When are kimonos traditionally worn?

Originally, "kimono" was the Japanese word for clothing. But in more recent years, the word has been used to refer specifically to traditional Japanese clothing. Kimonos as we know them today came into being during the Heian period (794-1192). read more

Most traditionally, kimonos were, for everyone, the thing to wear to all but the most spectacularly formal officials and the most dirty/specialised jobs. To one’s ability, one used plain kimonos for everyday wear and had some finer items for visiting, celebrations, ceremonies and such. read more

Traditionally kimonos were worn with hiyoku or floating linings. Hiyoku can be a second kimono worn beneath the first and give the traditional layered look to the kimono. Often in modern kimonos the hiyoku is simply the name for the double-sided lower half of the kimono which may be exposed to other eyes depending on how the kimono is worn. read more