Kimono: The Art and Evolution of Japanese Fashion

by Anna Jackson (Editor)

In traditional Japanese dress, the surface of the garment is most important. The T-shaped, straight-seamed, front-wrapping kimono has changed its shape very little over the centuries, but the weaving, dyeing, and embroidery used to decorate its surface make each a unique, wearable work of art. Choice of color and pattern vary richly to indicate gender, age, status, wealth, and taste, and are executed in complex combination of weaving, dyeing, and embroidery techniques, with a single garment sometimes requiring the expert skills of a number of different artisans.

Kimono showcases a magnificent range of kimonos from the the Khalili Collection, which comprises more than 200 garments and spans almost 300 years of Japanese textile artistry.

Gorgeously illustrated and written by an international team of experts, the book surveys kimono of the imperial court, samurai aristocracy, and affluent merchant classes of the Edo period (1603–1868); the shifting styles and new color palette of Meiji period dress (1868–1912); and the bold and dazzling kimono of the Taisho (1912–26) and early Showa (1926–89) periods, when designers used innovative new techniques and fused traditional looks with inspiration from the modernist aesthetic then sweeping the world.

Genres: Fashion, Nonfiction, Japan, Art, History, Cultural, Fashion History

320 pages, Hardcover

First published November 10, 2015

Reviews

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely exquisite pictures and detail shots with very nice cultural context notes.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

SO gorgeous and SO interesting! The kimonos are beautifully photographed and also supplemented here by related Japanese art. Also really appreciated all the cultural context and history (both sartorial and historical), which I knew little about. Didn't make it through all the writing before it was due back to the library -- between the tinyness of text and all the stress and upheaval in the world right now, it was too much for my brain. But I'm definitely planning to get it back out sometime to finish and enjoy soaking up all this beauty again.

[Charlie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a Thames & Hudson coffee table book about the Khalili collection of kimono (and only the Khalili collection, which is apparently extensive). Although the images are interspersed with interesting and learned essays on various aspects of Japanese fashion I confess I was here for the photographs, which are fabulous, and well-captioned. If you have any interest in Japanese textiles, this is a wonderful book.

[Marcus · Rating 3 out of 5]

A beautiful collection of kimono, and incidentally, a good introduction to Japanese symbolism and myth. Would have benefited from even a cursory introduction to technical aspects of textile making, as I found myself at a loss to understand what the editor must have assumed to be common knowledge.

[Whitney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review written for and published by Portland Book Review on February 15th:

Kimono: The Art and Evolution of Japanese Fashion is a book that lives up to its name and is a wonderful resource for anyone interested in learning about the kimono, its history, and its evolution over the years. The book begins with a general explanation of the kimono, the difference between a kosode, and introduces Japanese terminology for the various pieces of kimono dress and culture. This section is quite informative and will be of interest for the casual observer as well as the more studious reader.

Following the introductory chapter, the book is organized into three sections dividing the material by time period: Edo (1603–1868), Meiji (1868–1912), and Taishō and early Shōwa period (1912–1950). Each section contains an introduction to the era, giving readers a rundown on the fashions of the era as well as a brief history of the time period. The featured kimonos are laid out – either on a flat surface or hung from a rod as they are often displayed in museums – and photographed from the back, which is usually the area that is most intensely decorated. Some kimonos are also photographed to show the inside, depending on the uniqueness of the decoration. Most of these shots of the back of the kimonos take up a full page, with the facing page having a close up shot that highlights a particularly interesting area and gives the reader a look at the incredibly intricate embroidery and dye job. There is also a small text box for each kimono that describes who the kimono was intended for – women, men, young women, young boys, or children – as well as describing the type of fabric, paints, dyes, embroidery, when they think the kimono was made or when it’s type was popular, the size of the kimono, and a short summary as to what kind of function the kimono was intended for or the importance of the scene or pattern depicted.

The book contains 400 images, with the majority being photographs of kimonos. There are also images of woodblock prints – from the earliest eras before cameras were a common occurrence – depicting men and women wearing kimonos of the time, photographs of people wearing kimonos on the street, and other images of artwork – fashion magazines and artist’s paintings – showing trends. This is a stunning collection, in a sturdy, hardcover book that would make a wonderful gift. Kimono: The Art and Evolution of Japanese Fashion is truly a book worth keeping in your permanent collection.

[Tamara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book contains beautiful photos of kimonos dating back to the 1600s, which are worth picking up the book, but it also has a few pages on the significance of the kimono during each era that Japan experiences. The book goes into the cultural and historical impact of the kimono as well as how it has changed through fashion. It describes some of the artistic influences that has impacted kimono fashion along with the kimono affecting Western art.

It was a really interesting read and the kimonos were absolutely gorgeous.

[Idalia Gonzalez · Rating 5 out of 5]

beautifully curated collection of the history of kimonos and Japan's 300-year textile industry. brief but intelligent social, cultural and historical analyses of different eras: like the meiji, the taisho and the showa.