Greek fashion, characterized by draped garments and a focus on simplicity and elegance, has influenced European clothing styles for centuries. The chiton, a flowing garment often depicted in ancient Greek art, inspired the creation of classical attire during the 18th-century neoclassical revival. Women’s gowns with empire waistlines and flowing silhouettes echoed the draped elegance of ancient Greek clothing.
Moreover, the use of classical motifs and patterns, such as meanders and Greek key designs, became prevalent in European textile arts. The enduring appeal of these motifs can be observed in modern fashion, where designers continue to draw inspiration from the timeless elegance of Greek patterns. Ιn 1912, the Spanish fashion designer Mariano Fortuny created ‘Knossos’, a silk scarf inspired by ancient Cretan clothing.
(https://www.teachercurator.com/20th-century-art/when-fashion-becomes-art/ )
The influence of ancient Greek fashion endures in contemporary European attire. The revival of classical styles, such as the draped garments worn by Greek statues, can be seen in modern fashion designs. Flowing, asymmetrical lines and the use of classical motifs have become synonymous with timeless elegance in European fashion.
From Alexander McQueen and Madame Grès to Karl Lagerfeld and Jean Paul Gaultier, the ancient Greek style has featured in haute couture collections throughout the years, rightfully taking the title of timeless. Dresses inspired by pottery: red and black patterned pottery was one of the most popular ways the ancient Greeks depicted the human body in two dimensions. Karl Lagerfeld elaborated the patterns on the dresses with series of illustrations that refer to the Greek originals.
It is a fact that history is possibly the most important source of inspiration for fashion designers, especially when it comes to elaborate and delicate clothing, such as tunics in ancient Greece.
Correspondingly fashionable were jewelry with ancient motifs, with many inlaid cameos and other stones with representations, which often copied great sculptures of Antiquity, such as Myron’s Discus Thrower, Belvedere’s Apollo etc. The main exponent of this “Greek” style of jewelry in mid-19th century Rome was the goldsmith Castellani (1793-1865).
