Do gaijin look good in a "Kimono"?

[anjusan]

@ b|ue ash - take a look at some of the pics of people on this thread and give us your opinion... I am sure you would look nice in a kimono! It just takes a bit of confidence IMHO. When I go to Japan... I hope I can rent a nice kimono and do it up with a wig and make-up just like Shirley MacLaine in that movie 'My Geisha'... then I would have a nice picture taken...

@ deadhippo - thank you. ^_^

 

[kooo]

I've worn a yukata and looked quite nice. A kimono might look nice on me, but it doesn't really suit me. If you want me to be blunt I've found that most foreign women look nice in traditional Japanese clothes with foreign men more often look out of place.

 

[ricecake]

For females,I think Japanese Kimono is better fit for " petite " women regardless of ethnicity.

 

[Nuala]

Why yes, I do believe the kimono can be worn by gaijin and still look good. However, I'm not sure about myself. I'm 6'4, and I have the build of an american football linebacker.

 

[KittKatt]

I voted the fifth one, though I'm not sure. I've never seen a gaijin in a kimono.

 

[kellymich]

I decided not to respond to this thread at first, as I was undecided. After some time spent considering the different aspects of wearing kimono, I would say that I do not believe a Westerner (by complexion, build, and facial features) can look good in a kimono. Man or woman. Just like any other item of clothing, some people are better suited to them than others - there's no guarantee that every Asian, or more specifically every Japanese person, looks good in a kimono.
While a range of colours and designs are available, I simply cannot visualise a Westerner - as defined above - looking good in a kimono. Firstly, their complexion is often too pale - even with a white kimono and especially those of darker colours. Then their chest is often of greater depth (?) than the average Asian person, which affects the proportions of the kimono and thus the overall aesthetics. And finally, facial features. The facial characteristics of Westerners just don't seem to blend well with kimono, although a trim beard often appears to help - most likely because it reduces the amount of pale flesh exposed.
I'm a strong believer in doing what one wants to do, but at the same time, if you know something *really* doesn't suit you, don't you think you should try to avoid wearing it? I have yet to see a Westerner who truly suits kimono and have reached these conclusions as a result, but please feel free to prove me wrong.

I dunno ... I think rudel looks rather dashing.

I'm sure he doesn't wear it to the office though.

 

[Riyko]

I think that anyone can look good in a Kimono. I've seen a few japanese and non japanese people wearing Kimono's. I used to wear one around from time to time, but it was too tight and heavy so now i wear my yukata from time to time and I admit i get some weird looks from people because of how i'm dressed, but alot of people will come up to me and ask me questions about the yukata. I go to the Odon celebration that is held in Odgen every year dressed in my yukata and I haven't once heard a bad thing about me wearing it, they like it when foreigners dress up in the traditional japanese clothes.

 

[MrWabu]

An obaasan said I looked good in a yukata so I vote Yes.

 

[-Rudel-]

I dunno ... I think rudel looks rather dashing.
I'm sure he doesn't wear it to the office though.

haha. Thanks.

I dont think I could wear this to work everyday. It's to white and I wouldn't want it to get dirty.

Good thing it was only a wedding picture

 

[Live91]

Well, I haven't seen many gaijin wearing kimonos where I traveled or on TV or in magazine so I wouldn't really know but I guess that having the "right" kind of body for the clothes would help? A lot of people say that "petite" women look good in kimonos but I was just wondering if the frame mattered? You know? Small,medium,large?

 

[-Rudel-]

Depends what your prefrences are for "looking good"

Do you like Small, Medium or Large?

 

[Thunderthief]

I would say no in general, dressing like that is Japanese culture and it really doesn't really fit non-Japanese. On average americans are larger, and the clothes don't fit very well.

When I went to Japan I had trouble getting normal clothes in my size, the majority of stores didn't carry it.

 

[Live91]

Depends what your prefrences are for "looking good"
Do you like Small, Medium or Large?

I like medium^^, but I'm large framed. ( I hope everyone understands what I mean by that o.o: I have a dense/large bone mass so I have some trouble finding clothes in casual stores and I can't really do anything about it you know... )

 

[Goldiegirl]

I think it just depends on the persons looks in general. I saw a wedding with an American girl in a Kimono and she looked really nice, but, she was very petite so it seemed to fit her well. Then there was another wedding with a western women (I didn't know her nationality) and she looked beautiful as she was a bride, but the kimono made her look really big to me. She was big (not fat...just tall and large framed) so it just looked like she was carrying around a lot of fabric. I think though, that you should wear what ya like and who cares what anyone else says...

 

[-Rudel-]

Actually, if she was wearing a proper Kimono, she was wearing a lot of fabric around her body.

 

[Nana007]

While I look Kimono I prefer Saris, as Kimono does not look good on me. I have a Yukata, and it looks a bit...strange. But a Sari works for all women.

 

[Goldiegirl]

Oh, I know that the kimono IS a lot of fabric...the point was the larger the person the more fabric is used and therefore you look even bigger. Both brides were beautiful, just that to my eyes being a little smaller made the kimono look less overpowering.

 

[japantvhost]

If they are good lookin, then they will look good in one. Duh?!

 

[MoBay]

He looks absolutely rediculous!!!!!!!

 

[blue_rebel]

I don't see why gaijin shouldn't look good in a kimono. It's because we associate kimono and other traditional Asian clothing (jinbei, samfu, sarees, baju kebaya, etc) with Asians with Asian features, and understandably so, that a non-Asian wearing any of said clothing is an unnatural (and not very nice? not necessarily) sight.

 

[Broken Rose Ren]

It depends on who's wearing kimono. I think gaijin can look good in it, I've seen a girl who was in Japan with her man (who's Japanese) and she looks so great in a kimono. So yes, it's possible.

 

[taeter_tot]

Any woman can look gorgeous in Japanese kimono as long as she's taught how to dress it properly and walking etiquette.

 

[212809]

Don't they look cute?

That's really nice.

 

[Dark Gami]

I look good while wearing hakama and I think the miko costume would look good on me as well. I can't wait for the chance to put that on!

 

[yukio_michael]

They look okay in those yukata/pajamas you get at hotels... But I think they sort of look like a Valley Girl wearing a sombrero... A bit odd, and out of their element... that or overzealous Japanophiles...