The New Kimono

Book excerpt: 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 indispensable for kimono lovers, as well as anyone with an interest in fashion, Japanese popular culture, or textiles and design.