Presented by the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology,  “Lifespan Through Kimono” is a show of the kimono collection of the Yamano Gakuen, Yamano Beauty College, and Yamano College of Aesthetics in Japan (https://www.yamano.jp/). This show celebrates the art of beautiful living through the wearing of kimono throughout the different stages of life in conjunction with the annual Geroscience Los Angeles Meeting (GLAM).

Jane Aiko Yamano, president of Yamano Gakuen, Yamano Beauty College and Yamano College of Aesthetics, will provide expert commentary about the symbolism, art, and social significance of the different kimono styles. Modeling the kimonos will be 30 Yamano students from Japan and individuals from the Los Angeles community. Susan H. Kamei, affiliated faculty with the USC Shinso Ito Center for Japanese Religions and Culture, will be one of the kimono models.

Yamano shares that a highlight of the show will be the rare opportunity to see a bride transition through four garments all before the audience’s eyes. Wearing an all-white brocaded silk kimono, the model will first change into a colored uchikake kimono, followed by a second change into a contemporary sequin long sleeved furisode kimono, and finally a third change into a Western wedding dress. “This system, known as the ‘Yamano Bridal Quick Change,’ was designed by my grandmother, Aiko Yamano, so that a bride could spend more time with her family and guests rather than in the dressing room,” said Yamano.

Maria Henke, senior associate dean and co-director of the Andrus Center of the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, said, “We are pleased to share this exciting cultural event with the Los Angeles community, and welcome the public to take advantage of this unique opportunity to see an extraordinary collection of kimono.”

Photo credit: kimono by merec0 on Flickr.