An antique kimono or knee-length haori, a dinner jacket that can be worn indoors and out, is $100 to $200.

Her skin was soft and fragrant as the silk of an antique kimono.

The 2,000-square-foot store is filled with diaphanous flowered dresses that graze the ankle; vests and jackets made of recycled antique Japanese kimonos; hand-painted silks from Nepal, and long square-dance skirts.

Emiko Toda Loeb from Japan is showing a quilt in the subtle tones of fabrics from antique kimonos.

Its owner, Ruth Fonda, has been making patchwork designs for many years, she said, often drawing from her collection of antique kimonos.

Now old ribbon, beads, silk fringe, bits of velvet and remnants of antique kimonos have found their way into Ms. van Amringe's down-filled pillows.

An evening jacket by Elizabeth Day Lawrence, fashioned out of an antique Japanese kimono, shimmers in fuchsia silk embroidered in gold and silver.

In time a servant came, holding the antique kimono wrapped once again in linen paper.

Mr. Bloch trolled through vintage clothing stores in Los Angeles until he discovered a short antique black kimono, over which he and Ms. Berry strapped a tight black corset.

Belinda opened the door wearing the blue antique kimono Sara had given her two Christmases ago.