Japanese Haori 'Kitakami'

The haori that frames cranes against a single red sun

This is the classic done properly. The Japanese haori works a black ground with the most enduring images in the country's art — cranes in flight, a single red sun, branches of white and pink sakura drifting across the fabric. Nothing is overdesigned; it leans on motifs that have meant longevity, renewal and good fortune for centuries, and lets them breathe.

The restraint is what makes it. The red sun gives the back a clear anchor, the cranes spread their wings around it, and the sakura scatters across the shoulders and sleeves so the print carries all the way round. It's elegant rather than loud — the kind of pattern that reads as considered up close and graceful from across a room.

Being an open-front haori, it's made to drape and layer rather than close. The light fabric falls cleanly, the wide three-quarter sleeves hold the kimono silhouette, and worn open the black ground frames whatever sits underneath. There's nothing to fasten — you wear it loose, and it moves as you do.

Black is the easiest base colour there is, which makes this one a genuine workhorse. A white tee underneath makes the red sun and cranes pop; an all-black outfit turns it into a quiet, tonal statement. It crosses from casual to smart without effort — jeans one day, tailored trousers the next.

This is for the person who wants the timeless version — cranes, sun and blossom, handled with restraint — in a layer that goes with everything. Wear it open over a tee with denim or trousers and minimal shoes. The free-size cut sits true to size with a relaxed, open drape.

• Type: Open-front haori (kimono jacket)
• Material: Smooth, lightweight woven fabric with a soft, fluid drape
• Pattern: All-over print — cranes, a red sun and sakura on black
• Sleeves: Wide three-quarter kimono sleeves
• Fit: Open-front, relaxed unisex cut — worn loose as a layer
• Sizing: Generous, free-size cut — true to size, with an easy drape over a tee
• Colour: Black with red, white and pink
• Wear it with: White tee, denim or trousers, minimal shoes