Ancient Egyptian Fashion
In the ancient world, clothing was relatively simple in shape and style, and there was little variation compared to the ever-changing fashions of today. Warm, lush climates like that of Ancient Egypt often did not necessitate much in the way of coverings, so most garments from this period are loose and draping. What most people think of as Ancient Egyptian fashion existed for the rich and ruling classes.
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Types
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Ancient Egyptian fashion could be plain, colorful, long, short, form-fitted or voluminous, depending on the period and person. Women's clothing was usually longer and covered more of the body, although some early styles of dress allow for the neckline to hang below the breasts. This would not have been considered indecent in these times. Servant girls are often depicted in short dresses or loincloths alone. Children wore very little and would be covered in wraps when the weather was cold. Men's fashion was less conservative than women's and dependent on a man's social position or occupation. Physical laborers wore loincloths and sometimes wide robes in lieu of more complex clothing and those that worked in the water wore nothing at all.
Identification
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Ancient Egyptian history is usually talked about in terms of the high cultural points in dynasties, which are referred to as "kingdoms." First is the Old Kingdom, which lasted from 2686 B.C.E. to 2134 B.C.E., and is also known as the Pyramid Age. Garments in this period often consisted of short kilts for the men and simple rectangular sheath dresses for the women. Circular capes, which had a head hole at the center of the fabric, were often worn over clothing and were decorated in many different colors. In the Middle Kingdom, which lasted from 2040 B.C.E. to 1640 B.C.E., men wore calf-length kilts with sleeveless shirts and sometimes long robes. Women also wore these robes, which varied in sleeve length and neckline, over their sheath dresses. The New Kingdom, which lasted from 1570 B.C.E. to 1070 B.C.E. showed the emergence of shawls, worn very long and tucked around the body like a sari, and more complex pleated clothing.
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Features
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Clothing in Ancient Egypt was made mostly from linen or wool; artistic depictions from the period often show people wearing long, pleated white linen. Cotton would not have been used until the Coptic period at the end of the third century C.E. The linen was usually left in the sun to bleach white or was dyed at the thread stage, producing threads in primary colors. Shoes were not elaborate; they were sandals made from leather or rush and were strapped to the foot by leather or papyrus thongs. Full-cover shoes did not appear until the New Kingdom as outside cultures influenced the Ancient Egyptians.
Function
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Clothing type differed between classes and occupations. Nobles often wore the longest garments with flared sleeves, using the most amount of fabric and the most expensive trimmings. During the Old Kingdom, nobles on official business would wear a particular half-pleated belted kilt. The elaborate decoration and volume of garments lessened between each social class, and the lowest classes did not wear much in the way of clothing at all. Priests also did not wear much clothing. Priests usually did not wear wigs, and kept their bodies clean-shaven for purity. They wore fine linen, as they were not allowed to wear wool and white palm sandals or none at all. Accessories such as animal skins or collars on a priest often indicated the priest's specific function.
Considerations
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Accessories and styling may have been more important to the look of the Ancient Egyptian than the garments themselves. Jewelry was bulky and often made from lapis or carnelian. Wigs were widespread among the rich; wearing one's own hair outside meant that one could not afford a wig. The most expensive wigs were made with real human hair, while others were made with wool. They were twisted or braided and dyed black, and were worn over shaved or short-cropped hair that allowed the wearer to be comfortable at home. Wigs were made in many different styles and showed a great deal of variety, including wig ornamentation. At parties, Ancient Egyptians wore a cone of beeswax or ox tallow on their heads that would melt over their wigs and produce a perfumed scent. Ancient Egyptians also wore eye makeup in the form of kohl to protect the eyes from the elements and insects, and women applied red ochre to their lips and cheeks.
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