How Ancient Egypt Still Shapes Fashion, Beauty and Beyond
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By PAGE Editor
When the Smithsonian Magazine posed the question, “Was Ancient Egypt’s Most Lasting Influence in the Field of Fashion?”, it tapped into a legacy that’s as visually enduring as it is culturally potent. The fascination with Egypt’s opulence and symbolism is hardly new, but fashion, more than any other art form, has absorbed and reinterpreted it with striking persistence.
From Hollywood glamour to haute couture, ancient Egyptian motifs – golden collars, linen sheaths, beaded patterns, winged silhouettes – have long captivated designers seeking to evoke power, mystique and elegance. In 2023, that timeless appeal was at the heart of Egyptomania: Fashion’s Conflicted Obsession, an exhibition at the Cleveland Museum of Art that paired millennia-old garments with modern fashion inspired by them.
Curator Darnell-Jamal Lisby argued that of all the Western cultural realms to absorb Egypt’s legacy, from architecture to cinema and jewellery, fashion may have proved the most enduring. From a Chanel gown echoing the silhouette of a 13th-century B.C. kalasiris, to a Sabry Marouf clutch reimagining Tutankhamun’s funerary mask, these creations reveal how ancient dress, particularly from Egypt’s New Kingdom period, continues to shape and challenge designers’ imaginations today.
From Fabric Choices to the Finest Accessories
Ancient Egypt’s fashion legacy endures in everything from fabric choices to the finest accessories. Linen, a staple of ancient wardrobes, remains a favorite in both traditional Egyptian garments like galabeyas and in modern sustainable fashion worldwide.
Ancient dyeing methods using natural pigments are also seeing a revival as eco-conscious designers move away from synthetics. Flowing silhouettes with wide sleeves and high waists continue to influence boho and contemporary styles, while Egyptian headwear – ranging from ornate headdresses to simple scarves – remains a global fashion staple.
Jewelry and accessories also reflect Egypt’s timeless style. Modern designs frequently borrow from ancient motifs like hieroglyphics and lotus flowers, echoing the lavish adornments once worn by pharaohs. Sandals, favored by Egyptians for both form and function, are now a warm-weather essential around the world. Even hairstyles and makeup trends nod to the past, with braids, beads, and natural cosmetics inspired by the beauty rituals of an ancient civilization that never really went out of style.
An Influence That Extends to Our Modern World
Ancient Egypt’s influence stretches far beyond fashion, shaping design, beauty, entertainment, gaming, and even pop music. On screen, for example, shows like Tut (Paramount), Cleopatra (ABC), and The Cleopatras (BBC) explore Egypt’s royal legacies, while docudramas like Egypt (BBC) bring archaeology and daily life vividly to life. In iGaming, titles like Links of Ra are among the most popular slots on the bingo website Buzz Bingo, joining classics like the fishing-inspired Big Bass Splash but celebrating golden tombs and pyramids on the spinning reels instead of fish nets and tackle boxes.
Pop music, too, has long tapped into Egypt’s mystique. Jazz visionary Sun Ra pioneered Afrofuturism by channeling Egyptian mythology in his work, inspiring artists like Earth, Wind & Fire and Afrika Bambaataa. Michael Jackson’s Remember the Time brought Egypt to the MTV era, while The Bangles' “Walk Like an Egyptian” made ancient imagery a global pop staple.
Whether on the catwalk, screen, or stage, Ancient Egypt continues to cast its spell. Its visual language – rich, regal, and endlessly adaptable – remains a powerful source of inspiration, proving that in culture as in history, some legacies never fade.
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