Japanese schoolgirl kimono roomwear line expands with new color options for old-school comfort

Don’t know how to tie a kimono sash? No problem, because the clever design of these garments means you don’t have to.

While the modern Japanese schoolgirl uniform is usually either a sailor suit or blazer with skirt, that wasn’t always the case. During the Taisho period, which started in 1912, girls still wore traditional Japanese clothing to class, but a standard kimono would be impractical for commuting and sitting at a desk.

So schools settled on a combination of billowy hakama pants worn over the bottom half of the kimono robe. Though such uniforms are no longer in use by the Japanese educational system (except for at some graduation ceremonies), it remains a classic look that combines beautiful and cool styling cues, which is why it’s the inspiration for a line of retro roomwear.

Following an extremely successful crowdfunding campaign, manufacturer Mocolle released an initial batch of designs two years ago. Those proved to be popular enough that the company has come back with three new color combinations, shown here, which have just gone on sale.

All three versions feature an identical yagasuri pattern on the top, a traditional Japanese motif meant to resemble the feathers of an arrow. Oh, and don’t worry if you don’t know how to put on a kimono or tie the sash for a pair of hakama. While the roomwear sets look like separate robes with pants, they’re actually a one-piece construction that you slip over your head like a dress.

▼ Front, side, and rear views show off the flowing furisode-style kimono sleeves, a longtime favorite of fashionable young ladies.

The all-cotton Taisho schoolgirl sets, officially called Haikara-san Roomwear, are available in medium, large, or extra-large sizes here from novelty retailer Village Vanguard’s online store for 9,936 yen (US$90), and if you want to get even more traditional, Village Vanguard still has Mocolle’s Japanese shrine maiden roomwear in stock too.

Source: Village Vanguard via Japaaan
Top image: Village Vanguard
Insert images: Village Vanguard (1, 2)
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