Skip to main content

Kimono Series: Wearing the Kimono (Kitsuke)

To wrap up this series of blog posts, I'm going into how to dress in a kimono. 
Learning how to dress yourself and others in a kimono is called Kitsuke. You can be certified to practice as a teacher! The style and way you wear a kimono has a lot of dependencies that take years to comprehend. So...I've only done this for a year, so I'm no expert, but I know where to learn from!

☝Basic Tips: There are schools, fashion trends, and cultural expectations. These things CHANGE over time and vary based on location. For cosplay, observe the character's presentation and try to mimic that. For everyday wear, do your research. For special events, reach out to a consultant. 

A Kitsuke Kit

These are items you need to wear your kimono and obi ensemble. 
  • Bare Minimum Requirements: 
    • 2 - 3 ties (himo)
    • Juban: Hanjuban (paired wrap skirt/susuyoke)  or Nagajuban
    • obi ita (feminine only)
    • eri shin (feminine only)
  • Common for Masculine Kimono
    • 2 ties/himo. One for the juban and one for the kimono
    • Obi
    • Juban
  • Common for Feminine Kimono
    • 3 ties/himo. One for the juban, one for the oshori fold at your hips, one at your waist to close the kimono
    • Juban
    • Eri Shin
    • Obi Ita
    • Obi
    • Obiage
    • Obijime
    • Obi Makura

Where to Learn

For short-term wear or cosplay, you can find written and video instructions online. You do want to make sure it is appropriate for your kimono type. I will link to a few videos below. 

For something more serious, you can take kitsuke classes. You may find a few enthusiast groups in your area which have people who are looking to learn and practice together. I'm part of an online school for kimono specifically for English speakers.  

Undergarments and Padding 

There are "ideal shapes" for kimono that are quite different than what you might expect. 
For feminine kimono, you should look like a column. A Masculine kimono lets you have a little bit of belly puff.
The more nuanced stuff is surrounding how the collar sits. 
The art of padding is know as Hosei. It helps you achieve the ideal kimono shape. 

For cosplay it may not be as important (aside from the usual padding and things we do for crossplay), but for traditional or fashion wear, it helps. This also helps the obi from sliding around. Padding can be personalized and it may be best to speak with a kimono teacher to get an evaluation. 

You can purchase kimono padding or kimono bras, but you can also use towels, leftover fabric and ties. 
Some padding Videos and Resources: 

Tying an Obi

Obi knots or Obi Musubi are many and can vary in elaboration. (Some are so fancy it may require extra hands.) For women, the most common casual obi musubi are the Otaiko and Bunko/Cho. For a more formal musubi, try the Ginza. You can find a lot of resources for feminine obi musubi. Here are some of my favorites: 

Men's most common musubi is the Ronin. There are not as many variations as feminine musubi but people are creative. Here is a website for masculine obi musubi.

Hakama

Personally, I love pairing my kimono with hakama, even for my feminine kimonos. I love that look! 
There are a few ways to wear a hakama based on gender. 

For now this concludes my series on Kimono! I'll come back and add more to it over time, but I'm itching to write about other things! 
Thanks for reading!

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Hakama Series - Hibakama (Scarlet Hakama)

The bright red hakama with a white kimono is a common sight in both anime and video game characters. Shrine maidens or Miko also wear this combination of colors when they work at Shinto shrines. Honestly, there is a LOT of history and cultural significance wrapped up in this one.  Anime/Games: Inuyasha, Genshin Impact, Sailor Moon,  So let's talk Design. Design Considerations Cultural Significance This is one I'd pay attention to if I was creating a character of my own. I assume that already created characters have had this research done and have taken their artistic license.  Some of the research taught me a few things: The color is technically scarlet or vermillion, not "red". 🤷 Miko are not part of the Shinto clergy. Sometimes they are just seasonal workers.  Generally, Miko are young women in their teens or early 20s. After a certain age, they wear different colors.  This was based on Heian nobility colors and fashions.  Color Like I said earlier, the ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Hakama Series - Split Leg Hakama

This is the classic style that you likely think of when you hear the word "Hakama". Very wide-legged pleated trousers worn by swordsmen and warriors. Admittedly these are "modern" hakama. There are variations based on historical time period and social status. But these should suit most cases.  So, lets go over how to make them!  You will see examples of this in many games and Anime but some faves of mine include: Rurouni Kenshin, Bleach, Demon Slayer, XXXholic, Hell's Paradise and Genshin Impact.  UPDATE 4/10/2024: I've redone all my instructions. Now that I've actually made a pair of hakama and found some more resources, I felt this needed updating.  From Chihirohowe's Guide Design Elements Color For modern or fantasy character design, no limits to color! You can also use print fabric and add designs! Historically, these would be a solid color and often have a neutral color scheme (white, grey, black, brown). More colorful hakama were usually worn ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Hakama Series - Andon Bakama (Skirt Style)

Andon Bakama were hakama typically worn by women in an academic setting during the 1900s or so. Modern times, they are usually worn for formal occasions such as graduation. It is also the style that just looks nice with a kimono especially for those of us with Western hips the size of Texas.  See examples in Anime/Games: Here Comes Miss Modern, Great Ace Attorney Chronicles, Sakura Wars.  So let's get into how to make one. Tutorial style! Design Elements These are things to consider before you start.  by Chihirohowe Skirt Length Traditionally this is worn just below the ankle if you are wearing flat sandals, geta, or zori. It is worn above the ankle for sneakers, boots, and heels. You can adjust how high on your waist you wear it if you are going to switch between the two.  Colors Normally, these are a solid color, sometimes with embroidered floral patterns near the bottom. Red/Scarlet is uncommon outside of Miko. Patterned fabric is appropriate for this.  Side ...
Post a Comment
Read more