Fashion is a direct result of what is happening around you. Learning about historical fashion gives you insight into what is happening in that time period. Thank you for your videos! They either supplement what I am currently looking into documentary wise or are jumping off points for new ones.
Agreed!! I had no connection with history until I fell upon fashion history as an accidental theatrical costume major. Whereas I could never tell you when, say, the French Revolution occurred, I can now not only when it was, but the state of any era's economy, the views of gender roles, importance or unimportance of fertility, and technological advancement. Fashion is a direct reflection of what the world sees as current and exciting.
So tru!! It makes me believe that the time frame we are living is either near a bright new evolution or its very endangered ..... hence people today wear clothing from practically all the time periods
@@galacticbutterfly5590 it's a bit of both. The throwaway era of the late 20th century is passing. Slow fashion, slow cooking, slow whatever have become buzzwords. The idea of living to work, instead of working for a living, is failing. Hopefully, the growing interest in history and past lifestyles will inform society of a balanced, conscious way of living that values what we already have whilst including good new technology.
This was so beautifully filmed. (Not that I'm surprised about that). I love that you don't just list the items worn but actually explain about the fabrics and the social status that impacted the clothing. And obviously that you also talk about the jewelery, the shoes, the undergarments. The attention to detail is so spot on in all of these videos.
"an empire based on stolen lands, wealth, and labour by a super wealthy elite is not sustainable" - me, a Canadian eating a banana, looks around nervously.
@@cassandrarose11 No. Plenty of countries are today occupied by the same people who were there millennia ago. The Americas? Definitely a conquest plus genocides, enslavement, stolen land and wealth.
So any country anywhere in the world at any time. *Shrug.* It seems to be the way things work. Britain was colonized for ages, they colonized everyone else for ages, flip a coin, things rise and fall and you never quite know what side you'll end up on. Yeah, North America is a preeeetty extreme example, but so it goes. Humans killing other humans for power is just, the entirety of history.
@@frater7576 Spoken like a military history bro with no broader understanding of history. Textiles and historical fashion are intrinsically linked to the politics, economics, culture, and social hierarchies of any given time period. Sorry you're too focused on living vicariously through long-dead warriors to recognize any of that.
@@deidresable women in his time, depending on class, had some autonomy yes. Fashion was not dictated by any one gender. people, especially the upper class as depicted in the video, wore what they wanted. What do you mean when you say that fashion was dictated by men? (Genuine question)
In stories about ancient Rome we often have references to a women "hiding her face under her veil", yet I could not really find much research on mentioning a head covering. This video answers my question, as probably the Pala was referred to. Thank you! Great video as always, can't wait what era you will dress next!
@@luigi1606 tbh its not rare, i myself wear one and many of my friends do and were from all over. Muslim☻️🌸 i love the fact that i just casually wear flowy dresses even going to the corner shop😂i feel like a princess!
Beautiful! Both pallas look strikingly similar in colour, design (including the tassels on the end) and handfeel to silk saris woven in India today. The last image of women managing shiny silks, draped on the head is also similar to imagery of women wearing saris in India today!
I was thinking the exact same thing lol! (Fellow Indian here🙋♀️) even the word "pallas" meaning drape sounds strikingly similar to the Hindi word "pallu" for the sari drape. Really cool!
@@Soulstice1319 I have been told by a clothing historian from Pakistan that there is a strong feeling among many that the word Kameez comes from the Roman camisia [shirt] and there was definitely contact between the two empires.
You guys are, by far, my favorite UA-cam channel. And as someone who holds a Bachelor's degree in Classics and is pursuing a doctorate, I audibly gasped when I got the notification for this video. It's superb, as always.
Something to note is that Romans used pins and broaches extensively which is how they kept their pallae in place. The arm placement was more a mark of poise, much as posture is in our society.
And at 6 feet/2m long you can also keep it in place simply by draping carefully. When I still did re-enactment I wore Roman garb - and in fairness it is probably the most comfortable clothing I've ever worn - and had no problem in keeping my palla on without brooches or pins most of the time. If windy a couple of hair pins to keep it over my head maybe but that was all, and it is surprising practical and warm to wear in winter.
If I remember correctly the breast binding was called a "strophium" and if an undergarment was worn it resembled a loincloth and was called a "subligar". The 'strophium' was a concept borrowed from the Greeks; where it was called an "apodesme". Interestingly the Museum of London is in possession of what looks like a pair of leather 'tie side' bikini bottoms that date from the Roman era and may have been used instead of a "subligar". If a "subligar" was worn during menstruation to hold something in place the Museum of London's example look decidedly more practical than trying to get what's essentially a loincloth on and off every time you need to change a menstrual product or use the latrine and the leather would protect from leaks onto expensive fabrics in the same way waterproof 'nappy covers' are used by cloth nappy using parents today or in modern period knickers and wouldn't be as bulky as a loincloth under what appear to be fairly lightweight tunics. If I recall, men didn't wear any kind of underpants either and in the absence of a toga (From what I've read for much of the Roman Empire the Toga was the garment of the wealthy man) there would certainly be some bulk under there if a "subligar" was worn, suggesting they were used in exercising only or by gladiators since most artistic depictions of gladiators show them wearing what look like loincloths.
the strophium and other ancient underwear are my white whale-so hard to find out anything about them, and most of our info comes from a few murals! people don’t like to write about underwear, i guess!
Undergarments and menstrual care are not completely understood in later periods, either. As you say, people didn't write about them, they were hidden under clothes in paintings, and physical remnants are rare.
Thank you, while watching this was ‘what about periods’. It’s such a large part of life, but is rarely mentioned in history teachings. I’d be happy even with a ‘we don’t know’, but when talking about people getting dressed, I do think it should at least be acknowledged.
@@WouldntULikeToKnow. That’s something, but seeing your reflection in a body of water versus seeing your reflection in a mirror is night and day in terms of difference.
That's just how it was for most of human history, until just a few hundred years ago. And even then, they weren't commonplace for quite a while. I don't have numbers, but I'd wager a significant portion of people alive today have never seen their own face.
Well done for highlighting the impact of slavery. Many history books are like: "This is what the Romans lived like . Oh and they had slaves." When in fact the enslaved are the majority of the population and we hear very little about their life.
The scholarly consensus is that the percentage of slaves in the Roman empire is around 15-25% or 1 in 4 inhabitants. I don't think that percentage would be considered a majority. To highlight the impact of slavery in ancient Rome, one has to point to written and archaeological evidence to see how slaves lived, how they were treated, how the institution was normalized, and not resort to inflating figures.
@@StarOnTheWater Yes, that's true. It just shows that, unfortunately, due to their large percentage, slaves were a major driving force behind the Roman economy. To your point about not knowing about the lives of Roman slaves, the reason for this is there aren't any written accounts that we have available of their lives. That's not to bring up the assumption that they couldn't write, some slaves were actually teachers. We just don't have any on our hands yet. What could be possible alternative sources are the written accounts of freed slaves who paid for their freedom. On the top of my head, I don't know any prominent former slaves in Rome's history - there indeed were - and much less freedmen who wrote about their experiences. But there's a good amount of leftover evidence to make at least a rough picture of their lives.
What's really mind blowing is how horrifically evil the Spartans were. In 300, he kills a wolf to become a man. In reality, he would have murdered one of their Serfs/Slaves. Its unbelievably oppressive as a society.
What period and what kind of dress because the Ancient Egyptian woman's clothes were more showy, especially a noblewoman's, and UA-cam might not like that.
Omg thank you so much for such a MAGNIFICENT video, I love how all the women were dressed in ancient Roman attire and omg there hair!! Could you pleaseee do one with the women of Ottoman Empire and how they dressed 💜
So beautiful and well done, as always! The fabrics and especially the designs around the border look quite Indian! That's so interesting. The white overcloth (pala I think?) looks a lot like an Indian veshti, a long stretch of white fabric worn by men in south India, and embroidered with a thick border of usually red/green/gold patterns. Please do ancient Indian clothing if you can, thank you! You guys are one of the best channels out there
I'm curious if the Roman palla and Indian pallu have a shared origin. The pallu is the decorative end of the sari which is draped over the shoulder and sometimes covers the head. Such beautiful garments!
@@mythandmuse it certainly could be! They do seem to drape the palla in a similar way to the pallu. The pallu usually is draped over the left shoulder and can be left as is (single pallu - a stylish flowy silhouette managed with the left hand); pinned up into pleats (double pallu) and left to hang down the back; pulled over the head; or pulled across the back and tucked into the right hip (for ease of movement or when doing chores). And yes, palla or pallu, they are all so beautiful :)
there were trade links between Rome and the Indian sub-continent and the greeks under Alexander the Great had invaded as far as the Hindu Kush, modern day Afghanistan. Also, the Silk Road was around at this time, so trade links reached as far as China.
i remember loving this channel a few years ago for the super cool victorian and edwardian dressing videos, i'm glad that the commentary is now so nuanced and the production quality feels so much higher as well. amazing video, not that i'm surprised coming from you guys
Absolutely gorgeous, as always--so detailed and visually beautiful! The voiceover is so relaxing to listen to, too. Makes my day every time I see a new Crow's Eye post! 💜
This videos are beautiful and well explained. I love the way dresses are reconstructed, and even the sets are realistic. I hope more male getting dressed will arrive soon
Oh I was so hoping you would do Roman Britain!!! This is my absolute favorite series on UA-cam. Just so gorgeous and peaceful, not to mention well-researched and informative.
It’s so great to see accurate women’s historical dress. This one is very beautiful. I love fashion and I love history, so historical fashion combines my two favorite hobbies. Most historical films, TV, etc. have laughably anachronistic costumes, with tight, tailored, low-neck gowns with set-in sleeves, etc., they just take modern dress shapes and make them longer. The men’s costumes are equally bad, they wear trousers under their tunicas and togas, also super-inaccurate. I would love to see your version of a woman’s attire from Classical Greece, c. 500-450 BCE!
@@multistan9650 I'll just second what oaktree said -- never, ever, let peer pressure diminish your own sense of curiosity, wonder, or imagination. There is absolutely no reason to feel guilty about being interested in history! And who knows -- maybe you'll find someone else at school who is as interested in history as you?
So interesting to hear about this part of history, I never really think of the Romans as being in Britain, so beautifully and educationally done as always, love your channel ❤️
This was beautiful in every aspect! Filming, models, clothing, everything! I love all of these immensely and find them so educational! Thanks for posting!❤️
I wonder if you will do a viking or Anglo Saxon getting dressed, an Edwardian lady on the titanic (traveling dress, tea party and evening wear) or even the Scottish highlands with the traditional way of putting on the kilt for the men over the centuries. However I love these videos as they are very educational and gives a insight into how clothing evolved over the decades.
Roman Britain lasted for over 350 years. Not a bad run. That's about as long as it's been between the accession of King Charles II, and the accession of King Charles III.
Yeah - not just for the value & distance traveled of the stone itself, but I would imagine also the sheer hours of labour of the slaves required in order to grind it fine enough to use that way, in an era where that would've presumably been done by hand mortar & pestle...?
I don’t The Romans didn’t‘occupy’ Britain. It was a part of the Roman Empire for over 400 years & the people of Britain were citizens of Rome (same criteria as anywhere else in the Empire) from 212 onwards. The LEGIONS were recalled to defend the city of Rome in 410, & Honorius (the Emperor at the time) didn’t have the resources to send replacements at that time so told the ROMAN magistrates in Britain to basically recruit their own. They did & managed to keep Roman Britain free of the encroaching barbarians longer than any where else in the Western Empire. Also, while zealously condemning slavery - which BTW was quite different in Rome than in the antebellum South, and hardly unique to Rome (those Germanic tribes had slaves too lol) - you failed to mention the sad status of women in the ancient world. I’m sick & tired of this blanket condemnation of Ancient Rome - do you even realize it stems from the idea that Rome (ie Pontius Pilate) allowed the crucifixion of Jesus? Yeah. Rome was if anything more enlightened than some of its neighbors- certainly more so than the Greeks who were a totally misogynistic society. You also just showed a very high status Roman woman with really no connection to what a real Roman British woman (say, upper middle class, or the wife of a retired legionnaire) would have worn in the 3rd, 4th or 5th centuries in Eboracum, Londinium, or Aqua Sulis.
Slavery was a universal institution including among the Celts and Germans (and Anglo-Saxons). And late Roman Britain was prosperous and ‘sustainable’ so long as it was defended. In fact Roman Britain had an economic boom in its last century. The industrial-scale production of the time would not be seen again until half a millennium later. What doomed it were the constant civil wars on the continent and the British garrisons, field army and fleets being taken away and the province being exposed to Irish, Pictish and German raiders. Even then the Romano-British held their identity and fought on for another century, with some success.
The quality of these videos is alway superb. Thank you for documenting these beautiful fashions, while also making sure to educate on the less-pretty social issues. Also, the narrator has the most soothing voice! ❤️
Would you mind sharing where you sourced the fabric for the two pallas? I'm curious if you had the resources to commission a particular design. As Booksandtea pointed out below, the fabric strongly resembles Indian silk-cotton and silk, and I can see why that would be a great choice for the video. The relatively simple geometric border on the white one is a popular motif, along with checks, on saris and veshtis in South India in particular. India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh are also the biggest, if not the only, current producers of threadwork with real gold and silver (zardozi).
Your comment is my thoughts in words! Though, in my experience, zari is the metallic thread you're talking about, woven in fabrics and zardosi is a form of embroidery that uses metallic thread and fine metallic coils (along with silk thread called Resham) to embroider fabric, using a technique called aari.
@@Ceibhfhionn yup! it is usually the thread used to do the filling and sometimes used to anchor beads and stones. It also runs through the metallic coils you see in embroidery, but for the life of me, I can't remember what the coils are called :')
@@pallavichamarty6483 isn't it bullion stitch? I'm aware of that name for coiled thread stitches using silk and cotton embroidery floss. Originally being used for metal thread, taking more thread than most stitches, explains the bullion reference.
I’m so thrilled to see you guys working again! Love this video, you’ve ne er covered such ancient history before. The Romans are fascinating, so advanced and knowledgeable and yet so much of that lost for so long!
Just looked Max Miller up on youtube, thanks for making me aware of his channel! I love worldbuilding and the first things I usually think about when I create a new world is "What do they wear?" and "What do they eat?" I hadn't found a youtuber for inspiration for the second question yet, but now I have, so thanks a lot!
@@ichbinben. oh great!! Well if you like that then you’d probably like Townsends for some 18th century cooking and English Heritage for their Victorian Way cooking series, they’re also great resources! And just really fun watches. You will be drooling
So few costume historians and clothes lovers creating these visual lessons give any space the enslaved laborers whose craftsmanship was exploited to make these beautiful garments and ensembles. I so appreciate that you all do not shy away from acknowledging the role imperialism played in fashion history.
I love that you explain where the items would have come from and how they were made. Also, that you mention slave labor in this video. Sometimes I feel like many videos on ancient Rome gloss over the fact that slaves were a huge part of the Roman era
The "pallah" that was mentioned in this video is so similar to a saree's pallu from India. It would be really interesting if they are from the same origin .
I can tell the Crow's Eye team put a lot of work into this video! Not just by making it so immersive, but also by taking the time to research the way of life from an era so long ago. Thank you for such transportative quality! 😊
“But this lifestyle was not to last. An economy based on stolen lands, wealth, and labour and dominated by a super-wealthy elite was unsustainable.” [Stares in late-stage capitalism...]
@@thebookwyrmslair6757 You mean the Americas? Where Europeans stole lands, labour (from Africa and the Americas) and dominated the world, as a super-wealthy elite, for centuries, all the way up to the last half century. Those Europeans then declared themselves Americans (North and South) and continued the same practices, joining forces with the former countries of origin of their super-wealthy elite. Not sure which side of the Pond the barb is for, when they are both just the other side of the same coin.
@@vbrown6445 That's exactly who I mean. :) Since this is a British channel, I meant to poke fun at my fellow USers (notwithstanding that both continents have a whole ugly history - as does the continent of Australia... and Africa. However, they aren't quite across the pond in the same way).
Guess who even reported on the existence of bacteria and how it could harm people, despite not being able to see it [no microscopes] they could still postulate it existed. And were proved correct centuries later.
These are interesting to watch, especially as I’m writing a fantasy book in a medieval-like time. These videos are great for culture and fashion inspiration
Fashion is a general staple of any culture. It’s shown off a person’s standard of wealth, social status, country of origin, often their personality and so much more. The beauty and greatest advantage of fashion is its possibilities are boundless and it’s languages are infinite
The cosmetics look pretty modern too haha. I understand why they might not want to put lead paint or coal on her face but at least skip the mascara and bronzer, ya know?
I’d love a 17th or 18th century episode focusing on lace-making, or a working class 19th c episode, focusing on something like smocking- which was worn with pride by both genders; or, maybe a 19th c lace-making one, & focusing on how the Industrial Revolution deeply impacted the clothing industry first - & male weavers, like my Irish & English (from Dorset) ancestors were pushed out of the business, because it was cheaper to employ women & children to operate the machines, & when things like the collapse of the kelp-gathering industry (essential for soda ash production, prior to Continental advances) in Ireland occurred, post-Napoleonic Wars- women took up lace-making to support their families...
wool tunics would have been quite warm, and if they picked up on the local style they could wear leggings underneath. wrapping oneself in long cloths is really good for temperature regulation!
and to the unfortunately phrased comment below, in the regency period long wool coats and many layers of undergarments were used to keep warm, along with scarves and delicate gloves.
After 400 years, Rome did not really "occupy" Britain anymore, because nearly all the citizens living there had been born there, and almost all the soldiers garrisoned there were recruited locally. Intermarriage had mixed the populations. The third century merely marked the gradual decline of effective tax transfers to Italy, and the start of irregular assignment of proconsuls.
@@SheepWaveMeByeBye Pretty much, yeah, kind of like the English presence in Wales and Scotland, wanker. But none of it was as bad as when those wretched Saxons moved from Saxony to Britain then had the cheek to call the Normans "invaders".
@@penultimateh766 I disagree, there is a reason why long lasting empires were kicked out often. Such as the Iberian reconquista which saw the Muslims kicked back out to Africa.
Very well designed video. Informative not only about the way of dressing but also about the social environment, the history, with a bit about social classes and the importance of slaves to sustain the way of living depicted. Bravo!
"...an economy based on stolen lands, wealth, and labour and dominated by a super wealthy elite was unsustainable." Ummmm, so would that be similar to the British Empire or no?
Yes, stolen lands and labour are very hard to maintain from lands far away. That's why it's hard to maintain large countries and empires. It holds true for all.
This has to be one of my favorite episodes! These people must have thought they were so fortunate to live in such an advanced era. Supportive undergarments also served as personal storage. A luxurious excess of fabric could be wrapped and draped about yourself. Manipulated metals were so exciting that jewelry was valued by weight rather than artistic quality. This reveals so much about the ever changing tastes of humans through fashion.
gold jewelry was valued by weight because it served as a woman’s dowry-like they said in the video, it belonged to her personally rather than her husband. if she were widowed or divorced, she would survive by selling the jewelry. it has a very practical value. this system is still in use in parts of india-interesting given the indian textiles in the video!
I ❤ this channel A great combination of history and narration. Is there any new material in the future or has this channel ceased to exist? I don’t seem to find anything recent.
Narrator: "An Empire based on stolen lands, wealth, and labour by a super wealthy elite is not sustainable." Eastern Roman Empire/Byzantine Empire: "Are you serious?"
I think many historians would disagree with the statement at 3:10. The reasons for Roman rule diminishing were far more complex than that. Otherwise, an interesting video.
I love the hairstyle of the “Lady” being dressed here by her servants. I wish I could find a twisted “gold” metal headband like the one she’s wearing, too.
![[UA] NAVI vs MOUZ | BO5 | IEM Rio 2024](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/CMBYk0cbGoA/mqdefault.jpg)
Fashion is a direct result of what is happening around you. Learning about historical fashion gives you insight into what is happening in that time period. Thank you for your videos! They either supplement what I am currently looking into documentary wise or are jumping off points for new ones.
Indeed, this includes all art forms. Art is not created in a vacuum.
"Fashion is not an island, but a response.."
Agreed!! I had no connection with history until I fell upon fashion history as an accidental theatrical costume major. Whereas I could never tell you when, say, the French Revolution occurred, I can now not only when it was, but the state of any era's economy, the views of gender roles, importance or unimportance of fertility, and technological advancement. Fashion is a direct reflection of what the world sees as current and exciting.
So tru!! It makes me believe that the time frame we are living is either near a bright new evolution or its very endangered ..... hence people today wear clothing from practically all the time periods
@@galacticbutterfly5590 it's a bit of both. The throwaway era of the late 20th century is passing. Slow fashion, slow cooking, slow whatever have become buzzwords. The idea of living to work, instead of working for a living, is failing. Hopefully, the growing interest in history and past lifestyles will inform society of a balanced, conscious way of living that values what we already have whilst including good new technology.
This was so beautifully filmed. (Not that I'm surprised about that). I love that you don't just list the items worn but actually explain about the fabrics and the social status that impacted the clothing. And obviously that you also talk about the jewelery, the shoes, the undergarments. The attention to detail is so spot on in all of these videos.
AS a now retired educator and museum professional,I adore videos and documentaries like this. And these can be used as a supplement for lesson plans.
"an empire based on stolen lands, wealth, and labour by a super wealthy elite is not sustainable" - me, a Canadian eating a banana, looks around nervously.
Canada didn’t really steal the lands. It was the Uk who did it.
Oh come on. 🙄 That is any country ever, not just Canada. Acquit yourself of any guilt.
Me, an American, looks around, if anything, even more nervously.
@@cassandrarose11 No. Plenty of countries are today occupied by the same people who were there millennia ago. The Americas? Definitely a conquest plus genocides, enslavement, stolen land and wealth.
So any country anywhere in the world at any time. *Shrug.* It seems to be the way things work. Britain was colonized for ages, they colonized everyone else for ages, flip a coin, things rise and fall and you never quite know what side you'll end up on. Yeah, North America is a preeeetty extreme example, but so it goes. Humans killing other humans for power is just, the entirety of history.
Fashion and "women's crafts" are far too often ignored in the greater scheme of history and understanding of history. Thank you for your work!
Because it is dull in comparison to the exploits of men.
@@frater7576 Spoken like a military history bro with no broader understanding of history. Textiles and historical fashion are intrinsically linked to the politics, economics, culture, and social hierarchies of any given time period. Sorry you're too focused on living vicariously through long-dead warriors to recognize any of that.
@@frater7576 Well that’s definitely subjective, and phrased in such a way that implies obvious bias and bigotry.
@@fuzzytheduck
Fashion are dictated by men in ancient time or do you suggest woman have right in that time?
@@deidresable women in his time, depending on class, had some autonomy yes. Fashion was not dictated by any one gender. people, especially the upper class as depicted in the video, wore what they wanted.
What do you mean when you say that fashion was dictated by men? (Genuine question)
In stories about ancient Rome we often have references to a women "hiding her face under her veil", yet I could not really find much research on mentioning a head covering. This video answers my question, as probably the Pala was referred to. Thank you! Great video as always, can't wait what era you will dress next!
@@perfectplayingplaids in Italy women wore veil over their heads until like 100 years ago. And they still do during solemn occasions like funerals
It's strange that today we view veiling as more of a Middle Eastern practice. History shows it's really not.
@@luigi1606 tbh its not rare, i myself wear one and many of my friends do and were from all over. Muslim☻️🌸 i love the fact that i just casually wear flowy dresses even going to the corner shop😂i feel like a princess!
Greek women also wore veils (except when inside), which were adjustable to cover the whole face and had holes for the eyes.
no veil was worn
I saw that this came out, and I got so excited that my head can't even form a cohesive sentence about how thrilled I am.
😆😆
I totally understand 😊
Beautiful! Both pallas look strikingly similar in colour, design (including the tassels on the end) and handfeel to silk saris woven in India today. The last image of women managing shiny silks, draped on the head is also similar to imagery of women wearing saris in India today!
I was thinking the exact same thing lol! (Fellow Indian here🙋♀️) even the word "pallas" meaning drape sounds strikingly similar to the Hindi word "pallu" for the sari drape. Really cool!
This form of dress existed since the Indus Valley civilisation
@@Soulstice1319 I have been told by a clothing historian from Pakistan that there is a strong feeling among many that the word Kameez comes from the Roman camisia [shirt] and there was definitely contact between the two empires.
You guys are, by far, my favorite UA-cam channel. And as someone who holds a Bachelor's degree in Classics and is pursuing a doctorate, I audibly gasped when I got the notification for this video. It's superb, as always.
Something to note is that Romans used pins and broaches extensively which is how they kept their pallae in place. The arm placement was more a mark of poise, much as posture is in our society.
Yes.
And at 6 feet/2m long you can also keep it in place simply by draping carefully. When I still did re-enactment I wore Roman garb - and in fairness it is probably the most comfortable clothing I've ever worn - and had no problem in keeping my palla on without brooches or pins most of the time. If windy a couple of hair pins to keep it over my head maybe but that was all, and it is surprising practical and warm to wear in winter.
If I remember correctly the breast binding was called a "strophium" and if an undergarment was worn it resembled a loincloth and was called a "subligar". The 'strophium' was a concept borrowed from the Greeks; where it was called an "apodesme". Interestingly the Museum of London is in possession of what looks like a pair of leather 'tie side' bikini bottoms that date from the Roman era and may have been used instead of a "subligar". If a "subligar" was worn during menstruation to hold something in place the Museum of London's example look decidedly more practical than trying to get what's essentially a loincloth on and off every time you need to change a menstrual product or use the latrine and the leather would protect from leaks onto expensive fabrics in the same way waterproof 'nappy covers' are used by cloth nappy using parents today or in modern period knickers and wouldn't be as bulky as a loincloth under what appear to be fairly lightweight tunics. If I recall, men didn't wear any kind of underpants either and in the absence of a toga (From what I've read for much of the Roman Empire the Toga was the garment of the wealthy man) there would certainly be some bulk under there if a "subligar" was worn, suggesting they were used in exercising only or by gladiators since most artistic depictions of gladiators show them wearing what look like loincloths.
the strophium and other ancient underwear are my white whale-so hard to find out anything about them, and most of our info comes from a few murals! people don’t like to write about underwear, i guess!
Thanks for this. I was curious about how a woman’s menses was handled if undergarments were not typically worn.
Undergarments and menstrual care are not completely understood in later periods, either. As you say, people didn't write about them, they were hidden under clothes in paintings, and physical remnants are rare.
Brilliant bit of additional information here! Thank you for taking the time 🤍
Thank you, while watching this was ‘what about periods’. It’s such a large part of life, but is rarely mentioned in history teachings. I’d be happy even with a ‘we don’t know’, but when talking about people getting dressed, I do think it should at least be acknowledged.
Imagine never getting a proper look at your own face throughout your whole lifetime.
Reflection in water and other liquids?
@@WouldntULikeToKnow. That’s something, but seeing your reflection in a body of water versus seeing your reflection in a mirror is night and day in terms of difference.
I was just thinking that! :O Very hard to fathom.. Didn't proper mirrors ("looking glasses") only get invented in the 18th century?
@@monmothma3358 glass wasnt a thing until medieval times,then someone needed to work out how to pour metal on the back.
That's just how it was for most of human history, until just a few hundred years ago. And even then, they weren't commonplace for quite a while.
I don't have numbers, but I'd wager a significant portion of people alive today have never seen their own face.
Well done for highlighting the impact of slavery. Many history books are like: "This is what the Romans lived like . Oh and they had slaves."
When in fact the enslaved are the majority of the population and we hear very little about their life.
Yeah, weirdly our knowledge of historical people is usually the well-off or wealthy, despite the majority being poor or just getting by
The scholarly consensus is that the percentage of slaves in the Roman empire is around 15-25% or 1 in 4 inhabitants. I don't think that percentage would be considered a majority. To highlight the impact of slavery in ancient Rome, one has to point to written and archaeological evidence to see how slaves lived, how they were treated, how the institution was normalized, and not resort to inflating figures.
@@dasmysteryman12 True, I was under the impression that there were more. However that's quite a large percentage, so it's not a minority either.
@@StarOnTheWater Yes, that's true. It just shows that, unfortunately, due to their large percentage, slaves were a major driving force behind the Roman economy.
To your point about not knowing about the lives of Roman slaves, the reason for this is there aren't any written accounts that we have available of their lives. That's not to bring up the assumption that they couldn't write, some slaves were actually teachers. We just don't have any on our hands yet.
What could be possible alternative sources are the written accounts of freed slaves who paid for their freedom. On the top of my head, I don't know any prominent former slaves in Rome's history - there indeed were - and much less freedmen who wrote about their experiences. But there's a good amount of leftover evidence to make at least a rough picture of their lives.
What's really mind blowing is how horrifically evil the Spartans were. In 300, he kills a wolf to become a man. In reality, he would have murdered one of their Serfs/Slaves. Its unbelievably oppressive as a society.
Love this look back of history/fashion .
Would you consider doing Ancient Egypt?
Oh that would be so neat. . . T-T Our girl is busy busy and we are already asking her for more?
What period and what kind of dress because the Ancient Egyptian woman's clothes were more showy, especially a noblewoman's, and UA-cam might not like that.
@@kytyoy5694 they really weren't all that showy except for certain occasions. what are you talking about?
@@田桃-c7g they meant to say revealing, i think
That would be very difficult as Roman Britain fortunately spanned a relatively short period compared to Egypt.
Omg thank you so much for such a MAGNIFICENT video, I love how all the women were dressed in ancient Roman attire and omg there hair!! Could you pleaseee do one with the women of Ottoman Empire and how they dressed 💜
So beautiful and well done, as always! The fabrics and especially the designs around the border look quite Indian! That's so interesting. The white overcloth (pala I think?) looks a lot like an Indian veshti, a long stretch of white fabric worn by men in south India, and embroidered with a thick border of usually red/green/gold patterns. Please do ancient Indian clothing if you can, thank you! You guys are one of the best channels out there
I'm curious if the Roman palla and Indian pallu have a shared origin. The pallu is the decorative end of the sari which is draped over the shoulder and sometimes covers the head. Such beautiful garments!
@@mythandmuse it certainly could be! They do seem to drape the palla in a similar way to the pallu. The pallu usually is draped over the left shoulder and can be left as is (single pallu - a stylish flowy silhouette managed with the left hand); pinned up into pleats (double pallu) and left to hang down the back; pulled over the head; or pulled across the back and tucked into the right hip (for ease of movement or when doing chores). And yes, palla or pallu, they are all so beautiful :)
Traditional Indian garments look so beautiful, I love the vibrant colours and the decorations.
there were trade links between Rome and the Indian sub-continent and the greeks under Alexander the Great had invaded as far as the Hindu Kush, modern day Afghanistan. Also, the Silk Road was around at this time, so trade links reached as far as China.
@@astrothsknot I see! How interesting. It was a smaller world in those days than it is now, it seems.
I love how the ladies are so gentle to one another
i remember loving this channel a few years ago for the super cool victorian and edwardian dressing videos, i'm glad that the commentary is now so nuanced and the production quality feels so much higher as well. amazing video, not that i'm surprised coming from you guys
I always get so excited for these notifications!! Learning about historical fashion is one of my favorite things!!
Absolutely gorgeous, as always--so detailed and visually beautiful! The voiceover is so relaxing to listen to, too. Makes my day every time I see a new Crow's Eye post! 💜
This videos are beautiful and well explained. I love the way dresses are reconstructed, and even the sets are realistic. I hope more male getting dressed will arrive soon
Oh I was so hoping you would do Roman Britain!!! This is my absolute favorite series on UA-cam. Just so gorgeous and peaceful, not to mention well-researched and informative.
The linen undertunic was worn for 100s of years, into different eras....so simple and practical
Worn until Edwardian times.
It’s so great to see accurate women’s historical dress. This one is very beautiful. I love fashion and I love history, so historical fashion combines my two favorite hobbies. Most historical films, TV, etc. have laughably anachronistic costumes, with tight, tailored, low-neck gowns with set-in sleeves, etc., they just take modern dress shapes and make them longer. The men’s costumes are equally bad, they wear trousers under their tunicas and togas, also super-inaccurate. I would love to see your version of a woman’s attire from Classical Greece, c. 500-450 BCE!
Would have loved a closer up of the mother's look. Her hair looked lovely.
Thank you for including facets of history like enslavement, such an important thing that too often gets left out in content like this. 👏🏻
Learning about history is my guilty pleasure
Don't be guilty about expanding your mind.
@@EmeraldHW Being in high school no one else but me seems to actually enjoy history class but I honestly love it 😅
@@multistan9650 I'll just second what oaktree said -- never, ever, let peer pressure diminish your own sense of curiosity, wonder, or imagination. There is absolutely no reason to feel guilty about being interested in history! And who knows -- maybe you'll find someone else at school who is as interested in history as you?
@@multistan9650 I'm on the same boat as you x) I'm the only one in my class of 35 who likes History (and Geography). Don't be ashamed of it !!!
@@multistan9650 dw keep learning itll pay off in the future
So interesting to hear about this part of history, I never really think of the Romans as being in Britain, so beautifully and educationally done as always, love your channel ❤️
This was beautiful in every aspect! Filming, models, clothing, everything! I love all of these immensely and find them so educational! Thanks for posting!❤️
Thrilling when a notification for this channel pops up. Beautifully styled and narrated.
I wonder if you will do a viking or Anglo Saxon getting dressed, an Edwardian lady on the titanic (traveling dress, tea party and evening wear) or even the Scottish highlands with the traditional way of putting on the kilt for the men over the centuries. However I love these videos as they are very educational and gives a insight into how clothing evolved over the decades.
I agree, I hope they can expand to different cultures of getting dressed
Another absolute gem. Thank you so much. ❤️
Roman Britain lasted for over 350 years. Not a bad run. That's about as long as it's been between the accession of King Charles II, and the accession of King Charles III.
Powdered lapislazuli as eyeshadow is surely a sign of wealth 😮😳
Yeah - not just for the value & distance traveled of the stone itself, but I would imagine also the sheer hours of labour of the slaves required in order to grind it fine enough to use that way, in an era where that would've presumably been done by hand mortar & pestle...?
I like how the brutal slavery and its unsustainability was highlighted
I love the gentle voice give a sick burn to our own current state of civilization.
I don’t
The Romans didn’t‘occupy’ Britain. It was a part of the Roman Empire for over 400 years & the people of Britain were citizens of Rome (same criteria as anywhere else in the Empire) from 212 onwards. The LEGIONS were recalled to defend the city of Rome in 410, & Honorius (the Emperor at the time) didn’t have the resources to send replacements at that time so told the ROMAN magistrates in Britain to basically recruit their own. They did & managed to keep Roman Britain free of the encroaching barbarians longer than any where else in the Western Empire.
Also, while zealously condemning slavery - which BTW was quite different in Rome than in the antebellum South, and hardly unique to Rome (those Germanic tribes had slaves too lol) - you failed to mention the sad status of women in the ancient world.
I’m sick & tired of this blanket condemnation of Ancient Rome - do you even realize it stems from the idea that Rome (ie Pontius Pilate) allowed the crucifixion of Jesus? Yeah. Rome was if anything more enlightened than some of its neighbors- certainly more so than the Greeks who were a totally misogynistic society.
You also just showed a very high status Roman woman with really no connection to what a real Roman British woman (say, upper middle class, or the wife of a retired legionnaire) would have worn in the 3rd, 4th or 5th centuries in Eboracum, Londinium, or Aqua Sulis.
Slavery is alive and well.
@@cisium1184 Yes, some places. And?
Slavery was a universal institution including among the Celts and Germans (and Anglo-Saxons). And late Roman Britain was prosperous and ‘sustainable’ so long as it was defended. In fact Roman Britain had an economic boom in its last century. The industrial-scale production of the time would not be seen again until half a millennium later. What doomed it were the constant civil wars on the continent and the British garrisons, field army and fleets being taken away and the province being exposed to Irish, Pictish and German raiders. Even then the Romano-British held their identity and fought on for another century, with some success.
The quality of these videos is alway superb. Thank you for documenting these beautiful fashions, while also making sure to educate on the less-pretty social issues. Also, the narrator has the most soothing voice! ❤️
Would you mind sharing where you sourced the fabric for the two pallas? I'm curious if you had the resources to commission a particular design. As Booksandtea pointed out below, the fabric strongly resembles Indian silk-cotton and silk, and I can see why that would be a great choice for the video. The relatively simple geometric border on the white one is a popular motif, along with checks, on saris and veshtis in South India in particular. India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh are also the biggest, if not the only, current producers of threadwork with real gold and silver (zardozi).
Your comment is my thoughts in words! Though, in my experience, zari is the metallic thread you're talking about, woven in fabrics and zardosi is a form of embroidery that uses metallic thread and fine metallic coils (along with silk thread called Resham) to embroider fabric, using a technique called aari.
@@pallavichamarty6483 Thank you for setting me straight! Would "zari" also refer to the metallic thread used in zardosi/zardozi?
@@Ceibhfhionn yup! it is usually the thread used to do the filling and sometimes used to anchor beads and stones. It also runs through the metallic coils you see in embroidery, but for the life of me, I can't remember what the coils are called :')
@@pallavichamarty6483 isn't it bullion stitch? I'm aware of that name for coiled thread stitches using silk and cotton embroidery floss. Originally being used for metal thread, taking more thread than most stitches, explains the bullion reference.
I’m so thrilled to see you guys working again! Love this video, you’ve ne er covered such ancient history before. The Romans are fascinating, so advanced and knowledgeable and yet so much of that lost for so long!
A new video on Rome from both Crows Eye productions and Max Miller?? It must be our lucky day!
Just looked Max Miller up on youtube, thanks for making me aware of his channel! I love worldbuilding and the first things I usually think about when I create a new world is "What do they wear?" and "What do they eat?" I hadn't found a youtuber for inspiration for the second question yet, but now I have, so thanks a lot!
@@ichbinben. oh great!! Well if you like that then you’d probably like Townsends for some 18th century cooking and English Heritage for their Victorian Way cooking series, they’re also great resources! And just really fun watches. You will be drooling
@@danhurl1349 Thanks for the recommendations, I'll check them out!
@@danhurl1349 Glad to see others watch all three! well four counting this channel!
Im like shaking rn and this is really helping me calm down, thanks
So few costume historians and clothes lovers creating these visual lessons give any space the enslaved laborers whose craftsmanship was exploited to make these beautiful garments and ensembles. I so appreciate that you all do not shy away from acknowledging the role imperialism played in fashion history.
I love that you explain where the items would have come from and how they were made. Also, that you mention slave labor in this video. Sometimes I feel like many videos on ancient Rome gloss over the fact that slaves were a huge part of the Roman era
She looked beautiful and elegant. I love the hair style
I love learning history about every war possible but historical clothing also fascinates me. Thanks for another great video :) keep up the good work
The "pallah" that was mentioned in this video is so similar to a saree's pallu from India. It would be really interesting if they are from the same origin .
that's what i was thinking!
I can tell the Crow's Eye team put a lot of work into this video! Not just by making it so immersive, but also by taking the time to research the way of life from an era so long ago. Thank you for such transportative quality! 😊
All these videos teach us that times have a unity: no matter what era you live in, it’s better to be rich.
“But this lifestyle was not to last. An economy based on stolen lands, wealth, and labour and dominated by a super-wealthy elite was unsustainable.”
[Stares in late-stage capitalism...]
Hooooo, yes! A+ for the subtle educated barbs, Crow's Eye, and for the reminder that those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it....
That was certainly a well-aimed barb across the Pond, wasn't it? 😏
@@thebookwyrmslair6757 You mean the Americas? Where Europeans stole lands, labour (from Africa and the Americas) and dominated the world, as a super-wealthy elite, for centuries, all the way up to the last half century. Those Europeans then declared themselves Americans (North and South) and continued the same practices, joining forces with the former countries of origin of their super-wealthy elite. Not sure which side of the Pond the barb is for, when they are both just the other side of the same coin.
@@vbrown6445 That's exactly who I mean. :) Since this is a British channel, I meant to poke fun at my fellow USers (notwithstanding that both continents have a whole ugly history - as does the continent of Australia... and Africa. However, they aren't quite across the pond in the same way).
@@thebookwyrmslair6757 1. No it’s just literally what happened to Rome
2. America was colonized by the British… so weird hypocritical barb anyway
Well, apart from medicine, irrigation, health, roads, cheese and education, baths and the Circus Maximus, what have the Romans ever done for us?
Guess who even reported on the existence of bacteria and how it could harm people, despite not being able to see it [no microscopes] they could still postulate it existed. And were proved correct centuries later.
This fits in so well with my being a fan of the production shown on UA-cam called 'Time Team'. So many Roman villas found in Britain.
1:08 this looks like something my mom would have worn in 2010. Took me a bit off guard at first 🤣
These are interesting to watch, especially as I’m writing a fantasy book in a medieval-like time. These videos are great for culture and fashion inspiration
Calling it "unsustainable" is a bit dishonest, given that the Roman empire was the the longest lasting empire to date....
i love this type of video aaaa, they made me feel less ancient periods of history
Babe wake up new crows eye video just dropped
Fashion is a general staple of any culture. It’s shown off a person’s standard of wealth, social status, country of origin, often their personality and so much more. The beauty and greatest advantage of fashion is its possibilities are boundless and it’s languages are infinite
I love how once this girl gets dressed, the queen mum comes out to greet her for tea. Love these videos
Romqn Clothing and Jewelry were my favorites of Ancient Clothing. It had such a beautiful look to it. 😊
I’m absolutely ROLLING over the use of modern sandals on that lady 😭💀
The cosmetics look pretty modern too haha. I understand why they might not want to put lead paint or coal on her face but at least skip the mascara and bronzer, ya know?
Imagine going everywhere holding a blanket
I’d love a 17th or 18th century episode focusing on lace-making, or a working class 19th c episode, focusing on something like smocking- which was worn with pride by both genders; or, maybe a 19th c lace-making one, & focusing on how the Industrial Revolution deeply impacted the clothing industry first - & male weavers, like my Irish & English (from Dorset) ancestors were pushed out of the business, because it was cheaper to employ women & children to operate the machines, & when things like the collapse of the kelp-gathering industry (essential for soda ash production, prior to Continental advances) in Ireland occurred, post-Napoleonic Wars- women took up lace-making to support their families...
Very informative, thank you! Can't help but think Roman citizens must have froze in Britain in just their tunics.
wool tunics would have been quite warm, and if they picked up on the local style they could wear leggings underneath. wrapping oneself in long cloths is really good for temperature regulation!
and to the unfortunately phrased comment below, in the regency period long wool coats and many layers of undergarments were used to keep warm, along with scarves and delicate gloves.
Thank you for a Beautiful new video. Very interesting to see the description of clothes of roman times.always look foward to your amazing videos.
After 400 years, Rome did not really "occupy" Britain anymore, because nearly all the citizens living there had been born there, and almost all the soldiers garrisoned there were recruited locally. Intermarriage had mixed the populations. The third century merely marked the gradual decline of effective tax transfers to Italy, and the start of irregular assignment of proconsuls.
So after 400 years the genocide was complete and they were all one big happy homogenous family?
@@SheepWaveMeByeBye Pretty much, yeah, kind of like the English presence in Wales and Scotland, wanker. But none of it was as bad as when those wretched Saxons moved from Saxony to Britain then had the cheek to call the Normans "invaders".
They still would have considered themselves Roman where ever they were born whether it be Britain, Spain or Gaul
@@Etheral101 Exactly. Britain was not "occupied" by Rome, it WAS Rome, just as much as if it were Italy. You cant "occupy" a place for 400 years.
@@penultimateh766 I disagree, there is a reason why long lasting empires were kicked out often. Such as the Iberian reconquista which saw the Muslims kicked back out to Africa.
“Gilded leather sandals adorned with pearls”
Those were American Eagle sandals from Payless but we will let that slide
How long ago was this video filmed? Payless closed its doors several years ago.
Very well designed video. Informative not only about the way of dressing but also about the social environment, the history, with a bit about social classes and the importance of slaves to sustain the way of living depicted. Bravo!
Gorgeous clothes! Always happy to see more of these, and more varied fashions.
This is so pleasing and soothing to watch
Love this!!!
"...an economy based on stolen lands, wealth, and labour and dominated by a super wealthy elite was unsustainable." Ummmm, so would that be similar to the British Empire or no?
Yes, stolen lands and labour are very hard to maintain from lands far away. That's why it's hard to maintain large countries and empires. It holds true for all.
*come out ye black and tans gets louder from the distance*
oh no! Britain was only "progress and civilization"
Just love the getting dressed videos! Thank you
As usual, excellent!
I believe you forgot to mention the music. In case anyone is wondering it is 'Inn of the fermented' by Kyle Preston
This was brilliant. Liked and subscribed!
A beautifully done job, as always!
Been watching sense the first how to dress video, always loved the videos
This has to be one of my favorite episodes! These people must have thought they were so fortunate to live in such an advanced era. Supportive undergarments also served as personal storage. A luxurious excess of fabric could be wrapped and draped about yourself. Manipulated metals were so exciting that jewelry was valued by weight rather than artistic quality. This reveals so much about the ever changing tastes of humans through fashion.
gold jewelry was valued by weight because it served as a woman’s dowry-like they said in the video, it belonged to her personally rather than her husband. if she were widowed or divorced, she would survive by selling the jewelry. it has a very practical value. this system is still in use in parts of india-interesting given the indian textiles in the video!
The model is so pretty!
Chills! Comforting page. Magnificient. I love the feel. Got me in suspense!
Keep it up.
Thank you for these entertaining videos on different eras.
Brilliant, as always!
I ❤ this channel A great combination of history and narration. Is there any new material in the future or has this channel ceased to exist? I don’t seem to find anything recent.
We're taking a little break to work on some commissioned work, but we have plenty of plans for new videos for this year!
Love these types of videos, would love to see how people got dressed in every century from all over the world if I could haha
Fascinating, as always!
This is a wonderful video!! Thank you!
Beutyful video. I finally know what to wear to family gethering.
This looks so beautiful and comfy!! ❤️😭
The style looks so comfy
Yes! Just what I needed right now 👍🤩
“an economy based on endless growth is unsustainable”
Yay top 186 comments. Love this content. Love this channel. Happy Friday.
Interesting that makeup, a sign of wealth and status, has carried through the ages.
Narrator: "An Empire based on stolen lands, wealth, and labour by a super wealthy elite is not sustainable."
Eastern Roman Empire/Byzantine Empire: "Are you serious?"
You're forgetting the Persians, Ottomans, the Chinese, Mongols, Indians, etc.
Love you guys!
I think many historians would disagree with the statement at 3:10. The reasons for Roman rule diminishing were far more complex than that. Otherwise, an interesting video.
1:08. Hey, I seen those same sandals at Payless.
The model is so pretty
The Roman and Egyptian fashion, makeup, and cleanliness was so ahead of its time!! I love it!!!
I love the hairstyle of the “Lady” being dressed here by her servants. I wish I could find a twisted “gold” metal headband like the one she’s wearing, too.
The past sentence was eyeopening.
Now THIS is fascinating. Ancient and fusion cultures are so interesting, and this is both!