Empire Waist

Empire Waist

History of fashion: The Byzantine Empire

In the 3rd century the Roman Empire was dying. The emperor Constantine, however, would begin the process Transformation of an Eastern Christian empire was to emerge when it created the second capital of the Roman Empire at Constantinople in 324. Located on the European side Bosphorus, at the crossroads between East and West, Constantinople became the most opulent city in the world. The finest luxury products - particularly silk - were imported from Asia. In turn, exported to Western Europe Constantinople artwork, silk clothing, papyrus, porcelain, glassware, incense and perfumes.

During eleven centuries of the Byzantine Empire experienced a period of extreme brilliance, under Justinian (AD 527-565), followed by a temporary decrease and then from IX to XIII century, an extraordinary development, followed by a progressive weakening characterized by severe economic and political losses, which ended with the capture of Constantinople by the Turks in 1453.

Byzantine costumes reflect the various influences. Shows the characteristics of the old classic suit, but was influenced mainly by the magnificence of the Middle East in nature and color. This merger was extended until the end of Empire by an empirical.

The women

The women had an isolated and restricted dominated by their domestic duties. The only exception was the women of the nobility, Teodora who had a particularly important role in the empire.

Costume

Byzantine style was influenced by Greek costume and Romans, and was characterized by oriental opulence. Form was simple, but bright colors, fringe, tassels, embroidery and jewelry, all of this origin, made extravagant clothing luxury. Clothing denotes height and range.

Byzantine cabinet was rich and complex because of the diverse origins of many of Byzantine clothing. The pants were taken from Huns or the Persians. The Khazars tzitsakfon wine. Soft boots, the paragaudion, a gold-embroidered tunic with a colored leather belt purple, Kandys, neck and skaramangion, tiara ball were Persians. The cavvadior, the skaranicon and granatza were introduced by the Assyrians, Medes, and gave the necklace.

Despite its opulence and splendor, Byzantine clothing reflects the new Christian values. Its purpose was to hide the body. fitness and sex disappeared under the long wavy coats. Garments, literally, made a statement of religious devotion they were often embroidered with religious scenes. At first there was no distinction between the dress of the clergy and the rest of the population, but the former were forbidden follow fashion trends. Catholics and Orthodox vestments see today the same way they once did.

Imperial costumes

Emperors acting as both head of state and church, had a life of luxury and ceremonial attire contributed to the reputation of the empire for excess wear.

From 4 to 6thcentury emperors wore a gold thread fabric and chlamys subject on the right shoulder with a fibula rich. Justinian also wore the toga consuls Roman, the trabea, a wide scarf across his chest, and paragaudion. empresses wore a white gown with a vertical band embroidery, and a dress with sleeves to the elbow.

A wide collar embroidered in gold and decorated with pearls and gems of Persian origin, known as the maniakis, covered the shoulders of the Emperor and Empress.

In the 10 th century, the imperial costume was completed with the parrots, a long scarf embroidered with thread gold and precious stones.

In the 12th century Byzantium transformed the kaftan worn by the Persian soldiers in a smart garment. A new coat, fastened at the front, was fashionable. The imperial crown then was completely closed, in the form of a small dome: the camelaukion.

During the last centuries of Byzantium, Emperor saccoz wore a purple or black dress stiff, tied his wrists on the sleeves.

civil suit

There is much less known about the civil suit because it is not so well documented and what we do know, have met in the description writers of that era. Ordinary men wearing distinctive clothing of the people of the steppe, a blouse or shirt, pants and shoes taken from the Huns pants. were tight, made of cloth or embroidered, and carried tucked into boots that reached mid-calf.

Women's Apparel dress

Women's clothing was intended to hide the body and hide the genre. It consisted of many layers of departure by a tight shirt that fell ankle. The robe is used in principle could be installed or just above or tight at the waist. It is shorter than the shirt underneath and what is revealed. Staples Other women's' clothing were stola, palla, and a long veil, which fell behind the head or bent forward and his arm.

rich Theodora silk dresses enhanced with precious stones and gold embroidered luxury. She wore necklaces of pearls, emeralds and rubies, and for ceremonial purposes a heavy crown of pearls and emeralds that cascade down to his chest.

Men's Clothing

In the early centuries of the empire, Roman copy Byzantine clothing. The men wore a tight white gown with long sleeves, which came while the ankles or knees. On this undergarment dalmatika wore a red robe and gold with long wide sleeves. Men's apparel also includes the Hosa, hose, cloth or wool, Braco or breeches, which were later replaced by pants or drawers, the chlamys Greeks, who had been with the tablion, a rectangular piece of cloth attachment to the waist, and the Roman pallium, which shares only the name with its predecessor.

The toga was initially used by most, but since the sixth century onwards became the hallmark of the consuls. He was replaced by the mantle, which is available in three styles: a rectangular piece of cloth that was worn wrapped around the shoulders, a layer of half a point, which was also set on the shoulder, and the circular layer, which was sewn to the front and had an opening for the head.

About the Author

The author is the founder and owner of Adriana Allen LLC - a European fashion brand offering handmade and one-of-a-kind handbags and fashion accessories. You can learn more about world fashion, fashion's history, and how to buy fashion accessories at our official blog

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