I Gave Myself an Ancient Greek Makeover
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- Опубліковано 27 вер 2024
- This video is kindly sponsored by Brooklinen. Get $20 off your Brooklinen order over $100! Just click here bit.ly/VBirchw... and enter my promo code VBirchwood.
I gave myself an Ancient Greek makeover! This video was so much fun to put together, from hand sewing the Ionic Greek Chiton to researching Ancient Greek hair and makeup to recreate a look, to accessorising the final ensemble. Thank you so much for watching and I hope you enjoyed watching the video as much as I enjoyed making it!
Resources I utilised to help me -
Making an Ionic Chiton: @FantasticalFolliesCostuming
• Making an Ionic Chiton...
The book "Draping Period Costumes" by Sharon Sobel
(Link to buy which is an affiliate link, so I get a small commission) www.amazon.com...
Ancient Greek Hairstyles: @silvousplaits
• Historical Hair: Recre...
Ancient Greek Makeup: @Zabrena
• Historically Accurate:...
@NuttyProductionsOfficial
• What Beauty Was Like I...
🕯 Support my art on Patreon - / vbirchwood
🌲 Schedule a 1-1 call with me: calendly.com/v...
✨ Leave a donation: ko-fi.com/vbir...
🌙 Books I read, supplies I use, gear I film with (affiliate links): www.amazon.com...
🪡 Follow me on Instagram - / vasibirchwood
📖 Business inquiries - sofie@helmtalentgroup.com
Further Reading -
www.smithsonia...
www.metmuseum....
www.worldhisto...
/ ancient-greek-makeup-t...
Sources -
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unsplash.com/p...
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commons.wikime... Picture taken by Marcus Cyron, CC BY-SA 3.0 creativecommon..., via Wikimedia Commons
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commons.wikime... AdiJapan, CC BY-SA 3.0 creativecommons..., via Wikimedia Commons
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Phyrexian, CC BY-SA 4.0 creativecommon..., via Wikimedia Commons
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commons.wikime... ArchaiOptix, CC BY-SA 4.0 creativecommon..., via Wikimedia Commons
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commons.wikime... Photograph by Marsyas, CC BY-SA 2.5 creativecommon..., via Wikimedia Commons
This video is kindly sponsored by Brooklinen. Get $20 off your Brooklinen order over $100! Just click here bit.ly/VBirchwood_BrooklinenJan24 and enter my promo code VBirchwood.
Thank you soooo much for watching! This video was such a joy to put together. What do you think, should I dye the final garment a deeper blue colour or keep it as it is? Do you think you'll make your own chiton?
Your beauty is remarkable, dear Birchwood. I am in love. My heart is melting. God bless you and good luck with everything!
I think the colour suits you very well as it is, it's such a pretty look.
Don’t you mean 2024?
Middle Eastern clothing was also designed for a hot climate.
I’d prefer a darker blue, but that’s just for me!
Historical fashion _must_ have aspects that are suited for hot weather, because people in hot climates had to dress for the weather in the past as well. Historical fashion is far more than Northern Europe during the little ice age.
Completely agreed! It is such a broad term that encompasses so many unique cultures and time periods.
Definitely. A lot of layers would just not be used. Nudity was often an option but sunscreen wasn't a thing so covering up was more used but light layers.
I started looking into historical clothing, and more specifically materials, some years ago. I swear it's gotten so much easier to handle both summer and winter after I started using more historical methods. Getting clothes in natural fibers might be a bit more expensive, but the quality has been way better and definitely worth the investment in my opinion 😊
@@linroos5252exactly I started buying linen shirts and wool pants/sweaters and now the extreme heat and cold is easy to tolerate
@@linroos5252 It will also be cheaper long term as well to get better quality natural fibre fabrics because they don't wear as quickly as modern fast fashion poly cotton cloths. So you end up buying fewer replacements, thus saving you money.
17:09 I can imagine young Greek girls laughing trying to do their hair without their mothers for the first time. I imagine one girl, holding up a beautiful polished metal mirror her grandmother gifted to her, saying “No, like this!” and the other getting frustrated and then excited when she finally figures out how to hold the hair and pin it correctly.
If you're interested in historic warm weather clothing, I would strongly suggest looking into what we wear in Eastern Europe. The blouses in particular. In Romania we call them "iie", in Ukrainian they're "vyshyvanka", there's Bulgarian versions, and even Hungarian versions. They're so light and airy and breathable and I bet they would fit right into your wardrobe. And making one would probably be a wonderful project to work embroidery and smocking.
Yes - I have a Hungarian one and it is very light and pretty.
I love Romanian blouses with all that embroidery. A few years ago I found the youtube channel the Pretty Shepherd /Remeny Farm of Anna (she is Hungarian but she mixes in Romanian Transylvania clothing into her wardrobe besides Hungarian folk clothing) and it sparked my interest in those type of blouses and folk clothing from these 2 countries.
YES! All the yes! I love my vyšyvankas! Can't imagine going through summer without them, really. How do people do it?..😂
The embroidery on those is brilliant as well, no matter the culture; they're almost never plain! Historically it was basically considered bad luck if they were lacking embroidery, at least in my culture. (I'm Belarusian, just for context)
We actually have similar blouses in Greece with gauzey cotton and embroidery
am I the only one that got a giggle out of the sponsor being bedding? All I can think of is the 80's movies where they had Toga parties and people ran around in sheets! LOL
Anyone who thinks that period clothing wouldn't suit hot weather (like here in Australia), forgets that our ancestors *lived* in these clothes.
I can't remember the vintage fashion site, but I'm remembering I once saw an Edwardian dress that had been adapted to 1920's- the site noted they could tell it was period, & not a reproduction due to things like the period neckline (it was long-sleeved, & high-necked), the Art Deco-style rhinestone-buckle belt, & the shortened hem - it also noted that it didn't have the under-layers, that it would have had in the past- so it actually looked quite risqué! (as a lacy Edwardian era tea dress would...)
Nothing modern is as comfortable in hot weather then a chiton or caftan made from lightweight wool, linen or hemp! Covered skin does not heat up in the sun, swat gets soaked up and gets a big surface area to dry of which is cooling, and feels a lot less wet and gross . . .it really should be commen sense to look at how people in the past dealt with a struggle. It is such an immense fallicy to assume modern means more practical/efficient/better . . . Only for production
Love this. We've made a Roman toga and a Ancient Greek peplos. We were too intimidated by the Ionic chiton. Looks like it's worth revisiting. Happy sewing!
Thank you! Definitely revisit it - it’s simpler than it looks!
In terms of later historical fashion, people forget how light and cool many layers of starched cotton or linen can be - many petticoats and farthingales/hoopskirts, etc would act like fans and conduct breezes. They took inspiration from Ancient Greek clothing also for hot weather, just adapted it to their own needs. Glad you have a summer wardrobe you really enjoy!
You want ancient Egypt, and use linen. Cotton is hot.
It’s 95 F with 90% humidity here in summer now.
I loved this video! I'm actually a hair and makeup artist with experience doing historical work like this. Your hair didn't stay because it needed to either be in twists or plaits before going into the chignon, and then you needed to do a lot of stitches to attach the chignon to the hair on your head. A better resource is the channel Janet Stephens. She's a hair historian who has really deciphered the hairstyles of statues, and really walks you through the process. It is easier if you have someone to help you (a la a visatrix), but there are some basic ones you can do on yourself.
It's both! The proper is your first pronunciation and the other is the anglicized pronunciation. the CH is always aspirated in Greek as is Slavic and Hebraic languages.
Pretty! As someone who has done more costume-y Ancient Greek things, the key to the buttons in the sleeves is to use ones with shanks and just sew them on inbetween the 2 sides as you sew the sleeve tops together in those specific spots. No extra sewing, no buttonholes.
That is such a simple and clever idea!!
Good idea!!!👍
You look so good in this Greek style! My favourite part of this era is how the fabric was so ruffled and baggy, it just looks so loose and comfortable but also super pretty and delicate.
Your transformation was gorgeous! I love the freedom and vigor in your videos lately, since your big confessional video a few months ago. You seem so much happier and liberated! I feel like we are getting to know you better. Great work and thank you for sharing!
Thank you so much! I definitely feel a lot more free and liberated, especially as I continue healing 😊
(Commenting before watching this during my break)
Years ago, I once went into this rabbit hole reading through endless books on the Internet Archive (Spartan women were the undisputed queens IMO), and, someway, somehow, it led me to a lady called Janet Stephens, she’s dedicated her craft to faithfully recreating ancient Greco-Roman hairstyles, to see you also taking that part into account is great and I hope you further explore this type of topic because it’s such a complementary part of the outfits; so glad to see some love for the Greeks!
Edit: skipped to the hairstyle portion of the video and heard the Silvousplaits shoutout, I miss when she uploaded frequently, her Viking hairstyles were unmatched!
MAD respect for Janet Stephens!! It was my entire privilege to attend a talk she gave (with live models!) on the Flavian (?) "orbus comarum hairstyle at the Getty Villa. She talked about how the images on an ancient woman's tombstone were most likely of makeup tools, based on her own experiments with how various animal bones shattered to produce the tools. I'm not remembering this quite accurately, but WOW I respected the research.
I tried some of those tutorials, and it's pretty easy after some practice (I filed down a large sewing needle's tip and got some thicker black thread). It's nice because the weight of the hair is distributed evenly and there are no pins that might pull on it. It's a good way to secure a crown braid, too.
Look at you! Almost 100K subscribers!!! I'm so proud of you!
Thank you!! It feels a bit surreal 😊
The Chiton is proounced in Greek with "H"iton. Foor some reason the Greek h letter is usually translated to "ch" in english.
English doesn’t really have the “chi” sound.
Thank you for letting me know! So even all the online pronunciation guides were incorrect too 😅
“Kh” probably indicates the sound most clearly to modern people, as the sound has softened a lot since ancient times (this is also a difference between Old Norse and modern Icelandic, by the way).
@@VBirchwood Yes, tho they were correct on the "I". If in doubt go with the non-English "I", as the English "I" is very much an outlier.
@@ragnkjanot really, as modern people pronounce it with too much k and not enough h (or aspiration). The closest sound is h.
its fascinating how the "monobrow"(or bodyhair in generell) changed its "value" in fashion all the time... like so much... thanks for your videos and the immense research behind it!!!
You look absolutely lovely. That mint green linen is beautiful. The final look is really elegant.
Thank you so much!
Check out Janet Stephens or Morgan Donner’s channels - I think they have some good hairstyle tips for the look you want. Morgan did a whole video on ancient pins.
Also, with your length of fabric, start with holding up your bun in the back and then tightly crossing the long ends over the top and tucking the ends in the back under the bun might give both the look and support your hair, as well.
Omg this would be perfect for where i live! I'm an Aussie so alot of clothes are too hot for here, i would love to make so many historical clothes but i overheat really easily😅
Honestly this looks perfect for an Aussie summer, light soft and breathable😊
I love the color! It's very springtime and refreshing from bold dark colors we typically wear in the winter. I'm not sure if I'm brave enough to wear something like this but it looks fun. I hope you enjoy it this coming summer.😊
Thank you!! I hope your winter is going well 🥰
The final reveal is SO beautiful! I can definitely see were Europeans in the early 1800s Regency period took inspiration from ancient greek fashion
I was already deeply hooked to your style of videos (your filming skills, music, realisation, etc), your style of sewing, and your personality. Now, with this video I think that I am in love. Such a beauty, such a wonderful smile and communicative laugh! I can see that you really love what you are doing, and it bring joy and light in my heart. What a beautiful person!
❤
As an art historian I love to see people add colour into history. All the now white statues used to be colourful, but the original colour faded over time and gave us the image of white statues. An aesthetic that came back into fashion again in the classic period, when some churches where drained of most colour (especially the statues) to match this ideal. I once went to a church with almost no colours on the inside. I wondered why it was that way, when I found out, that the original gothic statues where colourful, until the colours came out of style and the layer of colour was removed, until the only colour remaining was the grey of the stone.
If we only could time travel and see all the colours of the past.b
It would be so amazing to see all the rich and vibrant colours of the past!
Wonderful idea! I'm so trued of shorts, jeans etc. Back to feminine clothes. Thank you😊
Not all the way through the video, but for the past couple of videos you have had this small smile of happiness on. Just makes me think that the last couple of pieces you have done are hitting a more happiness and fulfilling feeling from the look of it.
Nothing to do with the content itself, my ongoing therapy treatment is just helping me immensely.
@@VBirchwood Happy to hear that it is doing wonders for you.
As a Indian Caribbean 🇬🇾🇹🇹🇮🇳 I have connections to indo-Greeks and Himalayas but I love the Greek makeup I love how historical it is ❤
This enture ensemble turned out so fabulous!!!
I’ve often been tempted to make myself some loose Early Medieval wool gowns for winter, and silk shifts to wear under them (a rare luxury then, I know, but it feels better than linen). So many winter clothes nowadays are made of plastics (synthetic fibers), which I can’t stand. I prefer wearing dresses, especially at home, they don’t ride up or pinch like pants do.
Looks great! One accessory that any greek lady would have had would have been a loooooooong almost transparent veil which would help keep the sun off.
YESSS I love it! Another chiton convert! These and stolas are truly the best and most comfy things to wear in the heat. Love the color, too! Hope you get lots of use out of it 🧡
The dress looks beautiful and the smoky eye look suits you so well!!
STUNNING! Absolutely a Wow! Your choices in background music are exquisite too.
I have a degree in ancient history so it is really exciting to see your final look, a glimpse into the past !!! Fantastic video as always :')
You're correct in that the chiton is one of the best for beginners to drape. When I did my bachelor, it was the first garment we were taught to drape and make and it really helped to start there. It gives an excellent introduction to manipulating fabric on a dress form or a human body, as you showed here, and is very forgiving when it comes to corrections.
That sponsorship talk about your bedroom decor actually for me a little excited. I would totally love to see some interior/decor/season-udate videos! Maybe with some thrifting or upcycling...
You look SO beautiful, like a real Greek Goddess!! Love that whole look on you. I think the fabric and sewing design are perfect 😮❤
Such a gorgeous simple look! You did a fantastic job! Though I think you could have gone even more heavy on the eye makeup!
Thank you! I was so terrified because it's been years since I've applied black eyeliner 😂
Dark eye makeup actually had practical origins, since it makes sun glare slightly less bad.
@@ragnkja trueI I wore super heavy eyeliner top and bottom when I visited spain because of this!
woow the end result looks soo good! The accessories definetly put the whole look together!^^
I can't concentrate on what you're making because I love the garment you're wearing, the fit is gorgeous
wow, gorgeous!! i so want to try out this look now!
I just thought you might like to know that the earrings are not blown glass but lampworked glass. The pattern is millefiori (meaning 1000 flowers in Italian) and is a process from ancient Greece. So they really match the outfit! 😊You look lovely!
So cool! Thank you for the information and the compliments! ☺️
I loved the way you put everything together! The crossed wrap with the belt was especially interesting as I had always assumed the ancient Greeks just did a simple belt around the waist. Your version was much more fun!
Absolutely beautiful! I might have to try making one of these. Everything came together so well. I think you did a good job with the hair and makeup. ❤
Thank you!! 😊
Beautiful. I love the whole look.
Well, me and my scorching summer are thanking you. A lot !!!!
K’Ton with the accent on the second syllable was how I learned it. And I think prefinity is a great word … even implies preference in the mix!😂
So soft and pretty.
I would totally wear this in the summer. The color is also so pretty.
In the medieval period, kohl was produced in the heart of the Khazarian Empire in their capitol city Atil. Atil was located at the mouth of the Volga River on the western coast of the Caspian Sea. There is a city named "Khol" in Azerbaijan. It is located in the Neftchala District, which is situated along the Caspian Sea coast in southeastern Azerbaijan. There were many people of Ashkenazi-Jewish descent who migrated from there into Ukraine and Germany. Some took the name Kohl as their surname. One notable individual who happens to have been a Jewish American was Maxwell Kohl who founded the department store Kohl's. He opened the first Kohl's department store in Brookfield, Wisconsin, in 1962. I discovered all this a year ago while researching cultural migrations out of the Iberian Caucus region.
I actually made an ionic chiton from a Sari that I purchased from etsy that had a very fun woven fish pattern in it! I then just cut it to size and sewed on medusa-head buttons!
I will forever applaud your skill/bravery for trying to get those eyes brows closer together. The eyebrow tails will always be kind of their own conversation but I feel the centre of the eyebrows, especially monobrow is literally part of the focal point of your face so if it is off it’s quite noticeable. Very Cool 😎
Chiton is more like "hee-TONE". Accent on the second syllable.
I agree it's an ee sound. In Ancient Greek χιτών would also have the 'o' sound double the length of the 'i' sound.
χ - 'ch' as in 'loch'
ι - 'ee' as in 'meet'
τ - 't' as in 'coat'
ώ - 'ou' as in 'thought'
ν - 'n' as in 'tone'
Thanks to the both of you!!!! I always thought it was cheet like cheetah un like onion! Geez I was so far off but now I can say it right!!!
@@johannesgh90 are you sure it's like the vowel in "thought"? I know in modern Greek it's more like "tone" than "thought"
@@patrickbateman3146 Yes, it's different in Modern Greek and there were a lot of local variations, not to mention temporal since Ancient/Classical Greek covers many, many centuries, but the reconstruction I think is most reliable, not that I'm an expert, has it that way. Video here on YT is called Lucian Pronunciation of Ancient Greek and omega is pronounced at 1:48
@@johannesgh90 oh cool. Thanks
This looks so gorgeous I’m in awe! I never thought Ancient Greek clothing looked pretty but now I want one!
Wow, the end effect made me speechless. Amazing job!
Love this video! Alkanet isn't toxic, and is still used in some cosmetics today. I wonder if you were thinking of aconite, which was also used in cosmetics but is VERY toxic.
Thank you for the correction! I got it confused with Alkanna root in my research 🥲
I loved seeing your journey down ancient paths. ❤
I have been thinking about Greek dancing costumes with my bf being Greek so, perfect video. I sent him this and said, “I want to see what I can appropriate”. So let’s go!
I love your outfit at the beginning, love the circlet. 💞
Now I definitely want a chiton for summer, maybe in that same color, or maybe a light green.
i made myself a peplos (for early anglo saxon dress) wearing a peplos with a nice drapey fabric and a lot of heavy jewelry really makes me feel like i'm ~~The Sh*t ~~
Janet Stephens on youtube is the one that really shows how simplistic the greek hair fashions were, it was the roman ones who were wayyy more elaborate and she even shows how to do them, she does a lot of historical lectures on the ancient hair styles of women.
That does look comfortable. Thanks!
I think Ive caught one of your videos before. But this is amazing. You really work hard and in the end you appear as if from one of the master's oil paintings right off the easel. You are a darling and very creative. Best to you love. Have a wonderful day. Ciao.
Most paintings, and thus images of historical clothes, is probably from around the time of what we call the little ice-age. But if we're talking history, Rome and Greece are still Mediterranean. They did not just invent warm summers of late. Archaeologists have been doing experiments with things such as stone tools to get a better understanding of stone age cultures. People like you, who are into historical fashion can help a great deal, simply by doing what you love and making the experience of history available today.
Some things I like: old things, quiet things, slow things, durable things, things from different cultures, people who talk calmly, carefully and purposefully, women's hands and nails that are taken care of and presented in a tasteful manner (it's mostly an aesthetic preference but sometimes it speaks to deeper aspects of the person). I just found a new 'happy place' in this channel.
Ok. This suits you so well!
Here I sit in over 30C heat - and I have not made my Chiton while it was winter.... Thank you for this video!
I really admire your work and hope you keep it up! I follow several channels seeking to recreate various aspects of historical settings and yours is quickly becoming one of my favorites!
With or without make-up, you are stunning. I am new here and really love your content. You looks and clothing are truly beautiful. It shows that modesty is magical. Thanks
color looks great on you and the dress is so much fun!
In fact, if you study the vase paintings, in the late archeic/early Classical period around 500BC, Athenian woman's clothing, in particular could be highly railored. Multiple, bi-directional pleating groups combined with dagged hems and sheer fabric are in evidence over this might be a loose woolen poncho woven in the sprang meathod.
You are looking radiant today! I LOVE the color of your material! It sure screams 'summer' to me. Think I will try to make this one 😁 Love your channel ❤❤
I love it ! And the minty color is beautiful !
love the chiton! love the sleeves
You look amazing in that outfit, very pretty. I'd also like to thank you, your channel has helped me to find confidence in expressing myself in historical clothing as I've always dreamed of doing.
Cute!
So beautiful.
Fantastic look.
Another charming and delightful video.
You look amazing! I think this colour suits you. I also love how happy you look in your recent videos, you seem to have so much fun making stuff! ❤ And with the chronic health issues, I hope you feel better and will feel better for long time, preferably always ❤
You look beautiful!
This was so fun to watch! What a fun project!!!
So beautiful made me cry
Delightful introduction to ancient culture through fashion. Unexpectedly captivating. Subscribed, and (oh my) Patronizing.🤓
Good job! I would gladly wear that dress everyday! As a grandma, i hope you don't mind me saying you are an extremely lovely young woman both inside and out, and your intellect reminds me of both of my kids with high IQs. They are each very interested in unusual topics. I have sewed my clothing and quilts my entire life, so enjoy your take on clothing and life in general. I enjoyed this video, and the green was very pretty on you. ❤
Gorgeous project! Really enjoy watching you branch out into other time periods and cultures.
The mint color is so refreshing and the outfit turned out gorgeous, the hair pin adds a nice touch to the head wrap, and the mint color reminds me of my favorite ice creme choco mint! Which fits perfect for summer.
the efficiency of hot weather clothes also depends on the humidity. clothes made for dry hot weather won't work at cooling in humid weather
Greece is great for hot weather clothing bc you don’t even need to sew anything you just need pins and a belt for a Doric chiton
I discovered your channel long ago for unknown reasons (thanks UA-cam algorithms) and have always enjoyed your enthusiasm, attention to detail, cheery attitude and always positive vibes when talking about your passion, and simply watching you work as you skillfully recreate history. After a long day at work and as I am trying to wind down for the night, your voice is as about as relaxing as one can hope to hear from another human being. You're just a joy to watch and listen to.
You looked amazingly beautiful as always, but to be honest with you, this Greek style suits you in a way I can't explain. 23:16 I'm pretty sure there's a marble statue of you somewhere in Greece.
I think I’ve seen mostly your more formal videos, and the more casual nature of this one showcased your lovely smile and laughter, in addition to the beautiful clothing and styling you put together! Thank you for sharing your joy with us!
Gorgeous. Well done Princess xoxo
Hun, you positively glowed in the end 😊 Made my heart warm seeing how happy you were with the look, and you absolutely should be happy with it, it was SO gorgeous! I’m excited for you to get to go out during the Summer, and I’m gonna be jealous of everyone who gets to be transported back in time to a little slice of Greece whenever you walk past!
Also, the Brooklinen ad honestly could not have come at a better time for me! My sheets just started ripping about a week ago, and I have GOT to get new ones!
So pretty!!
At 17:41 when you said "This looks so bad", you're a straight up dream. I'm not at all clear what "bad" means, in this context.
I wonder how many ancient greek ladies also said “i dont have any real makeup skills, but whatever, this works” when they did their eyes and brows!
I took 3 semesters of Ancient Greek as my foreign language in college. The ancient Greek word χιτών (chiton) has the harder K sound. I pronounce it "kai-ton". The pronunciation that sounds like "key-ton" is likely from the way American sororities and fraternities pronounce the Greek alphabet (which is generally regarded as not historically correct). The accent mark above the omega is an acute mark, which just indicates a rise in pitch. This makes the ending syllable have a slight stress on it. Accent marks in ancient Greek generally are integral parts of the word. However, it changes depending on the sentence sometimes. Also, Ancient Greek and modern Greek are different languages, similar to how middle English and modern English are different languages.
Very nicely done. You're very good at this.
What a lovely picture of the past you became! The dress looks incredibly comfortable, that is also my preference with clothing.
Your innovative ways take us down so many intriguing paths!
14:39 everybodies eyes are like that. One eye is slightly larger than the other and it has everything to do with the shape of our heads.