1.How do I wear kimono?

There are many rules to wear kimono in a traditional way. For example, married women should wear shorter sleeve kimono, or some kimono should have obi with appropriate bows.

To wear a kimono in a complietely traditional way, here are the list of what you will need(for women's kimono attire):

1. Hadajuban---Undershirt
2. Susoyoke--Half slip
3. Nagajuban(Juban)--Full-length under kimono
4. Han eri--Half collar
5. Eri shin--Half-collar lining
6. Datejime--Under sash
7. Koshi himo--Sash
8. Obi
9. Obi ita--Obi stay
10. Obi makura--Obi-pad
11. Obiage--Bustle sash
12. Obijime--Obi cord
13. Tabi--Split-toed socks
14. Zori--Sandals

Please do not go away ! This is the traditional way but may be 70% of Japanese women do not know what to do, even if these things are placed in front of them.
Of course it is ideal to have all the items IF you would like to try the traditonal style. Actually there are kimono dressing classes and people have to learn how to wear kimono and tie obi in order to be able to wear kimono(formal) properly. Brides needs to be dressed by a couple of professionals at the wedding and many cases the guests need them, too unless the relatives or the friends know how to do it.

However, recently there are many `convenient' products which makes us easy to wear kimono. For example, `easy collar' or `pre-tied obi'. Using these helpful things, we can wear kimono with much ease. Also, there are there are many people who enjoy kimono with their own way in Japan. Some people wear their grand mothers' kimono (or even older kimono) with their own style. They are revaluating the unique designs and high-quality textiles and inventing their own way to enjoy kimono in many occasions.
Rules exist but at the same time, it is very happy to see more people enjoy wearing kimono, especially `old' kimono today.
Would you like to enjoy kimono? The least thing you will need is kimono & obi! (If you have a nice sash belt, obi won't be needed, maybe).
You can add other things if you like. To prevent the kimono from sweat, collar and juban are preferable. We have seen so many wonderful way of kimono wearing through our customers and we are so impressed and very very happy to see them. Each person looks great and beautiful in kimono and it was the most precious discovery for us through this site.
We hope you will visit `Enjoy KimonoPhoto Album' http://www.ichiroya.com/~webichiroya/enjoyphotoalbum/photoalbum.htm
You will see wonderful kimono style and will want to wear kimono right away!

*We have made and are selling origainal DVD 'Kimono Dressing with Yuka. You can lear how to dress yukata and kimono formally with this DVD. Please check the detail information here. Here is the sample movie of yukata part.

2. How does a sizing work?

The items we offer in our shop is mostly one-of-a-kind.
Kimono is basically a plain-patterned garment which is worn by laying right and left section one on top of another in front. Also kimono is typically folded over at the waist to adjust the wearer's height. Therefore most of the kimono and furisode will fit woman between sizes 4-14. Haori is not meant to close in front, so you can consider haori as free size. Sleeves tend to be short by Western standards, but even for Japanese, sleeves are often short. Kimono are made for Japanese figure, and antique kimono are obviously smaller. I've seen antique uchikake, the ornate bride's costume, exhibited and was surprised to see how tiny it was.
If kimono is worn as a house coat for your relaxing time, or a coat worn over a dress or pants, most of them can be used by anyone.

3. How do I clean my kimono and obi?

For each kimono's textile is quite different, using variety of techniques as handpaintings, tye-dyeing, embroidering and brocade. there is no standard method of washing. In addtion, some vintage fabric is not strong enough for the machine wahing.
I try hand washing by just soaking the item alone in cleaning water and pressing it gently. Spin dry lightly and dry it by hanging at the place with no direct sunlight or in thelow heat dryer. When ironing is needed, there should be a thin fabric before iron. Some work perfectly, but some wrinkle terribly, so I don't recommend it. To get a professional help on cleaning may be the best idea.
Obi is not made to wash.