If you don’t know how to get dressed for a costume party, you can use a plain bedsheet and become a classical Greek woman or a glowy goddess with your own DIY peplos (here with a makeup look by yours truly).
I found this do-it-yourself idea while leafing an old monthly magazine dedicated to the ancient Greek world (a Focus History special issue).
Despite the title of this insert (“The chiton in 4 moves”), this DIY dress looks like a peplos like those worn by Greek women up to 500 b.C., with a flap of fabric on the upper part of the body that was called “apoptygma“.
Your bedsheet, about one-third, should be folded as in figure 1 and 2, and wrapped around the body. Then fix your “pseudo-peplos” on your shoulders with safety pins and then close the open long side with pins or a quick stitch (if the sheet isn’t used).
A costume party can be long and lively, to be sure not to remain half naked, I recommend to give a quick sewing a go.
If you’re a newbie like me but love to invest in a good sewing machine to start with a Singer – like the Singer 7258 – is a perfect choice for beginners!
YOUR PEPLOS: LAST TOUCH UPS
Once you’ve got your DIY peplos, use a belt to mark your waist and to hold your new dress in place.
To give you an idea, see the detail in this statue of Athena, from Athena and Marsyas group (450 b.C.).
I suggest to do some tests with this dress before your party and to think about what to wear underneath your peplo.
To give you an idea, see the detail in this statue of Athena, from Athena and Marsyas group (450 b.C.).
I suggest to do some tests with this dress before your party and to think about what to wear underneath your peplo.
SHOES?
Various types of footwear were manufactured in ancient Greece, both open and closed, and they were used both to go outdoor and to stay indoor.
In our case, an ordinary pair of summery sandals can work well…
In our case, an ordinary pair of summery sandals can work well…
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| La Redoute La Redoute Creation coral and bronze sandals |
LAST BITS: HAIR AND MAKEUP
Greek women loved curly hair and wavy locks were created by rolling them around a hot iron stick.
Curl your hair with a curling iron, secure them with hairspray, tie them back, like a half ponytalil, and let the hair fall forward on your shoulders.
If you haven’t enough patience, maybe a simple wavy hair style, the “beach waves“, is a good substitute.
Greek women loved to wear make-up as well and that happened especially after the contacts and trades with the Near East populations.
Women loved to darken eyebrows, eyelashes and eyes. They used a cream to lighten the face and a red past to colour their lips.
Women loved to darken eyebrows, eyelashes and eyes. They used a cream to lighten the face and a red past to colour their lips.
Opt for a very simple look by lining your eyes with a pencil eyeliner and a pitch black curling mascara, and by wearing your favorite lipstick (if you don’t want to use a red lipstick). You can finish your costume with a golden bracelet.
Now you’re ready to start you travel back in time in Ancient Greece!
Valentina Chirico aka Valens
image sources:1 Focus Storia speciale La Grecia antica n°5 inverno 2005
2 R.B. Bandinelli e E. Paribeni, “Storia dell’antichità classica Grecia”, UTET
4 Focus Storia speciale La Grecia antica n°5 inverno 2005
