CULTURE AND COSTUME

HISTORY
CDF 111
SYNOPSIS
OBJECTIVE

To increase students
understanding and appreciation
of the evolution of the Western
World of clothing from primitive
times to the present day.

Fashion identification and

terminology

To achieve an insight into

archival information on fashion
movement, manners, and period
style of clothing.
LEARNING OUTCOME

Identify and analyze the general

trends as well as the specific
costume components of fashion
from the earliest times to
contemporary society.

Apply the knowledge of

costume history into
fashion design by better
understanding of what
people looked like in
different periods and what
the styles and social
conventions of the time
were.
Demonstrate
understanding of the
context/s and terminology
in which fashion is
produced and applied
PRE HISTORIC CHRONOLOGY

PALEOLITHIC 600,000- 160,000 BC HUNTERS

160,000- 40,000 BC
40, 000- 8000 BC

MESOLITHIC 8,000- 3000 BC HUNTERS/ FISHERMEN

NEOLITHIC 3000- 1000 BC FARMERS & SHEHRDS

BRONZE ACE 2100- 1000 BC SAILORS & ARTISAN

IRON AGE 1000-50 BC

MESOPOTAMIA

Ancient Mesopotamia was situated in the area of land that is

defined by the two great rivers the Tigris and the Euphrates and
that is contained within modern Iraq.

Several important cultures arose there, their empires waxing

and waning successively as well as overlapping in time.

Among the most prominent were the Sumerian, the Akkadian,

or Semitic, the Assyrian, and the Babylonian.
SUMERIAN CLOTHING

In early times both sexes wore sheepskin skirts with the skin
turned inside and the wool combed into decorative tufts.

These wraparound skirts were pinned in place and extended

from the waist to the knees or, for more important persons, to
the ankles.

The upper part of the torso was bare or clothed by another

sheepskin cloaking the shoulders.

From about 2500 BC a woven woolen fabric replaced the

sheepskin, but the tufted effect was retained, either by sewing
tufts onto the garment or by weaving loops into the fabric.

Named kaunakes by the Greeks, this tufted fabric is shown in

all the sculptures and mosaics of the period
At this time, also, long cloaks were worn, and materials for garments and
head coverings included felted wool and leather.

Men were generally clean-shaven.

Both sexes seem to have often worn large wigs, as in ancient Egypt.

Metalworking was of a high standard, as may be seen in the elaborate

golden jewelry, which was encrusted with semiprecious stones and worn
by both sexes: brooches, earrings, hair ornaments, and neck chains.
ASSYIRIA CLOTHING
1300BC- 612BC
•
MESOPOTAMIA
Both men and women were clothed in a
large piece of material--most commonly of
wool, though later also of linen--draped
around the body over a skirt. This garment,
similar to a shawl, was characteristically
edged with tassels or fringe.

The draping varied, but, for men at least, the

fabric was arranged so that the fullness was
at the rear, leaving the right, or sword, arm
free.
HORNED HELMET

SHAWL

FRINGE

SKIRT SANDALS
 BABYLON 1600-1000

The dress worn in Mesopotamia by the Babylonians (2105 BC-1240 BC) and the Assyrians (1200 BC-540 BC) evolved into a more
sophisticated version of Sumerian and Akkadian styles. This more elaborate draped costume can be seen in the large relief sculptures of
the age.

There were two basic garments for both sexes: the tunic and the shawl, each cut from one piece of material.

The knee- or ankle-length tunic had short sleeves and a round neckline.

Over it were draped one or more shawls of differing proportions and sizes but all generally fringed or tasseled.

Broad belts held the shawls in position. Wool was the most frequently used material, in bright or strong colors.

Decoration was rich, in allover patterns or in borders, carried out in embroidery or by printing. Motifs were chiefly geometric. Women
wore a short skirt as underwear, men a loincloth.

Footwear for both sexes was made from fabric or soft leather in the form of sandals or boots.
BABYLON
Care of the coiffure was very important for men and women among both the Assyrians
and the Babylonians .
The hair was grown long and carefully curled and ringleted, with false hair added if
needed.
Perfumes, oils, and black dye were used on the hair.
Men grew long, equally carefully tended curled beards.
A band of metal or fabric encircled the brow, or a woolen, felt, or leather cap shaped like
a fez was worn.
The royal headdress resembled a pleated crown or a mitre and had dependent lappets at
the rear.
Jeweled ornamentation to the costume was rich and heavy and of high quality.