Kayla Eason

12 September 2014
Dr. Saiki
FCFA 360
1. Sumerians

Theme: Identification of group

membership
Description: In this historic photo, we
can observe that the Sumerian men and
women wore wrapped skirts that were
held in place by belts. The Greek word
for the fleece-like fabric shown,
resembling layered ruffles, is called a
kaunakes. This was an easy way to
identify the early Sumerians. Also, both
the men and women are topless in this
photo, which could have also resembled
status or group affiliation rather than
immodesty.

Theme: Gender Differences

Description: In comparison to the
historic photo, contemporary fashion for
the pink ruffled skirt would typically be
designed for men. The tight fitting belt,
color, length, and design of the skirt are
all indicators that the skirt is designed
primarily for women. Even a
homosexual man of todays age would
still not typically wear this skirt
comfortably. Also, the material of the
skirt appears to be made of a
manufactured fabric and meant to
resemble silk.

Kayla Eason
12 September 2014
Dr. Saiki
FCFA 360
2. Babylonians

Theme: Gender Differences

Description: In this historic photo we
see that this man is wearing a draped
tunic of some sort, with only one
shoulder covered. During that time men
were the only gender wearing this style,
and it was purposeful to indicate gender
distinction. We know that because in this
time period womens tunics were
designed with both shoulder covered.
The fabric is perhaps made of sheep
skin or of a woven fabric. Also, there is a
trim on the edge/seam of the garment.

Theme: Ceremonial Clothing

Description: Like the compared historic
photo to the left, this garment too,
reveals one shoulder. Also, they are
both loose fitting with a draped like
appearance. However, there are a
variety of differences as well. The fabric

Kayla Eason
12 September 2014
Dr. Saiki
FCFA 360
is a thin, sheer-like fabric, something
that was unachievable during late
Sumerian times. Also the bright red
color of this particular garment would
have been impossible to achieve. The
color, fabric, length, and style indicate
that the dress is meant to be worn by a
woman for a formal occasion.

status symbols as well. Notice the man

standing furthest behind the group of
more has no diagonal shawl, and his
tunic is noticeably shorter, lacking trim
or any embellishment. He is also
barefooted.

3. Assyrians

Theme: Designation of status

Description: In this photo, the diagonal
shawl is the key garment when it comes
to designation of status, because only
royalty wore these. Also, the length and
the color of the tunic are important

Theme: Clothing as art

Description: In comparison to the
historic photo on the left, the shawl she
is wearing is worn as decoration.
Though it is clear she is of no royal

Kayla Eason
12 September 2014
Dr. Saiki
FCFA 360
stature, she is using the embroidered
shawl as an enhancement to her
undergarments, or as an accessory. The
material of this garment is fringed very
closely to the Assyrian diagonal fringe,
but the garment itself is a knit, and knit
garments did not exist between the
years of 1000-600BC.

Egyptian women. This garment tight

fitting garment was referred to as a
sheath dress. It was made out of a
woven fabric of some kind, and could be
constructed with or without sleeves. This
garment could also be dyed and made
into a multi-colored dress as well, but
the v neck style and tight fit remained
fairly consistent for some time.

4. Egyptians

Theme: Enhancement of sexual

attraction

Theme: Identification of group

membership
Description: The photo shown above
was a commonly worn garment among

Description: In comparison to the

Greek photo, the photo listed above is
almost identical in terms of physical
appearance, but there are quite a few
differences in retrospect. The material
still appears to be of a woven fabric.
However, the shiny texture could not
have been achievable during the
Egyptian culture. Also, a v neck and
tight fitting formal gown would be worn

Kayla Eason
12 September 2014
Dr. Saiki
FCFA 360
to a formal event, and the amount of
skin revealed (arms, neck, cleavage) is
meant to enhance a womans sex
appeal.

to men, so that had the freedom of

wearing a variety of clothing if they
chose to do so.

5. Minoan/Mycenaeans

Theme: Clothing as art

Description: In Minoan/Mycenaean
culture there were 3 types of skirts that
were worn as art; a flared skirt with
ornamental horizontal bands of color, a
skirt made of tiers of ruffles, and a skirt
with uncertain construction, appearing to
be a wide legged trouser/capri or
gauchos like the photo listed above.
They seem to be made of a woven
fabric. In this culture, women are equal

Theme: Clothing as art

Description: In comparison to the
Minoan/Mycenaean photo, the garment
in the photo shown above is actually
pants, instead of appearing to be pants,
although in some angles it can still
appear to be a skirt at first sight. They
appear to be made out of a sheer satin-

Kayla Eason
12 September 2014
Dr. Saiki
FCFA 360
like fabric so that they are free flowing
and comfortable, which is different from
the fabric used in the
Minoan/Mycenaean time period.

wrapped from one sheet of fabric.

Greeks also liked to add pleating to their
clothing. This became a popular look for
women in that time period, which was
somewhere between 500 and 323 BC,
which was considered the classical
period.

6. Greeks

Theme: Identification of group

membership

Theme: Technology

Description: The garment listed above

is as called a Hellenistic chiton, a
garment that developed in Greek
culture. It is made the same as a
garment referred to as a Doric chiton.
The difference between the Hellenistic
chiton and the Doric chiton is that the
Hellenistic chiton has a flap under the
belt, and the belt is placed directly
beneath the bust, but they are both

Description: In contrast to the historic

Greek photo, the garment shown above
is actually not one garment, but 2. As
explained previously the Hellenistic
garment, along with most historic
garments, was achieved by using one
sheet of fabric. In the above photo, the
shirt she is wearing is a peplum shirt
made out of woven fabric, and the skirt
is most likely made of knit as well. In the

Kayla Eason
12 September 2014
Dr. Saiki
FCFA 360
skirt there are a lot of colors and
geometric shapes, giving the outfit a
modern twist. But it still resembles the
Greek form of dress very closely
because of the belt placement under the
bust and over the flap of the shirt, and
the length of the skirt is similar as well.

accessory, or clothing as art. This was

perhaps the most well known garment
amongst the Etruscans, possibly
because it was widely adopted by men
and women, making it a universal
garment of Etruscan culture.

7. Etruscans

Theme: Technology
Theme: Identification of group
membership
Description: Etruscan men and women
wore rounded capes called tebennas.
These capes could be constructed with
many drapes, and the Etruscans were
very well known for these capes. They
wrapped these capes over tunics with
long tabs. It was almost like an

Description: In the photo above there

are several looks to a very basic
garment. As shown there are several
different materials, lengths, and ways to
drape a cape. It can also be worn in
many different looks, styles, and colors.
I think the black cape in the middle
resembles the historical photo best
because of the way it drapes and folds.

Kayla Eason
12 September 2014
Dr. Saiki
FCFA 360
Each picture, though, has a very
modern twist to the Etruscan tebenna.
We can see that even through
technology changes, basic fashion
garments do not go away; rather they
are innovated and given a new type of
look.

undergarments were most likely made

of woven linen fabrics.

8. Romans

Theme: Identification of group

membership
Description: In this garment the Roman
woman is wearing two undergarments.
The bra like undergarment was called a
strophium, and the pantie type
undergarment shown was called a
subligaria. Each garment closely
resembles the look of womens
underwear today, and still serves the
same purpose as well. These

Theme: Enhancement of sexual

attraction
Description: In this photo we see a
woman in a matching lace bra and
underwear set. Because it is lace,
instead of a basic knit bra and pantie
set, it is an enhancement of sexual
attraction. Lace is associated with sex
appeal, especially when it comes to
underwear. Almost every woman sees

Kayla Eason
12 September 2014
Dr. Saiki
FCFA 360
undergarments as necessities, as the
Roman women did, but the lace textured
fabric and color gives it an
enhancement.

necessarily meant to make a fashion

statement, rather than to serve a utility
purpose or for protective wear.

9. Sumerians

Theme: Geographic location

Description: This fur hat was
considered a pre-historic fashion, or the
Iceman Age between 3350-3100. The
hat was made out of bearskins and
leather straps. Obviously it kept working
men warm and protected their head and
ears in cold weather. It was not

Theme: Technology
Description: In this photo, in
comparison to the pre-historic photo, it
is fairly similar, but it also has a lot of
differences as well. The first difference
is the apparent difference in fur. The
iceman photo is made of bearskins, but

Kayla Eason
12 September 2014
Dr. Saiki
FCFA 360
the photo shown above to be beaver
skin, or even possibly faux fur. Also the
hat above has ears attached, adding
more warmth than the hat made in prehistoric times.

were of the working class, and they

were worn for utility purposes.

10. Egyptians

Theme: Identification of group

membership
Description: This was common
footwear worn amongst Egyptians by
both men and women, and started in the
New Kingdom, which was between
1575-1087BC. This was a new fashion
because for centuries before this period
Egyptians simply went barefooted.
These woodened thong sandals have a
quilted surface with a relatively thin sole.
The only cultures who wore footwear

Theme: Technology
Description: In comparison to the
footwear in the Egyptian photo, the
sandals shown above are a fit different.
First off, yes they are wooden, but they
are a lot smoother and have a much
thicker sole. Also, the top (thong portion)
appears to be made out of a plastic
strap, thus adding more comfort. The
thicker/smoother sole of the sandal

Kayla Eason
12 September 2014
Dr. Saiki
FCFA 360
appears that it may add more comfort as
well. With the help of modern
technology this sandal is a much
improved style of a wooden sandal.