Greek clothes

The Greeks wore light, loose clothes as the weather was hot for most of the year. Historians and archeologists have learnt a lot about Greek clothing from carvings on tombstones, and decorations on pottery.

Long pieces of fabric were used to make the Greek clothes. The main item of clothing was a tunic, called a chiton. These were big squares of cloth, held in place by pins at the shoulders and a belt round the waist. These tunics were worn by both men and women, although women would sometimes wear a shorter decorated tunic, a peplos, over their chiton. The chitons and peplos were dyed in bright colours, and decorated with embroidery.

In cooler weather, the Greeks would wear a cloak, but in hot weather working men would often just wear a loincloth.

Most Greeks walked barefoot, especially in the house. When they went out they sometimes wore light leather sandals, or leather boots.

Wealthy Greek women liked to wear lots of jewellery. Brooches and pins were important, as they were used to fasten the chitons. The women also wore necklaces, made of gold and silver, and had earrings and bracelets.

Wealthy women would use make-up too, and have slaves to put their hair into the latest styles.

From around 500 BC the fashion for a Greek man's hair was short hair, and a well trimmed beard. After about 350 BC men's hair was very short, and most men had no beard at all.

A Greek family