Kimono Posture & Manners: Tips to Look Elegant in Your Rental Kimono

Don’t you think that wearing an expensive kimono makes you look beautiful?

Some believe that wearing a kimono with beautiful colors and patterns automatically makes them a beautiful woman.

In reality, the luxurious colors, patterns, or price of a kimono don’t necessarily determine a “beautiful kimono appearance.”

What truly matters is the “gestures and movements” that reflect one’s feelings.

The Top 4 Kimono Gestures for Women According to Surveys

There’s a concept known as “body language,” and just like it, “gestures and movements” in wearing a kimono express one’s “heart.”

Rough movements can disrupt the essence of “wa” (harmony) that a kimono represents.

Even in surveys that ask about the most attractive gestures for women, the results include:

1st place: Sitting with knees together and legs aligned

2nd place: Speaking in polite language

3rd place: Eating elegantly

4th place: Tying up hair

These results reflect the basic movements when wearing a kimono.

When wearing a kimono, people’s attention is mainly focused on three areas: hands, neck, and feet because they are the only parts that remain visible.

Three Gestures or Movements for a Beautiful Kimono Appearance

① Keep your hands delicate and small

Folding your thumbs inward can make your hands look smaller and your fingers appear slender and elegant.

Avoid having your elbows visible when raising your hands high; it’s considered a no-go.

It’s better not to show your hands as much as possible for a beautiful kimono appearance.

② Don’t take wide strides

While a wide stride might work with Western clothing, it’s not recommended when wearing a kimono.

Walking with wide strides can cause the kimono to lose its shape around the waist.

③ Avoid walking with your toes pointing outward

When your toes are pointing outward, it becomes quite noticeable when wearing a kimono.

The key to walking with narrow strides while wearing a kimono is to feel like you are fitting the arch of your back foot into the toes of your front foot.

At the same time, make sure not to separate your knees too much.

By taking smaller steps, you will naturally walk with narrow strides.

 

Five Kimono Dressing Tips to Achieve a Beautiful Kimono Appearance

Kimono with a tight silhouette will reveal your body’s lines honestly.

Your body shape and posture play a significant role in how noticeable the kimono appears compared to what you might think.

The silhouette of a kimono is somewhat similar to a Chinese dress (Cheongsam).

When dressing in a kimono, think of it as “a blouse on the upper body and a long, tight skirt on the lower body.” This concept makes it easier to understand.

 

① Avoid Excessively Wide Kimono Hems

When dressing, hold the lower edge of the kimono’s front under your left chest, adjusting it so that the kimono fits snugly against the right side of your body.

Then, align the upper front parallel to the floor.

Narrowing the width of the kimono’s hem and making it wider toward the waist creates a beautiful silhouette similar to a long, tight dress.

 

② Secure the Collar Tightly and Tuck the Back of the Collar

When wearing a kimono, having the collar on the chest side wide open can make you look less clean.

A kimono creates a deep V-neckline when the collar is properly aligned, but closing it tightly won’t necessarily enhance the effect of a smaller face.

Having a closed collar and slightly tucked collar ends will add depth to your appearance.

 

③ Leave the Back Hem of the Kimono Slightly Longer When Dressing

Leaving the back center part of the hem in place, with your heel keeping it down while folding the front, allows you to make the back slightly longer than the front.

At the moment you fold the front, lift the hem of the kimono that was stepped on by your heel.

 

④ Single Layer the Front of the Kimono When Folding

Is your “ohashori” (tuck in the kimono) loose and baggy?

Making the ohashori a single layer will snugly fit it around your waist, making your waist look slimmer and more elegant.

Always Fold the Front of the Kimono Ohashori a Single Layer

When dressing in a kimono, be sure to fold the lower front part of the ohashori upward and keep the front part of the ohashori in a single layer.

In the world of kimono, having a thin and unobtrusive ohashori is the foundation for a beautiful appearance.

 

⑤ Determine Leg Length with the Position of the Obi (Sash)

The position of the obi (sash) when wearing a kimono can vary greatly depending on personal preference.

Generally, as age increases, the obi’s position tends to become lower. However, a lower obi position can make the torso appear longer.

When wearing a kimono, setting the obi higher can create the illusion of longer legs. A good guideline for obi placement is around the area just below the bust.

 

Pay Attention to Kimono Etiquette for a Beautiful Kimono Appearance

It’s wonderful to be admired in your kimono, but you also want to live up to expectations.

Such thoughtfulness will further elevate you as a mature woman.

Be mindful of your gestures and actions, as they reflect your feelings. Strive to be an ambassador of Japanese culture and hospitality.

Enjoy the full kimono experience in Asakusa while gracefully mastering the art of wearing a kimono.

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
Kimono Rental Rika Wafuku Gion Store
Kimono Rental Rika Wafuku Arashiyama Store
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Kimono Rental Rika Wafuku Kyoto Station Front Store