Rin Nadeshico’s Intricate Guide to Edo Fashion

Ever wonder what the fashion was like in ancient Japan? Artist Rin Nadeshico has captured the beautiful outfits and trends of the Edo Period in Japan with her incredibly detailed drawings - and she's even created an encyclopedia for it!

Nadeshico Rin is a manga artist and illustrator from Chiba Prefecture. She has been working as an artist for over ten years. Her love of the Edo Period, Japanese art, kabuki and history have influenced her work over the years. 

She currently has 21,000 followers on Twitter alone!

She's drawn so many different outfits from the Edo Period (1603 - 1868) that she's compiled their artwork into several different books, one of them being the お江戸ファッション図鑑 O-edo Fashion Encyclopedia.

The book introduces various people you would find during the era, and what you would usually find them wearing. The pictures include different details about their outfits, what tools they might have on them, and what situation they’d be wearing this outfit.

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Take for example these two young people. Rin details and explains the hairstyles, the significance of each part of their outfit such as the sleeves and colors, and how this would have been seen and worn during the mid-Edo Period and by whom. 

The details make each outfit distinct and special. 

She even provides further details about the kimono. 

For example, you can see this page explaining different types of sleeves. 

Most Japanese people may be familiar with one or two of these, but not to this detail, so there's a lot to be learned by all!

You can find this incredible encyclopedia on Amazon. 

It’s even been translated into Chinese (traditional)! 

You can buy it here.

Other Works

Rin Nadeshico has also released O-edo Style Books.

She also does individual pieces like this for galleries: 

As well as collaborations with kimono exhibitions:

She's also released a book specifically focused on the accessories of the time.

For example, you can learn about the different kinds of combs used during the Edo Period.

And for a different taste, here’s an series featuring high school girls playing the guitar painted in the Ukiyoe style (name of Edo Period artwork depicting everyday life).

You can find all of her artwork on Twitter and her homepage. 

And remember to get their Edo Fashion Encyclopedia on Amazon!
 

Photos provided courtesy of Rin Nadeshico on Twitter