1. This Project of mine on “Indian World Art and Costume Appreciation” comprises details of ancient
fashion of-
INDIAN WORLD ART AND COSTUME APPRECIATION
-Egyptian Period
-Roman Period
-Greek Period
-Renaissance period
-Byzantine Period
-Victorian Period
Renaissance PeriodVictorian Period
Byzantine
Costume
Egyptian Costume
Roman Costume
Greek Costume
Within the past few years art in dress has become an accomplished fact, and historic costume as a
serious subject of art research has developed new and fascinating possibilities.
ADITI KARWA

2. metal hand mirrors are witnesses of how much of life was
ANCIENT EGYPTIAN FASHION
Egypt is valley of Nile.In Egypt at some remote unknown dates
were evolved the original type of covering fo the human body
the tunic, the robe ,the skirt accompanied by shawl or cape.
These were all worn with few variationby both men and women.
Linen was the principal material used and the highly decorative
effect were usually obtained by border or fringes.
Skin were worn , garment s of gazelle hide, cut and seamed
and panther and leopard skin thrown over the shoulder. A
warrior’s metal cuirass appears, formed of scales, and it was
imitated in all-over scale patterns.
Head-dress shown varied and elaborate symbolic forms, the
uraeus in front of the tall helmet, or skullcap shapes, is familiar. The
most recent excavations have unearthed rich treasures in jewellary.
The art of Egyptian lapidaries and goldsmith is shown in necklaces,
braceletes, earings, girdles and finger rings of exquisite workmenship.
The innumerable little jars and boxes for cosmetics, and
vanity, then as now.
All these things belonged to the luxurious side of the ancient
life, but Egyptian art record the humbler phases too. There are
figures of dark skinned slaves brought to the Nile ports in war-
galleys from the African interior, wearing the primitive loin cloth
, or shprt skirt, which were commonly worn by servants and
peasants, and by scribes.
ANCIENT ROMAN FASHION
Fashionable women wore hair pieces were often made
from the hair of slave girls. Women sandals were brightly
coloured.Chalk Powder, charcoal and saffron were used
of a cloak.
Roman dresses differed from one class to another. A
Roman could tell how important or wealthy a person
was from their Toga .Free Roman men wore Toga instead
around the body.
Toga was originally an Etruscan garment worn in earlier
times by both men and women of all classes. The toga
was made of white wool or white Egyptian linen. It was
square or rectangular in shape and was worn draped
which was a full length.
The Romans were fond of coloured stones .Rings were
the only jewellary worn by Roman citizen men and good
manners dictated only one ring. Women wore Tunica
which was adopted from Greek Chiton. The tunica was
usually knee length. Over this the women wore a stole
The ancient Roman women loved ornate necklaces,
pins, earrings, braceletes and friendship rings. Pearls
were favourites.
as cosmetics.
Footwear also defined a person’s position in society.
Women worn closed shoes that were either white, green,
or yellow. Men wore sandals.
Most early Roman jewellary resembled Greek and
Etruscan jewellary, but Roman styles eventually developed.
The Romans were fond of coloured stones such as Topaz,
emeralds, rubies and sapphires. Pendants, especially
came in gold frames, were popular
ANCIENT RENAISSANCE FASHION
The Renaissance period was an interesting one that had
some really exquisitely designed clothing for men and
women.The fashion in Renaissance period was inclined
towards the opulent designs as well as simpllitic forms.
This was the period that saw the lavish use of silks and fur.
Clothing during the Renaissance period was more about
displaying one’s social status. Therich would wear clothes in
expensive fabrics. Materials suchas silk and brocade were
used for cloyhing during the Renaissance period. Women’s
fashion saw an evolution during this era. Style was the prime
factor. This includesthe skirt, bodice, vest, underskirt and the
collar. weddingdresses during this period were particularly
beautiful in their appearance and were made of brocades.
Exiquisite jewels were sewn onto the patterns. Many layers of
clothing thus formed an important factor of Renaissance
clothing for women. This probably considered as a way to
keep the body warm diring the cold weather.
Women’s clothing also consisted of a kirtle, which was
worn with a gown.This frock consisted of tight fitted bodice
and a flowing skirt.Sleeves were often wide and the rich
loved to line theirsleeves with fur. Gowns often had long
trains of cloth behind Women also used to take a long time
to get ready due to the number of layers involved in the clothing.
Renaissance clothing for men began with the rich and opulent look. Men
worecoats and outfits that gave the silhouette of square look.
This was created with the help of shoulder pads,which were used
to widen the shoulders.
Until this period, lace was almost never used in dresses.
Later, fashion began to reflect mannerism.
Renaissance clothing was considered to be incomplete
without hoods or head gears.women adorned pointed hats
over their hair. These stylish caps were embellished with jewels and often had
string attached to back.
ADITI KARWA
ADVANCE DIPLOMA IN
FASHION TECNOLOGY
HISTORIC
COSTUMES
W
ITH
CONTEMPORARY
IDEAS
ADITI KARWA

3. ADITI KARWA
ADVANCE DIPLOMA IN
FASHION TECNOLOGY
ANCIENT GREECE FASHION
The helmets which almost totally encased the face,could
deflect a spear and the movement of the plume tail
decoration might distract the attacker visually from a
precision aim. It also helps them to distinguish between
Ancient Greek clothing was typically home made and
the same piece of homespun fabric that was used as a
type of garment or blanket. From Greek vase paintings
and sculptures, we can tell the fabrics were intensely
coloured and usually decorated with intricate designs.
Clothing for men and women consist of 2 main garments-
*a tunic (either a peplos or Chiton) ,and
*a cloak (himation).
The Peplos was a large rectangular of heavy fabric,usually
wool, folded over along the upper edge so that the overfold could
The Chiton was made of a much lighter material,normally
linen. It was a very long and very wide rectangle of fabric
sewn up at the sides, pinned or sewn at the shoulder,
and usually girded around the waist.
Zoster.
When Peplos and Chiton wore with Himation, it was known
as Monochiton. A belt was worn with Chiton known as
Helmets and Shields were an important part of the masculine Grecian
style. Leg protection called “Greaves” added more skin coverage.
friend and foes.
Himation was being worn in ancient Greece, it represented
a form of outdoor wear. The himation is also an important
garment of ancient Greek fashion. This was generally made
from a rectangular piece of wool. This Himation was loose
and flowing, therefore, it cam be termed as modern cloak.
It was also used as a form of drapery to be worn over the
chiton.
ANCIENT BYZANTINE FASHION
The people who we know today as the Byzantines called
themselves Romans, spoke Greek, and lived in modern-day
Turkey. The Byzantines maintained a legacy of learning and
a civilization inherited from the Greeks and Roman for ,more
than a thousand years.
The Byzantines, who tended to prefer simple flowing clothes
to the winding and draping of the Toga, did away with the toga
altogether. They chose as their most basic garments the
dalmatica, a long , flowing men’s tunic, or shirt, with wide
sleeve and hem, and the stola for women. Unlike the Romans,
the Byzantines tended to be very modest about any display
of fresh. Their garments were worn close about the neck,
sleeves extended all the way to wrist, and the hemline, or
bottom edge, of their outer garment extended all the way
to the ground. They layered their clothing, with men wearing
a tunic and trousers under the dalmatica, and women wearing
along undergarment beneath their stola and an outer garment
called a paludamentum. or long cloak.
Traders brought exotic fabrics and patterns into the capital city
of Constantinople from these regions, and rich Byzantines
eagerly adopted the colours, patterns, and fabrics of the east
into their costume tradition. Over time Byzantine Clothing became
ever richer in colour and ornamentation. Deep Reds, blues,
greens, and yellows became common on the garment of
wealthy people, but the richest colour, purple, was reserved for
royalty. Among the more distinctive garments developed by
the Byzantine are still worn today by the members of the
Eastern Orthodox Church.
Silk fabric was especially beloved by the Byzantines. Silk first
came to the west in about 39 B.C.E.The Byzantines wore silk
into a strong fabric called samite, which sometimes had gold
thread woven into the material. Silk was highly treasured by
the wealthy Byzantines to make a variety of garments as well
as for embroidery. The quality of Byzantine clothing was limited
only by ability of wearer of pay for it. Most Byzantine likely wore
unable to afford the expensive things that would have survived
many hundreadsor thousands of years.
reach to the waist
ANCIENT VICTORIAN FASHION
Victorian Fashion comprises the various fashions and trends in
British culture that emerges and grew in province throughout the
Victorian era and the reign of Victoria, a period which would last from June 1837 to
January 1901.
By 1907, clothing was increasingly factory made and sold in large,
fixed price department stores. Custom sewing and home sewing were
still significant, but on the decline new machninery and material changed
in many ways.
The introduction of the lock-stitch sewing machine in mid-century
simplifiedboth home and boutique dressmaking, and enabled a fashion for
lavishapplication of trims that would have been prohibitively time
consuming if done with hand. Lace machinery made lace at a fraction of
the cost of the old, laborious methods.
In the 1840s -1850s, women’s gowns developed narrow and sloping
shoulders, low and pointed waists, and bell-shaped skirts. Corsets, a knee
length chemise, and layers of flounced petticoat were worn under the
gowns. By 1850s the amount of petticoats was reduced and the crinoline
was worn the size of the skirts expanded. Day dresses had a solid bodice
and evening gowns had a very low neckiline and worn off the shoulder
with sheer shawls and opera-length gloves.In 1860s, the skirts became flatter
During the 1840s, men wore tight-fitting,calf length frock coats and
a waistcoat or vest. The vests were single or tripled brested, with
shawl or notched collars. Trousers had fly fronts, and breeches
were used for formal functions and when horse back riding.
During 1850s, men started wearing shirts with high upstanding
or turnover collars and 4-in hand neckties tied in a bow.
In 1860s, men started wearing wider neckties that were
tied in a bow or looped into a loose knot and fastened
with a stickpin. During 1870s, 3-piece suits grew in
popularity. During the 1880s, formal evening dress
remained a dark tail coat and trousers with a dark
waistcoat, a white bow tie, and a shirt with winged
collar.
at the front. In1870s, uncorseted tea gowns were introduced. In 1880s,
riding habit had a matching jacket and skirts, a high collared shirt and a
tip hat with avail. In the 1890s wo,men’s fashion became simpler and
less extravagant.
HISTORIC
COSTUMES
W
ITH
CONTEMPORARY
IDEAS
ADITI KARWA