Q&A for How to Dress in a Kimono

As long as you're wearing it specifically for the cultural festival (where I presume other people will be dressing up in the native dresses of other cultures as well), it should be fine. You're just showing your appreciation. If anybody bothers you about it, just ignore them.

You can if it makes you more comfortable. Normally, you would wear sandals with a kimono.

No. Kimonos don't have pockets, but carrying small purses is commonly a substitute.

You can't tie a kimono for women without two kishihimo, and you absolutely need an obi for all kimono.

Kimonos are only wrapped on the right for the dead. This is considered extremely bad luck to do so, and you'll look as if you are supposed to be dead.

Untie the obi belt first (if you are wearing one). Untie the tie around your bust and then the one around your waist. The kimono should come off easily after that.

Yes. This is the very way to dress in a yukata. You'll need more steps to dress in other kinds of kimono.

Traditionally, a kimono is worn over what's called a "hadajuban" and a "koshimaki" so you're not nude beneath it. You also aren't supposed to wear underwear, if you're going the full traditional route. However, nowadays, most women wear underwear and pretty much whatever they want underneath their kimono. If it's the summertime, you may want to wear a single layer of form-fitting clothes so you can't see through your kimono. In the winter, you can you can put on a wrap called a juban that is made of cotton or a sweater to add an extra layer that will help keep you warm. It's also common for women to wear a slip dress or even a pair of jeans beneath their kimono. Really, it's all about what makes you feel comfortable.

There are a few minor but key differences between a kimono and a yukata. A kimono has a soft, full-width collar and is made out of a softer material generally. A yukata, by contrast, has a half-width collar that is much stiffer. In fact, a yukata is generally much more stiff because of the material used to make it. A kimono also often has at least 2 collars, with one close to the neck and another just below the juban collar. But a yukata always only has 1 collar because a juban collar isn't worn below it. Though they can look similar from an outside point of view, these differences are actually pretty striking, especially if you're used to wearing them.

It depends on the dress code and the culture of the wedding. If it's a traditional Japanese wedding, then yes, you definitely want to wear a kimono. Even if you aren't Japanese, wearing a kimono is respectful. In fact, if you're an unmarried woman, you may want to wear a brightly colored kimono. If the wedding isn't Japanese, you can wear a kimono as a formal outfit. Just make sure it fits the dress code! For instance, if it's a black-tie formal wedding, then you definitely don't want to wear a kimono. It could come off as an insult.

You follow the same steps but with two separate pieces. Put on the bottom part first and secure it then put on the top and continue as you would for any other kimono.

As long as you respect the culture and wear it properly, you will be fine. There are videos on the Internet of people who are not Japanese wearing kimonos and yukatas.