Clothing: Traditional Japanese
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Due to the space limitation within the capsule, it would have been
impossible to include complete outfits of traditional clothing, thus dolls
were used, dressed in everyday clothing and accompanied by another outfit
for formal wear. In this way it was also possible to show how the kimono
and its accessories are worn.
The literal meaning of the word kimono is "things that are worn". however
the same word is also used rather generally to refer to the outer garment
alone.
This outer garment is loosely cut with hanging sleeves and it has no ties
of any kind. All seams, with the exception of the back of the collar, are
straight. When worn, the garment is crossed over the body ( Ieft side over
right) and secured at the proper height by a sash (obi). Variations occur
between men's and women's costume in the cut of the sleeves and the width
and tying method of the sash. The sash worn by women is very wide, of stiff
texture and tied in an elaborate bow. Both costumes have various
underpinnings of simple cut. The woman's costume is completed by a narrow
silk cord and a soft (usually tie-dyed) sash encircling the obi and holding
it in place.
The formal outfit for the male doll includes a black kimono with family
crests on the front, sleeves and centre back, a jacket cut on the same
lines as the kimono (haori), an undergarment and a pair of heavily-pleated
trousers (hakama). The trousers are worn over the kimono The female doll
has a heavily-embroidered nagasode ( Iong-sleeved) kimono of the kind worn
by young, unmarried women, also an elaborate brocade sash.
The cut of these garments is the result of many centuries of development in
Japanese costume; changes have been most noticeable, however, in the manner
of placing the outer garment on the body (in past eras, the kimono was worn
by women in a loose, trailing style). Also the form of the obi has changed
- from a soft sash tied at the front to the stiff, structured sash of today
Kimono is a unique national costume in many ways, principally in its design
and decoration. Being made up of long; ungathered lengths of material, the
kimono lends itself to a variety of fabrics, weaves and colourful designs.
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