How to tie and close a kimono

Closing a kimono takes just two steps: crossing the panels and tying the belt, yet this is where most outfits fall apart. The garment has no buttons or zippers: it stays closed only by how you wrap it around yourself. One panel pulled too short, a belt placed too low, and the front opens at the first step. Nothing difficult to learn, but a few practical guidelines to keep in mind. Here is the procedure, applicable to most models in our collection of kimonos.

How to close a kimono: crossing the panels, step by step

Put on the garment like a jacket and first place the shoulder seams in position, as everything else follows from this. Slightly loosen the collar at the nape by pulling the fabric back, then let the two panels fall freely in front of you. Take the panel that will go underneath, bring it across to the opposite hip, and hold it flat with one hand before pulling the other over it. Convention dictates that the left panel covers the right, and this rule applies equally to both women's and men's models. Two adjustments are now made, and never afterwards: the depth of the overlap, which must remain wide so that the front does not gape when walking, and the height of the V drawn by the collar on the chest. How to close a kimono properly depends on these few centimeters, much more than on the knot that follows. Compared to the high, deeply crossed closure of the models gathered in all the robes, it closes lower and leaves the collar clearly visible.

How to close a kimono with its belt, from a simple tie to an obi

Next comes the belt, the only piece that actually holds the whole thing together. On contemporary models, it is most often a matching fabric tie, sometimes accompanied by loops sewn into the side seams: thread it through, and it will not ride up during the day. Center it on the stomach, bring both ends around to the back, cross them, then return to the front. This double wrap holds much better than a single one and distributes the tension around the entire waist instead of concentrating it on one point. Tie it flat, avoiding placing the knot on a fold of fabric. Placement matters as much as the gesture: at the natural waist or just above, the closure remains stable; too low on the hips, it lets the panels pull apart with every step. How to close a kimono with a wide obi, on the other hand, involves a much more codified traditional dressing, which our Japanese-inspired pieces deliberately simplify, as told on the our story page.

How to close a kimono so that it stays closed all day

A successful knot in the morning says nothing about its condition three hours later. It remains to be seen how it will survive raised arms, sitting down, and coats put on over it.

How to close a satin kimono without it slipping

Smooth fabrics present a well-known problem: the knot loosens on its own. On a piece in satin, a fluid and shiny weave generally made of polyester or viscose, the surfaces slide over each other instead of locking. Three habits make a big difference. Always make two wraps with the belt instead of one, which multiplies the friction points. Double the knot, by passing the end through the loop a second time before tightening. Finally, offset the knot slightly to the side, where the fabric is flatter than on the front and where the knot stays better in place. How to close a kimono in a slippery material therefore depends less on pulling tight than on multiplying the grip.

How to close a kimono that loosens over time

A piece that opens is fixed from the top, never with the belt. Take the collar with both hands, gently pull it down and outward to lay the panels flat, smooth the fabric toward the hips, then tighten the tie. Pulling on the belt right away only bunches the fabric above and creates a crease across the back. A few reflexes space out the adjustments: gather the panels with one hand before sitting down, do not overload the pockets when the model has them, and check the cross after putting on a coat. How to close a kimono at the end of the day is thus a matter of adjustment rather than knotting. Moreover, nothing requires you to close it, and it can easily be worn open, with the belt left in its loops: a way of wearing it just as legitimate as the other. For a question about a specific model, you can write to us.

Conclusion

How to close a kimono ultimately comes down to three decisions: a cross deep enough so that the front does not open, a belt placed at the waist and not on the hips, a knot chosen according to the material you have in your hands. Everything else depends on the adjustment, and this adjustment always goes through the collar rather than the tie. Once these guidelines are acquired, the gesture becomes automatic and takes a few seconds, without a mirror. Above all, remember that how to close a kimono depends as much on the fabric as on the technique: a fluid fabric calls for two wraps and a double knot, whereas a more matte weave suffices with a simple tie. To put these gestures into practice, browse our collection of kimonos and find the cut and the belt that will suit you best.

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