Not to defend the term itself, but like with many items of culturally historic clothing that have since become fetishized, people normally wore practical underc

Not to defend the term itself, but like with many items of culturally historic clothing that have since become fetishized, people normally wore practical underclothes underneath kimonos. That way, you don't have to change or wash your bulky, elaborate outerwear so often, just the layers that touch your skin. It's also more comfortable and easier to customize the inner layers to suit your particular body.