Select a kimono

When you select a kimono, there are some points such as "Used or New", "Type", "Fubric", "Production Area", and "Size".

1. Used or New

Because of the structure of kimono markets and its fashion, a new kimono is luxury and expensive. However, when it becomes a used item, it is sold extremely low price. Even a new item, if it becomes out-of-date, the price gets extremely cheap.

2. Type

There are the types on kimonos such as, Furisode, Homongi, Uchikake, Tomesode, etc. They are defferent in the style. For example, Furisode has long sleeves and colorful design, in the contract Tomesode has short sleeves and calm design.

Each type of the kimonos are separated in high and low grades. It is similar with dress code.

3.Fubric

Fubric of a kimono is usually silk. However, silk is easy to become tainted, so some silk kimono is partly used man-made fabrics on a callar or the back fubric. There are low price kimonos that are washable and used man-made fabrics.

Yukata is usually made of cotton 100%.

4.Production Area

There are many famous production areas in Japan, such as Kyoto (Kyoyuzen/Nishijin), Kanazawa (Kagayuzen), Kagoshima (Oshimatumugi), etc.

Design and fubric are different from each production area (, and also from each manifucture, and each designer).

5.Size

a: Total length
b: Sleeve to sleeve length
c: Shoulder to shoulder length

[Note] Machine translation usually uses the following words:
b/2 = "Length sleeves"
c/2 = "the width" or "the width after"

In the formal way to wear a kimono, you need make ohasyori ( the excess material at step 8. in "How to wear a kimono 3" ), so the total length of a kimono needs the same length as your height or a little more.

Sleeve to sleeve length needs the same length as your wrist to wrist length.
Shoulder to shoulder length needs, in the literature, the same length as your shoulder to shoulder length.

In the way to wear a kimono for a gown, there is no need to make ohasyori ( the excess material at step 8. in "How to wear a kimono 3" ), so the total length of a kimono should be shorter than the length from your heel to your shoulder.