Japanese Fashion

Fashion is a worldwide means of self-expression. Many things are factored into an individual’s fashion choice, from color, to style, season, and even accessories. Fashion has no boundaries or age limit, and it is a universally popular phenomenon. In doing research, the fashion choices of the Japanese culture was really intriguing; from the unique shape and intricate designs of their kimonos, to the more modern and outrageous fashion style of the Japanese youth.
Traditional Japanese fashion is timeless, and many time unchanging. Although the Japanese have taken to fashion quite a bit in the last few centuries, they are still very traditional and continue to wear their traditional garment. The traditional garment worn in Japan is called the Kimono. The word kimono means something that one wears. It originally referred to all types of clothing worn by the Japanese, however in today’s times it usually refers to a full-length garment worn by the Japanese people of all ages. The kimonos that are worn by people tend to reflect their personalities and social status. Specifically, how many layers the kimono has and the sleeve length. For many people, the wear of kimonos truly give credibility to the statement, “you are, what you wear”. Similar to other countries, the style, print, color, etc of their kimonos vary by age group, event, and season. The style of the kimono has changed significantly throughout the years. The history of the kimono in Japan is one that spans over many periods and has changed over time to reflect the society and culture of the current period. The kimono began to take its shape in the Heian period (C.E. 794-1185). The custom of elaborate layers of colored kimono robes became popular with Japanese women. Since then, the basic shape and cut of the kimono hasn’t changed. It is a T-shaped, straight lined robe that falls to the ankles, with a collar and sleeves that most times fall to the wrist. In most informal styles, when the arms are held