Clothing in ancient Egypt

Ancient Egyptian clothing includes the garments, jewelry, footwear, and wigs worn by people in Egypt from the end of the Neolithic period (before 3100 BC) until the Ptolemaic Kingdom ended in 30 BC. The way people dressed changed only a little over many years, but sometimes new styles came from other lands.

One of the most famous parts of ancient Egyptian clothing was the white linen kilts that many men wore. Women often had sheath dresses, and both men and women wore bag-tunics and mantles. People also liked to wear usekh collars, special necklaces, and sandals on their feet. Wigs were very popular too, especially for women and for people in important jobs.

These clothes give us a glimpse into the daily life and culture of ancient Egypt. By looking at what people wore, we can learn about their jobs, their social status, and how they kept cool in a very hot climate.

Materials

In ancient Egypt, linen made from the flax plant was the most common fabric. It helped people stay cool in the hot weather. Other materials like wool, hemp, grass, and reed were used less often. Many people, especially peasants and slaves, sometimes went without clothes, but most wore a shenti made of linen.

Special head coverings included the khat, worn by noble men, and the nemes, which was only for kings.

Deities

Ancient Egypt had special gods and goddesses linked to making clothes and weaving. The main god was Hedjhotep, and the main goddess was Tayt. They were thought to watch over people who made and wore clothes.

Pharaohs

Main article: Regalia of the Pharaoh

Pharaohs had special clothing to show their important role. They often wore a khat, nemes, and different crowns of the pharaohs to look royal. Sometimes, they also wore animal skins like leopard or lion skins to show they were leaders.

Men

From around 2130 BC during the Old Kingdom, men’s clothes were simple. They wore wrap-around skirts tied at the waist, and everyone wore similar styles, but richer people had better-made clothes.

Later, during the Middle Kingdom, men’s fashion changed a bit. Skirts started to have pleats, and rich men began wearing a special triangular apron over their basic clothing.

By the time of the New Kingdom, men’s clothes became even more fancy. Art shows that richer men wore blouses with pleated sleeves and skirts with sheer overlays, though only those with more money could get these special fabrics.

Women

Ancient Egyptian women typically wore a simple dress called a kalasiris during the Old, Middle, and New Kingdoms. This dress covered the breasts in statues but sometimes showed one breast in paintings. The length of the dress showed a woman's social class, with longer dresses indicating higher status. Women could also add shawls, capes, or robes over their dresses for extra style.

The dresses were made from linen and often had beading or feathers as decorations. Some surviving dresses were baggy and made from a tube of material sewn up one side, which hid the body shape rather than showing it. Linen was a common material because it hugged the body without sagging.

Children

In ancient Egypt, children did not wear clothes until they were six years old. After that, they started wearing clothes to stay comfortable in the hot, dry weather. Kids often had a special hairstyle called the side-lock, which was a long piece of hair left unshaven on the right side of their head. Even without many clothes, children still wore jewelry like anklets, bracelets, collars, and hair accessories.

Wigs

Wigs were popular among rich people, both men and women. They were made from real hair and sometimes mixed with fibers from date palms. These wigs were styled in tight curls or thin braids. On special days, people would place cones made of scented fat on top of their wigs. As the cones melted, they released a pleasant smell and helped keep the hair soft.

See also: Sidelock of youth

Jewelry

See also: Ancient Egyptian flint jewelry, Pectoral (Ancient Egypt), Usekh collar, and Egyptian finger and toe stall

People in ancient Egypt liked wearing jewelry a lot, no matter who they were. Jewelry was often big and heavy. It helped make their simple white clothes more colorful and pretty. Egyptians loved bright colors and shiny stones. They used gold from the eastern desert and places like Nubia. Silver was rarer and came from far away in Asia, so it was very special.

They also used colorful stones like carnelian, amethyst, and jasper from the eastern desert, and turquoise from the Sinai. Some jewelry was made from glass and a special material called faience, which looked like stones but could be made in many colors.

Both men and women wore earrings, bracelets, rings, and necklaces. Some people made their jewelry from colored pottery beads if they could not afford gold or stones. A special piece of jewelry called the gorgerine was made of metal discs worn on the chest.

Cosmetics

Main article: Beauty and cosmetics in ancient Egypt

People in ancient Egypt liked to use makeup and perfumes. They made special paints for their nails and hands using a plant called henna. They used a black substance called kohl around their eyes, made from a mineral called galena. They also made eye shadow from crushed malachite and red paint for their lips from ochre. These paints were mixed with animal fat to keep them from spoiling. Both men and women used these paints to look their best and protect their eyes.

Footwear

Footwear was the same for both men and women. It included sandals made from leather or, for priests, from papyrus. Egyptians often went barefoot, so they wore sandals during special events or when they needed protection for their feet.

New Kingdom of Egypt

During this time, women's clothes became more fancy than ever before. Both men and women often shaved their heads to stay clean and save time on hair care. They wore wigs to keep their heads protected and for special events.