lifestyle

Kimono with sneakers? Why not, says Osaka fashion retailer

35 Comments
By Casey Baseel, RocketNews24

In general, kimono are worn with traditional Japanese sandals, called either zori or geta. The former has a flat sole and the latter’s is raised, but in either case their classic design adds a traditional air, as does the distinctive clicking and clacking they lend to the wearer’s footsteps.

But while zori and geta both look and sound nice, many women would argue they don’t feel very good. Made of flat planes of wood, zori and geta have neither cushioning nor arch support, though they will provide you with a couple of nice blisters if you’re not used to walking in them.

Your feet don’t have to suffer for your love of traditional Japanese fashion any longer, though. At least not according to Boston Club, a shoe shop from Osaka that’s pushing the idea of wearing sneakers with kimono.

Similar to the avant–garde designers looking to give a place to old-school Japanese attire in the modern world, Boston Club sees nothing wrong with pairing a kimono with some contemporary kicks.

Sneakers not your thing? No problem, because Boston Club thinks stepping out in a kimono and boots is an equally fetching choice.

Strict traditionalists might harrumph and mutter “Pshaw,” but this certainly looks warmer than a pair of zori and socks if you’re wearing a kimono for your New Year’s day shrine visit.

Related: Boston Club Source: Japaaan

Read more stories from RocketNews24. -- Gorgeous acrylic men’s geta are more artwork than they are footwear -- Kimono artisans hope to revive dying industry by taking kimono to New York Fashion Week -- Japanese fashion company’s modernized haori half coats will keep you warm and samurai chic

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35 Comments
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Boots I can go with but sneakers are a lousy choice. I will stick with my geta.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Boots would be cute but ditch the sneakers. Silly

0 ( +4 / -4 )

tsk. You can wear whatever the hell you want with whatever footwear you choose! Of course sneakers will be more comfortable for a full day out at the festival! A nice pair of Converse, just the ticket! There is no reason whatsoever to be uncomfortable and wreck your feet. Whatever you wear, someone will have something negative to say, but really, what business is it of theirs? Your body, your style, your choice!

7 ( +12 / -5 )

that's too bad, the sneakers lower the class level 10000 %

-1 ( +7 / -8 )

Can't they make geta with conforming insoles and cushioning outsoles?

7 ( +9 / -2 )

@turbotstat - Yes. They're called shoes.

Geta are a block of wood with strings to keep your feet attached to them. There is no way to make them comfortable for a length of time.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

What is the girl in the third photo supposed to be smoking?

A very elegant kiseru, I think.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

catnip?

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Maria: @turbotstat - Yes. They're called shoes. Geta are a block of wood with strings to keep your feet attached to them. There is no way to make them comfortable for a length of time.

Then comfortable soles with strings made to look like geta. They don't have to be made with blocks of wood as long as they look authentic from above.

Where are all those JT-posting entrepreneurs? ....

1 ( +3 / -2 )

reminds me of the difference between boys in suits wearing sneakers versus men in suits wearing classy dress shoes. Both shoes are comfortable but one is holding on not growing up.

Someone in kimono I want to take seriously. Geta may not survive for comfort but dressing down when you're dressing up doesn't work for me. I don't see why there can't be a Japanese shoe that is suitable versus using an American one.

Japan has done this with construction Tabi boots. Taking a traditional design and updating it to modern needs. Looks like the Geta needs the same help.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Oh dear

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Ah, kimono and sneakers, two of my favourite things together! Fine with me.

-2 ( +4 / -6 )

Flip Flops for me.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Just no.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

If that goes I get married in at taxedo with beach sandals or crocs.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

I think it looks great.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

A very elegant kiseru, I think. nothing elegant about smoking, rots your lungs, makes your teeth yellow, breath clothes stink, skin age prematurely. and the majority of smoker will die from the habit either through cancer or related conditions

1 ( +4 / -3 )

The sound Geta makes is one of its good attributes. It would be much better if they make Geta more modern and easy to wear. Sneakers? Too casual for Kimono.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Here is a great business opportunity for a Zori manufactures, why don't you make a Zori that fits the sole of a persons foot for comfort, and has a sponge/rubber sole to make them quieter, this would be a win win situation, people could stick with tradition and be comfortable.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

It's a ring around her index finger... she isn't smoking

1 ( +1 / -0 )

It's a ring around her index finger... she isn't smoking

Hell of a ring, if that's the case.

But I suspect you were looking at the wrong picture.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

A nice pair of Converse, just the ticket!

Vastly overpriced. Uncomfortable, fast wearing.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

I think perhaps kimono are a sort of mild bondage wear, designed to constrain the mobility of the wearer, wrapped up, bound, so as force them to walk in little steps, so that they look weak or Edo-proto-cute, as heels, tight skirts and platform shoes do in later ages, so there may an extent to which sneakers go against kimono grain. But there are shades of everything and kimono are beautiful also for their colours, so kimono coloured hakama (J-culottes) might also be a good idea.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Kimono & sneakers, eh? I prefer short skirts & boots...

0 ( +2 / -2 )

As if that mattered. Fashion is not about beauty and beauty 'standards' are long gone. Welcome to the present.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Can't they make geta with conforming insoles and cushioning outsoles?

"Back in the day" they were called "Earth Sandals" and were carved out of wood to form-fit the typical foot. People with fallen arches found them painful to wear but people with "normal" arches found them comfortable. Looks like they don't do the wood carving any more. The only sandal they sell now looks to be synthetic in manufacture. http://www.earthbrands.com/kalsoearthshoe?gender=women&category=sandals

0 ( +0 / -0 )

People are getting downvoted for voicing their opinions. Real classy, JT commenters.

Oh, and kimonos and a nice pair of sneakers do look cool, and are comfortable. That's two good reasons to wear sneakers instead of the traditional wooden flip flops. Why is being different looked down upon?

2 ( +4 / -2 )

My wife carries her geta to where she's going & then changes into them. i'm sure many women do this& for the few hours wearing them is no big deal Sneakers? No Way !

1 ( +1 / -0 )

If they like it, so be it. Not up to us to say what they should or shouldn't wear.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

I actually think it's cool. I like the whole bringing the past into the future in fashion. But of course, fashion is a very personal and subjective thing, people should wear what they want.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

i wear crocs with yukata a LOT.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

The lowest level of the Japanese culture, the lowest level of the Japanese mind, and the lowest level of the Japanese beauty. アメリカの影響がここまで来たかー! 情けない、落ちぶれた日本の文化と心! The lost mind of the inside and outside of the Japanese!

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Be the wild card - wear what you want and scr*w what anybody thinks. And tell them so if they open their yap.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

As for me those sneakers look a little bit silly with a kimono. It would be okay if she wore them( I mean sneakers) with a dress or with a skirt, but not with kimono or another variant could be if she wore kimono with white sneakers like these http://www.kswiss.com/collections/belmont-03323-182-m, it would look definitely better

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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