Traditional Dress from Far East Asia

KIMONO

A kimono is a national dress of Japan. Kimono are T-shaped, straight-lined robes that fall to the ankle, with collars and wide, full-length sleeves. They are secured with a wide belt, called Obi. Kimono is very difficult to wear as they consist of many layers. Geisha, Japanese Female entertainers, had people who were professionals at doing their jobs, dressing their Client Geisha in a kimono. When someone wears kimono, she usually use a kind of particular shoes or called Geta (or Zori). They are usually worn with Split-toe socks, called tabi.

According to the season, people wear different Kimono’s, with different patterns on them. For Example, a butterfly, cherry or flower pattern is used in spring. Kimono has different styles for every occasion and level of formality, which is:                                             

The Furisode Kimono

The Tsukesagi Kimono

The Furisode is the most formal Kimono worn by unmarried woman. Furisode have very long sleeves with bright patterns.



The Tsukesagi is more modest and less bright. It can also be worn by married woman. It’s also much less formal than the Furisode.

The Iromuji Kimono

The Iromuji is a one color style kimono that’s mostly worn to Tea-Ceremonies. Usually, Iromuji have no patterns at all.

The Uchikake Kimono

Japanese wedding dress

The Uchikake is a bridal sort of kimono. It’s used as a kind of coat as it is worn above the actual kimono and obi. The Uchikake usually has red or white as it base color.

QIPAO

Qipao is one piece Chinese dress that has been worn in china for centuries. The original qipao was wide and baggy. The one piece dress featured a high neck and straight skirt. It covered all of a woman’s body except for her head, hands, and toes. The qipao was traditionally made of silk and featured intricate embroidery.

Traditional Qipao

The modern qipao is a one-piece formfitting, floor length dress that has a high slit on one or both sides. Modern variations may have bell sleeves or be sleeveless and are made out of a variety of fabrics.

Modern Qipao

Modern Qipao for Wedding

Simple Cheongsam

The Qipao for wedding ceremony has a red and strong color. It usually embroidered with elaborate gold and silver designs. Brides from Southern China usually wear two-piece dress named Qun Gua or Cheongsam, also elaborately adorned with golden phoenix and dragon.

Cheongsam