As you may know, "furi" means "long" and "sode" (pronounced so-day, since all of the syllables in Japanese are pronounced)means sleeve, so furisode literally means long-sleeved kimono. But a furisode itself says so much more!

Reserved for young unmarried women, this style of kimono is always elegant and has an air of allure and promise. These days, you'll still find young women wearing these on Adult's Day (also called Coming of Age Day, January 9th.) I have heard that the sleeves are sometimes ereferred to as "butterfly sleeves", which can be waved slowly, like a butterfly might do to attract a mate. As with any kimono, one can discern so much about the wearer and the event by the color, patterning and imagery in the design. Cranes or treasure cart wheels suggest the kimono was created for a wedding reception. Overall florals could be any season, butterflies are more often seen in summer, and bamboo and plum blossoms suggest the coming of spring.

Color may indicate season - these seem quite Autumn to me:


These, perhaps, for Winter:


And these, for Spring?


Do these seem summer-like to you?


Now here's a "test" for you....do you see the difference between the contemporary designs shown above and these two below?


What differences do you see? Notice the red lining that peeks out at the sleeve edge and collar to attract the eye to "the unseen beauty" and, with red, also to suggest something alluring. The patterning is also so subtle - only at the hemline and, on the black one, just a touch on the bottom of the sleeves. Understated and so elegant. These are likely from the 1920's (Taisho Period), long before women were so bold as to wear the brightest of colors and patterns. Notice the crests on these last two but missing from modern versions perhaps because they would not be seen with all the elaborate patterning! Think of a woman your grandmother's age, coming of age, in Japan in the 1920's.....