Have you ever been to Greece and looked at some of the clothes shops where the clothes look so noble and like an old divine style?! Then you'll be curious to know how the Greeks dressed in ancient Greece, because that's where the lighter but still noble style that we admire on holiday comes from.
For many millennia, ancient Greek clothing was the epitome of beauty and sophistication, and in the history of ancient fashion, there is not a single extravagant style or flashy print that could surpass the restrained Greek style. Ancient Greek clothing emphasised the beauty of the body and concealed well the flaws of the figure.
Let's start from the beginning:
The founders of ancient Greek fashion were voluminous outfits without cuts and seams. The first clothes of the ancient Greeks were heavy and massive. Around the male figure the people wrapped square pieces of woollen fabric, around the female figure a peplum that was fastened at the shoulders. The clothing of the Greeks was mainly draped with wool, but they also chose linen, cotton fabrics and silks brought from the countries of the East.
The clothes were often bright and multicoloured for the women, because it was only decent for women to wear and combine something too colourful, but not for men. The colours purple, red, green, blue and yellow were the colours women liked to wear. However, white was considered the most beautiful and elegant colour. White clothes were decorated with bright colours.
"Chiton", is a sewn shirt, a tunic. Chiton - was the main component of men's clothing. It was worn directly on the body and consisted of a piece of cloth with holes for the hands . The upper ends were fastened at the shoulders with a buckle. The length of the chiton varied from era to era. In the beginning it was worn very long, later it was adjusted so that it only reached the knee. Decorated with small folds and patterns, the clothing of the Greeks varied greatly, but the basis of each costume was a piece of straight fabric of varying length and width, draped over the body and emphasising the harmony of body and clothing. However, shirts were the privilege of the aristocrats.
More: Chiton - Facts and History
There was another type of coat - a short coat fastened with a clasp at the neck and falling freely over the back and shoulders. Such a cloak is called a “chlamydia/chlamys” and was usually worn when hunting.
Greek women kept their outfits more chic and secretive. In the city, women wore headdresses, as well as round, almost flat hats with a pointed tip outside the city. On their feet they wore sandals - white or yellow shoes, high boots made them even more feminine. When they went outside, they took an umbrella and a fan made of peacock feathers and lotus flowers. The outfit was completed with gold earrings in the shape of spirals or pendants, gold necklaces, tiaras and bracelets on the upper arm.
Women had thick hair that was braided and fastened with pins and headbands. They were styled in different shapes and curls. In general womens looked very feminine and wore their clothes according to their status. A married woman would cover herself with a large shawl when she went out and wear a tunic underneath, while unmarried women liked to go out in tunics and show off their feminine shapes as well as their feminine beauty.