Эссе на тему: Egyptomania in fashion yesterday and today: a comparison of how ancient Egypt has been a source of inspiration for fashion

TABLES OF CONTENTS

TABLES OF CONTENT.......................................................... 2

FROM THE CANONS OF THE PHARAOHS TO THE TRENDS OF THE CATWALKS.......................................... 3

EGYPTIAN MOTIFS................................................................ 10

TABLES OF ILLUSTRATIONS........................................ 11

BIBLIOGRAPHY      12


FROM THE CANONS OF THE PHARAOHS TO THE TRENDS OF THE CATWALKS

Ancient Egypt is one of the most amazing mysteries of our civilization. Pyramids, sphinxes, valley of the dead... The fashion of Ancient Egypt is also amazing, which was first formed for two thousand years, and then remained practically unchanged for another three thousand years.

In 5000-3000 BC, in the pre—dynastic period, the first fashionable elements of ancient Egyptian clothing appeared - pleating and embroidery, as well as jewelry made of gold. In 3000-2000 BC, the Egyptians discovered vegetable dyes for yellow, blue and brown fabrics and the clothes of the upper strata became colored.

In a tropical climate, clothes were viewed as an unpleasant necessity. Egyptian women wore a long transparent shirt-a kalasiri dress. At home, Egyptian women did not wear clothes at all and decorated themselves with necklaces, bracelets and hats. Children almost always went naked. The lower classes, even during the heyday of Egyptian culture, often wore only a shirt that descended from the shoulders to the middle of the abdomen, leaving the lower part open.

Throughout history, Egyptian fashion has maintained its classic standards and styles. The use of linen fabric, popular due to the climate in Egypt, was common in the creation of practical and simple rectangular or trapezoidal pieces of clothing. An important aspect of ancient Egyptian fashion was its durability, a quality that is increasingly appreciated in modern «slow fashion» trends. Many designers are inspired by the monumentality and symmetry of Egyptian culture, incorporating straight lines, geometric patterns, gold and black accents, and recognizable symbols into their collections. Famous designers such as Karl Lagerfeld, Jean-Paul Gaultier, and Gustavo Lens have utilized elements of ancient Egyptian culture in their modernist and experimental collections, reinterpreting and reviving the symbolism of this ancient civilization. In this essay, I will consider both examples of direct citation and less obvious similarities between the two eras. It is also worth considering separately the popular Art Deco trend in the 20th century, which is closely related to the culture of Ancient Egypt. Geometric shapes, symbolism, choice of materials and a color palette reflecting richness and conciseness have become characteristics of Art Deco, inspired and supported by ancient Egyptian culture. Symbols and motifs of Ancient Egypt, such as the ankh, the scarab, the obelisk and the eye of Ra, have a special meaning and are often used in modern collections. Therefore, I will devote a separate chapter to the influence of Ancient Egyptian culture on jewelry.

In almost every one of the following examples, one can notice one similarity - the abundance of gold. This is primarily because in the era of the Middle Kingdom, its extraction was very active.

The first metal that mankind began to use for decorative purposes was gold. Its value was determined by the similarity between the brilliance of gold and the Sun, which was deified by the Egyptians.

Figure 1 Dior haute couture collection, spring 2004

Where could preppy, grunge and Ancient Egypt have met? Of course, in the John Galliano collection. The favorite technique of the British designer-rebel is a mixture of styles and eras that could not stand in the same row under any circumstances.