What is Onesie?

In recent years, on the streets, in shopping centers, and in pictures on the Internet, you can see people in funny overalls in the form of animals, fairy-tale creatures, fictional characters from movies and cartoons. Looking at them, you involuntarily get charged with a great mood. This costume is called kigurumi. From the name it is clear that it comes from Japan and is translated as “carrying a soft toy.” And so it is! You can transform into a toy animal both at home and on the street.

Where did these clothes “come” from?

Unusual costumes came to us from Japan, the birthplace of anime and outrageous, “toy” fashion. Despite this, onesies have become popular in Russia and around the world only in recent years, in Japan they appeared about 20 years ago - in the mid-90s. They arose as masquerade costumes for animators leading children's play events. The Japanese liked the trend so much that gradually people in onesies began to appear on the streets and wear them at home.

All this prompted local fashion designers to create their own collections of fun overalls, and then produce them en masse. We already know what happened next: onesies captured the consciousness of many residents from different parts of the planet.

Anime kigurumi

The anime industry and kigurumi are strongly connected. But these aren't the plush onesies that traditionally come to mind. Actors called dollers (from doll - doll) or anemegao dress up in costumes of dolls or other anime characters and cosplay on them, that is, they transform not only in appearance, but also copy their character and behavior. Kigurumi in anime usually consists of a flesh-colored onesie, clothing, wigs and jewelry, as well as a hard mask with a static expression.

Masks come in the following types:

• open, which are not covered with anything behind the head, they are easy to put on and take off;
• closed. They snap onto the lid at the back, and it is impossible to remove them without opening the lid.

The inside of the mask is covered with soft materials so as not to rub the actor’s face. The view in it is very limited, but there must be holes for the eyes: they can be in the pupils of the mask, in the folds of the eyelids or in the eyebrows.

Animegaos appear in festivals, TV shows, films, and music videos. The cost of one anime Kigurumi can exceed several hundred or thousand US dollars, so many aspiring actors make masks themselves or buy old ones at a discount.

Anime onesies should not be confused with the fashionable street movement “disguise pajamas” in Japan. Kigurumins are wearers of street pajamas, which already look like kigurumi in the everyday sense. The suits are made from light fabric to fit the person; the hood may not cover the face.Don't confuse anime onesies with life-size puppets like those at Disneyland or sports team mascots. Such costumes are called fursuits or mascots.

BJD kigurumi

Recently, a BJD variant has emerged from the anime kigurumi. The peculiarity of this costume is that the image for the mask is a doll on joints. They are popular in Japan and are often collectible and very expensive. BJD onesies first appeared in 2011 at the Otakufest festival, and in 2014 the Nukopan company began producing masks in the style of articulated dolls. One of the famous models, Lulu Hashimoto, was created in 2016.

Materials from which these clothes are made

A kigurumi costume should be as comfortable and soft as possible. Therefore, when choosing it, it is important to pay attention to the fabric from which it is made. Let's consider the main material options:

• fleece All onesies were originally made from it in Japan. Fleece fabric is made from synthetic fiber to replace wool and other natural fibers, so its undoubted advantage is hypoallergenicity. Fleece is always very soft, fluffy and pleasant to the body, and is easy to wash. In addition, the material retains heat perfectly, but allows air to pass through: it will be quite difficult to freeze in such overalls! Due to the excellent quality of the fabric, fleece models are more expensive than their counterparts, but you definitely won’t regret the money spent. The price-quality ratio will pleasantly surprise you;
• Velsoft is an inexpensive alternative to fleece; it is also called soft, fluffy fleece. The fabric is made of synthetic fiber and has good properties: it practically does not wrinkle and does not roll up. It consists of soft, thick fibers that perfectly retain heat and absorb moisture.Velsoft onesies have a number of disadvantages: over time, they stop holding their shape and can sag. However, it was this material that made suits more accessible to the average consumer around the world;
• cotton. This is a rather rare material for this model of clothing; light summer pajamas or suits for going out are usually sewn from it. Cotton onesies are great for a hot day, but you need to understand that due to the not too dense material, they do not hold their shape well.

What is it for?

Despite the unusual cut and style, onesies are quite versatile and can be used for different purposes. Only one thing is important: it should bring you and your loved ones a great mood and pleasant emotions! You can use it:

• in order to walk at home and not freeze on cold nights, that is, as home clothes or pajamas;
• to walk down the street or relax in nature;
• for costume parties or masquerades.

Despite its versatility, you shouldn't wear onesies everywhere. You shouldn't wear it to school, university or work, unless, of course, you work as an animator. Do not get carried away with soft suits and, in necessary situations, follow the dress code. It’s better to change into onesies in your free time for comfortable relaxation and rest.

Kigurumi Manufacturers

There are a large number of manufacturers of soft overalls on the market: you can buy them in a regular store, or you can order them online. We draw your attention to several sellers offering the largest assortment of onesies.

Cosbus

Onesies from Cosbus amaze with their diversity. Here you can find a velsoft unicorn with a yellow horn on the hood. The suit is very bright and does not restrict movement due to its loose fit.Cosbus offers:

• model “Rainbow Unicorn” (price - 2690 rubles);
• The “Kummamon Bear” model will appeal to lovers of Japanese culture. The black bear has become the hero of many Internet memes and comics (price: 2,460 rubles). Unisex, no tail.

Funky Ride

The Funky Ride store offers a large number of onesies with characters from children's cartoon series and other animals. Any child will love pajamas and costumes of Minion Dave or Angry Birds. The overalls are made of warm fleece with buttons, the size range XS-XXL will allow anyone to choose comfortable clothes (price - 3,700 rubles).

Futujama

In the Futuzhama online store you can find options for onesies - pajamas for any family member, young and old. The same models are presented in both children's and adult sizes. Check out the cute “Sloth” pajamas. By putting it on, you will transform into the hero of the cartoon “Zootopia”. In this suit you can be lazy and sleep like a real sloth. Models:

• “Lenivets” (price - 2790 rubles, size range - XS-XXL, material - beige fleece, zippered, without lining);
• “Panda” (children's pajamas price - 2490 rubles, adults - 2790 rubles, size chart: 104-152 cm, XS-XXL, white and black fleece, unlined).

Some futujamas of the same model are available for both children and their parents, so you can buy the same suits for the whole family, and in the evenings your family tradition will become to gather for a cup of tea in cute pajamas. Panda pajamas, for example, are available with a zipper or buttons, so you choose what is most convenient for you.The soft material does not stretch or wrinkle, warms and absorbs moisture, so one-pieces are suitable for walking outside and relaxing at home:

Handy Wear

This company has been producing for quite a long time stylish japanese pajamas. For a girl, the pink “Panther Baksi” will be an excellent choice; it is made in a girlish combination of colors from a pleasant to the touch soft fleece that allows the skin to breathe. Model “Panther Baksi” (price - 3900 rubles, sizes: XS-XXL, pink and white fleece, long tail at the back).

One of the funniest models of this brand is the Lemur pajamas. The unisex model is suitable for men, women and children! At the back there is a very long striped tail like a real animal, a low waistline and a loose silhouette make the image very comical (price - 3900 rubles, sizes: XS-XXL, gray fleece fabric, not insulated).

Despite the fact that the prices for Handy-Wear pajamas are quite high, their quality and brightness of colors and printing will not leave anyone indifferent.

How to choose onesies?

This clothing can be worn by both adults and children. The main requirement is that it should be free, comfortable and suitable for height.

For adults

Kigurumi can be worn by both men and women, regardless of age. The main thing is that they like them and lift their spirits. European sizes are determined depending on height:

• S: 148–158 cm;
• M: 159–168 cm;
• L: 169–178 cm;
• XL: 179–188 cm;
• XXL: 189–200 cm.

If you buy Asian-made onesies, be careful! The Japanese are naturally shorter, so the sizes of the suits may not correspond to Russian or European ones. Always check your height and the height on the label.

For children

Children's onesies are a real salvation for parents. For a child, this is not only an excellent gift or pajamas for home or sleep, but also a complete outfit for matinees or masquerades, which are held in kindergartens and schools.. Slippers or mittens in the shape of animal paws can be a nice bonus to the costume. Children's clothing sizes usually vary depending on height. The size chart for children's onesies usually looks something like this:

• 90–100 cm;
• 100–110 cm;
• 110–120 cm;
• 120–130 cm;
• 130–140 cm.

A suit in size XS-S from an adult clothing line may be suitable for a child. Always look carefully at the height parameters when purchasing. It is better to buy a one size larger - due to its voluminous fit, it will not look big.

For girls

When making a purchase, people often ask: is this a model for a boy or a girl? The answer is simple. Most onesies are produced in a unisex style, that is, there are no specifically male or female options.. The difference can only be made by the color scheme or the half-character depicted on the clothes. For example, a pink unicorn will most likely suit a girl, but a boy will not wear it at all. Or, for example, a little fashionista will happily wear a Peppa Pig character costume, but will not want a onesie in the form of Spider-Man.

Interesting ways to use a suit

In addition to the already familiar ways of wearing onesies, we recommend one more. You can use it for skiing or snowboarding. In recent years, many athletes have been wearing onesies over their equipment for insulation and to attract attention. You can also wear jumpsuits for a family photo shoot or a pajama party. With the help of onesies you can create a truly unusual look!