As the summer vacation season kicks into high gear, people are picking up something special at Chopa.com.  Now, in addition to all of their Zen accessories and Japanese furnishings, Chopa has a vase selection of Japanese kimonos for sale.  The kimonos featured this year seem to focus on a single color family, mainly blue, including rich turquoise hues and deep sapphire blue.  A lighter weight version of the kimono, known as a yukata, is also available. 

For men and women who want a comfortable and lightweight robe to wear by the pool, a yukata is the ideal choice, but a silky kimono can be worn all year round.  Whether they are worn after a shower, lounging around the house or while enjoying a sunny morning on the deck, yukatas and kimonos make the ideal addition to any summer wardrobe. 

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In case you are not familiar with the summer version of the kimono – also known as the Japanese Yukata – now is the perfect time to learn.  With the warm weather approaching, a yukata is the perfect robe for lounging around the pool, after a shower, or just relaxing at home.  These cotton robes are designed to look similar to a kimono, but without the formality of silk.  Because they are made from cotton, these delightful robes use patterns that are lighter and less saturated with color, making them the perfect accessory for summer.

Shaped like a capital “T” with wide arms in an angular pattern, the Japanese yukata is designed to be worn loosely, but it can also be cinched together with a matching fabric sash.  Like a traditional kimono, the hem of most yukatas falls about 56” long, skimming the ankle. But unlike the kimono, the Yukata is not worn in formal ceremonies.  It is more likely to be worn after a bath or as a stylish cover-up when sitting by the pool. 

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Spring may have just begun, but in the fashion world it is already fall.  So don’t feel guilty if you’re sights are set on summer.  Now is the time to start putting together the primary pieces of your summer wardrobe, and for many women that will include a Kimono robe dress. 

If you’ve never worn a Kimono robe dress or its lighter-weight cousin, the Yukata, then you are in for a treat.  These comfortable and colorful robes are a hallmark of Japanese culture, and one of the most recognizable articles of clothing in all of Asia.  While they may not be quite as common in Western cultures, many women are starting to embrace their versatile good looks. 

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Until you watch the video now being shown at ChopaTV and on Chopa.com, it is easy to think of Japanese kimono robes as “just another piece of clothing”.  Despite the fact that the word “kimono” actually means “thing to wear”, these stylish and colorful robes are anything but ordinary.   

You may be wondering, “How are Japanese kimono robes and yukatas so different than other robes or loungewear?” 

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