A draped garment (draped dress) is a

garment Clothing (also known as clothes, garments, dress, apparel, or attire) is any item worn on a human human body, body. Typically, clothing is made of fabrics or textiles, but over time it has included garments made from animal skin and other thin s ...

that is made of a single piece of

cloth Textile is an umbrella term that includes various fiber-based materials, including fibers, yarns, filaments, threads, and different types of fabric. At first, the word "textiles" only referred to woven fabrics. However, weaving is n ...

that is draped around the body; drapes are not cut away or stitched as in a

tailor A tailor is a person who makes or alters clothing, particularly in men's clothing. The Oxford English Dictionary dates the term to the thirteenth century. History Although clothing construction goes back to prehistory, there is evidence of ...

ed garment. Drapes can be held to the body by means of

knot A knot is an intentional complication in Rope, cordage which may be practical or decorative, or both. Practical knots are classified by function, including List of hitch knots, hitches, List of bend knots, bends, List of loop knots, loop knots, ...

ting, pinning, fibulae, clasps,

sash A sash is a large and usually colorful ribbon or band of material worn around the human body, either draping from one shoulder to the opposing hip and back up, or else encircling the waist. The sash around the waist may be worn in daily attire, ...

es, belts, tying drawstrings, or just plain

friction Friction is the force resisting the relative motion of solid surfaces, fluid layers, and material elements sliding against each other. Types of friction include dry, fluid, lubricated, skin, and internal -- an incomplete list. The study of t ...

and gravity alone. Many draped garments consist of only one single piece. An advanced form of the garment is the

ed dress, which is constructed from fabric that has been cut into pieces and stitched together to fit various parts of the body. In comparison to draped dresses, they are more fitted to the body.

History

Draping is a most ancient and widespread form of clothing. Many visual arts of the Romans and Indian

sculptures Sculpture is the branch of the visual arts that operates in three dimensions. Sculpture is the three-dimensional art work which is physically presented in the dimensions of height, width and depth. It is one of the plastic arts. Durable sc ...

, terracottas,

cave paintings In archaeology, cave paintings are a type of parietal art (which category also includes petroglyphs, or engravings), found on the wall or ceilings of caves. The term usually implies prehistoric origin. These paintings were often created by ''Hom ...

, and wood carvings (also shown in picture gallery) representing men and women show the same, unstitched clothes with various wrapping and draping styles. Uttariya, and Antariya are few evident clothing items of draped garments from the

Vedic period The Vedic period, or the Vedic age (), is the period in the late Bronze Age and early Iron Age of the history of India when the Vedic literature, including the Vedas (–900 BCE), was composed in the northern Indian subcontinent, between the e ...

. Kasaya, another rectangular piece of the Buddhist robe, is a real example of the draped garment. Further evolved forms are Sari, and Odhni, etc. The kāṣāya, also called ''jiāshā'' ( Chinese: 袈裟), consists of three pieces, with the saṃghāti as the most visible part of the buddhist attire. It is worn over the upper robe (''uttarāsaṅga''). Uttarāsaṅga is a robe covering the upper body that comes over the undergarment, or ''antarvāsa''. The antarvāsa is the inner robe covering the lower body. The latter are covered with ''saṃghāti''.

Examples

More examples of draped clothing are: * Uttariya an upper body garment. * Adivasah is a loose-fitting outer garment, it is a type of over garment similar to a mantle or

cloak A cloak is a type of loose garment worn over clothing, mostly but not always as outerwear for outdoor wear, which serves the same purpose as an overcoat and protects the wearer from the weather. It may form part of a uniform. People in many d ...

. * Antariya a lower body garment. * Angvastra a kind of stole. * Stanapatta a chest band to cover the breasts. *

Sari A sari (also called sharee, saree or sadi)The name of the garment in various regional languages include: * * * * * * * * * * * * * * is a drape (cloth) and a women's garment in the Indian subcontinent. It consists of an un-sti ...

is a draped garment of south Asia, typically wrapped around the waist, with one end draped over the shoulder, partly baring the

midriff In fashion, the midriff is the human abdomen. The midriff is exposed when wearing a crop top or some forms of swimwear or underwear. Etymology "Midriff" is a very old term in the English language, coming into use before 1000 AD. In Old Engl ...

. *

Peplos A peplos () is a body-length garment established as typical attire for women in ancient Greece by , during the late Archaic Greece, Archaic and Classical Greece, Classical period. It was a long, rectangular cloth with the top edge folded down ab ...

Long draped garment worn by women of Ancient Greece; often open on one side, with a deep fold at the top, and fastened on both shoulders. *

Palla (garment) The ''palla'' was an elegant cloak or mantle that was wrapped around the body. It was worn outside the house by (affluent) Roman women. It was a luxurious version of the Roman men's ''pallium''. The ''palla'' was a traditional ancient Roman ma ...

a long rectangular piece of cloth, folded in half lengthwise and used as a cloak by Roman women. *

Chitons Chitons () are marine (ocean), marine molluscs of varying size in the class (biology), class Polyplacophora ( ), formerly known as Amphineura. About 940 Extant taxon, extant and 430 fossil species are recognized. They are also sometimes known ...

Toga The toga (, ), a distinctive garment of Ancient Rome, was a roughly semicircular cloth, between in length, draped over the shoulders and around the body. It was usually woven from white wool, and was worn over a tunic. In Roman historical tra ...

s a very long length of woolen fabric that Romans wrapped around themselves, draping it over the left shoulder and arm and leaving the right arm free. *

Himation A himation ( , ) was a type of clothing, a mantle (clothing), mantle or Wrap (clothing), wrap worn by ancient Greek men and women from the Archaic Greece, Archaic period through the Hellenistic period ( BC). It was usually worn over a Chiton (gar ...

an ancient Greek garment similar to the Roman toga. *

Stola The stola () (pl. ''stolae'') was the traditional garment of Roman women, corresponding to the toga that was worn by men. It was also called ''vestis longa'' in Latin literary sources, pointing to its length. History The ''stola'' was a staple ...

s long full robe with or without sleeves and drawn in with a belt; it was worn by Roman women, corresponding to the

toga The toga (, ), a distinctive garment of Ancient Rome, was a roughly semicircular cloth, between in length, draped over the shoulders and around the body. It was usually woven from white wool, and was worn over a tunic. In Roman historical tra ...

, that was worn by men. The stola was usually woollen. * Sudanese thawb: Women's outer draped garment, a rectangular length of fabric, generally two meters wide and four to seven meters long. *

Pareo A pāreu or pareo is a wraparound skirt worn in Tahiti. The term was originally used only for women's skirts, as men wore a loincloth, called a '' maro''. Nowadays the term is used for any cloth worn wrapped around the body by men and women. T ...

s *

Poncho A poncho (; ; ; "blanket", "woolen fabric") is a kind of plainly formed, loose outer garment originating in the Americas, traditionally and still usually made of fabric, and designed to keep the body warm. Ponchos have been used by the Indige ...

s *

Cloak A cloak is a type of loose garment worn over clothing, mostly but not always as outerwear for outdoor wear, which serves the same purpose as an overcoat and protects the wearer from the weather. It may form part of a uniform. People in many d ...

s *

Shawl A shawl (from ''shāl'') is a simple item of clothing, loosely worn over the shoulders, upper body and arms, and sometimes also over the head. It is usually a rectangular piece of Textile, cloth, but can also be Square (geometry), square or tr ...

s *

Scarf A scarf (: scarves or scarfs) is a long piece of fabric that is worn on or around the neck, shoulders, or head. A scarf is used for warmth, sun protection, cleanliness, fashion, religious reasons, or to show support for a sports club or team. ...

* Matchcoats, a Native American garment similar to the ancient Greek

himation A himation ( , ) was a type of clothing, a mantle (clothing), mantle or Wrap (clothing), wrap worn by ancient Greek men and women from the Archaic Greece, Archaic period through the Hellenistic period ( BC). It was usually worn over a Chiton (gar ...

Picture gallery

File:Statues of Vaishnavi, Varahi, Indrani and Camunda, National Museum, New Delhi.jpg, Shaktism is a Goddess-centric tradition of Hinduism. Relief statues of Vaishnavi, Varahi,

Indrani Indrani (Sanskrit: इन्द्राणी, IAST: ''Indrāṇī''), also known as Shachi (Sanskrit: शची, IAST: ''Śacī''), is the queen of the Deva (Hinduism), devas in Hinduism. Described as tantalisingly beautiful, proud and kind, ...

and

Chamunda Chamunda (, ), also known as Chamundeshwari, Chamundi or Charchika, is a fearsome form of Chandi, the Hindu mother goddess, Mahadevi and is one of the seven Matrikas.Wangu p.72 She is also one of the chief Yoginis, a group of sixty-four or ...

File:Ardhanari.jpg, In Shakta theology, the female and male are interdependent realities, represented with Ardhanarishvara icon. Left: A 5th century art work representing this idea at the Elephanta Caves; Right: a painting of Ardhanarishvara. File:Yakshini (cropped).jpg, Yakshini wearing

dhoti The dhoti is an ankle-length breechcloth, wrapped around the waist and the legs, in resemblance to the shape of trousers. The dhoti is a garment of ethnic wear for men in the Indian subcontinent. The dhoti is fashioned out of a rectangular p ...

wrap and elaborate necklace, Mauryan period. File:Mehrauli Yakshi, 150 BCE, Mathura.jpg, The "Mehrauli Yakshi", dated to 150 BCE, Mathura. File:Mudgarpani Yaksha, Mathura, 100 BCE.jpg, Mudgarpani Yaksha, 100 BCE. File:Yaksha Manibhadra - Parkham Mathura circa 150 BCE.jpg,

Parkham Yaksha The Parkham Yaksha is a colossal statue of a Yaksha, discovered in the area of Parkham, in the vicinity of Mathura, 22.5 kilometers south of the city. The statue, which is an important artefact of the Art of Mathura, is now visible in the Mathura ...

, 150 BCE. File:Door Desavatara Deogarh.jpg, Females statues wearing drapes are depicted at

Dashavatara Temple The Dashavatara Temple is an early 6th century Hindu temple located at Deogarh, Lalitpur district, Uttar Pradesh which is 125 kilometers from Jhansi, in the Betwa River valley in northern-central India.Dehejia, Vidya. Indian Art. New York, NY ...

. File:In Welcome of Buddha - ACCN 34-2542 - Government Museum - Mathura 2013-02-24 5941.JPG, Relief depicting men in antriya and uttariya, 1st century CE. File:Xerxes Hidush warrior 480 BCE.jpg, '' Hindush'' soldier, circa 480 BCE. He wears a

Dhoti The dhoti is an ankle-length breechcloth, wrapped around the waist and the legs, in resemblance to the shape of trousers. The dhoti is a garment of ethnic wear for men in the Indian subcontinent. The dhoti is fashioned out of a rectangular p ...

and a turban. Tomb of

Xerxes I Xerxes I ( – August 465 BC), commonly known as Xerxes the Great, was a List of monarchs of Persia, Persian ruler who served as the fourth King of Kings of the Achaemenid Empire, reigning from 486 BC until his assassination in 465 BC. He was ...

. File:Mithuna, Nachna, Parvati-Tempel 2.jpg, Male and female statues wearing drapes at Nachna Hindu temples. File:Mattei Athena Louvre Ma530 n2.jpg, So-called “ Mattei Athena”. Marble, Roman copy from the 1st century BC/AD after a Greek original of the 4th century BC, attributed to Cephisodotos or Euphranor. Related to the bronze Piraeus Athena. File:Pergamonaltarathena.jpg, Relief of Athena and Nike slaying the Gigante Alkyoneus (?) from the Gigantomachy Frieze on the

Pergamon Altar The Pergamon Altar () was a monumental construction built during the reign of the Ancient Greece, Ancient Greek King Eumenes II of the Kingdom of Pergamon, Pergamon Empire in the first half of the 2nd century BC on one of the terraces of the ac ...

(early second century BC) File:Peplos scene BM EV.JPG, A new ''

peplos A peplos () is a body-length garment established as typical attire for women in ancient Greece by , during the late Archaic Greece, Archaic and Classical Greece, Classical period. It was a long, rectangular cloth with the top edge folded down ab ...

'' was woven for the patron of craft and weaving and ceremonially brought to dress her

cult image In the practice of religion, a cult image is a Cultural artifact, human-made object that is venerated or worshipped for the deity, Spirit (supernatural entity), spirit or Daimon, daemon that it embodies or represents. In several traditions, incl ...

(

British Museum The British Museum is a Museum, public museum dedicated to human history, art and culture located in the Bloomsbury area of London. Its permanent collection of eight million works is the largest in the world. It documents the story of human cu ...

). File:L'Arringatore.jpg, '' The Orator'', c. 100 BC, an Etrusco-Roman bronze statue depicting Aule Metele (Latin: Aulus Metellus), an Etruscan man wearing a Roman

while engaged in

rhetoric Rhetoric is the art of persuasion. It is one of the three ancient arts of discourse ( trivium) along with grammar and logic/ dialectic. As an academic discipline within the humanities, rhetoric aims to study the techniques that speakers or w ...

; the statue features an inscription in the

Etruscan alphabet The Etruscan alphabet was used by the Etruscans, an ancient civilization of central and northern Italy, to write Etruscan language, their language, from about 700 BC to sometime around 100 AD. The Etruscan alphabet derives from the Euboean alpha ...

File:Torso femenino romano - Iponuba (M.A.N.) 01.jpg, Roman marble torso from the 1st century AD, showing a woman's clothing File:Ipogeo di via livenza, diana cacciatrice.jpg, The goddess Diana hunting in the forest with a bow, and wearing the high-laced open "Hellenistic shoe-boots" associated with deities, and some images of very high status Romans. From a fresco in the Via Livenza Hypogeum, Rome, c. 350 AD File:Ménade danzante, Casa del Naviglio, Pompeya.jpg, A

maenad In Greek mythology, maenads (; ) were the female followers of Dionysus and the most significant members of his retinue, the '' thiasus''. Their name, which comes from μαίνομαι (''maínomai'', “to rave, to be mad; to rage, to be angr ...

wearing a

silk Silk is a natural fiber, natural protein fiber, some forms of which can be weaving, woven into textiles. The protein fiber of silk is composed mainly of fibroin and is most commonly produced by certain insect larvae to form cocoon (silk), c ...

gown, a Roman fresco from the Casa del Naviglio in

Pompeii Pompeii ( ; ) was a city in what is now the municipality of Pompei, near Naples, in the Campania region of Italy. Along with Herculaneum, Stabiae, and Villa Boscoreale, many surrounding villas, the city was buried under of volcanic ash and p ...

, 1st century AD File:The Buddha attended by Indra at Indrasala Cave, Mathura 50-100 CE.jpg, Uttariya and Antriya both are visible. File:Buddha in Abhaya Mudra - Circa 2nd Century CE - ACCN 00-A-4 - Government Museum - Mathura.jpg, A Mathura standing Buddha in "Samghati" monastic dress, circa 2nd century CE,

Mathura Museum __NOTOC__ Government Museum, Mathura, commonly referred to as Mathura museum, is an archaeological museum in Mathura city of Uttar Pradesh state in India. The museum was founded by then collector of the Mathura district, Sir F. S. Growse in 1 ...

File:Indian Museum Sculpture - Subjugation of Nalagiri, 2c, Mathura (9220813720).jpg, The Buddha in checkered monastic dress in the "Subjugation of Nalagiri", Bhutesvara Yakshis, 2nd century CE, Mathura. File:Buddha Refuses Anupama - Government Museum - Mathura 2013-02-24 5938.JPG, "Buddha Refuses Anupama", late Kushan File:Bodhisattva Holding Lotus Flowers - Kushan Period - Govind Nagar - ACCN 76-38 - Government Museum - Mathura 2013-02-23 5730.JPG, Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara holding lotus flower File:Goat-headed God Naigamesha Presiding Deity of Childbirth among Ancient Jainas - ACCN 15-1115 - Government Museum - Mathura 2013-02-24 6067.JPG, Naigamesha Jain god of Childbirth, 1st-3rd century CE.

Present day use

Haute couture

Wrapped and draped dresses continue to inspire many fashion designers. Madame Grès was a well-known French couturier known for her draping art. Her most notable work are so-called floor-length draped Grecian goddess gowns.

References

{{Historical clothing

External links

Institute of Draped Clothes
Clothing by material History of clothing Textiles Costume by period Buddhist religious clothing