Fashion: Evolution of Clothing and Costumes of Ancient Egyptian

Animal skins protected the body, before cloth was known. Since primitive peoples in warm climates wear skirts of grass or vegetable fibers. Single skins were thrown over the back, or two were fastened together at the shoulder, making a simple dress. Many attractive garments were formed from cloth simply draped about the body. Cloth has always been woven into rectangles or squares.

Among the garments devised from unsewn cloth are the poncho, blanket-like cape with center hole worn by South Americans; the shawl worn by peasant women as a cloak; the distinctive sari worn by Indian women, serving as both dress and headdress; and the sarong, skirt-like raiment of South Sea women. Simple squares or rectangles as the shawl, scarf, handkerchief, and fichu used as articles of apparel by both men and women. Rectangular pieces of cloth with side seams, include the skirt of which is gathered into a waistband; the apron, a skirt-like garment generally covering only the front and side of the body, and the kimono.

Conquest and wars have mingled the dress of one people with other, but there are distinctive types of clothing identified with specific cultures during all the history. Costume history embraces many cultures that flourished before Christ. Excavations in the Nile Valley of Egypt have revealed reliable evidence of men’s interest in dress dating from predynastic times.

Trade in textiles and dye flourished in Egypt before the dawn of history. The Egyptians shaved their heads and bodies to keep cool and clean. Linen cloth was developed in the country, and wool came from Babylonia. Women painted their eyelids and stained their nails with henna, lips were painted and rouged. Floral collars were worn at banquets, consisting of cloth circles with fresh flowers sewn on.

The loincloth became wider and longer, resembling an apron, and by the time of King Tutankhamen, who ruled about 1369 B.C., this apron was worn with a triangular projection in front. The linen was of...