Overview
A haori is a straight-cut jacket that hangs over the kimono without wrapping closed, fastened only by a short braided tie (haori-himo) across the chest. It layers a further level of formality — and often a hidden flourish — over the robe beneath.
How it is worn
Worn open over the kimono and obi, it is held by the himo cord alone, and its lining, unseen except in movement, was a favored place for bold or witty designs. A black haori bearing family crests is formal wear, while plainer ones are everyday.
History
The haori spread in the Edo period, first among men and later, in the late Edo and Meiji years, among women — geisha of the Fukagawa district made the women’s haori fashionable. It remains a common outer layer worn over the kimono today.