn outside of the actual kimono and is never tied with an obi.

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https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/67/a1/6e/67a16eb2d89878eb4b6bcc20df0da834.jpg

[Kazimiera]

Source: http://www.gojapango.com/fashion/obi_types.html

In general, the obi used depends on the type of kimono worn in any given occasion. Most formal are the metallic or colour brocade and tapestry, followed by dyed silk, woven silk, and non-silk obi fabrics. Brocade, tapestry and dyed silk obi are used for formal wear with the finest kimono, while obi made from raw silk, cotton or wool is used for everyday wear.

Maru Obi

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The maru obi is the most formal obi, with both sides fully patterned along its length. The classic maru obi measures 33cm wide. Maru obi with narrower width can be custom made for a petite client.

The maru obi is usually made of elaborately patterned brocade or tapestry, which is often richly decorated with gold threads. It was most popular during the Meiji and Taisho eras. However, due to its exorbitant cost and weight (which makes it uncomfortable to wear), the maru obi is rarely worn today, except for traditional Japanese weddings and other very formal occasions.


Fukuro Obi

http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp296/churasora/Obi%20Type/fukuroobiex.jpg

The fukuro obi is a slightly less formal style than the maru obi. The fukuro obi was created in the late 1920s. The fukuro obi is made with a fine brocade or tapestry, which is patterned along 60% of its length on one side. The back of the fukuro obi may be lined with a plain silk or brocade, making it less expensive and less bulky to wear than the maru obi.

Even though the fukuro obi is not as quite formal as the maru obi, the fukuro obi can be used for formal occasions. The length and width of the fukuro obi is the same as the maru obi. Thus, fukuro obi can hardly be distinguished from maru obi when tied over the kimono.


Nagoya Obi

http://orig15.deviantart.net/2ab3/f/2010/202/7/b/heian_lady_nagoya_obi_by_molligami.jpg

The most convenient obi today is the nagoya obi. First produced in the city of Nagoya at the end of the Taisho era (1912-26), the Nagoya obi is lighter and simpler than the fukuro or maru obi. The nagoya obi is characterised by a portion of the obi being pre-folded and stitched in half. The narrow part wraps around the waist, while the wider part forms the bow of the obi tie. When worn, a nagoya obi is tied with a single fold, while a maru or a fukuro obi, being longer, is tied with a double fold. Most nagoya obi is less expensive a maru or fukuro obi. Nonetheless, its design can be stunning.


Hanhaba Obi

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The hanhaba obi is thus termed, as it has half the width of other obis. The hanhaba obi is a casual obi for wear at home, under a haori (kimono coat), with children's kimono or with summer yukata.

The fabric and design of the hanhaba obi are simpler to reflect its use for daily wear. Some of the more ornate hanhaba obi is made from a former maru obi.

Children's hanhaba obi is often in very bright colours. It is often made with stencilling technique, rather than an elaborate embroidery or weaving.

There is also plain black obi, which is often made with the finest silk woven with barely discernable pattern or design. Sombre, yet lovely, plain black obi is worn as part of the mourning attire.

In a traditional Japanese wedding ceremony, a bride will wear a white obi. In the Edo era, a widow may dress in all white to signify that she will not remarry. Thus, some very old white obi may not have been used for weddings.


Darari Obi

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Darari obi is a very long maru obi worn by maiko. A maiko's darari obi has the kamon insignia of its owner's okiya on the other end. A darari obi can be 600 centimetres (20 ft) long.


Hara-awase Obi or Chūya Obi

http://moonblossom.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/chuya.jpg

Hara-awase obi or chūya obi is an informal obi that has sides of different colours. It is frequently seen in pictures from the Edo and Meiji periods, but today it is hardly used. A chūya obi ("day and night") has a dark, sparingly decorated side and another, more colourful and festive side. This way the obi can be worn both in everyday life and for celebration. The obi is about 30 centimetres (12 in) wide and 350 centimetres (11.5 ft) to 400 centimetres (13 ft) long.


Heko Obi

http://www.kimono-yukata-market.com/catalogue/obi/obi-for-package/obi-17/image237.jpg

Heko obi is a very informal obi made of soft, thin cloth, often dyed with shibori. Its traditional use is as an informal obi for children and men, and there were times when it was considered totally inappropriate for women. Nowadays young girls and women can wear a heko obi with modern, informal kimono and yukata. An adult's heko obi is the common size of an obi, about 20 centimetres (7.9 in) to 30 centimetres (12 in) wide and about 300 centimetres (9.8 ft) long.


Hitoe Obi

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Hitoe obi means "one-layer obi". It is made from silk cloth so stiff that the obi does not need lining or sewn-in stiffeners. One of these cloth types is called Hakata ori, which consists of thick weft thread interwoven with thin warp thread with a stiff, tight weave. (Obi made from this material are also called Hakata obi.) A hitoe obi can be worn with everyday kimono or yukata. A hitoe obi is 15 centimetres (5.9 in) to 20 centimetres (7.9 in) wide (the so-called hanhaba obi) or 30 centimetres (12 in) wide and about 400 centimetres (13 ft) long.


https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6e/Obi_dimensions.png/330px-Obi_dimensions.png
Women's obi in scale:
1. tsuke/tsukuri/kantan obi
2. hanhaba obi
3. Nagoya obi
4. Fukuro obi
5. Maru obi