It means “thing to wear,” and in addition to being the national dress of Japan, the kimono is one of the world’s most elegant things to wear. This exhibition tracks the evolution of the kimono in its own country, where it was once a go-to garment but is now saved for formal events, and then looks at the way its sartorial and aesthetic qualities have resonated with different cultures and sectors, most notably with designers in high fashion. —Julia Vitale