amulets
charms worn around the neck to ward off evil
chemise
a woman's undergarment (or a derivative dress style in the 18th century) that hung loosely from the shoulder
chignon
hairstyle whereby the hair is fashion bun-like at the back of the head
cuirass
a bodice or armor covering the torso, usually sleeveless
cuneiform
early Sumerian form of writing
diadem
a circular headdress or crown
fibula
a pin used for fastening garments together
filet
a headband usually tied around the brow
girdle
a wide belt or sash worn around the waist or hips
goffering
fine, evenly pressed pleating
kaunakes
a Sumerian wrap garment originally made of shaggy sheep or goat pelts; also originally a Greek origin later applied to the form of woven fabric wrap garment with fringe or petal appliques of raw wool
kohl
a type of eye makeup made of galena (a sulfite of lead) that was used to put black or grey lines or marks around the eyes
linen
fabric woven from the fibers of the flax plant
loincloth
under or outer garments shaped and worn like triangular diapers. Strings were attached for trying the garment around the waist, although sometimes a separate girdle or sash was also wrapped around the waist.
tunic
a loose fitting garment forded or cut with holes for the arms and neck; lengths vary and included
schenti
a kilt-like skirt of linen, mostly worn by men, but also by women of working classes
selvage
the edge on either side of a woven fabric so finished as to prevent raveling; a narrow border often of different or heavier threads that the fabric and/or sometimes a different weave
sheath
as worn by Egyptian women, a close-fitting tube of fabric beginning above or below the breasts and ending around the lower calf or ankle, sometimes appears to have two straps holding it over the shoulders
uraeus
the sacred serpent symbolizing the king's divinity used on headdresses and royal ornaments.
warp
the threads that run up and down on a loom or in a woven fabric
weft
the threads that run side to side on a loom or in a woven fabric
apoptygma
the defining feature of the peplos, a bib-like flap created by folding the fabric before wrapping the body
chlamys
short masculine cloak secured with a single brooch
chiton
a loose-fitting, tubular garment of varying lengths, usually pinned at the shoulder and girdled at the waist; worn by both men and women
Doric chiton
a basic tunic made by draping a narrow piece of fabric about the
body and fastening at the shoulders with fibulae
Ionic chiton
a wide, voluminous tunic girdled at the waist and fastened at the
shoulders with several small pins that formed sleeves of varying lengths; worn by
both men and women
clavus
purple stripes added to the border of a Roman toga denoting special status
codpiece
a pouch covering for men's genitals
flammeum
a Roman woman's scarf worn to veil the hair
himation
a huge rectangle of fabric swathed around the body without any fastening or binding
mamillare
a type of brassiere made from a narrow strip of fabric wrapped around a woman's torso
ornatrix
a Roman hairdresser
palla
a square, rectangular or round-edged oblong of material worn by women as an outerwear wrap
peplos
a feminine garment formed by girding a wide cylinder of fabric with a section at the top turned down to form a bib-like top
peplum
- a short skirt-like drapery formed by the deep blousing of fabric over the belt of the peplos; in modern use it is a short skirt attached at the waist of variously constructed modern garments
perizoma
men's loincloth
ricinium
a head covering of dark cloth worn by widows during mourning
stays
the internal structures that give shape and control to corsets or girdles
sinus
the swag of fabric created by draping the toga across the front of the thighs
stola
an outer garment similar to a slip that was worn by Roman women over an under tunic
strophium
long-line brassier that covered the breast and upper ribcage by encircling the torso with a long strip of material
subligaculum
linen or wool loincloth worn by both Roman men and women during exercise or sport and by the upper classes as an undergarment
tebenna
a rounded mantle worn by both men and women
toga
primary outer garment of male Roman citizens that was arranged according to a strict protocol of drapery
tutulus
a special hairstyle worn by the wives of pater familias. Created by drawing the hair on top of the head and wrapping it to give the effect of the conical shape that was also worn by Etruscan women of the same time
umbo
the swag of fabric at the front waistline of the toga sometimes used as a pouch
barbette
a linen chin strap used to secure a woman's cap and veil arrangement
bourrelet
initially a light, wicker hoop over which men rolled their capuchin; later a men's or women's hat with a large circular or ovoid roll of material that fit around the crown
braies
the Frankish style of trousers cut in varying lengths from the knees to the ankles; most often made of wool or linen
chainse
a woman's form-fitting, long-sleeved outer tunic made with an excessively long train, worn by women of affluent classes as a housedress of the late 12th century
chemise
another term to under tunic, worn by both men and women, usually cotton or linen; in the 18th century also a term for a style of dress; Italians called this the camicia
cloisonn�
decorative metalwork created by soldering metal strips edge up to metal base; the resulting compartments were filled with jewels, glass or enamel
cote
a snug-fitting under tunic with a full shirt cut in a single piece with the top; it replaced the bliaut in the 13th century
couvrechief
a woman's long head covering made of silk or sheer linen
doublet
a men's tight-fitting jacket
gaiters
wrapped covering for the leg between the knee and instep
gauntlet
the articulate metal mitten of a plated suit of armor in the 14th and 15th centuries
gown
a woman's long-sleeve tunic of the 14th century cut to be form-fitting through the shoulders and torso with a full, floor-length skirt
horned veil
a woman's headdress shaped by a wire or whalebone frame over which veils were arranged in the 14th and 15th centuries
houppleande
a formal outer tunic of the affluent classes; men's styles were fitted through the shoulders and flared below to a fullness that was gathered into deep folds or pleats in the front and back; women's versions were similar in design except for the excessive
knit
a fabric production technique of intertwining yarn or thread in a series of connected loops with knitting needles
jacket
a men's short top garment made with a separate bodice and shirt in the 14th and 15th centuries
mantel
open-front cape fastened in the front with an adjustable cord
particolored
juxtaposition of contrasting pieces of material in the construction of garments
pedules
hose made of circular woven linen or wool usually worn to the knees but sometimes extended to the lower thighs
peli�on
any of a variety of fur-lined garments ranging from under tunics to outer cloaks
points
ties used to attached one garment to another; Italians called these agetti
poulaines
shoes with exaggerated points at the toes that extended forward several inches; late fourteenth century through mid-fifteenth, also known by the English term crackow
pourpoint
a men's short, tight fitting jacket cut and shaped to fit the body; 14th century
scarlet
a fine woven woolen fabric with the surface brushed and fulled to give the appearance of felt; a luxury item
surcote
an outer tunic usually sleeveless, worn by both men and women over a cote of contrasting color in the 13th and 14th centuries
terrycloth
a fabric woven with a surface treatment of loosely looped threads
tippets
a long streamer of fabric that hung from the back or short of half sleeves on a variety of garments
wimple
a scarf attached to a headcovering worn by women to cover the neck