Why write stories set in other cultures?
Clearly the only reason to set a story in ancient Persia is to ogle the clothing and the architecture - and the carpets!
The higher the rank, the more clothes they wore - and the richer the colors.
Also, (noble)women wore belts at the waist AND at the hip.
Samite is a thick silk cloth interwoven with gold and silver threads. I WANT.
Incidentally, when Cinderella went to the ball in a gown silver as the moon, golden as the sun, it was probably samite.
http://www.siue.edu/COSTUMES/COSTUME1_INDEX.HTML#Plate2
I need to start a tumbler account just to keep track of these pictures ;)
http://www.textileasart.com/weaving.htm#persian
http://www.womeninworldhistory.com/silk-road-03.html:
Throughout Central Asia and beyond, high quality of silk cloth was a popular item. The Persians developed beautiful forms of brocaded woven silk, a technique they developed dating back to the time before the Sassanid dynasty. Used in formal dresses, it eventually became an export item. Material which highlighted traditional Persian images was found in Europe as well as throughout the Middle East, where wealthy women in cities such as Baghdad and Damascus sought out bolts of intricately patterned brocades, brilliantly colored satins, and gold trimmed materials for their veils, and headdresses. ...
Headgear was where women's clothing in medieval Europe had its true distinctiveness. These were not optional, only young girls were permitted to go around with their heads uncovered. The wimples which we associate with women in this period were pieces of silk or white linen attached to one’s hair in front by pins, and allowed to flow over the head at the back. Another common garment was the pelisse, a loose silk coat brooched at the waist, or buttoned into a silk loop. The model for this popular coat, which echoes those worn by Persian ladies, was brought back from the East by knights arriving back from the First Crusade.
The higher the rank, the more clothes they wore - and the richer the colors.
Also, (noble)women wore belts at the waist AND at the hip.
Samite is a thick silk cloth interwoven with gold and silver threads. I WANT.
Incidentally, when Cinderella went to the ball in a gown silver as the moon, golden as the sun, it was probably samite.
http://www.siue.edu/COSTUMES/COSTUME1_INDEX.HTML#Plate2
I need to start a tumbler account just to keep track of these pictures ;)
http://www.textileasart.com/weaving.htm#persian
http://www.womeninworldhistory.com/silk-road-03.html:
Throughout Central Asia and beyond, high quality of silk cloth was a popular item. The Persians developed beautiful forms of brocaded woven silk, a technique they developed dating back to the time before the Sassanid dynasty. Used in formal dresses, it eventually became an export item. Material which highlighted traditional Persian images was found in Europe as well as throughout the Middle East, where wealthy women in cities such as Baghdad and Damascus sought out bolts of intricately patterned brocades, brilliantly colored satins, and gold trimmed materials for their veils, and headdresses. ...
Headgear was where women's clothing in medieval Europe had its true distinctiveness. These were not optional, only young girls were permitted to go around with their heads uncovered. The wimples which we associate with women in this period were pieces of silk or white linen attached to one’s hair in front by pins, and allowed to flow over the head at the back. Another common garment was the pelisse, a loose silk coat brooched at the waist, or buttoned into a silk loop. The model for this popular coat, which echoes those worn by Persian ladies, was brought back from the East by knights arriving back from the First Crusade.