Ancient Egyptian costumes hold a significant place in the history of fashion. Known for their intricate designs and symbolic meanings, these garments were more than mere clothing; they were an expression of status, identity, and beliefs.
Ancient Egyptians
Ancient Egypt, one of the world’s oldest and most fascinating civilizations, traces its origins to around 3100 B.C. This era marked the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt under the first Pharaoh, Narmer. The civilization flourished along the fertile banks of the Nile River as one of the world’s oldest and most fascinating societies.
Materials and Techniques
Ancient Egyptians primarily used linen to create their costumes, owing to the abundance of flax in the region. Linen was highly valued for its lightweight and breathable properties, making it ideal for Egypt’s hot climate. The fabric was often bleached to achieve a white color, which was considered pure and elegant. Wealthier individuals adorned their garments with intricate beadwork, embroidery, and even gold thread, showcasing their social status and wealth.
Spinning, weaving and sewing were very important techniques for all Egyptian societies. Plant dyes could be applied to clothing but the clothing was usually left in its natural color.
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Decoration & Coloring
Though we find Egyptian costume in many instances decorated all over with woven or printed patterns, decoration in the main was confined to accessories such as the head-dress, collar, and girdle, these being often painted, embroidered, beaded, or jewelled. The colouring which was usually, though not invariably, confined to the decorations consisted of simple schemes, variations of the hues of red, blue, green, yellow, and deep purple described on p. 6.
In the most ancient types it was of a fairly thick, coarse weave; but in the later examples a fine thin linen, loosely woven so as to appear almost transparent, was used. The linen has often a stiffened appearance, and also gives the idea of having been goffered or pleated.
Styles and Symbolism
The styles of ancient Egyptian costumes varied according to social class, gender, and occasion. Men typically wore kilts known as ‘schenti,’ while women donned tight-fitting dresses called ‘kalasiris.’ Both garments were often complemented with cloaks and shawls for added elegance. The colors and designs were not merely aesthetic choices but also held symbolic meanings. For example, the color white symbolized purity, while green represented fertility and life.
Ancient Egyptian Fashion
Peasants, workers and other people of modest condition often wore nothing, but the shenti (made of flax) was worn by all people.
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Egyptian Men and Women: The Difference in Their Dress
It can easily be gathered from the illustrations that the types of costume worn by both sexes were very similar. The high waist-line prevails in feminine dress, while the male costume, if girded, was generally confined about the hips.
Religious and Ceremonial Attire
Religious and ceremonial attire in ancient Egypt was particularly elaborate. Priests and priestesses wore special garments that were believed to have protective and divine properties. These costumes were often decorated with religious symbols and hieroglyphs to invoke the favor of the gods. During important ceremonies and festivals, the Pharaoh and other high-ranking officials would don elaborate costumes to signify their divine authority and connection to the gods.
Royal clothing is particularly well documented, as well as the khat, nemes, and crowns of the pharaohs.
Pharaoh Costume
Evolution of Clothing Over Time
From about 2130 BC during the Old Kingdom, garments were simply constructed. Men wore wrap around skirts belted at the waist. While women's clothing stayed mostly the same during the Middle Kingdom, men's clothing changed in some regards (as evidenced by available art). The two most notable changes were the pleating of the skirts and the adoption of the triangular apron by upper-class men. Artistic relics from the New Kingdom show the largest evolution in men's clothing.
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During the Old, Middle and New Kingdom, ancient Egyptian women mostly wore a simple sheath dress called a kalasiris,[8] which is shown to cover the breasts in statues, but in paintings and relief the single breast depicted in profile is exposed.[9] The dresses were held up by one or two straps and were worn down to the ankle, while the upper edge could be worn above or below the breasts. The length of the dress denoted the social class of the wearer. Beading or feathers were also used as an embellishment on the dress.
Over the dress, women had a choice of wearing shawls, capes, or robes. The shawl was a piece of fine linen cloth around 4 feet wide by 13 or 14 feet long, which was mostly worn pleated. Surviving dresses consist of a body made from a tube of material sewn up one side, supported not by straps but by a bodice with sleeves. In contrast to dresses shown in art, such linen garments tend to be baggy, and would conceal rather than reveal the body.
Children's Clothing
Children wore no clothing until 6 years old. Once they turned six they were allowed to wear clothing to protect them from the dry heat. A popular hairstyle among children was the side-lock, an unshaved length of hair on the right side of the head.
Wigs and Jewelry
Wigs were worn by the wealthy of both sexes. Jewelry was very popular in ancient Egypt, no matter the social class. It was heavy and rather voluminous. The main reason for wearing jewelry is because of its aesthetic function. The Egyptians were quite soberly dressed in white linen fabrics, and jewelry offered a possibility for contrast.
The Egyptian preference was towards the use of bright colors, lustrous stones and precious metals. On the other hand, silver was rare and was imported from Asia. Therefore, it was silver that was often considered more precious than gold. The eastern desert was also an important source for colorful semi-precious stones such as carnelian, amethyst and jasper. In the Sinai were turquoise mines, the deep blue lapis lazuli had to come from far away Afghanistan.
The Egyptians became very skilled when making jewelry from turquoise, metals like gold and silver, and small beads. Both men and women adorned themselves with earrings, bracelets, rings, necklaces and neck collars that were brightly colored.
Ancient Egyptian Jewelry
Cosmetics
Embalming allowed the development of cosmetics and perfumes. The perfumes of Egypt were the most numerous, but also the most sought and the costliest of antiquity, which used them extensively. The Egyptians used makeup most of all the ancient people. Black kohl, which was used to mark eyes, was obtained from galena. Eye shadow was made from crushed malachite. Red, which was applied to lips, came from ochre. These products were mixed with animal fat to make them compact and to preserve them.
Findings were published by American Chemical Society in the journal Analytic Chemistry suggest that the use of lead in makeup was intentional. Findings suggest that the lead in combination with salts produced naturally by the body produce nitric oxide which boosts the immune system. It is believed that the production and result were intentional.
Footwear
Footwear was the same for both sexes. It consisted of coiled sewn sandals of leatherwork, or for the priestly class, papyrus.
Key Elements of Ancient Egyptian Costume
- Linen: The primary material, known for its breathability and comfort in the hot climate.
- Schenti: The kilt worn by men, varying in length and style over time.
- Kalasiris: The sheath dress worn by women, often adorned with beads and feathers.
- Jewelry: A significant element for both men and women, made from precious metals and stones.
- Wigs: Worn by the wealthy, signifying status and style.
Ancient Egyptian clothing was simple and practical, often made from linen, a lightweight and breathable fabric.
| Clothing Type | Description | Material |
|---|---|---|
| Schenti | Kilt worn by men | White linen |
| Kalasiris | Sheath dress worn by women | Linen |
| Sandals | Footwear for both sexes | Leatherwork or papyrus |
Ancient Egyptian Costume Plates
If you are looking for an ancient Egyptian costume for fancy dress or pageantry re-enactment, then using these guide-line images you should be able to construct a simple costume.
In ancient Egypt, there were 4 basic types of costume. There is also Egyptian Military dress which adds one or two more styles. All these styles, collars and make-up were worn by BOTH male and female members of Egyptian society.
The very earliest Egyptian costumes were of the sleeveless tunic type. Please note this is a shape guide pattern only to give you an indication of the silhouette to follow.
Make a stencil based on the images of decorative ornament. Try using a neutral-tone cotton fabric or white linen material for the base fabric of your decorative work. Either then stencil, print a design you make yourself, or freely paint fabric paints in an Egyptian stylised pattern.
Use no more than 3 bold colour combinations in one outfit. Try colour permutations such as golden orange with turquoise or teal blue; malachite green with ruby wine red, or gold with green. Use black as an outline to highlight and emphasise pattern shapes.
Still, frightened? Use Bondaweb with Egyptian-coloured fabrics, suede, leather or satin ribbons and press shapes directly to the fabric.
Never make a garment to your exact measurements. Always add seam and hem allowances, plus some wearing ease. For fancy dress purposes, or one night only pantomimes, religious and school plays you can keep the raw edge finishing simple.
In every stage of making your costume use you imagination and adapt and invent whilst keeping the essence of the styles worn.
Figure A probably began as a simple uncut piece of fabric made into a simple tube to fit the body.
This page contains some costume plates sourced from the book Ancient Egyptian, Assyrian and Persian Costumes & Decorations by Mary G. Houston and Florence S. Hornblower.
1. In this Egyptian Scribe costume plate, a typical waist sash measures 32" by 120". If you are taller you may need to adjust the sash length.
The rectangle robe is constructed on a very simple rectangle shape as shown here.
To achieve the alternative look, the pattern is cut exactly the same as before, but not sewn up the side.
Right - In about 1450 B.C. NOTE - No sash has been used to create this style of robe. The front is left to hang, rather than be pinned at the back.
It is safest to make a small paper pattern first of the curve and slit and try it on over your head before cutting into the fabric. This is especially important if you have small shoulders or a short body. If you make the cut area too large, you will spoil your fabric and the robe will fall off you.
This page contains some costume plates sourced from the book Ancient Egyptian, Assyrian and Persian Costumes & Decorations by Mary G. Houston and Florence S. Hornblower.
Ancient Egypt Makeover
The Influence of King Tut on Fashion
From the 1920s to the spring 2015 runways, a look at fashion’s enduring fascination with the world of King Tut.
It’s not every day that archaeology and fashion collide, but they did on November 4, 1922, when Howard Carter, an intrepid Brit, discovered the tomb of the boy king, Tutankhamun. Not only did Carter open a window on ancient history, but he unwittingly unleashed Tutmania upon a world that was soon gilded and embellished with neo-Egyptian motifs. It’s a spell that’s never really been broken, and under which costume and fashion designers have tended to fall. Elizabeth Taylor as Cleopatra is unforgettable, as is Dior’s take on the land of the Nile.
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