Tag Archives: hakama

Colors of Our Sleeves

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While the Heian times of Japan were glamorous, they maintained strict rules of dressing.  Your rank and status determined each garment’s fabric. In the winter garments were quilted, and in the summer, stiffened silk kept the clothing away from the body. So much  importance was given to the way people dressed, it could make or break your career and/or your reputation. Color combinations, set by the season or festivals, held a particularly important aspect of dressing. Colors were also restricted by rank.  For example only… Continue reading →

Golden Age (Heian) of Clothing

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The clothing in the Heian Age  (794-1185)  was nothing but magnificent. Only for the aristocrats, however.  In the higher upper echelons of Heian society, how you dressed was almost as as important as who you were. (Although if you were the Emperor or the Empress, you can get away with a few little mistakes, but not often.) So what was this clothing? It was layered, and each layer had a name. Let me give you a brief introduction. Some  women in earlier Heian times, wore… Continue reading →