Tag Archives: Kimono Exhibition

Kimono Exhibition, V&A Dundee – part 3

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This is the last of the Kimono Exhibition photos that I took last week at the V&A Dundee.

Kimonos have been used by film costume designers, such as the one Alec Guinness wore in Star Wars. These are by various modern designers.

Kimono Exhibition, V&A, Dundee

 

Kimono Exhibition, V&A, Dundee

The white/cream kimono in the photo below is a bridal kimono. The bride starts out the day in this colour and by the time the ceremony is performed she is in a red kimono like the one in the photo.

Kimono , V&A Dundee, Japanese

The kimonos below are by fashion designers who have updated the traditional kimono designs. Kimonos have been used for stage wear by musicians. David Bowie famously wore what was regarded as a kimono but was really more akin to a Chinese tunic I think.

Kimono , V&A Dundee, exhibition

Kimono, V&A Dundee, Japanese

Lastly the kimono in the photo below was a gift to a member of British royalty in the 1960s.

V&A Dundee, exhibition, Kimono, Japanese

Kimono , V&A Dundee, exhibition, Japanese

I doubt if this was ever worn by royalty but the one below was. Rock royalty anyway. It belonged to Freddie Mercury. He was fond of kimonos for stage and party wear.

Kimono worn by Freddie Mercury

Kimono Exhibition at the V&A Dundee – part 2

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Back to the V&A Dundee  Kimono Exhibition and as you can see from the two photos below they also had some kimonos being shown on models so that you could see how they would have been worn back in the day.

Kimono Exhibition , V&A, Dundee

You can see the roll of padding at the hemline which would have weighted the fabric down and make it hang better. Sadly it wasn’t possible to avoid reflections.

Kimono , Exhibition, V&A, Dundee

Kimonos were still popular in Japan in the 1930s, the kimono below from 1930 has a very modern design.

Japanese, KimKimono Exhibition, V&A Dundee,

They are a lot gaudier than the traditional kimonos, the one in the middle below definitely has a Charles Rennie Mackintosh Glasgow Rose vibe about it.

Japanese ,Kimono Exhibition, V&A, Dundee

In the 1930s  things were getting more European in design. The small kimono for a young boy features an aeroplane which says kamikaze on it.

Japanese, Kimono Exhibition, V&A, Dundee

As you can see from the designs on the kimonos below dating from 1938 the Japanese had their minds firmly set on getting ready for war with warships and aeroplanes popular motifs on kimonos.

Japanese Kimono , V&A, Dundee

Kimono info, V&A Dundee, exhibition

There might be a part three to this Kimono Exhibition as I took quite a few photos of the contemporary kimonos which have been designed by well known fashion designers more recently. But that’s enough for now.