Historic draping and tailoring research

An elementary choice for my first historic draped garment is the Chiton from ancient Greece.  This was their primary garment. It was an all-over body garment made from a large rectangle of cloth wrapped once around the body from right side to right side.  This garment was then pinned at the shoulders and tied at the waist or hips, and draped in hanging folds about the body. Young men generally wore short chitons, and older men and women longer ones.

Equally famous in the ancient world but entirely different in drape technique is the Egyptian shawl style garment.  One of my favorite things in theater has been to employ actual methods of wrapping when I can for historic costumes.  The technique although simple in execution once one understands how, can be extremely difficult to intuitively come up with. 

Process of draping the dress

Artful draping of the Egyptian shawl dress

completed draped dress

And lastly for my draped garments I am pleased to have found a wonderful draped garment for men of the 1490's.  It is a Pre-Tudor gown as it is called, it seems to have a multipurpose use as overcoat and long shirt/gown.  I am particularly pleased to have found this as I often use historic garments for out theater productions and sometimes I am not sure what the exact period would  have looked like.  This website offers a plethora of just that information.  You can find it at https://www.reconstructinghistory.com/rh611-1490s-pre-tudor-mans-gown.php?c=1&w=38&r=Y
I hope you will find it as wonderful as I did. 

For my first example of a tailored garment, I would like to add this picture of an 1860's riding habit as it was called.  It featured a very fitted bodice or jacket, tapered and worn over a shirt normally, with a long very full skirt.

1860's Riding habit

 

 

 

A  contemporary dress crafted by the Japanese master of tailoring to the body but breaking the barriers that hold our garments there, Issey Miyake created this dress which is holds to the natural form of the body but then triangular protrusions jet out escaping the lines that the body forms.

Issey Miyake 1989 Dress

While there are limitless options of tailored garments throughout history and today, nothing speaks to me more of tailoring than a military uniform. One magnificent piece is that of Napoleon Bonapart's uniform circa late 1700's early 1800's.