#OOTD – Kimono Style 101

In the spirit of playing with the oversized clothing as I did in THIS POST, here is a new favorite look. It’s my “kimono style.” If you want to be technical about it, what I’m wearing is a Japanese haori. It’s a jacket you’d wear over a kimono. But whether you call it a kimono or haori, here’s a simple, cool way to style it: with jeans and a white tee.

Silk haori – Tokyo Narita Airport shop / Hudson boyfriend jeans – SIMILAR / Alternative Apparel tee – SIMILAR / Vince ankle boots – SIMILAR

The Kimono 

Mark brought me back this kimono from Japan, where he recently went on business. A true kimono can easily run up to $10,000. That’s the full-length kind that takes forever to tie in some ceremonial way. I know because in high school, I borrowed one from a friend who had been a foreign exchange student in Tokyo.

This one was purchased at the airport at a reasonable (tourist) cost. And it’s much more translatable to a modern look. It has a couple of white fabric ties on the inside, but I prefer to wear it open.

Why a silk kimono is perfect for early spring

Surprisingly, I found that this silk kimono is perfect for spring weather! You may be able to tell in the photos that it was very windy in Santa Cruz, California when I wore it. But, the kimono/haori has a substantial weight to it. Besides that, I recently discovered HERE that silk is an ideal fabric. It…

• keeps you warm in the cold.
• is breathable, and will therefore, keep you cool on hot days or warm nights.
• naturally repels mold and mildew.
• is hypoallergenic, which is great for sensitive skin.
• has a naturally beautiful luster from smooth threads.
• doesn’t tend to cling or crease because it does not create static.

I have a silk tunic, which I featured in THIS POST. I wear it on plane trips, and am amazed at how I can be all shrunched up in an economy class seat for hours. And it comes out wrinkle-free at my destination!

Other styling ideas

I am looking forward to styling the kimono in other ways. I might actually prefer it with skinny jeans – rather than boyfriend jeans – for a more flattering silhouette. And I’m thinking that for date night, I’d love to try combining it with dressy black cropped pants, a silk cami, and heels. Another option would be to wear it over a simple, short LBD.

I hope you like this kimono style outfit. If you’re wanting a haori, it might not be cost-effective to fly to Japan. But ETSY has beautiful and affordable pieces, some of which are even vintage. How cool is that?

XO, Janea

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