A Journey Through Time: The Evolution of the Japanese Bride's Attire from Heian Period to Present Day, from Shiro-muku to Modern Dresses♡

2015.07.24 published

When it comes to bridal attire, it's the pure white wedding dress ♩

Many people probably think of a pure white wedding dress when they hear "wedding attire"♡

The bride's appearance in a pure white dress with a long veil and a romantic bouquet is indeed a girl's dream.

@nao_0111_0422

However, the history of wedding dresses is surprisingly short!

Did you know that the beloved wedding dress that girls dream of has only recently made its way to Japan?

Of course, white shiro-muku and colorful uchikake are known as traditional Japanese wedding attire, but when did the wedding dress actually become popular?

Let's study the history of Japanese wedding attire ♡

A must-see for brides-to-be preparing for their weddings ♡

The most cherished moment in a woman's life! Let's learn about the trends of 'wedding attire' for Japanese brides through the ages♩

@jammie_2525

[Era 1] Heian to Muromachi Periods * Shiro-muku *

Since the Heian period, white has been favored to represent purity and innocence, and pure white was selected for wedding attire.

It is said that white shiro-muku became the wedding attire from this era♩

@wakana522

A fresh and very fitting garment to express the traditional femininity of Japan＊

@aya_cocomi

[Era 2] Late Muromachi Period * Iro-uchikake *

During the late Muromachi period, formal attire from autumn to spring was the colorful uchikake.

It's the style of wearing a furisode with an uchikake over it♡

@love.181121

The colorful uchikake was originally seen as a lesser outfit compared to shiro-muku.

It gradually became popular among wealthy merchants and daughters of affluent households during the Edo period, and eventually became a common formal wedding garment.

@yuih_wd

[Era 3] Late Edo to Early Showa Period * Hiki-furisode *

The 'hiki-furisode' is a type of furisode with a long hem trailing behind.

Before the late Edo period, it was used as the formal wedding attire for samurai families, but during this time, it became widely adopted by the general public.

Today, it is common to wear it during the attire changing ceremony♩

The trailing of the hiki-furisode evokes the train of wedding dresses that began to gain popularity abroad during that period.

[Era 4] Meiji Period * The Arrival of Wedding Dresses! Isobe Ohei *

The times changed, and it was finally the Meiji period.

In 1873 (Meiji 6), a woman named Isobe Ohei is said to have worn the first wedding dress in Japan at her wedding to a Chinese man in Nagasaki!

Her appearance was sensational and quickly became the talk of the town.

(Unfortunately, it seems that no photographs remain…!)

Two years later, Moriyori of the Satsuma clan held the first Western-style wedding in Japan, where they exchanged contracts for marital equality.

This was a precursor to the modern-style ceremonies we see today.

However, at that time, there were no wedding dresses in Japan, and they had to be imported from overseas, which meant only a limited number of people could wear them.

[Era 5] Late Showa to Present * Wedding Dresses Become Standard ♡

Wedding dresses began to be worn in royal weddings as well. The image is from the wedding of Emperor Heisei in 1959.

Many women probably dreamed of wedding dresses after seeing the empress in that appearance.

The pure white wedding dress became widely popular between the 1960s and 1980s.

This is right in the era of mothers.

With a fascination for Western culture and the rapid Westernization of lifestyles, wedding dresses have now become the norm for wedding attire in Japan♡

@wd0819rip

The Birth of Wedding Dress Designers ♡

Since the 1960s, the same era when wedding dresses began to gain popularity, many wedding dress designers have emerged, enlivening the wedding dress scene in Japan.

Designers like Hazuko Endo, Yumi Katsura, and Kiyoko Hata, from those who have been active for over a hundred years to those still making waves today, thank you for supporting the world of Japanese wedding dresses and creating such beautiful dresses!♡

Learn the History and Become a Wise and Beautiful Bride ♡

From shiro-muku to wedding dresses.

We have studied the transition of trends in Japanese wedding attire♡

Whether wearing a wedding dress, shiro-muku, or iro-uchikake, it is essential to know the history and origins linked to that attire and wear it with pride♡

@191214_wd

Let's deepen our understanding of 'wedding attire', the most cherished outfit in a woman's life, and become an even more wonderful bride!♡

@haru_0611wd