Kimono stylist Kara Harris stands in front of a mirror, adjusting the intricate folds of an indigo silk kimono embroidered with winding roses. Her own vibrant vermillion kimono is paired with a contrasting blue and green obi (kimono belt) tied with precision and care. Back then, she assumed her body type and non-Japanese background made wearing a kimono unattainable. Credit: Rin HashizumeNavigating Cultural ComplexitiesHarris often questions how people respond to her wearing and styling kimono, particularly given today’s heightened awareness around cultural appropriation. For Harris, wearing a kimono is more than tradition—it’s a form of self-expression.