Each era in history has its own unique styles of fashion. Often the costumes that people wore reflected the tone of the society's atmosphere at that particular time in history.
Ancient Babylonian Clothing is a website where you'll discover that the typical costume in Ancient Babylonia was a draped tunic that featured, "..much decoration in the form of embroidery." The information also explains that the material of the Babylonians' clothing was generally made of linen. Sandals and, "heavy armlets and bracelets completed the costume."
At Clothing Styles of the Egyptians it explains that women and men in ancient Egypt wore clothing made of linen due to the hot temperatures of the environment. Women commonly wore dresses that were ornamented with beads and to this day are considered some of the most beautiful and sexy womens costumes in history. The men dressed in short loincloths. The information further reveals that a flowing robe referred to as a kalasiris was a fashion of both Egyptian men and women. The kalasiris was, "often worn with a belt which held together the folds of cloth."
For more information on Egyptian clothing, please visit:
- Facts on Egyptian Clothing : Read about the fabric of Egyptian clothing along with the accessories to different clothing styles.
- Egyptian Life and Clothing : Check out these facts on Egyptian clothing.
Go to The Costume Worn in Crete website and you'll learn that the women of Crete, "wore tiered and gathered bell-shaped skirts and either fitted bodices or brief jackets..." The information points out that the loincloth costume worn by the men of Crete was a fashion they shared with the men of ancient Egypt.
The ancient Persians according to Ancient Persian Clothing Pieces, wore, "trousers and seamed, fitted coats that were probably first made from animal skins." Trousers served the practical purpose of providing comfort for a person travelling on horseback or working in the fields. It's further explained that trousers were commonly worn by both sexes and that, "..only in European cultures did trousers become associated with men."
Further facts about Persian clothing can be found at:
- Views of Ancient Persian Styles: Drawings of women wearing various types of ancient Persian costume are offered at this location.
Peruse the facts of Fashions of Ancient Greece where it explains that both men and women in Ancient Greece commonly wore a tunic and a cloak. The cloak was usually constructed out of linen or wool material and was draped over one shoulder. Sometimes hats were worn by men and women in ancient Greece. The men's hat described as broad-brimmed was called a "petasos." And the women's hat featured a, "flat brim with a high-peaked crown."
To learn additional information on the costume of Ancient Greece, go to:
- The Clothing of Ancient Greece : An overview of the ancient Greek fashions worn by adults and children in the society.
- Women's Styles of Ancient Greece : Look at the drawings and accompanying descriptions of clothing belonging to women of ancient Greece.
- Ancient Greek Dress : Illustrations are offered at this location along with specific explanations of ancient Greek clothing.
At Ancient Romans and Their Clothing it explains that, "..much of Roman clothing was designed to reveal the social status of its wearer.." For instance a, "Roman toga is worn by a citizen" and a senator is identified by the stripes on his tunic. It further explains that the presence of, "..a laurel wreath and special robes.." on a man indicates that he is an emperor. The general rule of Roman dress is the more distinctively marked the clothing, the higher the status of its wearer in Roman society.
More facts on Roman costume can be found at:
- Ancient Roman Dress for Men and Women: Read descriptions of ancient Roman clothing and accessories for men and women.
- A Look at Roman Fashions: Find illustrations and informative details on the types of dress the ancient Romans wore.
The clothing worn by men in ancient Byzantine started with a tunic. Visit Byzantine Clothing and you'll read about the, "..dalmatic, the over robe worn by the upper classes and, on special occasions, by the common people." The Byzantine men also wore, "..pants or leg coverings." The trousers, "..were wildly patterned and fit fairly loosely." Hats were not usually a part of the Byzantine's wardrobe but sometimes a "Phrygian cap" was worn. Women of the Byzantine era wore a basic, "tunica" made of wool.
Look at these locations for more information on the costume of the Byzantine era:
- Byzantine Clothing and Its Material : Learn about the different aspects of the clothes worn in the Byzantine times.
- An Overview of Byzantine Clothing : Helpful description of the clothing style worn in Byzantium.
The Barbarians of Europe wore, "..rough garments made of wool.." according to the facts at Clothing of the Barbarians in Europe. Some descriptive words used to characterize the clothing of the Barbarians are "crudely sewn" and "rough." The information goes on to explain that the Barbarians often fashioned their clothing out of animal skins. They also wore, "..leggings, which were held to the skin with bands of animal hide." A sense of the practical and an awareness of the climate both went into the creation of the European Barbarians' particular costume.
For more on the costume of the Barbarians of Europe, please visit:
- Barbarian Gear: Description of the types of clothing belonging to the Barbarians of Europe.
Look at the sampling of the costumes worn in Carolinian Europe located at The Clothing of Carolinian Europe and you'll see colorful, flowing, knee-length, tunics and drapes worn by the men of the era. In addition, their legs are wrapped in light, fabric bands. The women wear long tunics of bright colors accompanied by a head scarf that completely covers their hair.
Read the information at European Costume and you'll find that a basic element of eleventh century European costume was the "bliaud." The bliaud is a, "long, belted overture.." The information goes on to reveal that a nobleman wore a bliaud that touched his ankles, while a shorter version was worn by men of other classes. Women also wore a style of the bliaud featuring a hem that covered their feet and open sleeves over the lower arm. The bliaud was a versatile piece of an eleventh century European's wardrobe.
According to European Styles of Clothing by the twelfth century in Europe the hem of the familiar tunic had become more flared than in the previous century. In addition fine and expensive fabrics were being used to create clothes. Velvet is one example of the new choice in fabric. "Cone-shaped hats with veils," were also beginning to make an appearance on women in the fashion world of the twelfth century.
Fifteenth and sixteenth century European fashions are described by the aforementioned information as, "a natural dress style…with shorter hems and flowing skirts." In women's fashion, "..sleeves puffed out and high-standing collars were worn around the necks." A common fashion for men of the time was a, "..broad hat sometimes decorated with jewels." The days of plain costume and lack of fashion embellishments were disappearing.
Visit European Clothing of the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries and you'll learn that the key words to describe this era of European clothing were, "fine details" Some of those fine details were worn in the shape of, "..fine lace, bows, brocade textiles, gold, and silver embroidery." Men and women wore costume that conveyed richness and color. A man's suit had a, "..long flared coat, sleeveless waistcoat and white shirt with ruffles at the neck and wrists, embroidered silk stockings and high-heeled shoes." A woman's costume featured, "..embroidered and trimmed skirts and quilted under-petticoats." A wave of luxurious details crashed onto the fashion world of seventeenth and eighteenth century Europe.
Discover more facts about eighteenth century European fashion at:
- Clothing Glossary : Search this glossary of terms relating to the clothing styles of the eighteenth century.
- Collection of Fashion Styles : View these beautiful offerings of eighteenth century fashion.
The history of nineteenth century Western costume is made up of a few different periods of style. Travel to Nineteenth Century Western Clothing and you'll read that the main fabric used for dresses of the Neoclassical period (1800-1825) was, "..sheer white cotton, either plain or embroidered.." The information explains that the waistlines of dresses were located just below the bust and, "..skirts became increasingly narrow." One of the main physical characteristics developing in the realm of nineteenth century Western costume was restriction.
Go to The Romantic Era of Western Clothing and discover that the fabric of choice for many women's dresses was silk. During the Romantic period years of 1825 to 1850, some popular fabric colors were cream and yellow. The information further explains that the skirts of this period were designed to be wider than in previous decades. Puffed-out sleeves continued their trend of popularity. The Romantic era received its name partly because, "..the excessive use of ribbons and bows was seen as highly feminine."
At The Hoop Skirt of the Nineteenth Century you'll find that with the continued widening of the skirt came the introduction of the hoop that supported from underneath. These hoops were made of, "..steel wire and other materials." It certainly took a woman of the nineteenth century some time to learn to maneuver without feeling encumbered by the hoop underneath her skirts. The information declares that, "..by 1856 the hoop became popular for ladies to wear."
Review the information found at A Summary of Nineteenth Century Bustles and you'll find that when the hoop skirt went out of vogue, the bustle moved in. The bustle's overall styling was, "..full in front, and even more fabric to the back." It was still popular during the bustle period of the 1870s and 80's to have an abundance of "trimmings" on almost every dress.
For more information on nineteenth century clothing styles, please visit:
- The Nineteenth Century and Its Fashions : Great illustrations of nineteenth century clothing in all its colorful detail.
- Victorian Era Wedding Dresses : Illustrations and descriptions of wedding gowns of the Victorian era are offered at this location.
Twentieth century fashion has seen its share of styles. A few of the notable clothing fads featured at Twentieth Century Clothing are the woman's flapper dress of the 1920s, the dress featuring the full skirt of the 1950s, and the mini-skirt of the 1960s which to this day is popular among the sexy costumes seen worn by girls at Halloween and throughout the year. In the 1970s a popular outfit included the jumpsuit. The 1980s brought expensive power ties and neon colored fabrics. Travel to An Overview of Twentieth Century Fashion and you'll discover that as the decade of the 1990s rolled in people started to move away from designer style and toward comfortable, casual clothing. The information concludes that the easy styles of the 1990s transferred into the twenty-first century bringing about the introduction of casual fashion into the business environment.
- A Trip Through Twentieth Century Fashion: Entertaining descriptions, illustrations, and advertisements of the changing fashions throughout the twentieth century.
Over the centuries, styles and fabrics of clothing have changed thousands of times. But the desire of an individual to express his or her personality through clothing will always remain the same.