The peplos was the garment worn by Greek women up to the beginning of the sixth century B.C.

      The Ionic chiton which followed was similar to the Doric peplos in overall construction. The woolen fabric was replaced by thin linen or occasionally silk, reflecting the increased influence of Asia Minor on the country. The costume was made from a single rectangle of material but much wider than that used for the peplos, measuring up to ten feet wide. It had no surplus material and was measured exactly from shoulder to ankle. The enormous width required that eight to ten fibulae were needed to fasten the top edge, leaving an openwork seam on both sides of the neck which ran across the shoulders and down the arms to form elbow-length sleeves.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5