What is on the back of a Geisha?

Geisha only wear silk kimono, closed by knotting a wide belt in the back, called an obi.

What is the cloth on the back of a kimono?

A kimono wraps around the body. Always with the left over the right side, except at funerals, when the opposite is true. The garment is fastened with an obi, which is fixed at the back. The clothing consists of several parts, in summer, three layers, four in winter.

Why is there a pillow in kimono?

Padding's important to make your kimono look perfect

Maybe you've seen something that looks like a pillow or bag at the back of a kimono. That's used to help tie the obi properly.

What is the purpose of an obi?

The main purpose of an obi is to secure a kimono and keep it closed. But nowadays, obis for women's kimonos are more extravagant and can rival a peacock's feathers. They are made wider, more decorative , with under-sashes and ribbons, and there are several ways to tie knots.

What is the sash on a kimono called?

obi, wide sash or belt made of satin or a stiff silk material, worn since ancient times in Japan to secure the kimono. A woman's obi is about 12 feet (370 cm) long and 10 inches (25 cm) wide; a man's obi is about three-fourths as long and one-sixth as wide.

Geisha in 8 Minutes: Myths & Facts

What is a Japanese obi strip?

An OBI strip is a paper band or a folded paper flap as an addition to your Vinyl Sleeve. The OBI strips are best known from the Japanese import releases where they usually contain the release info in Japanese.

What is a female kimono called?

振袖 (Furi-sode) Furisode is a formal kimono for unmarried women. The special feature of furisode are the long sleeves. It has sleeves almost 1 metre long, and it give the most spectacular impression out of all kimono types.

Why are obi tied at the back?

As obi became bigger, more flamboyant, and the knots more elaborate, so it got in the way. It also became more fashionable to do something different by tying the obi to the side or the back. Gradually, the back knot became more popular, eventually becoming the standard in the 20^th century.

Why do kimonos have big sleeves?

It became popular for unmarried women to imitate the dancers when expressing their feelings to men, which is the reason that the furisode became a kimono for unmarried young women. Additionally, the long sleeves are thought to ward off evil and bring in good luck and relationships.

How do you clean an obi?

If you're hand washing, use the lightest soap possible and don't leave it to soak. If your piece is an obi, spot clean whenever possible. Some obi have layers of stiffener built into them, which may shrink if submerged. A single layer obi may be washable, but we'd recommend hand washing over machine.

Do Japanese wear bra under kimono?

The Japanese people didn't wear bras or underwear in the past. They wore Hadajyuban (肌襦袢) and Susoyoke (裾よけ) just to hide their skin and body shape. Nowadays, many people hesitate to obey the so-called "No Bra, No Underwear" rule, they normally wear ordinary bras and underwear.

What is a male kimono called?

An alternative to the yukata for men to wear in the summer is jinbei. Jinbei are two-piece garments consisting of a kimono-like top and loose-fitting, mid-calf length trousers. The best are made from natural fabrics; you can take a look at some men's jinbei in our collection.

Can you show your legs in a kimono?

Men wearing kimono may sit with their legs crossed, but women should not, as it would expose the legs.

What is the jacket that goes over a kimono?

The haori (羽織) is a traditional Japanese hip- or thigh-length jacket worn over a kimono.

What are Zori shoes?

ZORI sandals are a type of traditional Japanese footwear. Initially they were made of straw and used with Kimono. Nowadays ZORI are made of various materials and they usually have a rubber sole. Zori can be used indoor, with informal wear or as beach sandals.

What is a Japanese loin cloth called?

Japan. Japanese men and women traditionally wore a loincloth known as a fundoshi. The fundoshi is a 35 cm (14 in.) wide piece of fabric (cotton or silk) passed between the thighs and secured to cover the genitals.

Who wears black kimonos?

Black Kimono Worn by Geiko or Geisha

A woman after completing her training is called a Geiko. Geiko generally wear black or plain chic kimono, and the obi is tied in a drum-like style. On the other hand, Maiko refers to women under training from about 15 to 20 years old.

Can you wear a kimono with jeans?

When paired with your favourite pair of jeans, this outfit can create a personal style that is timeless yet on-trend. A combination of old and new, kimonos pair beautifully with a ton of outfits, especially jeans.

What is a two piece kimono called?

Two-piece kimono called nibushiki 二部式 | | Japanese traditional dress, Asian outfits, Japanese dress.

What does opening the kimono mean?

March 22, 2021. “Open the kimono” is an expression still used in business meetings and communications when a company or team must share its internal workings or projects with a potential partner or buyer.

What does it mean when the bow of a kimono is in the front?

Wikivoyage informs users not to wear right over left with their yukatas, as that's associated with the dead, but doesn't have anything about knots. Wikipedia says that bows in the front of a yukata represents a sex worker, but doesn't have any citations backing it up.

What is a sleeping kimono called?

A yukata (浴衣, lit. 'bathrobe') is an unlined cotton summer kimono, worn in casual settings such as summer festivals and to nearby bathhouses. Originally worn as bathrobes, their modern use is much broader, and are a common sight in Japan during summer.

What is a kimono with pants called?

What is a Hakama? Hakama are a pant-like garment worn over a kimono.

Why do kimonos have holes under the arms?

The arm hole on the body, under where the sleeve is attached. This is not present in men's kimono, only in women's. This hole is useful for dressing and properly adjusting the Ohashori.