The
History
of
Fashion
and
Style


Early
human
social
organization



hunter‐gatherer/early
agriculturalist

• adaptability;
makes
use
of
a
wide
variety
of
plant
and
animal
sources
for
food,

clothing,
medicine
and
shelter

• each
individual
participates
in
a
wide
array
of
activities
and
is
self‐sufficient

• knowledge,
information,
ideas,
skills
are
freely
shared
with
others
in
the
group

• population
growth
keeps
pace
with
the
available
resources

• little
accumulation
of
goods
since
mobility
is
key

• human
beings
see
themselves
as
part
of
the
natural
world;
subject
to
the
same

natural
forces
that
affect
all
animals
and
plants

• art
and
aesthetics
deal
with
the
fear
of
extinction
and
the
strong
connection
to

the
environment



Clothing
and
dress

garments
fashioned
from
cruder,
untreated
materials
such
as
raw
animal
skins
tied

around
the
body

identification
with
the
source
material;
little
effort
to
mask
the
natural
qualities
of
the

material

portions
of
the
body
left
unclothed

form
of
garments
most
simple



Mesopotamia
(Early
Sumerian/Sumerian/Babylonian)

kaunakes
skirt
in
the
form
of
raw
sheepskin
tied
around
the
body

upper
torso
or
one
shoulder
of
both
genders
left
bare

gradual
change
to
woven
fabric
kaunakes
that
retains
the
tufted
appearance
of

sheepskin



Egyptian
Old
Kingdom

very
simple
garment
types;
loincloth,
wrapped
skirts
and
dresses

nudity
acceptable
for
all
social
groups

very
little
change
in
dress
over
time























agriculturalist/sendentarian

• reliance
on
a
limited
number
of
food
sources;
need
to
record
and
manage
the

production,
distribution
and
storage
of
food
supply

• specialization;
individuals
perform
one
function
for
the
benefit
of
many

• technological
developments
made
possible
and
necessary
by
permanent

dwellings

• knowledge,
skills
and
information
become
valuable
and
are
not
freely
shared

• amassing
of
wealth
leading
to
warfare
between
groups
vying
for
control
of

resources

• human
beings
see
themselves
as
separated
from
the
natural
world;
although
still

subject
to
natural
forces,
they
now
control
nature
to
an
extent
and
are
therefore

“above”
plants
and
animals

• art
and
aesthetics
demonstrate
the
desire
to
control
and
shape
material
and

subject
matter,
to
guide
and
impact
the
viewer
rather
than
have
influence
over

the
objects
depicted



Clothing
and
dress

influence
of
technological
advancements
means
textiles
and
garments
are
more

“produced;”
taken
further
away
from
their
source

desire
to
mask
the
source
material
or
use
its
natural
properties
to
enhance
the
beauty

of
the
garments

increasing
complexity
of
garment
forms
and
styles
of
wearing

increased
variety
of
garment
forms
and
layering
of
garments

tendency
to
cover
most/all
of
the
body



Mesopotamia
(Babylonian/Assyrian)

stylization
and
formalization
of
kaunakes
into
fringed
skirt
wrapped
around
the
body
in

a
spiral
effect

adoption
of
tunics
from
outside
(foreign)
sources

wider
array
of
garment
forms
and
increased
complexity
of
style

greater
use
of
accessories,
patterns,
embellishments,
trims,
jewelry

greater
differentiation
between
the
dress
of
rich
and
poor



Egyptian
Middle
and
New
Kingdoms

influence
of
outside
cultures
can
be
seen
in
dress

new
technology
incorporated
into
the
production
of
textiles

wider
array
of
garment
forms
and
increased
complexity
of
style,
(robes,
layered
shenti,

tunics
for
both
genders)

greater
use
of
accessories,
patterns,
embellishments,
trims,
jewelry

greater
differentiation
between
the
dress
of
rich
and
poor