Even years before Shizuka and I moved to Japan, we started collecting vintage kimonos. We got the fever…we used to double check every second-hand shop in town, our holiday trips were visiting flea markets in Japan, always with the hope to find some awesome vintage kimonos. First, it was only the Shōwa period which interested us, but then, who could resist, Meiji and Taishō. By the time our closets quilled over, as well every other available storage room at our place got jammed with our beautiful treasures. Though finally, we consider selling some of it and win space back in our closets.
These are the last “every day” in Japan used kimonos. The woman worn them to go shopping, cooking, killing stupid husbands, etc…to do it all all day long in these comfortable classics.
Before the western clothing “culture” took over, those were the real kimonos, nothing fancy! So enjoy some true witnesses of the older Japan. My wife and I wear it sometimes casual as also to certain official occasions…and of course, nothing is more comfortable than a light cotton yukata in the summertime.