Ancient Egyptian Clothes

The Egyptians cared about their appearance which indicated a persons status, role in a society or political significance.

Clothes based on two elements:
a) the wrapped kilt of men
b) the sewed kalasaris ( a sewed sheath which developed into a shirt) of women - by the New Kingdom, it became incorporated into men's dress as well.

Textiles were made of linen, a light airy fabric suitable in hot and humid climates.

Wool was considered unclean, and not to be worn in temples by priests

Male
Nobility Old Kingdom
Simple short kilt - white
small necklace
short curled hair covering the ears
barefoot
Middle Kingdom
kilt lengthened
transparent overskirt
collars
barefoot
New Kingdom
Simplicity gone
Elaborate pleated garment
Use of color
embroidery
broad collars
kalasaris worn by men
leather sandals with extended toes
wig and perfumed cone
Postiche—False beard, leather or metal. Reserved for the Pharaoh

Female
Nobility Old Kingdom and Middle Kingdom

Kalasiris - a simple transparent long dress
large wig
barefoot
New Kingdom
Elaborate gown
beaded yoke collar
Bracelets around the wrist
fluted transparent linen
cosmetics and Perfumes
wig and hair ornaments
khol (a black dye) lines the eyebrows

Male

Peasants Old Kingdom
Short Kilt
short curled hair covering the ears
barefoot
Middle Kingdom and New Kingdom
Long Kilt
short hair with ears visible
barefoot

Female

Peasants Old Kingdom and Middle Kingdom
simple straight linen skirt, from under the breast
bare breasted
Short hair trimmed below the ears
barefoot
New Kingdom
long linen Kalasiris
long unplaited hair
jewelry and necklaces made of pottery beads
barefoot

Priests

long white robes with a strap over one shoulder
leopard skins
leopard skin sandals
clean shaven heads and body - hair was considered impure
Washed several times a day for purity.

Children

Naked until puberty
Head was shaved off except for a long lock of hair left on the side of the head, this s-shaped lock was depicted by the hieroglyphic symbol of a child or youth. Both girls and boys wore this style until the onset of puberty. Older boys often shaved their heads, while girls had ponytails hanging down the center of the back

Headdress

Wigs were worn by men and women of high society. The primary function of the wig was as a headdress for special occasions, such as ceremonies and banquets. Wigs were made of curled long hair separated into three parts, the so-called goddress.
Peasant women tied and decorated their head with flowers and inexpensive linen ribbons.
Children decorated their heads with amulets of small fish to protect from the dangers of the Nile

Personal Care

Men were always clean-shaven, they used razors made from bronze to shave their beards and heads.

Bathing - using rubbing oils and perfumes applied into the skin

Cosmetic implements applied by nobility

A dye called henna, was used by women to redden their nails and lips.

	Male
Nobility	Old Kingdom Simple short kilt - white small necklace short curled hair covering the ears barefoot	Middle Kingdom kilt lengthened transparent overskirt collars barefoot	New Kingdom Simplicity gone Elaborate pleated garment Use of color embroidery broad collars kalasaris worn by men leather sandals with extended toes wig and perfumed cone Postiche—False beard, leather or metal. Reserved for the Pharaoh

	Female
Nobility	Old Kingdom and Middle Kingdom Kalasiris - a simple transparent long dress large wig barefoot		New Kingdom Elaborate gown beaded yoke collar Bracelets around the wrist fluted transparent linen cosmetics and Perfumes wig and hair ornaments khol (a black dye) lines the eyebrows

	Male
Peasants	Old Kingdom Short Kilt short curled hair covering the ears barefoot	Middle Kingdom and New Kingdom Long Kilt short hair with ears visible barefoot

	Female
Peasants	Old Kingdom and Middle Kingdom simple straight linen skirt, from under the breast bare breasted Short hair trimmed below the ears barefoot		New Kingdom long linen Kalasiris long unplaited hair jewelry and necklaces made of pottery beads barefoot

	Priests long white robes with a strap over one shoulder leopard skins leopard skin sandals clean shaven heads and body - hair was considered impure Washed several times a day for purity.
	Children Naked until puberty Head was shaved off except for a long lock of hair left on the side of the head, this s-shaped lock was depicted by the hieroglyphic symbol of a child or youth. Both girls and boys wore this style until the onset of puberty. Older boys often shaved their heads, while girls had ponytails hanging down the center of the back
	Headdress Wigs were worn by men and women of high society. The primary function of the wig was as a headdress for special occasions, such as ceremonies and banquets. Wigs were made of curled long hair separated into three parts, the so-called goddress. Peasant women tied and decorated their head with flowers and inexpensive linen ribbons. Children decorated their heads with amulets of small fish to protect from the dangers of the Nile