kimono chameleon
FASHION WATCH
The kimono is one of the most iconic – and beautiful – of traditional Japanese garments. Emily Valentine chatted with Tokyo-based kimono enthusiast Anji Salz to find out more.
KIMONO CHAMELEON T
he kimono as we know and love it today has a rich history dating back to Japan’s Edo period. It’s a fashion that conjures up images of elegant women taking part in tea ceremonies, wearing lavish fabrics decorated with ornate patterns. Yet while kimono have ancient roots and are still worn on formal occasions, kimono styling in the 21st century is at its most creative. MyM caught up with Anji Salz, a Tokyo-dwelling kimono enthusiast who moved to the land of the rising sun from Germany six years ago, to find out more. A selfdescribed ‘fashion chameleon’, Anji wears, styles, collects, sells and blogs about kimono, blending bright colours, bold prints and a hint of European chic.
What is it about kimono that you fell in love with? I love the way wearing a kimono feels. Since it limits your movements and makes you walk gracefully, you feel like a better version of yourself. It’s also like a piece of wearable art considering the time that artisans spend on dyeing, weaving, painting and sewing the kimono by hand. These kimono naturally cost a lot of money and have been passed down through generations, so it’s like wearing a treasure with a story. Aside from that, I love how wild kimono can be when combined in various patterns and colours.
Does your life in Tokyo revolve around kimono? Sometimes I get up really early to hunt in antique markets for exciting kimono for my online shop. I also style kimono outfits for events and photo shoots, and visit kimono events to explore the latest trends and learn about traditions. I write about all of this on my blog as well as sharing styling ideas on social media in the hope of inspiring more people to wear kimono. My Thursdays are pretty much dedicated to ‘wasai’ traditional kimono sewing. It’s fun but also hard work – it is crazy how much time goes into a carefully hand-sewn kimono.
What inspires you when styling kimono? My style often depends on my mood and the weather that day. Sometimes I feel like wearing something funky and colourful, sometimes I like it dark and cool. I love to look at Kimono Hime magazine and at kimono wearers around me. Studying old photographs from Japan as well as European fashion from the 1920s to 1990s gives me ideas to work with as well.
Are there rules and etiquette surrounding kimono? When wearing kimono you should walk in small steps and be graceful. It’s also important to know which kimono can be worn for which occasion. The pattern arrangement actually has a meaning and kimono have several categories. ‘Komon’ is an everyday kimono with an all-over pattern. The ‘Iromuji’ is a plain, single-colour kimono worn at slightly fancier occasions such as a tea ceremony or dinner. ‘Tsukesage’ is a plain kimono with patterns at the bottom and on one sleeve – these are great for events like weddings or parties. The ‘Houmongi’ is even more formal, with patterns flowing all over it from the sleeve over the back to the bottom. There are even more types, but these are the main ones. Of course, these days the rules don’t need to be as strict – my opinion is that if you know the rules you may as well bend them a little. I think it’s important to have fun wearing kimono!
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To follow Salz’s kimono adventures, head over to Salz-tokyo.com.
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The kimono is one of the most iconic – and beautiful – of traditional Japanese garments. Emily Valentine chatted with Tokyo-based kimono enthusiast Anji Salz to find out more.
KIMONO CHAMELEON T
he kimono as we know and love it today has a rich history dating back to Japan’s Edo period. It’s a fashion that conjures up images of elegant women taking part in tea ceremonies, wearing lavish fabrics decorated with ornate patterns. Yet while kimono have ancient roots and are still worn on formal occasions, kimono styling in the 21st century is at its most creative. MyM caught up with Anji Salz, a Tokyo-dwelling kimono enthusiast who moved to the land of the rising sun from Germany six years ago, to find out more. A selfdescribed ‘fashion chameleon’, Anji wears, styles, collects, sells and blogs about kimono, blending bright colours, bold prints and a hint of European chic.
What is it about kimono that you fell in love with? I love the way wearing a kimono feels. Since it limits your movements and makes you walk gracefully, you feel like a better version of yourself. It’s also like a piece of wearable art considering the time that artisans spend on dyeing, weaving, painting and sewing the kimono by hand. These kimono naturally cost a lot of money and have been passed down through generations, so it’s like wearing a treasure with a story. Aside from that, I love how wild kimono can be when combined in various patterns and colours.
Does your life in Tokyo revolve around kimono? Sometimes I get up really early to hunt in antique markets for exciting kimono for my online shop. I also style kimono outfits for events and photo shoots, and visit kimono events to explore the latest trends and learn about traditions. I write about all of this on my blog as well as sharing styling ideas on social media in the hope of inspiring more people to wear kimono. My Thursdays are pretty much dedicated to ‘wasai’ traditional kimono sewing. It’s fun but also hard work – it is crazy how much time goes into a carefully hand-sewn kimono.
What inspires you when styling kimono? My style often depends on my mood and the weather that day. Sometimes I feel like wearing something funky and colourful, sometimes I like it dark and cool. I love to look at Kimono Hime magazine and at kimono wearers around me. Studying old photographs from Japan as well as European fashion from the 1920s to 1990s gives me ideas to work with as well.
Are there rules and etiquette surrounding kimono? When wearing kimono you should walk in small steps and be graceful. It’s also important to know which kimono can be worn for which occasion. The pattern arrangement actually has a meaning and kimono have several categories. ‘Komon’ is an everyday kimono with an all-over pattern. The ‘Iromuji’ is a plain, single-colour kimono worn at slightly fancier occasions such as a tea ceremony or dinner. ‘Tsukesage’ is a plain kimono with patterns at the bottom and on one sleeve – these are great for events like weddings or parties. The ‘Houmongi’ is even more formal, with patterns flowing all over it from the sleeve over the back to the bottom. There are even more types, but these are the main ones. Of course, these days the rules don’t need to be as strict – my opinion is that if you know the rules you may as well bend them a little. I think it’s important to have fun wearing kimono!
.
To follow Salz’s kimono adventures, head over to Salz-tokyo.com.
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