noun
fine clothes; gorgeous attire
Refers to beautiful, splendid clothing; often used in literary or poetic contexts. The word is somewhat rare on its own and is most commonly encountered in the compound 綺羅星 (きらぼし), meaning 'glittering stars' or 'galaxy of stars', metaphorically describing a gathering of brilliant people.
綺羅をまとった貴族たちが宮殿に集まった。
Nobles dressed in fine clothes gathered at the palace.
「綺羅星のごとく」という表現は、才能ある人々がずらりと並ぶ様子を表す。
The expression 'like a galaxy of stars' describes a scene where talented people are lined up in splendor.
A common compound meaning 'glittering stars' or metaphorically a brilliant gathering; 綺羅 alone is rarer and refers specifically to fine clothing.
The kanji 綺 (beautiful, figured cloth) and 羅 (thin silk, gauze) combine to suggest fine, luxurious clothing. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the word has been used in classical Japanese literature to describe splendid attire.