【Introducing Recommended Kimono Coordinations by Purpose!】

“I don’t know which kimono to choose.”
This is the answer we often hear from customers who are troubled because they cannot easily decide on a kimono.
“It’s perfectly fine to choose the kimono you like.”
That is what I answer to most of our customers.
Many of the customers who rent kimono at our shop come with the purpose of strolling around Kyoto in kimono.
There are many rules for kimono, but most of them are for formal occasions.
In casual situations, just like with western clothing, you may choose a kimono based on the places you will visit that day, the people you will meet, and your mood.

It is perfectly fine to choose the kimono you like, the one that caught your eye and made you think, “I want to try this on!”
If you enjoy choosing a kimono while imagining yourself walking the streets of Kyoto in kimono or chatting with friends in a stylish café, we staff will also be very happy, and of course, we will assist you with our “full concentration.”
Even so,
　If you are still not confident in choosing a kimono…
　If you are going to a museum or a theater
　If you would like to try a unique coordination
For such customers, we will introduce staff-recommended coordinations.

At Okamoto we have a wide selection of kimono in various colors and patterns, but recently retro-modern coordination has become very popular.
For retro-modern coordination, antique kimono are especially popular! Antique kimono refers to kimono made before the early Showa period, and they are made slightly smaller than modern kimono.
You can keep the kimono colors subdued and make it gorgeous with the obi, or make the obi simple to highlight the kimono’s pattern, or add an accent color with the collar—it’s all wonderful. Retro-modern is also recommended for those who want to dress in a unique way! You can wear it stylishly and cutely.
Kimono coordination is limitless!
Please enjoy fashionable kimono styling!

Using lace and frills, our popular DECOCO plan is coordinated here in pastel × white, an easy look for anyone to try.
By changing the pastel color to one you like, you can enjoy your very own original coordination.
By adding lace or frills to the collar, obi, or cuffs, you can create a more “soft-cute” and “dreamy” atmosphere.
For small accessories such as lace and ribbons, using similar colors will give a sense of unity.
For footwear—boots, pumps, lace tabi with zori… anything matches perfectly.
Kyoto has many photogenic and stylish cafés. We recommend going café-hopping in Kyoto with this “soft-cute × dreamy” coordination using lace and frills♡

This is a recommended coordination for those who say, “It’s my first time wearing kimono, so I don’t know what to choose...”
We chose a pretty and cute kimono scattered with small flowers all over, matched with a pink obi in the same color as the kimono pattern. A dark pink kinchaku bag adds an accent.
Since it is your first kimono, we avoided flashy colors or patterns and made it a gentle and cute coordination♡
By changing the obi color or pattern, it can look more mature or give a slightly antique impression♪
This coordination blends naturally with Kyoto’s unique historic streets such as Kiyomizu-dera and Kodai-ji near the store, as well as Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka.
Why not create memories by taking many Kyoto-like photogenic photos in kimono?

For everyday wear,
For outings such as cafés and museums,
For parties or theater visits
Nagoya obi are often used for casual occasions to slightly formal outings.
There are various designs—simple patterns, highly designed patterns, luxurious patterns, and more.
At Rental Kimono Okamoto, we have many Nagoya obi, so you can enjoy coordination according to your mood of the day.
The coordination we introduce here:
A pale cream komon with a purple obi, matched with calm pink accessories.
When you match pale-colored kimono with darker accent colors, it gives a neat impression.
This elegant yet cute adult-lady coordination, with a popular retro touch, also perfectly suits the streets of Kyoto.
By changing the obi, the impression also changes and it’s fun.
Nagoya obi are recommended for those who want to enjoy casual outings or mature fashion. Please try to enjoy your own original coordination.

When we think of women’s hakama, we imagine graduation ceremonies or training in traditional martial arts.
Most people may never wear them even once in their lifetime.
For graduation ceremonies and thank-you parties, we accept online reservations and preview appointments for two-sleeved hakama.
You will surely find a coordination that suits you.
With formal attire, your final day of student life will become an even more special day.
At Rental Kimono Okamoto, we have a same-day hakama plan so you can casually stroll around Kyoto in hakama.
The charm of hakama style is that you can enjoy upper and lower coordination with retro chic kimono, lovely and gorgeous kimono, or mature and cool kimono.
The impression changes greatly depending on the image of the colors and the combinations.
You can choose according to your favorite colors and the atmosphere you want to achieve.
As you may know from the Doll Festival, hakama were the attire of court ladies.
In the Meiji era, before western clothing became widespread, hakama were adopted as uniforms for female students and teachers, which is how women’s hakama style became common.
At that time, female students wore navy or dark red hakama, while female teachers wore purple hakama.
When the Takarazuka Girls’ Revue was founded, green hakama were used for uniforms. Among fans at the time, green hakama became popular.
During formal occasions such as ceremonies at Takarazuka, they wore zori, but usually they wore lace-up shoes.
Recently, the most popular style is white hakama.
The pure shine of white can be worn uniquely, adorably, or neatly with refinement.
You can also decorate with lace and create a DECOCO style.
You can shorten the length of the hakama over a yabane komon and wear boots like women in the Taisho era.
Or you can combine mid-length sleeves with a pale pink Hakata hanhaba obi for a Meiji-style “haikara” look.
Please enjoy this new hakama style where tradition and the present are fused.

We have introduced several staff-recommended coordinations—did you find them helpful?
If you thought, “This coordination is so cute! I want to try it!” we would be very happy.
There are many casual styles, from cute coordinations with lace and frills to neat Nagoya obi coordinations.
We believe it is important to choose a coordination that matches the atmosphere of the place you will go that day and the people you will meet (friends or superiors, etc.).
But you don’t have to think too hard!
Just imagine spending a fun day with your favorite kimono style at the places you will visit and with the people you will meet.
For example, imagine yourself café-hopping in a trendy coordination with cute lace, or strolling through Kyoto’s streets in a retro-modern style…
Based on the image you imagine, please choose your kimono.
At Okamoto, we have more than 1,000 kimono at each store.
You will surely find one that you like.
Once you have chosen your kimono, the next step is to select the obi.
Cute, mature, gorgeous, cool, etc.—the overall impression changes with the obi.
Please look for the obi that best fits your mood or the atmosphere you want that day.
After deciding on the kimono and obi, depending on the plan, you can choose obi decorations, lace, and other small accessories, and finally select a bag. That completes your coordination.
We hope you enjoy choosing each item, and we will gladly assist you in finding your very own coordination.
Please spend a fun kimono day with your favorite original coordination.

【Related Articles】
● Kimono and the Four Seasons – Outfits for Each Season
https://www.okamoto-kimono.com/column/1381
● Coming-of-Age Furisode and Montsuki Styling and 5 Coordinations!
https://www.okamoto-kimono.com/column/1395



【Author of this Article】
Rental Kimono Okamoto Yasaka-no-to-mae Store
374 Yasaka Kamimachi, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto 605-0827
Website: www.okamoto-kimono.com
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