There are many kinds of jacket-like clothes you can put on top of kimonos, but velvet is the most popular Japanese-style coat for winter. Let's take a closer look at Velvet kimono.
Velvet Kimono as a Kimono Coat
One of the manners of old kimono in Japan is that you can't go out just wearing a waistband (Obi) on your kimono, less be seen as "rude". Therefore, Japanese people who have been touching kimono for a long time always have one extra jacket to hide the Obi, like Haori or coat.
Generally, it is said that the period of wearing a kimono coat is between "the time when the autumn foliage starts to change colour, to the time when the cherry blossoms fall", but velvet is the most popular kimono coat nonetheless. As it has high heat retention, it is excellent as a cold weather coat, but its luster and drape movement make it look gorgeous.
Velvet Kimono's Collar Shapes
There are various types of collars that are worn on top of kimonos. It's also interesting that women and men are different.
Women's Velvet Kimono
"Chiyoda Collar" (千代田衿) and "Hechima Collar" (へちま衿), which are made based on a coat of western clothes and modified to suit the kimono, are the most commonly used. The Chiyoda collar has a diagonal line toward the chest, and the Hechima collar is named because it is shaped like a Hechima (sponge gourd) as its name suggests.
Men's Velvet Kimono
With the same shape as a normal haori or a basic design in a balmacaan collar, the sleeves are wide open, and it is possible to put the kimono's sleeve inside while wearing a kimono. There is a Tonbi coat that looks like this.
The Tonbi coat originated in the Inverness region of Scotland, and has been introduced to Japan since around the 20th year of the Meiji era, and it has become popular in Japan because the large sleeves of kimono are not in the way and are highly practical. It is a popular coat that has evolved as a “Japanese-Western eclectic” and that is both practical and stylish.
How to Care for Velvet Kimono
Since Velvet kimono is a coat, it is a good manner to take it off at the entrance or in front of the gate, so take it off so that the hem does not touch the ground and fold it in, but it may have wrinkles or creases. So how do you care for such items?
Basic Care
Use a soft brush to remove dust along the coat fabric and even out the coating. In particular, the elbows, cuffs and hips are liable to be disturbed, so if you take great care of them, you can make the beauty last longer.
If there are Wrinkles on the Whole Coat
If you hang it up in the bathroom (after bathing) for one night, the steam will help clearing away the wrinkles. After that, let the air flow well and lightly brush when dry.
For Partial Wrinkles
Use appliances such as hand steamer or steam iron to spray only the steam from the height about 1 cm away from the cloth to make the coat hair stand and line up beautifully.
If it Gets Wet with Rain
Tap it with a dry cloth such as a handkerchief as soon as possible to absorb the water droplets. Leaving it as it is may cause stains on the coat.
Comments