The Japanese Kimono
The kimono has had a long history in Japanese culture and has adapted
throughout the many periods according to the state of their society at
the time. The word kimono simply translates to 'a thing worn' and is
generally a long straight-lined gown with liberal sleeves which often
double as pockets. Often more informal kimono will sport shorter
sleeves and although the majority are made for summer conditions, come
wintertime and they will be thickly padded. It is secured with no
buttons, ties or things of that sort - instead the material is crossed
over the front of the body (resulting in a V neckline) and tied with
an obi at the waist.
The obi is a wide sash that is wrapped around the waist twice and is
often the most expensive part of the kimono. It is traditional for the
men to keep to shades of black or white whilst the colours and designs
of a woman's obi and kimono will change with the seasons. From
November to February white kimono with plum lining were conventionally
worn, whilst April and March brought lavender kimono with blue lining,
and the remaining months entailed yellow and orange combinations.
Designs were also linked to seasons with cherry blossoms for Spring,
plum blossoms or snow scenes for Winter, ocean waves for Summer and
red maple leaves for Autumn.
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The kosode is an uncomplicated, narrow, short-sleeved article of
clothing that eventually evolved into what we call the kimono. It was
originally associated with a low social status because the poorer
classes could not afford the material for the fashionable wide
sleeves, and resorted to the wearing the kosode instead. Meanwhile the
kosode was merely used as an undergarment by noblemen and women, worn
beneath many layers of magnificently dyed silks or court dress. There
then came a period (1185 - 1334) where there was a large rebellion
against the extravagance of the courtiers, and the many layers of
padded silks was reduced to a mere simple white kosode as the outer
During the Japanese Industrial Revolution, female workers played a big role in the silk factories, but there were many negatives that came with that. Every factory worker during the Japanese Industrial Revolution had to work hard. Factories hired women and they were treated unfairly. Also the factories were very unsanitary which caused even more trouble for the workers. Female workers in Japanese Silk Factories: Did the costs outweigh the benefits? For the female silk factory workers the costs outweighed the benefits for two reasons. The first reason was that there were long, hard working hours. The second reason was that men got paid a lot more than women did.
A popular ancient Japanese saying states that “The sword is the soul of the warrior.” (Buchanan 120) The warrior in the proverb pertains to the samurai of feudal Japan and the sword refers to their most prominent weapon, the Katana. An ancient blade made through a complicated forging process, the Katana is truly a work of art. Also known as the Japanese long sword or the samurai sword, the Katana is a curved, single-edged blade with ridges along its exterior. It is primarily used as a weapon to cut down or slash its foes (Robinson 28). The ridges along the blade, called the hamon, divides the soft metal components, the shingane, from the hadagane of the hard metal components used to forge the sword to give it its trademark razor sharp edge and flexibility (Turnbull 12). The blade of the Katana is around sixty to seventy centimeters in length and is often likened to the arc of the new moon. With its signature curved edge and its fusion of hard and soft metals, the Katana is considered to be the greatest offensive weapon ever created (O’Neill 114,116). It is a hallmark of Japanese sword history and is a noteworthy aspect of Japanese craftsmanship. The Japanese Katana is an important symbol of Japanese culture whose significance must be asserted.
The people who lived during the Elizabethan Era were not allowed to wear whatever they like or desired. Their Fashion choices had to be followed by a strict law! The English people chose to establish social classes by the colors they wore and this had an affect on costumes used in theatre. Queen Elizabeth I followed the sumptuary laws, which was only certain classes were consent to wear specific fabric and colors. Therefore in plays the actors could only wear certain colors for their costumes that displayed what role and class their character was in. The clothes worn during this era was a result of Queen Elizabeth’s sumptuary laws, which had an affect on costumes used in plays, and each color a person wore had a significant meaning.
The Dressmaker of Khair Khana by Gayle Tzemach Lemmon emphasizes the importance of community and the common good. When the Taliban took over, women’s rights completely disappeared. Women could no longer work, go out in public without a mabram, or male relative, or be treated by male doctors. In response, Kamila Sidiqi found purpose in aiding the people in her community, who were suppressed by Taliban rule.
The Elizabethan Era was a time that reflect the mood and values of the 16th
Throughout history, a person’s economic and social rank could be shown through what clothes they wore. In ancient Egypt, a person of upper class was permitted by law to wear sandals on the harsh, desert floor. Because of these laws, female-confining ideals arose. For example, the Greeks and Romans controlled the type, color, and number of undergarments worn by women and the kind of fabric décor used on them. The torso became the sculpting block of feminine beauty. This was the beginning of the corset, a restraining, essential item in the women’s attire through the 19th century.
In this reading, footbinding is described as a “barbaric practice” and as the source of current women conditions. The movement against this practice resembles the ‘Meiji Six Society’ in Japan which spurred during the same period as they both strive for women rights and better regulation of marriage. Furthermore, this shows us how Japan was a key factor in this movement as the source of the “radicalisation” and westernization of students coming from China. Hence the rejection of Confucian knowledge and traditions.
Recently I read one of the Hans Christian Anderson's short stories, The Emperor's New Clothes. This Danish writer in his story made such a good picture of foolish kings and governors that now-a-days are much more before.
“Style is a way to say who you are without having to speak.” This quote by Rachel Zoe speaks volumes about fashion in the time period in which Shakespeare lived. Many people believe royal women from the Elizabethan era only wore fancy dresses for looks, however, their outfits were more complex because they contained many layers, the law regulated them, and they showed which class they were in.
Clothing was a very big part of the Renaissance. The wealthy had lots of clothes but, the peasants had one or two sets of clothes. The shapes and sizes of clothes changed.
When one thinks of Japan, what is the first thing that comes to mind? Advanced technology? Video games? Weird T.V. shows and anime? Before Japan began its transition into technology and advancement, they were in an era of both military action and strong nationalism which still impacts them today. Japan's military power and control over the East Asian region was its strongest feature for several hundred years. This changes dramatically with the 20th Century. By the turn of the century, Japan's strives to modernize and stay relevant to the global economy and system was its most vital aspect.
Pottery fragments were discovered in Yamamoto between 15 and 16 thousand years ago. These are the oldest pieces of pottery found so far. During the early development of Japanese art, chinese styles greatly influenced painters and styles. But by the 14th century japan as a country had started to develop its own style, and by the 16th century japan had completely developed its own style due to the fact6 japan as the country had shut itself to the world. One of the main differences in style between Chinese and Japanese art styles in that Japanese painters uses more abstract and naturalistic styles. With the focus more on capturing the basic form and characteristics of specific subjects. They worked on paring down to the essentials unlike
“For as long as men and women have been wearing clothing, there has been a hierarchy based on garments. The clearest example arose when the sexes were segregated into skirts and pants: women would only wear dresses (a symbol of submission) and men would only wear trousers (proof of domination). Women’s clothing was created to impede and hamper movement (through tight or many layered skirts), while men enjoyed the ease and comfort of pant legs.” (Meza, Echazarreta) Women’s fashion throughout the ages can be used to trace the history of equality between men and women. As women achieved greater independence, they claimed the right to choose what they wore, and that included women being able to wear pants. There are three things that were instrumental in making it socially acceptable for women to wear pants, they include: the invention of the bicycle, WWII, and influential women.
Introduction Historically, multiple styles of dressing have been created during the last several decades, which played an important role in modern fashion in the UK. Everyone has a different and unique dressing style in their everyday life. Some styles are influenced by vintage styles which are attributing to the deep effects of old vogue, and another group of dressing styles are inclined into the fresh element. Despite those different styles, some of them have even evolved into the milestones in fashion history. To start this essay, it will introduce the evaluation of the first significant revolution of dressing style in the 1960s.
tightly back, covering the ears, in a style which no longer suits our ideas of beauty. But the stark severity