Ronin Hakama - Black

浪人 (rōnin): "a masterless samurai."

In 1701 Asano Naganori, lord of Akō, drew his sword on the shogunate's master of ceremonies, Kira Yoshinaka, inside Edo Castle, and was ordered to take his own life that same day. His samurai became rōnin overnight. Nearly two years later, 47 of them broke into Kira's Edo mansion and killed him. Forty-six were then ordered to commit seppuku, and the 47 have graves beside their lord at Sengaku-ji in Tokyo, where a festival is held for them every December 14.

Black shows the cut most clearly: the big front flap pockets, the wide harem legs, and a split, layered hem that finishes above the ankle. The cotton-linen has a faint slub, so even all black has some texture.

Head to toe in black with dark sneakers, it looks sharp and a little severe; a white tee breaks it up. It's the evening pick among the traditional Japanese clothing here. If you've read every book on the 47 and stood at their graves, the name needs no explaining.

• Fabric: cotton-linen blend, lightweight and breathable
• Waist: elastic
• Pockets: two front flap pockets
• Leg: wide harem cut; split, layered hem cropped above the ankle
• Sizes: jeans-style waist sizes 28, 29, 30, 32, 33, 34, 36
• Size reference: 6 ft 2 in, 172 lb wears 32; 5 ft 11 in, 198 lb wears 34

Measurements for every size are in the size guide.