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We are often asked which kimono and obi are the best or most appropriate for a specific situation, such as a wedding or a formal reception.  Below is a quick reference we hope will prove helpful in answering that question.


Formality Occasion Kimono Type Obi Type
Ceremonial Wedding (Bride) Kakeshita (white wedding kimono), with either an uchikake (color) or a shiromuku (white) robe, for the ceremony and part of the reception. Bridal furisode for the remainer of the reception. White maru for the kakeshita; no obi is used with the uchikake or the shiromukuMaru or fukuro with the bridal furisode.
  Wedding (Everyone else) Kuro tomesode or iro tomesode for married women; kuro furisode or iro furisode for unmarried women. Maru, fukuro.
  Official functions when social status is emphasized Same as wedding. Same as wedding.
  Funeral All black mofuku. Black Nagoya.
Formal Reception, party. Iro tomesode for married women, iro furisode for unmarried women, crested iro muji, crested Edo komon, tsukesage homongi. Maru, Fukuro.
Visting Visiting, school entrance or graduation ceremony, party, large meeting, or gathering. Edo komon (without crests), tsukesage komon, iro muji (without crests), tie-dye komon, omeshi, tsumugi. Nagoya, Haraawase.
In Town Shopping, meeting friends, traveling. Komon, omeshi, tsumugi. Fukuro-Nagoya, Nagoya.
Everyday At home. Tsumugi, wool, yukata, cotton. Hitoe, Han Haba.

Formality Occasion Kimono Type Obi Type
Ceremonial Wedding (Groom) Kuro montsuki (black crested kimono), black haori (both with five family crests), hakama. Kuro kaku.
  Wedding (Everyone else) Black or colored unpatterned kimono, haori (both with a single crest), and hakama. Kaku.
  Official functions when social status is emphasized Same as wedding. Same as wedding.
  Funeral All black unpatterned kimono, haori, and hakama. Black kaku.
Formal Reception, party. Same as wedding. Kaku.
Visting Visiting, school entrance or graduation ceremony, party, large meeting, or gathering. Spun silk or wool kimono, haori, Kaku.
In Town Shopping, meeting friends, traveling. Same as visiting. Same as visiting.
Everyday At home. Yukata Kaku.