Blue Kimono

Blue Kimono Styles, From Deep Navy to Everyday Blue

There is a blue that shows up just before sunrise, when the sea and the sky have not quite separated yet. We kept coming back to it while putting together the Blue Kimono collection for Zen Kimono. Deep navy and classic blues, printed with cranes, waves and flowers or left calm and solid. Blue might be the easiest color in any wardrobe to live with. It goes with denim, with white, with sleepy hair and bare feet.

Japan Blue and the Indigo Kimono

For centuries, indigo dyeing, known as aizome, colored Japanese workwear and summer kimono. Blue was so common that 19th century visitors called it Japan blue.

That history is part of why a navy kimono never feels like dressing up as someone else. It reads as practical, a garment meant for daily use. A Japanese kimono is a whole tradition with its own rules. Ours are Japanese-inspired robes, cardigans and jackets, not a traditional kimono. Our deepest navy is the closest we come to an indigo kimono, a nod to aizome in color only. A dark blue kimono also forgives a morning coffee drip and still looks put together at noon.

Navy Kimono Cuts, Prints and Sizes

• Blue kimono robe styles in navy and blue: the dressing gown you wrap around yourself first thing, far lighter than a thick shawl collar bathrobe.
• An open kimono cardigan for easy layering over tops, a short sleeve dress or long sleeve tees. Worn open, it can double as a maternity layer too.
• A kimono jacket as light outerwear on a mild day, softer than blazers, coats or denim jackets.
• A navy blue kimono or a classic blue, solid or printed with cranes, waves or a floral print. On navy, a floral kimono looks like blossom on dark water.
• Every crane, wave and floral motif is printed, so it lies flat and light where embroidery would add weight.
• Looking for a light blue kimono? Check the photos, as shades vary by style.
• Sizes S to XXL, and up to 5XL when you shop for a men's blue kimono.
• For blue's neighbor on the color wheel, see Green Kimono.

Satin, Cotton and the Dark Blue Kimono

Satin is a smooth weave that catches the light, so navy picks up a soft sheen at the folds as you move. It feels silky, with a flowy drape that follows the wearer. It is not silk satin, but it has much of the glow of a silk robe with far less fuss.

Cotton is the honest one. It breathes, stays matte and looks right with linen trousers. Where floral chiffon floats, a cotton robe just hangs.

Cotton-linen blends feel slightly textured and airy on warm afternoons, with a bit more body than a thin viscose rayon. Polyester is the low-fuss pick for a robe that lives in a suitcase.

Navy Blue Kimono, Off the Hook and Out the Door

Not sure how to wear it? Kimono style is easier than it looks. Treat it as an open layer over outfits you already own, in any footwear.

• Loose over a striped Breton top and skinny jeans, instead of a cardigan.
• Over a white V neck or a longline tee with leggings on travel days, or over a longer tunic.
• Belted, a solid navy one comes close to a kimono dress. Knot a thin sash of your own at the waist, or try one of your tan leather belts, which looks warm against dark blue. Over a sleeveless dress, it works for evenings out.
• Over a wet bikini, or a crop top and shorts, it becomes a beach cover up. Add sandals and a crochet or woven straw bag. In a wave print: waves on the fabric, waves on the shore.
• Over pale skirts, say an ivory pleated midi, or a beige maxi dress with a side slit, so the blue stays the one strong color.
• In autumn, layer a kimono jacket over knitwear: a fine knit pullover, a cropped sweater, even a knitted vest. Add black tights, ankle boots and a plum scarf.
• If your taste runs boho chic, add tassel earrings or a bag with fringe. Where a kaftan or poncho swallows your shape, an open kimono keeps a clean silhouette, and a crane print stays calmer than a busy paisley print.
• For evenings, choose satin, let each kimono sleeve fall loose over a black lace top, and add heels. Love that sheen? Browse our Silk Kimono collection.

Three Days for a Blue Kimono Robe

Saturday, and nothing planned. Rain on the window, toast going cold, a navy robe over whatever you slept in, lingerie or old cotton pajamas. Sleepwear turns into loungewear, and nobody expects you until lunch.

A weekend by the sea, or a trip to Japan with slow days in Kyoto. Pack a crane print. Mornings it does robe duty, then at night the cranes go out over a plain blouse.

A bridal morning, your own or a friend's. Curlers in, a drop of fragrance, the bride in navy by the window while the gowns wait on their hangers. A blue robe is a sweet answer to "something blue". Dressing the bridesmaids? Let her keep the blue and choose theirs from Kimono Robes for Women.

Blue Kimono Sizing and Shade, Answered

What sizes do the blue styles come in?

Women's blues start at S and run to XXL; men's styles reach 5XL. Prefer an oversized, loose fit? Order the next size. Shopping plus size? Sizes vary by style, so check each product page.

Which blue is easiest to wear?

Navy, almost every time. It is flattering on most skin tones, sits happily with black, gray, white and denim, and looks as good over trousers as over nightwear. Lighter blues love white and sand tones.

Somewhere in the Blue Kimono collection is the shade that belongs on your bedroom hook, dark as the sea before sunrise or an easy daytime blue.