It was in April 2011 when Vogue hailed the Kimono the new Spring Jacket as they fell for the kimono’s liquid-silk allure. This might have been, erm, years ago but sometimes things bob around being micro-trends, before, well Zara makes an epic one and BOOM – everywhere! And as we know from the Devil Wears Prada (which I talked about in Image – Fake It Till You Make It) the fashion chain can take a while to reach the streets in the iconic cerulean jumper scene. Read on!

“You think this has nothing to do with you? You go to your closet and you select, oh, I don’t know, that lumpy blue sweater because you’re trying to tell the world that you take yourself too seriously to care what you put on your back. But what you don’t know is that sweater isn’t just blue; it’s not turquoise, it’s not lapis, it’s actually cerulean. You’re also blithely unaware that in 2002 Oscar de La Renta did a collection of cerulean gowns, and then it was Yves Saint Laurent who showed cerulean military jackets. And then cerulean showed up in the collection of six different designers. And then it filtered down into the department stores and trickled on down into some tragic, casual corner where you no doubt fished it out of a clearance bin. However — that blue represents millions of dollars and countless jobs and it’s sort of comical that you think you’ve made a choice that exempts you from the fashion industry when in fact, you’re wearing a sweater that was selected for you, by people in this room. From a pile of stuff.” 

Miranda Priestley, Devil Wears Prada.

On the flip side, sometimes street style influences high fashion but hey ho, I digress. I spotted this Kimono from Zara two months ago and fell completely in love. I mean, I have never desired a Kimono before – like, what do you wear with it? Does it just look like pyjamas? Can you wear a coat over the top? So many questions. I’ve worn it A LOT. Always with jeans as a skinny, like these Sidney Cropped Jeans from DONNA IDA, balances out the shape and usually with a white top as it is such a statement piece. It is perfect at the moment when it is humid and mild, and when it has been cooler I’ve layered it with a thin cardigan (wearing the Kimono as a coat) or with my Stella McCartney Harry-Potter-esque Cape over the top. Seriously, it is like I am Professor Snape and I like it.

Shoes wise, it works with everything from strappy flats to Gucci trainers to these glittery Miu Miu heeled sandals I got about a zillion years ago. Anyway, enough about me, let’s have a look about the other fashionistas who have been rocking a Kimono this season for more inspiration! A lot of fashion influencers have teamed their Kimono with red shoes or a red bag which adds a pop of colour has led to some serious scarlet envy. Oh and shop Zara’s epic Kimono collection here – but THINK before you CLICK as I can’t be held responsible for anything you buy while on there!