Clothes in Ancient Egypt: Magical Fashion of the Pharaohs and Nobles

Clothes in ancient Egypt expressed the social and cultural identity of its owner and played an important role in official celebrations and daily life for the ancient Egyptians There were many materials from which clothes were made, such as linen, wool, silk or cotton.

 The ancient Egyptians excelled in creating unique designs that reflected the extent of artistic development in this period There was also a distinction between men’s and women’s clothing There were some accessories that the ancient Egyptians wore to enjoy a touch of luxury and authenticity, such as jewelry and shoes In this article we will talk about clothes in ancient Egypt in different eras.

Clothes in the dynastic era

Clothes in ancient Egypt differed during the dynastic era between the upper and lower classes Men in the lower classes wore a knee-length skirt made of linen or cotton and fastened at the waist with a leather shoe or papyrus rope Men in the upper class wore almost the same outfit, but it contained more decoration, jewelry and ornaments. At that time, jewelry was the thing that distinguished the upper class from the lower class.

As for the women of the upper class, they wore long dresses, and a light transparent robe might be worn over them.

 This was after the discovery of cotton and linen and the manufacture of clothes from them. Before that, everyone wore clothes made from animal skins or papyrus reeds.

Clothes in the Middle Kingdom

 

Clothes did not change much during this period from the dynastic era, but there were many women who began to wear long abayas made of cotton. Most of these clothes had long sleeves During this period, the manufacture of clothes from cotton increased, especially among the upper class. 

The decoration of clothes during this period increased significantly among the upper class and became studded with some stones.

Clothes in the New Kingdom

The New Kingdom era began after the end of the Middle Kingdom era The Egyptians were ruled by a group of foreigners known as the Hyksos. The Hyksos were influenced at that time by the clothes of the ancient Egyptians.

 Clothes in ancient Egypt were also influenced by them, and some different styles of clothes appeared. Clothes were studded with pottery and jewels, especially among the upper class The manufacture of wigs decorated with jewels also increased.

During this period, the use of head scarves became widespread and could also be used on the waist or in the area under the breasts As for men, the skirt they wore reached below the knee and they wore some transparent blouses over it.

 As for the servant class during this period, they always appeared on the walls of the temples almost naked.

Cosmetics of the ancient Egyptians

The ancient Egyptians excelled in preparing and developing cosmetics that gave a beautiful appearance that suited the clothes in ancient Egypt and used aromatic oils The ancient Egyptians used to make kohl from lead oxide or lead sulfide and many women appeared with it on the walls of the temples.

 Some animal fats were also used for beautification and henna was made to color the fingernails and toenails Tattoos became widespread among men and women.

The ancient Egyptians used some types of aromatic oils and there was a difference in cosmetics between the upper and lower classes The upper classes could buy more cosmetics than the lower classes. The women of the upper class used some powders and creams to whiten the skin color, while the women of the lower class were famous for their dark skin.

Jewelry and ornaments among the ancient Egyptians

 

The ancient Egyptians excelled in inventing jewelry and ornaments to the point that they used it on the hair, and there were many head coverings and wigs studded with some types of jewelry that give a beautiful appearance with clothes in ancient Egypt What is known as the gorgen became famous in this period, which are some metal discs that are placed on the sleeves of some clothes or directly on the skin of the chest.

The clothes of the upper class were studded with some types of precious stones such as pearls and emeralds, and they wore jewelry made of gold and silver, while the lower class made their jewelry from cheaper materials, so they wore some glass jewels.

 The ancient Egyptians showed interest in many types of jewelry such as bracelets and anklets because they believed that these materials had magical powers, and they made them from stone, wood, leather, gold or silver.

Children’s clothes in ancient Egypt

 

The ancient Egyptians did not allow them to wear clothes from birth until they reached the age of six years, then after six years they were allowed to wear some fabrics to protect their bodies from the heat of the sun These fabrics were mostly made of linen and wrapped around the waist and then lifted on the shoulder. 

There were some children who wore jewelry to cover some areas of their bodies, especially those of the upper class It was made of gold and some precious stones The ancient Egyptians were very interested in manufacturing some children’s toys.

Ancient Egyptian clothing in winter

The ancient Egyptians wore some heavy clothes in winter to warm them from the cold These clothes were mostly made of linen Some brightly colored shawls were made for women to warm their heads and ears.

Then wool was discovered and women wore a hair cover made of wool There were many ancient Egyptians who used it in winter, especially for children.

 It also contributed to the warmth of the ancient Egyptians at that time. 

Many houses were made of mud bricks, which is characterized by heating the houses from the inside during the winter These houses were also close to each other.