On David Bowie and the Renewal of the Kimono

The Kimono is one of the most undervalued items of clothing in modern fashion. To me, it is the perfect the laid-back garment- relaxed in a dressing gown sort of way, but tasteful in its style. Wearing a Kimono outside the home proclaims bravery and a certain degree of outrageousness, but I'm not necessarily saying you should wear it around the streets everyday; the kimono is more for inside-the-home sort of fashion. Picture the look on your house-guest's faces when they see you skipping in to the kitchen to make herbal Japanese tea, in a striking black Kimono with a beautifully stitched dragon on your back, the hemline creeping slowly up your thigh... Rawr!
The Kimono is by no means an exclusively female phenomenon- its gown like nature gives it a strikingly unisex outline. There's a great little gem in Camden Horse Market which sells lovely kimonos for men and women at around £20 a piece, a very reasonable price for such a beautiful garment. Ofcourse your friends will say to you: 'why pay £20 for something you'll never wear?' but think of the possibilities for a moment- firstly, those friends are the sort that will probably 'chill' at home in tracksuits (aka the least inventive item of clothing ever, rarely seen in any shade other than boring grey) costing around £20, so why not wear a kimono at home instead, and look permanently stylish for the same price?! It's a no-brainer to me. Secondly, Japanese prints are among the most intricate and exciting prints the orient has to offer!

a classic Japanese floral design on a beautiful silky upper-body kimono

a modern twist- the Kimono jacket at Topshop for £50 (can find the genuine article at a much better price in Camden market!!)

Thirdly, and perhaps most importantly: David Bowie wore Kimonos. And not just any Kimonos- the most wonderful Kimonos, designed by Japanese avant-garde designer: Kansai Yamamoto, easily one of the most innovative and under-appreciated designers ever to have lived. At the time of Bowie's Ziggy Stardust tour (1972), few people in Britain even knew what a Kimono was. Yet it was difficult for them to ignore dazzling Japanese prints and Kimono inspired outfits like these:

I don't know what it means, but japanese writing is highly funky

Bowie's revolutionarybodysuit, lovingly crafted by Kansai Yamamoto.

       

another Kansai classic