The dress must not hang on the body but follow its lines. It must accompany its wearer and when a woman smiles the dress must smile with her. Madeleine Vionnet
How Has Japanese Fashion Changed Along the Years?
Fashion is an expression of the soul and culture therefore every country has a uniqueness that will reflect its traditions and history in one way or the other. Japanese fashion is no exception to the rule and here are a few guidelines of how it changed along the years while always keeping its traditions intact.
The Old and the New
The most common and traditional Japanese fashion costume is the Kimono; still worn today in more modern designs, it was also adopted in the West due to its elegance and sensuality. Along the years, Japanese fashion saw few changes but all the while the Kimono was a dominant and part of the classic collection and always a part of their lives in different forms. The Furisode is another type of Kimono worn by young girls in their twenties; in Japan twenty is the legal age to drink and smoke and in order to celebrate it parents often offer their daughters a Furisode.
Then the Houmongi takes over, which is another type of Kimono that is worn by married women and yet again the parents will present their daughter with one when she is married. The formal Kimono is called Tomesode, which is usually worn my married women to functions such as marriages; Mofuku is the funeral Kimono in the Japanese fashion and Uchikake is the wedding Kimono.
Last but not least Obi is the oldest form of the Japanese fashion as they are not being made anymore today and rarely will you catch someone wearing one these days even in Japan.
The modern Japanese fashion have several categories as well some of which are not clothes related: the Kogal Japanese fashion is translated in Japan to those who like to display their high income by wearing expensive clothes and jewelry. The Gangaro Japanese fashion is directed to those who started changing their hair color and then there is the Lolita and the Gothic Lolita Japanese fashion, which is being represented by the sweet and innocently dressed (Lolita) to the other extreme of what is known to us as punk fashion, which is known as the Gothic Lolitas.
The Eternal Fashion
Classic fashion is eternal everywhere in the world and Japanese fashion has their Kimonos to prove it. Colors also play a big role in Japanese fashion and culture as it is directly related to the event. Fashion does not only define a time and era but also the personality and character of the one wearing it.
Fashion Critic, Mr. Blackwell, Dies (The Gadsden Times)
The fashion critic who was known for his worst-dressed list has did in Los Angeles. (Oct. 20)
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