Originally, there was a custom according to which the long sleeves of furisode, which were worn by young women, were held up after marriage and the miyatsuguchi (small opening in the side of some traditional Japanese clothing) was sewed up; these types of kimono were collectively called "tomesode" regardless of the patterns.
元々、江戸時代には若年者が着用する振袖の長い袖を結婚後に留めて短くし、身八口を縫い留める習慣があり、これらの着物を柄いきに関わらず全て「留袖」といっていた。