Clothing and Fashion in Ancient Greece

Clothing and Fashion in Ancient Greece

Learn about the clothing and fashion of Ancient Greece, including the materials, how the clothes were made, and typical clothing for women and men

Clothing and Fashion

Greece experiences intense heat; hence, the ancient Greeks dressed in light, loose garments. Usually, the ladies of the household and the servants create clothing and fabric in the home.

What materials did they use to make clothes?

Wool and linen were the two materials most in demand. Linen was derived from flax imported from Egypt, and wool was spun from the fleeces of local sheep. Light fabrics, like linen, worked well in the heat. Wool kept you warmer and was a superb winter fabric. Wealthy people in later Ancient Greece could afford to purchase cotton and silk garments.

How did they make cloth?

Wool and linen were the two materials most in demand. Linen was derived from flax imported from Egypt, and wool was spun from the fleeces of local sheep. Light fabrics, like linen, worked well in the heat. Wool kept you warmer and was a superb winter fabric. Wealthy people in later Ancient Greece could afford to purchase cotton and silk garments.

Typical Clothing for Women

In ancient Greece, women would typically dress in a long tunic known as a peplos. A lengthy piece of cloth called a peplos was belted around the waist. To give the impression that the peplos was made of two pieces of clothing, part of it was folded down over the belt. Under the peplos, a smaller tunic known as a chiton was occasionally worn.

Occasionally, women would cover their peplos with a wrap known as a himation. It might be draped in various ways, depending on what’s in style right now.

Typical Clothing for Men

Men generally wore a tunic called a chiton. The men’s tunic could be shorter than the women’s, especially if they were working outside. Men also wore a wrap called the himation. Sometimes the himation was worn without a chiton and was draped similar to a Roman toga. When hunting or going to war, the men sometimes wore a cloak called a chlamys.

Did they wear shoes?

A lot of the time, the Ancient Greeks went barefoot, especially when at home. When wearing footwear, they usually wore leather sandals.

Jewelry and Makeup

Wealthy Greeks wore jewelry made from precious metals like gold and silver. They wore rings, necklaces, and earrings. Women would sometimes have jewelry sewn into the fabric of their clothing. The most popular type of jewelry was a decorated pin or fastener used to attach their wrap or cloak.

One of the most desired features of a Greek woman was to have pale skin. This showed that she wasn’t poor or a slave who had to work outside. Women would use makeup to powder their skin and make it appear lighter. They also sometimes used lipstick.

Hair Fashion

The Ancient Greeks loved to style their hair. Men generally wore their hair short, but they parted their hair and used oils and perfumes in it. Women wore their hair long. This helped to separate them from slave women who had their hair cut short. Women wore complicated hairstyles with braids, curls, and decorations such as headbands and ribbons.

Facts About Clothing and Fashion in Ancient Greece

• Most of the clothing was white, but they sometimes dyed their clothing using dyes made from plants and insects.
• Women’s clothing always went down to the ankles, as they were supposed to remain covered in public.
• They sometimes wore straw hats or veils (the women) to protect their heads from the sun.
• Cloth was seldom cut or sewn together to make clothes. Squares or rectangles of cloth were made to the right size to fit the wearer and then draped and held together with a belt and pins.

Clothing and Fashion in Ancient Greece

Read also: Food in ancient Greece