Ah, 2014, the rebirth of the adored and well purchased kimonos.

Thin and floaty, lined with tassels and offering the perfect “average June temperature” cover up, last year was well and truly the year of the year of the kimono. Anyone who was anyone adorned their shoulders with the latest fashion accessory and a traditional Japanese garment was given a style revival thanks to the high street.

Kimono (simply translated as “thing to wear”) have been around for years in their native country of Japan with the traditional garment being a full length robe of intricate detailing.  The kimono has been re imagined somewhat for Western fashion folk and this key wardrobe staple has now offered a much more glamorous and throw over and layering alternative to a good old slouchy cardigan.

It seems that much to my bingo wing’d delight, the kimono will be staying put in in fashions summer line up with many high street stores offering an abundance of variety from tie dye to neon, velvet to pastel and the much more delicate embroidered and lace options that add a little bit of oriental or boho chic to any outfit.  I find that kimono’s are incredibly versatile and work well to layer with almost any outfit (I once threw one of mine over my mismatching pyjamas for a little bit of warmth, sexy).

Pair with a camisole top and your favourite jeans, over a summer maxi dress for a light cover up or pair with a distressed pair of denim cut offs and some gladiator sandals and a pair of aviators for some serious boho vibes.  May aswell chuck on a flower crown with that outfit and a fringed bag.

A word of warning though, no matter what anybody tries to tell you, kimonos are not the best festival fashion “attire”.  A hem full of tassels, dodgy and stinking portaloos… you know where I’m going with this story.  The last thing you want when you’re dancing around in a field to your favourite band with damp tassels.  Or even worse.

The kimono worn in the photograph above is vintage New Look (from last year, LOLZ) and is taken from a Parisian Collection they had in store which featured some really intricate lace detailed kimonos that although were a little pricier than the normal New Look lines were so incredibly beautiful.  This lace number is beautiful to wear in the summer as the sun shines through the fabric and the extra long tassels mean that when you spin in it (its impossible NOT to spin in a tassel’d kimono) you’ll feel like Misty in American Horror Story in her ode to Stevie Nicks.