黒留袖(くろとめそで)

くろとめそで
noun
black formal kimono (for married women)
clothing
1. black formal kimono for married women
The most formal kimono worn by married women, dyed black with family crests and a decorative pattern only along the hem. Worn by close female relatives—especially the mothers of the bride and groom—at weddings.
母(はは)は黒留袖(くろとめそで)を着(き)た。
My mother wore a black formal kimono.
結婚式(けっこんしき)では両家(りょうけ)の母親(ははおや)が黒留袖(くろとめそで)を着(き)る。
At a wedding, the mothers of both families wear black formal kimono.
黒留袖(くろとめそで)は既婚女性(きこんじょせい)の第一礼装(だいいちれいそう)とされている。
The black formal kimono is regarded as the highest formal dress for married women.

A type of 留袖(とめそで), the formal kimono for married women. The black ground bears five family crests, marking it as the most formal grade. The colored counterpart worn by unmarried women or as slightly less formal wear is the 色留袖(いろとめそで).

Common collocations

Similar words

  • 色留袖(いろとめそで): colored formal kimono — same cut but a colored ground, slightly less formal
  • 振袖(ふりそで): long-sleeved kimono — the formal kimono for unmarried women

Related Words

Compare: 振袖(ふりそで) (long-sleeved kimono)
general
Added 2026.6.28 3:18 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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