Fashion in early 20th century Japan

**Passion for Fashion: The Evolution of Fashion in Meiji Japan; 1900-1920** Japanese fashion was based around the basic kimono for centuries. According to Annie Van Asche, <p>“The essential structure of the kimono has changed only slightly in its 800 year-old history. Two straight panels approximately 14 inches wide and slightly more than twice the height of an individual in length; make up the kimono body. The sleeves are made of two panels attached to each of the outer edges. Add two half-width panels to the front edges and a long collar and you have a complete kimono. It is wrapped in front, left over right, and held together by a sash at the waist. It is economical from the standpoint that there is little waste from cutting. While its basic structure has remained constant throughout history, designs applied to the surface of the kimono have acted as indicator of change and carrier of code (gender, age, social class, rural/urban, etc.)”</p> <img src="http://www.virtualmuseum.ca/media/edu/EN/uploads/image/LO5DA215179.jpg" width="500" height="300" alt="Two foxes"> This description of the basic kimono as it was known for eight centuries serves as an indication of how revolutionary it was for the drastic and rapid change in fashion at the turn of the twentieth century, when the Meiji Restoration started. From the traditional Kimono to the adopted look of the dandy man, style conveyed messages about people, showing class, political views and understanding of culture.Choose a century for more information: [[Meiji Era Fashion]] [[Taisho Era Fashion]] Or, take a look at our sources: [[Bibliography]]

The Meiji era’s availability of silk to all social classes was an important development to traditional fashion among women. Furthermore, Meiji era fashion was characterized by a combination of traditional culture, the kimono, and Western accessories such as outerwear, hats, and shoes, providing an example of how the Meiji Restoration allowed for Western modernization with a Japanese twist. Choose a gender for more information: [[Men's fashion in Meiji Japan]] [[Women's fashion in Meiji Japan]]

Talk about it. Choose a gender for more information: [[Men's fashion in Taisho Era]] [[Women's fashion in Taisho Era]]

Van Asche, Annie, "JAPANESE KIMONO FASHION OF THE EARLY TWENTIETH CENTURY" (2000). Textile Society of America Symposium Proceedings. 799. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/tsaconf/799 Fukatsu-Fukuoka, Yuko, "The Evolution of Yuzen-dyeing Techniques and Designs after the Meiji Restoration" (2004). Textile Society of America Symposium Proceedings. 475. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/tsaconf/475 Mansfield, Stephen. “Reading kimono: the lexicon of dress.” The Japan Times, The Japan Times, 21 May 2016, www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2016/05/21/books/book-reviews/reading-kimono-lexicon-dress/#.Whsk6bQ-fdc. [[Click here for image citations]]

Talk about it. Choose a class for more information: [[Upper class men in Meiji era Japan]] [[Lower class men in Meiji era Japan]]

Women: The traditional Kimono <img src="https://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/p22-mansfield-kimono-a-20160522-870x603.png" width="500" height="300" alt="Two foxes"> Japanese for men and women centered around the basic kimono for about 800 years. The physical structure and cut was not altered much during the Meiji era; instead, the kimono’s colors, patterns, and material were the most drastically changed aspect of Japanese fashion in the early twentieth century. Choose a class for more information: [[Upper class Women in Meiji Japan]] [[Lower class Women in Meiji Japan]]

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After the Meiji period, fashion became much more androgynous. Gender norms seemed to switch. Young men had long hair and sported " roido (from Harold Lloyd) glasses, bell-bottom trousers, colored shirts and floppy ties. " (Buruma, 66). Fashionable young men were called mobos. These new styles were adopted from Western fashions. The European men who sported these styles were called dandies. <img src="http://www.oldtokyo.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/ginza-hipsters.jpg" width="500" height="300" alt="Two foxes"> Adopting western styles would show the world that Japan was no longer isolationist and ignorant, but instead that they had an understanding of the world and were civilized and progressive. Choose a class for more information: [[Upper class men in Taisho Era Japan]] [[Lower class men in Taisho Era Japan]]

Talk about it. Choose a class for more information: [[Upper class women in Taisho Era Japan]] [[Lower class women fashion in Taisho Era Japan]]

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Chikanobu, Hashimoto. “Women in the Changing Fashions.” Virtualmuseum, 1890, http://www.virtualmuseum.ca/edu/ViewLoitDa.do?method=preview&lang=EN&id=12943.