Get Dressed Properly!
Since the publication of Liza Dalby's work on the Kimono in 1993, much has been written about the clothing of Japan. But for women who wear reproductions of Japanese clothing at historical reenactments and Japanese cultural events, this body of knowledge is lacking one essential piece — a simple guide on how to get dressed. What pieces are essential to be dressed properly? What garments can be omitted for reasons of comfort without compromising the accuracy of the outfit? Where is the line between costume and clothing?
Reconstructing History’s Heian Japanese Noblewoman's Getting Dressed Guide is meant to fill that void.
This 53-page downloadable guide, written by clothing historian Kass McGann and backed by nearly 30 years of research, will tell you everything you need to know to dress historically accurately as an Heian Japanese Noblewoman from 794 through 1185 Kyoto.
The Getting Dressed Guides are not intended to be books of all knowledge. In these pages you will not find debates about the construction of uchigi or an extensive list of silks weaves available in 10th century Heian-kyo. You will simply find a list of garments commonly worn by upper class Japanese courtiers in the 8th through 12th centuries and the manner in which they were worn. General fabric types, notes on hair and makeup, and other pertinent information is included, but more detail than this is outside the scope of this Guide. In other words, the Getting Dressed Guides are guides to teach you how to get dressed for this period and location.
If you find a garment listed in a Getting Dressed Guide, you can be sure it was worn in the period covered. If you do not find a garment listed in these pages, that only means it was not common enough for us to include.