Ancient Egyptian Clothes

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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.

    Page last updated: 15 Feb 2008
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