A HISTORY OF FASHION: GREECE

Following our previous post and the journey through a History of Fashion, today we bring you the Great Greeks: their taste in fashion still prevails and it can be traced almost everywhere in the world. 

Ancient fashion: Greece

The materials that the Greeks used to make their clothes were more than anything linen, wool and animal furs. The Greeks carried complicated suits, tight dresses, with hollow sleeves and folded skirts (small pliets, sometimes bulky), in some occasions furnished with frills enhanced with drawings or embroidery. 

Both men and women wore a tunic called “chiton”, for men, up to the knees; the female one, to the ankles.

There were two types of “chiton”: the “Doric” one (generally made of wool), and the “Ionic” one (made of linen). The skirts made of wool, fell making big pliets; the linen ones were artistically ironed.

There existed suits of all the colours and drawings; but the most common were white wool ones with colour stripes. Eventhough it was a simple rectangle of fabric hanging on the body, it offered multiple ways to use it, and men could hold it on their left shoulder with a brooch leaving the right shoulder uncovered.

During the medic wars, the “chiton” was the main piece of the outfit, for both men and women.

The young people, mostly riders, wore some kind of short cape (clámide) over the “chiton” that fastened on one of the shoulders.

Because of the cold, they wore a longer cape. It was known as “himation”.

The female version of the “clámide” was known as “Pelpes”, which was worn over the “chiton”; however, in women reached their feet.

Men and women wore sandals, made of a sole that were secured with stripes to the feet, with coloured leather.

Next time you read us, we will discover the fashionista Rome...how much did they get from the greeks? Which inventions did they leave us? 

We will get there. All roads lead to Rome! 

Basili Julieta, Figueras Lucas, Verdile Florencia, Torchia Camila and Levato Bárbara - 4th Year

A HISTORY OF FASHION

A brief introduction to a long journey

To talk about the history of fashion, we need to focus on the work of the designers first.

With the purpose of creating a certain style, designers base on five basic elements: colour, shape, texture, the hang and balance of the line.

In ancient times the varieties of the weather defined the tools used, for example, Egyptians “folded” fabric to create pleated clothes.

Until the Industrial Revolution, fashion clothes were only worn by the nobility.

During the 19^th century, industries that dressed both rich and poor people appeared. Before the sewing machine was invented, the production of clothes was very expensive, and so were the clothes. After the machine, the production increased and clothes became much cheaper.

During the 1850’s, the first female fashion magazines were published; and for the first time a fashion show was organized to earn people’s attention towards clothes.

In the 20^th century, new synthetic fabrics were invented. Also, computer design made new style creations much easier.

It’s clear that fashion has changed throughout history. So, to begin this interesting journey, we must go back in time… to ancient civilizations.

 Ancient Fashion – Egypt

In Egypt, all clothes were thin, almost transparent due to the high temperatures of this place.The lower classes wore simple clothes like the schent: this consisted in a linen cloth or folded cotton around the waist. We can see the difference between the fabrics and the pleated of the same depending on the social status of the wearer.

The outfit worn by the higher class (pharaoh and his court) was called Kalasyris. This was a long tunic made of pleated, sheer linen, decorated in its outline with gold and precious stones. For women of the higher class, the suit was tied under the bust line leaving it exposed; in men, from the torso hanged some sort of triangular shape (neket), made of leather with precious stones.

Then we find items like the hosch, which is a short cape standing on the shoulders and chest.

The loriga was a female costume of roll-on design and close-fitting, made of fabrics similar to wire mesh; generally its length was at half of the leg or the ankle.

The basic footwear was sandals of papyrus fiber; however, poor people were barefooted.

Jewels play an important role at this time, as all bracelets, rings and necklaces.

This is just the beginning of a fashionable journey throughout time...next time we meet, we'll visit the magic of Greece and Rome.

Basili Julieta, Figueras Lucas, Verdile Florencia, Levato Bárbara and Torchia Camila - 4th Year