In love with yukata 浴衣

According to Wikipedia, “A yukata (浴衣^?) is a Japanese garment,a casual summer kimono usually made of cotton. People wearing yukata are a common sight in Japan at fireworks displays, bon-odori festivals, and other summer events. The yukata is also frequently worn after bathing at traditional Japanese inns. Though their use is not limited to after-bath wear, yukata literally means bath(ing) clothes.”

As with kimono, the general rule with yukata is that younger people wear brighter colors and bolder patterns than older people. A child might wear a multicolored print and a young woman, a floral print, while an older woman would confine herself to a traditional dark blue with geometric patterns.

me in Kimono, in Kyoto Summer 2010

I tried wearing the kimono in Kyoto, during my last visit to Japan. It was a rather surreal and incredible experiencing being dressed up in the layers of fabric and walking around in the cold while wearing socks in clogs or otherwise known as geta. Because of this fun experience, I bought a yukata at the airport’s Uniqlo store without knowing when or where I can wear it in Singapore. It is in a pretty peach red with turquoise obi. If you are wondering how to wear a yukata like me, here is how.

Now that summer is in and I am reading about people’s experiences wearing the yukata, watching the hanami or celebrating Bon Odori festival, I am wondering when I am ever gonna wear my yukata.

Here are some pretty yukata on sale on the Japanese Uniqlo site