Iruni Kalupahana JadeTimes Staff
I. Kalupahana is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Fashion
Clothing in Ancient Egypt
Ancient Egyptian clothing In ancient Egypt, people wore a minimum amount of clothing, with children not wearing any clothing until the age of six years when they started adorning themselves with ornaments, which included bracelets, necklaces, and earrings made from brightly colored beads or expensive materials, such as precious stones and metals in the case of the wealthy families. The grown ups never had any problem walking barefoot, they only wore sandals on occasions. The simple forms of footwear, such as sandals, made out of plant fibers like straw or papyrus, were common for ordinary Egyptians. Rich ones used leather types with many intricate designs. During the cooler winter months, socks could be added to their feet, which were often created from wool or linen. The major fabric produced from the flax plant was linen, strong yet light in weight, admirably suited to the hot climate where air circulates and wearers remained cool.
Fashion for Men and Women
In ancient Egypt, men usually wore kilts, skirt like pieces of linen wrapping the body around and held by a belt. Linen quality and kilt length often depended on social class, rich men had kilts from light, finely cut linen, sometimes they wore a see through tunic over it. Other types of women's clothes were determined by the social class, the richer women could afford long, tight fitting dresses made from linen and beaded or wholly made of beaded material. Some of them had bells sewn into the hemlines and would ring with the wearer's movement. Both men and women also used wigs, usually made of human hair or wool, and makeup in order to embellish themselves. The wigs were varied in style and size, the men usually wearing smaller wigs, while the ladies wore them large, especially on special occasions. Eye makeup, for example, kohl, was used for decorative purposes and also served the practical purpose of trying to reduce glares from the sun and infection.
Footwear and Accessories
Footwear in Ancient Egypt was largely functional, common materials used in the making of different types of sandals included papyrus and leather. The type of sandal varied in correspondence with the different classes of people, ordinary people wore simple sandals, while the rich and persons of high status had gold, silver, or other forms of embellishment on their sandals. The shoes not only protected the feet from hot sand, but they also became a way to express one's social status, where highly ornamented shoes were used by the upper classes. There was no social class that did not wear ornaments in the ancient Egyptian dress, both men and women wore jewelry. The big pendants, pectorals, anklets, bracelets, and rings were all made of gold and or precious stones and sometimes brightly colored beads. Other common perfumes were created from frankincense, myrrh, and pine resin. They were worn as personal fragrances and in religious ritual. Cosmetic toolsmirrors, tweezers, and makeup containers were little different from modern tools and were often elaborately decorated.
Cultural Significance of Fashion
In ancient Egypt, fashion was not strictly a question of personal style, but rather it was more about the social status of the owner and his profession. Clothing, jewelry, and accessories were features of identity that indicated the position of a person within the societal structure. The simplicity and functionality of the garment were balanced by the love of ornamentation and decoration, even the most modest garment was usually completed by some elaborate, over the top jewelry and cosmetics. The wealthier classes of Egyptians showed their status with more ornamented and well made clothes in which intricate embroidery or pleating was often used. Lower class Egyptians wore simpler clothes, but even those were usually adorned with jewelry made from cheaper materials, like clay or faience. Occupations also played a role in fashion, priests wore a unique white linen robe that symbolized purity, though soldiers, scribes, and laborers each had their own specific attire and gear applicable to their individual work. Thus, fashion in Ancient Egypt was not only a part of daily life but also a method of social expression, which reflected values, creativity, and ingenuity of the great civilization.
