Japanese Kimono

Japanese Kimono Styles With Cranes, Florals and Quiet Stripes

A printed crane needs room to fly, and a kimono that falls past the hips toward the ankle gives it plenty. That idea runs through the Japanese Kimono collection at Zen Kimono. Each piece is a Japanese-inspired take on the traditional Japanese kimono, printed with cranes, sprays of florals, scenic views or plain stripes. They are made for ordinary days, and for being worn often.

A Japanese Kimono Is Simply a Thing to Wear

The name of this piece of Japanese clothing is disarmingly plain. Kimono literally means "thing to wear": ki, to wear, and mono, thing. A kimono here is not a costume or a museum piece, and it is not chasing whatever is trendy this month. It is a garment, and it should earn its spot in your wardrobe by being worn.

Our designs are inspired by the traditional kimono, but they are meant to be pulled on in a minute, over the western clothes you already have on. Unlike a pullover or a kaftan, a kimono opens all the way down the front, and the wrap adjusts to each wearer. One custom matters more than any styling rule. A kimono is always closed left over right. Right over left is only used to dress the deceased. So when you close your kimono Japanese style, make sure the left side goes over the right. It takes a second and shows quiet respect for Japanese culture.

Crane Kimono, Yukata and Other Japanese Kimono Styles

A quick map of the rail:

• Japanese kimonos in a maxi silhouette, many with a hemline that reaches the ankle.
• Kimono robe styles to wrap up in at home, like a dressing gown with livelier prints, and lighter to wear than a thick bathrobe.
• Yukata styles, with more in our Yukata collection.
• A floral kimono for mornings when a plain robe feels too quiet. Every floral design is printed, not embroidered.
• The crane kimono, for anyone drawn to that bird in flight.
• Scenic prints and clean striped designs for a quieter mood, the stripes adding a neat, geometric line.
• Mostly one size, so choosing is simple.

Cotton, Polyester and Satin in a Japanese Kimono

Cotton breathes much like linen, so reach for it on a warm, sticky afternoon. Polyester keeps things simple. It is the easy-care choice for a piece you plan to wear often, nothing like a delicate silk that asks for dry clean only.

Then there is satin, on some styles. Under a bedside lamp it takes on a low, silky sheen that makes a printed color look deeper than it does on cotton. The folds drape and sway much as a silk kimono would, yet the textile feels easygoing rather than precious. None of these textiles need saving for best. Wear them on a Tuesday.

How to Wear a Japanese Kimono on Real Days

• Wear it open over simple tops, a plain tee or a textured knit top, with your favorite denim. That way it acts as a longline kimono cardigan or a light kimono jacket. Push each kimono sleeve back to the elbow when your hands need to be free.
• For a dinner out, layer it kimono style over a short sleeve dress or a sleeveless maxi dress, then mark the waist with an obi belt, a sash or the woven belt borrowed from your jeans. Once belted, the left-over-right front forms a gentle, flattering V neck, and together the two pass for a kimono dress.
• At the beach, a cotton style works as a cover up over swimwear or a crochet crop top, then stays on over shorts and sandals for the drive home. Add oversized sunglasses and a fringed bag for an easy boho chic mood.
• Some fall evenings are too mild for coats or heavy jackets, so throw it over a long sleeve tee and leggings as light outerwear. A printed kimono stands in for a blazer without the stiff shoulders, and layering rarely gets easier.
• Let a bold or intricate floral print lead and keep everything else to one solid color, like a pleated midi skirt or cropped wide trousers. Ivory and beige are the easiest. For more feminine styles, browse our Kimonos for Women collection.

Weekends and Weddings in a Japanese Kimono Robe

A slow Saturday. Rain taps the glass, the crossword is half done, and you are still in a Japanese kimono robe and pajamas at noon. Nobody needs to know you never changed.

Back from a trip to Japan without the Japan kimono you meant to bring home? Tokyo, Kyoto and that quiet onsen town are still on your camera roll, and a crane or scenic print from this collection keeps them close. Wear it over casual outfits on the weekend and let the print do the remembering.

The morning of a wedding, yours or a friend's. Someone is steaming the veil, someone else cannot find an earring, and the bride would like the bridesmaids dressed alike before the photographer knocks. A bridal morning like that suits a satin style with a little shine for the camera, worn over lingerie while hair and makeup happen. Our Long Kimono collection has more long styles to choose from.

Sizing and Styling Questions About Japanese Kimonos

Is this a Japanese kimono women and men can both wear?

Yes. Most styles are one size, and the wrap front is forgiving. Check the details on each product page before you order.

What do I wear with it?

Whatever you already own. Your usual nightwear or loungewear at home, a plain blouse or tee in town, a bikini at the beach. Keep the neckline underneath simple so the print gets the attention.

A kimono is, quite literally, a thing to wear, and it needs no dressing up. So wear yours. Pick your crane, flower or stripe from the Japanese Kimono collection, fold the left side over the right, and let the kettle take its time.