Examples of kimono coordination for spring and tips! Introducing colors and patterns that are perfect for the season

Spring, symbolizing “new beginnings,” is the season when plants start to bud, and gentle sunshine illuminates various colorful flowers.

Many people start new chapters in their lives during spring, such as seasonal events, enrollment, further education, or employment, and as a result, there’s a growing trend of celebrating special occasions in kimono.

During spring, you might find yourself visiting shops adorned with light fabrics and vibrant colors that flutter in the breeze. Have you ever felt like all kimonos look the same or struggled to choose the right one for the current season?

Just like how you enjoy wearing different clothes based on the season and temperature, there are suitable ensembles for kimonos based on the season and weather.

From modern to elegant outfits, you can freely mix and match them. In this article, we’ll introduce you to the perfect spring attire, known as “awase” kimono.

Types of Awase Kimono Ideal for Spring

Kimonos are categorized into two main types based on their construction: “awase” (lined) and “hitoe” (unlined). From a seasonal perspective, they are further classified into “awase” kimonos, which can be worn almost year-round, “hitoe” kimonos, typically worn in June/July and September/October, and “usumono” kimonos, suitable for the hot months of July to September.

Awase kimonos are suitable for wearing during seasons other than the hot summer months (around 10-5℃). They are constructed with an additional lining, providing opacity and warmth, making them comfortable even in winter.

These kimonos often feature a complementary color or pattern on the lining, enhancing the overall look of the kimono. The combination of the outer and inner fabrics can change the kimono’s atmosphere, adding to its charm.

You can choose from various fabrics like cotton, silk, and wool, depending on the season and personal preference. There are also easy-to-care-for polyester options available, making them suitable for daily wear.

However, due to their thicker fabric compared to “hitoe” or “usumono” kimonos, they might feel warm when the temperature exceeds 20℃. It’s recommended to adjust your kimono selection based on the current weather, except for formal occasions or tea ceremonies.

It’s common to pair awase kimonos with voluminous obis (sashes) and stiff obi knots. They are often chosen for coming-of-age ceremonies and formal events.

Patterns and Colors Perfect for Spring Kimonos

In Japan, a country that appreciates the changing seasons, there are various kimonos with different colors and patterns to suit each season.

For spring patterns, you’ll find designs featuring flowers that bloom during the awase kimono season, such as cherry blossoms, peaches, wisteria, peonies, irises, and water irises (Takitsubata). These patterns often feature bright and soft colors.

For spring seasonal events like “Peach Festival” (Momo no Sekku) and “Doll Festival” (Hina Matsuri), white and green combinations or colors like peach and cherry blossom are commonly used.

This tradition of incorporating natural colors and patterns into kimonos can be traced back to the Heian period when the “Junihitoe” ensemble was worn by the upper class.

The origin of kimonos is often attributed to the Heian period, and the “Junihitoe” ensemble consisted of layers such as “kariginu” (hunting attire), “omeshi” (outer kimono), “uchigi” (inner kimono), “eboshi” (headgear), and more.

The concept of “kasaneiro” or the art of combining colors in traditional Japanese color schemes was used to represent the changing seasons.

By layering light pink fabric on the surface and deep red fabric underneath, the “kasaneiro” created contrasts between the fabrics and patterns, resulting in various color combinations.

For spring “kasaneiro,” you’ll often find combinations of sakura (cherry blossom) pink and fresh green (blue), reflecting the love of Japanese people for cherry blossoms and the budding greenery of spring, capturing the aesthetic tradition of the past in a contemporary sense.

When it comes to spring kimonos, it’s not just about colors but also incorporating patterns that represent the season, allowing you to enjoy a refined look.

Coordinating Spring Kimono Outfits

Kimono formality can be categorized into four levels: the most formal “reisou” (ceremonial dress), followed by “junreisou” (semi-ceremonial), “jou-sou” (festive attire), and “futsuu-gi” (casual wear).

When coordinating your awase kimono for different occasions, the obi (sash) plays an essential role.

The typical obi used with reisou and junreisou kimonos is the luxurious “fukuro obi,” often featuring gold and silver threads or plain ones made from materials like polyester. Fukuro obi can be used for formal to casual occasions.

For everyday wear and even yukata, you’ll find a variety of options for the 30cm-wide “hakuhou nagoya obi” or “hanhaba obi,” known for their diverse patterns and materials.

Other choices include “kyoubukuro obi” and “nagoya obi,” which are easier to tie than fukuro obi and are suitable for occasions like tea ceremonies.

In the Edo period, known for samurai culture, sharp and stylish obis were favored, while in Kyoto, the center of aristocratic culture, elegant and gentle obis were preferred, reflecting regional differences in obi tying and collar styles.

Your kimono outfit’s impression can also be transformed by how you use accessories such as zori (sandals), bags, and hair ornaments. Mixing Western-style items like leather bags, boots, and sneakers with traditional Japanese elements can expand your outfit possibilities.

As you embrace the season of fresh greenery and spring kimonos, you can appreciate the elegance of spring through a poem by Fujiwara no Teika: “Morobito no / sode o tsuranuru / murasaki no / niwa ni ya haru mo / tachibashira n.” (Should the sleeves of the courtier’s robe brush the purple garden, would the spring come to stand there too?)

The meaning of “In this garden where the beautiful sleeves of noble people’s kimonos line up, spring has also arrived” compares the beauty and splendor of spring to the elegance of spring kimono colors and materials.

When coordinating your spring awase kimono, you can easily enjoy it by incorporating natural colors and choosing based on the occasion, personal preferences, and comfort.

Author of this article

Kyoto Kimono Rental Rika Wafuku operates four kimono rental shops in Kyoto city, including locations in Arashiyama, Gion, Kiyomizu Temple, and in front of Kyoto Station. In 2023, they served over 230,000 customers in the Kyoto area!
They offer affordable plans, with a kimono dressing plan starting from 3,500 yen, and a hair setting plan from 5,500 yen.
Close to popular tourist spots such as Togetsukyo Bridge, Kiyomizu Temple, Yasaka Koshindo, and Yasaka Shrine!
Kyoto Kimono Rental Rika Wafuku
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