Although by no means common, it's become sort of a recent trend with certain Japanese fashion brands to release "kimono-hybrids", or clothing combining the aesthetic appeal of a kimono with indoor comfort. Japanese eccentric bookstore and oddity shop Village Vanguard is no stranger to these, having recently released easy-to-wear kimono pajamas and even a schoolgirl uniform-kimono hybrid. Their latest offering, however, offers a combination of formal attire that results in a cool and casual mish-mash of East and West with a furisode dress shirt.

A furisode ("swinging sleeves") is a style of kimono characterized by long, draping sleeves. Usually made of brightly colored silk, the furisode is worn by many young women on their Coming of Age day, and has some cultural context of signifying that the wearer is single and available for marriage.

Source: PR Times

The Furisode Dress Shirt is essentially a dress shirt that features the furisode-style flowing sleeves, but the rest of the shirt appears to be loose fitting as well, as can be seen demonstrated by idol unit College member Haruna Sato, who models the hybrid dress.

Source: PR Times

The Furisode Dress Shirt is was originally designed in this sketch by popular illustrator Shun Akagi and brought to life by a Japanese crowdfunding effort. Akagi, who has interest in the designs of such fashions, says that while there are not a lot of opportunities for people to wear kimono in their daily life, it would be nice for people to have a casual outlet to enjoy it.

Source: PR Times

Here is a closeup of the design of the flowing sleeves, along with a scarf, modeled as a headband in the pictures above.

Source: PR Times

Source: PR Times

Village Vanguard is currently taking orders for an October shipment of the whole set priced at 12,500 yen. While Village Vanguard ships only domestically, the item may make its way to Amazon or other retailers as similar releases have in the past.


By - grape Japan editorial staff.