The New Kimono: From Vintage Style to Everyday Chic

by The Editors Of Nanao Magazine

Recently, young women in Japan have taken to the idea of wearing kimono as everyday fashion, delighting in scouring secondhand kimono stores and their mothers' closets for vintage pieces to bring their own wardrobes up to date. A testament to this trend is the success of Nanao, a quarterly magazine aimed at this younger market, and filled with stylish spreads and tips on dressing, finding great but inexpensive pieces, and customizing, accessorizing, and caring for these traditional garments.
The New Kimono presents, in book form, a selection of the best articles from Nanao, providing a wealth of information to Western readers with an interest in kimono. Articles include interviews with young Japanese women who consider kimono their day-to-day garb, advice on how to coordinate fabrics and designs, how to choose an obi, how to choose footwear, how to choose underwear, how to customize vintage kimono, and fabulous vintage kimono fashion spreads. An appendix provides clear, step-by-step guidelines on putting on kimono, kimono underwear, yukata, and obi. A glossary of kimono terms and a shop guide is also included. Beautiful photographs combine with practical hints, making this book indispensible for kimono lovers, as well as anyone with an interest in fashion, Japanese popular culture, or textiles and design.

Genres: Japan

128 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2011

Reviews

[Kirstie]

I’ve always loved Japan and have been excited about kimono and yukata for a loooooong time but have only really buckled down into the depths of kitsuke over the last few years, collecting books and kimono at long long last.
This book is a collection of articles from the popular Nanao magazine which targets the niche of people who want to return to wearing kimono every day(or at least much more regularly than for just coming of age ceremonies). For some reason, despite that, I’d expected a lot more articles about new chic ways to wear kimono (maybe no so far as wa-Lolita but maybe a bit more pizazz) but it was much more focused on real every day wear eg/ how to keep warmer in winter kimono, and cooler in summer.
While I didn’t gain a better knowledge of extroverted modern chic, I did gain a new appreciation of simpler patterns and how the everyday can be chic too. (I even bought a simpler pattern kimono inspired by it all (tho I have no obis that really match it...).
The article format makes it really easy to read because you can stop very easily and come back to a new article (handy when you have two kids and a husband vying for your attention as well as the book ;p )
A great collection of interesting articles covering a broad range of topics, seasons, fabrics ect. A great addition to your kitsuke book collection.

[Yvette]

A very good book if you already know the basics of wearing kimono and either are looking for ways to update your own coords or if you want to see some more modern variations on wearing kimono.

[Beth]

A delightful fun read, with gorgeous pictures, for native English speakers who wish to wear kimono and have already gotten their feet wet with the basics, or are fascinated and don't mind having a dozen or so unfamiliar terms for the parts of women's kimono thrown at them without explanation.

Highlights are: the many ways to put together an outfit based on your own style, how colors and patterns are combined using the Japanese esthetic, and detailed illustrated instructions on how to dress in both formal kimono and the more casual yukata. Warning: putting on a yukata alone takes special underwear plus six steps, not counting putting on and tying the obi! And then there's the issue of padding.

I concluded that I don't want to take up this complex and somewhat expensive practice, but had a lovely time admiring the beautiful clothing, cloth and accessories (a common cold-weather item is a "tsumakawa," or cozy toe-covers for zori.

Great resource for workshops on kimono!

[NoBeatenPath]

While this book does have a section at the back about how to put on a kimono, a yukata, and how to tie obi, it is not really a 'beginners guide to kimono'. Nor is it really about the history of the kimono. Rather it is a look at kimono and how it is being worn as a contemporary garment today. And because of that it stands out from a lot of books about kimono you will find in English. A recent trip to Japan highlighted how a lot of young people - men as well as women - are starting to wear the kimono again, and for occasions other than the 'traditional, formal' ones you would expect. And many of these new kimono wearers are shaking things up and creating outfits that are not just about tradition, but modern fashion as well.

I only wish I lived in Japan and could take to wearing kimono myself!

[Rebecca]

This is not an introduction for the novice to the concept of kimonos - this is for those already interested (though you don't have to be scared if you are unsure on how much you actually know, there is an extensive glossary at the end and descriptions on both how to put on an obi and a kimono - undergarment included). Much of the book is devoted to how to take an old(-ish) kimono and turning into something fashionable, how to look crisp and clean without being childish and all with an extraordinary eye for details!

[Suzanne]

Informative and interesting book about kimonos and how to style them. Moreover, great tips about how to shop for kimono and accessories and where to find them. Beautiful pictures.

[alyssa]

I just love the photos and conversational tone and the idea of wearing kimono every day. I don't know how to wear kimono but Ima learn