Thylean Clothing
  1. Notes

Thylean Clothing

Primer

Clothing in Thylea is heavily inspired by a mixture of garments worn throughout wide periods of time during Ancient Greece and Rome. 

While styles vary from the islands to the cities of Mytros and Aresia, overall Thyleans tend to wear two pieces of clothing draped about the body: an undergarment (a chiton or peplos) and a cloak (himation or chlamys). 

Clothing is made from natural fibres (with linen being the most common and wool being worn for the cold), worn loose-fitting and free flowing, customarily secured with minimal cutting and sewing, instead making use of ornamental clasps, pins, belts, or girdles. Pieces are largely interchangeable between men and women, but are worn at different heights (ie. men tend to wear clothing that tapers at their knees, while women often wear their robes to their ankles).

  • Chiton - The chiton was a simple tunic garment of lighter linen and usually pleated that was worn by all ages and genders.  It consisted of a wide, rectangular tube of material secured along the shoulders and lower arms by a series of fasteners. Chitons typically fall to the ankles of the wearer, but shorter chitons were sometimes worn during vigorous activities by ahletes or warriors.
  • Pelos - A body length, dress-like garment worn by women. 

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  • Himation (Achiton) - A mantle or wrap worn by men and women, typically over a chiton or pelos, similar to a cloak or shawl. 
  • Chalamys - A seamless rectangle of woolen material worn for military or hunting purposes. It is meant to be worn as a cloak and is fastened at the right shoulder with a brooch or button. The chlamys is typical military attire. 
  • Toga - Many variations of toga exist. Men and boys typically wear togas that are short-sleeved or sleeveless, and women and girls tend to wear longer sleeved tunic versions. On formal occasions, adults may wear a woolen toga draped over a tunic. 
  • Tunics - Tunics worn in Thylea are similar to chitons and are considered variations of the garment. A person’s tunic is typically decorated at the hem-line, often with a representation of the city where the wearer lives. Tunics are popular in all manner of dyed colours. 
  • Undergarments - Women often wore a strophion, similar to a bra, under their garments and around the mid-portion of their body. The strophion was a wide band of wool or linen wrapped across the breasts and tied between the shoulder blades. Women could also wear a shawl called an epiblema.  Men and women sometimes wore triangular loincloths, called perizoma. 
  • Footwear - While going barefoot is not unheard of, sandals, shoes, and boots are typical for most Thyleans. Footwear is typically made of leather, and occasionally of felt, smooth cloth, or wood. 
  • Ornaments and Accessories - Wreaths, tainia, headbands, and various other means of headwear are common amongst Thyleans, both as fashion statements, and for keeping ones hair up in the hot weather.  Brooches, clasps, and other pins are very common, meant both to affix chitons and other garments, but also as a means of accessorizing. Accessories provide a means of displaying taste and in some cases, wealth.