The Japanese's traditional clothing tells a lot about their society's way of life. See, these clothing were not only made for its general purpose but it also signifies the wearer's status. A great example of Japan's traditional clothing is the elegant women's kimono dress. Now, kimono dresses can either be considered casual or formal attire, depending on the occasion. However, it can be very difficult to put on as these heavily adorned dresses consists of at least 12 separate pieces that are matched and secured in specific ways. To wear it, one should seek the aid of a licensed kimono dresser to assist her in slipping into this elegant traditional dress.

There are many types of kimono that you can wear, depending on where you're going or what occasion you're attending. Since there are a lot of different kimonos that symbolize different situations, it is important to first have the knowledge and understanding of what the garment's symbolism is and what social message it conveys to guests. For instance, if you're going to attend a formal gathering, you must take into consideration the type, color of accessories, fabric and the number of the family crest you're going to wear on a kimono. This will tell a lot about your standing and, to a certain extent, introduce you to people without so much use of words.

Among the 9 different styles of kimono, there are about 5 styles which you can wear on different formal occasions - furisode, hMmongi, mofuku, tomesode and uchikake. The Japanese are very strict when it comes to dress codes in formal occasions. As such, wearing inappropriate attire may seem like an act of disrespect to the host and his/her family. Below is an explanation of the various formal attire ladies can only wear on specific formal affairs.

To start, the furisode are the most formal kimono an unmarried woman can wear. This kimono is entirely covered with different colorful patterns that give off a very feminine and elegant representation of a demure Japanese woman. A furisode is typically worn during debuts and by the unmarried female relatives of a bride during her wedding. The hMmongi, on the other hand, can be adorned by both married and unmarried women that are friends of the bride; although, it can be generally worn to any formal parties. They are characterized by beautiful patterns that flow over the shoulders, seams and the sleeves.

However, if you're going to attend ceremonies that involve mourning, then strictly wear a black silk kimono (mofuku) without any embellishments other than your family crests. This formal attire is customarily worn during the wake, funeral and cremation of the deceased by the family and other close relatives and friends.

In contrasts, during matrimonial events, a tomesode type of kimono can be worn only by married women. There are two types of a tomesode kimono - irotomesode and kurotomesode. The difference between them is that the irotomesode is a monotone-colored kimono having various patterns only below the waistline. They are traditionally worn by close relatives of the bride and groom. The kurotomesode, on the other hand, is the most formal kimono worn by the mothers of the bride and groom. It is a black kimono with the pattern shown only below the waistline.

Lastly, the uchikake is the most formal kimono specifically worn by brides or stage performers. They are heavily decorated with intricate designs meant to be worn outside of the actual kimono. The uchikake is intended to trail along the floor thus it has pads along the hemline.

These special occasion dresses are very beautiful to wear, especially among the Japanese women. However, you don't need to go to Japan to wear one of these garments. There are many Japanese stores worldwide wherein you can find these formal clothing at a cheap price. This way, you too can experience wearing elegant traditional Asian clothes without going halfway around the globe.