Ancient Greek Costumes

The legacy of an attire dates back to many centuries. From ancient times, people of the world have used different costumes to adorn themselves; though the style and form of costumes has changed over the years.

Different clothing have been used in various traditions. The attire of kings, especially the battle armor worn by them, contained detailed work on leather. Pale white was a color worn in times of tragedy. In ancient times, the priests brought in the practice of wearing robes.

Ancient Greek costumes are known for their grandeur and tradition. The ancient Greeks loved to drape themselves in different types of clothes. A wide range of costumes were used for different occasions. In theater and drama, a mask constituted an important part of the costumes worn by actors. Ancient Greeks were known the world over for their attire. Costumes worn by them have influenced fashion all over the world. The attire was an integral part of Greek culture. The clothes worn were associated with power and overall status in society. They also formed an important part of celebrations. A victorious king often invited his fellowmen to join in the victory of a battle and everyone wore their best costumes to partake in such celebrations.

Ancient Greek Clothing
In ancient Greek culture, the masks used in theater were made of clay. Linen was also used in making some types of masks. Different variants of costumes in the ancient Greek culture have found their way into books of today's designers who implement such patterns while designing clothes.

The Chiton, a robe worn by the ancient Greeks was a comfortable garment made from wool. The robe had two versions, one up to the thigh and another till the ankle. The sleeves of the robe were designed in such a way, that they allowed the arms to flow freely. This robe was worn by both sexes. The Tunic was two rectangular pieces of cloth interwoven together. Some costumes worn by the ancient Greeks also had buttons made from bone.

The Greek apparel involved a lot of drapery and required great precision and detail. The Himation was another long piece of cloth that the Greeks draped themselves from shoulder to ankle. They loved to wear cloaks which were also called Chalmys. Cloaks were wrapped in different styles around the body. The colors most commonly used by the ancient Greeks were gray and violet. White was a color that was used in some traditions. Pins and brooches were used to hold the clothing together. Petasos, a kind of headgear similar to a hat, was preferred by the men in ancient Greece.

The ancient Greeks gave a lot of importance to their footwear. Sandals were a prominent part of the Greek civilization and different kinds of leather was used in designing them. Kothumus was a popular form of footwear worn by the Greeks. These boots had laces which were tied around the shin. Sandals and boots were helpful on rocky terrains.

In different phases of Greek history, the simplicity and attire of Greek costumes have remained the same. Wedding dresses were also a significant part of ancient Greek culture. The elegant gowns that were used in weddings were known for their simplicity. Even today, gowns worn at weddings are influenced by ancient Greek designs.

Clothes worn in the ancient Greek era paved the way for fashion in the years to come, thus making a significant contribution to the world of fashion.