The origin of linen was around the civilization of Nile in Egypt. The characteristic of the female garment in ancient Egypt Old Kingdom was a short skirt for the lower classes,or a kalasiris,a longer skirt reaching from the ankles to just below,or just above the breasts, says PIU SARKAR.
By the Middle Kingdom,long kilts was a fashion.They were like skirts,reaching from waist to ankles,sometimes even hanging from the armpits.The New Kingdom was the more luxurious period,people wore more clothing,sometimes in layers with a inner and outer garments.This outer layer was made of particularly fine,diaphanous pleated linen,and would appear almost transparent.Clothing of the royal family was different,and was well documented;for instance the crowns of the Pharaohs,feather headdresses,and the khat or head cloth worn was all worn by nobility.Hence,the style-fashion in an ancient and changing still in society as according to our DNA and psychology.
The royal elegance of all time have left her fine mark in fashion in Indian history.Maharanis of yesteryears epitomized fashion,triggered trends and became a source of inspiration for many.Chiffon sarees were a trademark of Indian Maharanis, something that gave a style identity to India.Maharani Indira Devi of Cooch Behar was the first to start the trend and convert the six yards of the fabric into high fashion.Her saris were created in looms of Lyon in France to her specifications. Later she also introduced silk chiffon to many royal families.Indira Devi’s daughter Maharani Gayatri Devi too followed her mother’s footsteps and popularized the soft flowing chiffons.She became a style icon of her time with her natural sense of dressing and became a source of inspiration across the globe.She was even particular about how the pallu of her saree covered her head. .
Rajmata of Jaipur had a liking for light and pastel shades and prefferred torquoise and old rose pink.As Maharani Gayatri’s grandmother told her”Never wear emeralds with a green sari as I had, they look so much better with pink”and hence classics like “A princess remembers” are created.The Maharani took a keen interest in her jewellery and often favoured soft colours like pink,rose,citron,turqoise and similar pastels.Her blouses generally were adorned with handmade buttons and had 10 inch sleeves,a popular trend for that time. The “people’s princess”as Maharani Gayatri Devi was known, was always perfectly turned out.Whether it was a royal soiree,an interview or hobnobbing with politicos,she was effortlessly stylish! Fashion and fashion statement are two different things.When we are aware of our individual existence in relation to culture and society we make a statement.For example, costumes as from Indus Valley civilization is a way of not only covering one’s body but also making the community or tribe feel one’s persona or self-reflection.Costumes of Indus Valley Civilization have been revealed from unearthed figurines. The dress on the clay figurine can be considered as the normal attire of the female of the time.The waist is bare and very scanty skirt is worn.
Fashion isn’t only about clothes and cuts but also about lifestyle, society, advertising etc that shape our subconscious mind.
The skirt is held by a girdle that is made of beads or of bands of woven material secured by a pin or fastening of some kind.One figure wears a cloak which is wrapped around the upper part of the body.Head-dresses are used which are made of stiffened cotton cloth. A tight collar that gives an appearance of greater length to the neck is worn by a few of the figurines.The male figures are generally seen to be nude. Probably a robe with or without embroidery was worn over the left shoulder and under the right arm. The figure of a man at Harappa might be wearing a close-clinging dhoti. footwear as such was not found.Cotton as a fabric was used but non evidence was available as far as use of linen and wool are considered.
Fashion not only is about clothes and cuts but also about life-style ,society ,movies ,advertising ,gatherings,and several other factors that shape our subconscious mind.Hence,when a brand is created ,one also creates a language as according to the mood and history of the same.When Versace creates evening dresses for Jenniffer Lopez and Kate Hudson on a red carpet event that is a very unique signature compared to brand outlets for regular wear.
The European hats from queen’s palace or the invention of jeans in America has situation and cultural objectives to it.Princess Diana was the original monarch who ruled the art of royal dressing,long before Kate Middleton and her cool fashion brands came along.After all, she seamlessly embraced Royal etiquette, all while setting
her own fashion rules, like not wearing gloves on official visits, starting this trainer trend and single-handedly making this Dior handbag one of the most coveted in the world. so much so that Kensignton Palace has dedicated
an entire exhibition to her,showcasing some of her most famous outfits,including the pale pink David Emauel blouse she wore in her engagement portrait.
Jeans actually have a very egalitarian legacy! Around 17th century,jean was a crucial textile for working -class people in Northern Italy.This is seen in a series of genre paintings from around 17th century attributed to an artist now named “The master of the Blue Jeans”.Generally ,when people say that something they wear is ‘comfortable’,they mean it is psychologically comfortable, not physically comfortable.The invention of jeans also has events and situation which caused its creation. Jeans was invented when coal-miners were working and hence eventually a life-style of “new age fashion’ was created
Blue jeans were actually an accidental discovery in the 18th century, when people in Nimes,France attempted to replicate a sturdy Italian fabric called serge.What they created was ‘serge de Nimes “or, as it’s been shortened to “denim”,However ,as far as modern-day people are concerned,the history of blue jeans really began when a Bavarian immigrant named Levi Strauss brought denim to America in 1853.
Men were going west in search of fortune and would spend months camp in out in often inhospitable climates;pants made out of traditional fabric would be destroyed within a matter of weeks.Marilyn Monroe wore them in her best movie,The Misfits,where she played a woman who went off with a group of cowboys.Her outfit was essentially the female version of James Dean’s Rebel without a Cause outfit.
