Kimono

The kimono (着物; Japanese pronunciation: [kʲi.mo.no], lit. 'thing to wear') is a traditional Japanese garment and the national dress of Japan. The kimono is a wrapped-front garment with square sleeves and a rectangular body, and is worn left side wrapped over right, unless the wearer is deceased. The kimono is traditionally worn with a broad sash, called an obi, and is commonly worn with accessories such as zōri sandals and tabi socks.

Kimonos have a set method of construction and are typically made from a long, narrow bolt of cloth known as a tanmono, though Western-style fabric bolts are also sometimes used. There are different types of kimono for men, women, and children, varying based on the occasion, the season, the wearer's age, and – less commonly in the modern day – the wearer's marital status. Despite the kimono's reputation as a formal and difficult-to-wear garment, there are types of kimono suitable for both formal and informal occasions. The way a person wears their kimono is known as kitsuke (着付け, lit. 'dressing').

Until the Edo period (1603–1868), garments that resembled modern kimonos, characterized by narrow sleeve openings and hanging sleeves, were collectively referred to as kosode. In the late ninth century of the Heian period (794–1185), Japanese clothing began to diverge from Chinese styles, giving rise to uniquely Japanese garments such as the jūnihitoe. During this time, members of the court and the warrior class wore white kosode as underwear.