Kimono Knowledge: Tsukesage vs. Houmongi

The different types of kimono are usually a comfortable distance away from each other in terms of appearance: yukata are clearly different from houmongi, furisode are clearly different from kurotomesode and so on. Two, however, are very close in how they look: houmongi and tsukesage.

Both feature plain backgrounds with medium or large designs across the hem plus more up on the top half of the kimono. However, houmongi designs flow across the seams uninterrupted, while tsukesage usually feature contained images that sit inside the seams. Houmongi are a little higher in formality as well. The categories aren't set in stone and you'll sometimes see hybrids of the two, but here are some classic examples of each:

Tsukesage: 付け下げ

Houmongi: 訪問着

Images copyright Ichiroya and used with permission.