EGYPTIAN FASHION

Egyptian clothing’s most common fabric was linen. Egypt even exported linen to other countries.  Only the wealthy wore animal fibers that were the object of taboos. They were used on occasion for overcoats, but were forbidden in temples and sanctuaries.

The Caste System in old Egypt not just characterized the ensembles of the different social gatherings additionally served as rough historical guide in the development of apparel in Egypt. Slaves were for the most part bare as were children in summer months, while the commoner class wore loin cloths produced using animal skin and cloth. A linen kilt or tunic called a "calasaris" was likewise regularly worn piece of the outfit for everybody from the social class upwards.

Men

Men used to wear wrap around skirt which was belted at the waist. The length of the skirt varied depending on the fashion of the time - in the time of the Old Kingdom they were short while in the Middle Kingdom they were calf length. During the New Kingdom period it was fashionable to wear a pleated garment. Rich people used to wear as much jewelry as they could afford to decorate their outfis.

            

Women

Egyptian women regularly wore basic sheath dresses called kalasiris. Women's apparel in old Egypt was more conservative than men's clothing. The dresses were held up by one or two straps and were worn down to the lower leg, while the upper edge could be worn above or below the breasts. The length of the dress signified the social class of the wearer. Over the dress, ladies had a choice of wearing shawls, capes, or robes. The shawl was a piece of fabric around 4 feet wide by 13 or 14 feet long. This was mostly worn pleated as well. Female garments just changed marginally through the millennia. Draped clothing (with varieties of drapery) gave the impression of totally different attire. It was made of haïk, a fine muslin.

         

Children

Children wore no clothing until 6 years old. Once they turned six years old they were allowed to wear clothing to protect them from the dry heat. Even though children usually wore no clothing, they wore jewelry such as anklets, bracelets, collars, and hair 

accessories. When they grew up, they wore the same styles as their parents.

Jewelry

Jewelry was very popular in Ancient Egypt, no matter the social class. It was heavy and voluminous. Both men and women adorned themselves with earrings, bracelets, rings, necklaces and neck collars that were brightly colored. Rich people used to wear gold, silver and precious gemstones and those who could not afford it made their jewelry from colored pottery beads. One creation that was specific to ancient Egypt was the gorgerine, an assembly of metal discs worn on the chest, either over bare skin or over a shirt, and attached in the back.

Cosmetics

Egyptians wore perfumes extensively. They had the most sought after and costliest perfumes.

Both men and women used to wear makeup. They used black kohl eyeliner to line their eyes and darken lashes and eyebrows. They colored their eyelids with blue or green eye shadow made from powdered minerals. Henna dye was used to color lips and nails.