National Japanese costume

In Japan, the traditional costume is, of course, a kimono. This thing symbolizes the sun and its sunrise, and the country is famous for strict observance of all traditions. There are two types of national costumes: official and everyday. Every Japanese should have at least one kimono in the wardrobe.

Feature of the Japanese costume

Externally, the Japanese costume is similar to an ordinary robe, the length of which varies. Belt in this case is obi - a special bandage, which tied a kimono at the waist. Buttons are missing, there are only twines and straps. The Japanese national costume differs from a robe in that its sleeves are much wider than the arm.

The fabrics used for tailoring the kimono do not stretch well. For making the obi cloth is used.

The Japanese make rectangular patterns, unlike Europeans who like rounded shapes. This helps to save material, because its remains can be reused in the farm.

Historical perspective

Modern Japanese traditional costume can be designated in one of three words:

• Kimono, or just an outfit;
• Wafuku, or clothing of the Japanese;
• Gofuku, or the Chinese version of clothing.

Kimono is the oldest version. This word denoted any attribute of the wardrobe in the middle of the 19th century in Japan. In the 16th century, the Portuguese reported in their reports that the Japanese use the word "kimono" to designate clothes. And they began to be used in many countries. In the Land of the Rising Sun, kimono is a universal concept of clothing. Europeans, by the same word, meant Japanese.

By the end of the 19th century, most Japanese adopted Western style in clothing. But the Japanese costume was significantly different from the European, so people had to select this attribute from the designation "kimono". As a result, the term "wafuku" appeared.

Modern inhabitants of the Land of the Rising Sun wear Japanese costumes most often on holidays and special days.

Aesthetic question

A distinctive feature of the kimono is that it hides the shortcomings of the figure of a person. In Europe, clothing emphasizes body parts, while in Japan only the waist and shoulders stand out. European style is characterized by relief in clothing, and Japanese - by uniformity. Such a love for planar forms is due to the fact that the Japanese follow the rule, which refers to the unattractiveness of bulges and the beauty of the plane.

For example, European women put on a corset to narrow their waist, but for an kimono an ideal figure is immaterial. It is more important to have well-groomed skin on the face, because the beauty of the body is not visible.

Stylistics

Japanese costume can be everyday and festive. Formality of clothes is in the coloring. Young people can wear a kimono with long sleeves, bright colors with lots of prints, but for older ladies there are more reserved models.

Japanese costume for men is presented in a single form and in dark colors. In addition, the formalities of kimonos can be judged by accessories and family coat of arms. At the most official costume, you can see 5 family coats of arms. A festive kimono is created from silk, and everyday - from cotton fabrics.

Woman suit

Now it is difficult for Japanese women to wear Japanese women's clothes on their own, because they do not have the proper knowledge. The standard kimono consists of 12-15 parts, hence the difficulty. Even geishas, clearly following all the rules and traditions, can not do without the help of outsiders. Specialists in the field of "dressing" people can be called to the house or found in beauty salons.

There are several types of women's kimonos in Japan. Each suit has its own name.

• A female costume, having a figure below the waist, is called a health resort. Most often this black kimono is the official clothing of married Japanese women. Often, such attire can be seen at wedding ceremonies, adult women are dressed in it. Sleeves and back are decorated with family coats of arms.
• A kimono with very long sleeves is called furisode. For unmarried girls, this is the most appropriate version of official clothing.
• Traditional monophonic costume of Japanese women with a pattern below the waist is called irrotomesoda. Less formal version, which has from three to five family coats of arms.
• Kimono for official receptions has the name of Hemong. The brachial part is painted. It is allowed to wear such clothes to every woman regardless of position.
• Tsukesage, or kimono with a minor ornament, located below the waist.
• The costume for the traditional tea ceremony was called Iromuji. Often the dress is decorated with a jacquard pattern, and the dress itself is solid.
• A comon, or a suit painted with a small pattern. This outfit can be worn at least every day for a walk, in a restaurant and even at an official meeting, it is only necessary to tie a suitable obi.
• A kimono in peas is called a kimono of Edo. In past centuries, it was a traditional dress of Japanese samurai. Now this outfit can be compared with homma, where there are family coats of arms.

Kimono for men

Unlike the female, the Japanese men's suit looks much more modest and simpler: it includes 5 parts, which includes shoes. The man's kimono has sleeves sewn to the side seam. As a result, only 10 cm of sleeves remain free.

The main difference between the male and female costumes is the coloring. For kimono sewing fabrics of green, black, brown and blue color, that is dark are used. Most often selected matte material. A light kimono with a usual or printed pattern is worn only on weekdays. In a sporting environment a purple-purple costume is worn by sumoists.

Age and Sex Differences

Each woman wears a certain version of the kimono, it all depends on age and status. This applies to men who have short sleeves with sharp corners. Married ladies wear robes with elongated sleeves and rounded corners. Young Japanese women should wear clothes with a long sleeve and a round corner. And children wear a kimono like a man's. The sharpness of the corners can be used to judge the status of a person. Men have the highest status, while girls have the lowest status.

It turns out that in Japan even children have a higher status than teenagers. Children can forgive a lot, which can not be said about young girls.

Also differ and obi. Men tie up a dress with a narrow belt, but women, on the contrary, are broad. And the way of tying is different.

For sewing a female costume you have to use more fabric, and all because it is sewn not by height, but much longer. In the case of the male version, everything is simpler: all dimensions correspond to the parameters of the owner.

Kimono with your own hands

Kimono - clothes that do not have a certain size, so when sewing only the length of the product is important. If you want to hide a crease under the waistband, then it is advisable to choose the obi wider. To create a collar it is necessary to use rectangular strips of fabric. The collar can be hidden under the belt, and you can leave it hanging. The length of the sleeve should be at least 54 cm, and the width - up to 75 cm.

So, how to make a Japanese suit with your own hands? First you need to cut a rectangular strip for the back. First of all, we cut out the "back" - a rectangle. For the front part you need the same strip, but cut in half. On the workpiece for the back, cut the neck with a diameter equal to the half-engagement of the neck. To create sleeves, you need to take 4 long rectangular pieces and sew them into two wide pipes (2 pieces each). The front strips are sewn with the back along the line of the shoulder edge - the neck. To the obtained lateral seams it is necessary to attach sleeves. To the back and apron of the suit you need to sew "pipes", which are folded in half. Then you can sew the sleeves back and front. The result is a robe, the same as the sketch of the Japanese national costume shows below.

Add to the forehead extensions with rectangular sections for the passage of the collar. This kimono detail can be made from two strips that are stitched (6 cm is the optimal width). The middle of the collar is sewn to the neck, and then to the sections on the extensions. The width of the belt should be at least 70 cm.

Even Europeans appreciated the practicality and convenience of the Japanese national costume.