By: Alex S. and Gabrielle M.

 A kimono is a garment worn by both men and women.  It is a long flowing robe worn with a sash.  It was known as the typical Japanese costume starting around the 14 th and 15 th centuries.  Men and women’s Kimono’s were distinguished by cut and color.  For informal wear, during the summer, sleeping, and after bathing a soft cotton Kimono called a yukata was worn.

 During the Nara periods, men wore black trousers and silk tunics with a colorful flowery silk robe.  The upper garment was a jacket that flared over the hips. Men wore it over wide pants.  Trousers and silk tunics were worn for riding and outside activities.  For indoors and informal wear men would wear a long robe with a sash around the waist

 In the Nara and Heian periods women’s clothing became very elaborate.  A young unmarried women would wear a furisode, a colorful kimono with sleeves that hang almost to the ankles.  A married women would wear a kimono with short sleeves.  the robes women wore were worn so that the colors of the hem, sleeves, and neckline could be seen. It created a rainbow effect.  The longer the sleeves are the higher social class you are.

 The two swords on the side represent the person as a samurai.  In battles samurai wore there hair down with a hachimski.  They would grow mustaches to distinguish them from women because of their long hair.  Samurai would put their hair in a pigtail and have it down their back or folded forward on itself.

 The clothing of peasants was usually made from cotton.  Women's clothing was dyed using a block printing method.  Clothes were usually dyed with the indigo plant.  On rainy or muddy days wooden clogs called Geta were worn.  Other working class people wore clothes made of hemp, linen, and cotton as well. The silk was saved for the wealthy.  Outdoors they wore sandals made of rice straw.