What is she or he wearing in ancient Egypt?

Answer 1

The dress of a woman in the Old Kingdom was made with a simple rectangle of linen cloth. This was stitched down one side and straps were attached to the top edge, which were knotted or fastened with a buckle. This simple tube dress worn ankle-length was known as a kalasiris. Some dresses had short sleeves or women wore short robes tied over their shoulders. Fashion changed in the period of the Middle Kingdom when patterned and colourful collars were worn. Fashion changed the look of Egyptian clothing again during the period of the New Kingdom. Advances in dyeing allowed for more colourful linen. The simple kalasiris was adorned by an elaborate pleated and fringed robe which was worn over the dress. Wealthy Egyptian women also decorated their dresses.

The dress of a man in the Old Kingdom was made with a small rectangle of linen cloth. The cloth was fashioned into a knee-length kilt known as a schenti which were knotted or fastened with a buckle at the waist. Fashion changed in the period of the Middle Kingdom when kilts became longer and straighter. Full length cloaks were also worn by the men during the winter. Fashion changed the look of Egyptian clothing again during the period of the New Kingdom. Advances in dyeing allowed for more colourful linen and the kilt was elaborately pleated and fringed. Pleating was achieved by pressing the linen on to a grooved board and fixed into place with starch or using a special pleating instrument. Sashes and aprons were also added to complete the change in fashion of men's clothing as were wide-sleeved tunics and under-kilts.

The Egyptians were not a prudish race and were not concerned by naked flesh, in fact children rarely wore any clothes at all and it was not uncommon for a labourer to wear just a twist of linen around his loins or to work naked. As a result of the expansionist policies of the New Kingdom the influx of foreign captives as slaves greatly increased. It was not an uncommon sight to see thousands of naked slaves working on the construction of a new temple or monument. Even the Upper Class Egyptians and nobles would just wear a loin cloth in their own homes and it was common to go barefoot, whatever the class, at home. Egyptian women did not wear any under clothes.