Okay, hear me out. For just a moment, clear your mind of cultural biases and entrenched Western ideas about beauty, and consider how much more comfortable and attractive we all might be if we dressed to impress in Japanese kimonos! (Men, don’t sneak out the back—I think you’ll find this liberating too. I mean, why be a mere spy when you could be shōgun?)
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Kimonos look great on everyone, whatever size or shape you happen to be
Western clothes are nearly all designed to accentuate (or hide) the shape of our bodies, so they look best on fashion models, not real men and woman who have normal amounts of padding and real muscles. Kimonos, on the other hand, are designed to turn everyone into a simple cylinder, drawing attention away from the size and shape of hips, waist and chest. Instead, the spotlight is on the stunning fabrics and accessories that come together to form a pleasing whole.
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You don’t have to be in your 20s to look (and feel) beautiful in a kimono
Because someone wearing a kimono is judged by how much flair they have for putting together an outfit—instead of whether the body inside has procreational potential—you can look stunning in a kimono all your life. In fact, because the most admired ensembles mix and match the colors and patterns of so many different pieces, the longer a woman has been collecting them and refining her personal style, the better she looks.
Dr. Sheila Cliffe is an internationally-renowned professor, kimono expert, author and styling consultant for museums and movie studios, and while she can rock a vintage kimono ensemble that is 100% traditional…
the ones she posts on her Instagram show how a kimono outfit can be assembled to match every mood, occasion and personal style.
3
You’ll never have to talk about the weather again
I can tell you from personal experience, the conversations that come my way while wearing a kimono are 100% more interesting than the ones I’ve had dressed in cocktail garb. Wearing a kimono gives other people an easy way to start a conversation that’s already a level up from the usual small talk, and leads in far more interesting directions than the weather or the home team.
4
They never go out of style
Any kimono can be whimsical or elegant or BOTH. Even the most basic kimono is made up of five coordinating pieces, so it automatically has the potential to send a more sophisticated style message than your basic Western outfit.
No need to toss out pieces you wore in your twenties or the ones you inherited from great-gran…
because it’s the accessories and the way you wear it that makes it ever-stylish. Which reminds me…
5
You never outgrow a kimono
Lose a few pounds? Wrap it tighter. Gain a few at the holidays? The tail of your obi gets a little shorter.
And speaking of comfort, I know it looks like all you can do while wearing a kimono is mince around and demurely pour a cup of tea, but the truth is…
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Reason #6: Kimonos are a million times more comfortable than Control Tops and neckties
A properly worn kimono is one of the most comfortable outfits you can wear and still turn heads. Anji Salz—kimono expert, designer, stylist and photographer—posts photos on her Instagram of herself toting babies, going to the grocery store, and even skiing in a kimono!
And I can tell you from personal experience—one of the reasons kimonos are so comfortable to wear is that once you put it on, you don’t have to think about it again for the rest of the day. No tugging it back into place or worrying about wardrobe malfunctions, because the ties that keep it together make sure it stays exactly how it looked in the mirror that morning. And because you wrap it to comfortably fit your body when you put it on, you no longer have to look forward to that moment at the end of the day when you shuck off those accursed pantyhose or whip off your necktie.
So…are you wondering how to try out that kimono goodness for yourself yet?
If you’re not coming to Japan anytime soon, you can DIY by watching Sheila Cliffe’s step-by-step YouTube tutorial video
then shop online (or in Japan, if you’ve got a trip planned) with the fabulous new guide by Anji Salz. It covers everything from how to choose a size that will fit, to how to judge quality, to tips on putting together an outfit that will turn heads and make you feel like royalty. (How to Shop for Kimonos also happens to be the April 2025 Japanagram Book Review & Giveaway, so there’s a more detailed review here.)
And if you ARE coming to Japan soon, it’s even easier to try out kimono living! There are plenty of shops in Tokyo and Kyoto (most near the big tourist areas) that will rent you the outfit of your choice, dress you, and style your hair, then add an hourly rate for the time you spend walking around in your kimono enjoying the sights. Many offer packages that include photography too.
Or if you’re really lucky, Anji will have time in her busy schedule and you can book a kimono tour with her. Before the pandemic, she chose a kimono ensemble from her fabulous collection, dressed me, and took pictures at our favorite spots in Yanaka! (You can message her from the Salz Tokyo website if you’re going to be in Tokyo, to see if she’s available.)
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Jonelle Patrick writes novels set in Japan, and blogs at Only In Japan and The Tokyo Guide I Wish I’d Had
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