The recent renaissance of interest in the history of dress and its cultural importance is celebrated in this collection of interdisciplinary essays. The sixteen contributors present on-going research into the study of the clothed body in ancient Egypt and the Aegean, Classical Greece, Rome and Late Antiquity.

Introduction: 'I wear this therefore I am': The clothed body in the ancient world (Mary Harlow, Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones and Liza Cleland); The Clothed Body in Egypt and the Aegean The decorated body in ancient Egypt: Hairstyles, cosmetics and tattoos (Joann Fletcher); The fashioning of Delila:. Costume design, historicism and fantasy in Cecil B. DeMille's Samson and Delilah (1949) (Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones); Reconstructing Aegean Bronze Age fashions (Ariane Marcar); Trailing tunics and sheepskin coats: Dress and status in early Greece (Hans von Wees); The Clothed Body in Classical Greece Constu(ct)ing gender in the feminine Greek peplos (Mirielle Lee); New clothes, a new you: Clothing and character in Aristophanes (James Robson); Beauty in rags: On rhakos in Aristophanic theatre (Silvia Milanezi); The semiosis of description: Some reflections on fabric and colour in the Brauron Inventories (Liza Cleland); Viewing and obscuring the female breast: Glimpses of the ancient bra (Emma J Stafford); The Clothed Body in Rome and Late Antiquity The toga praetexta of Roman children and praetextate garments (Judith Sebesta); What made the Roman toga virilis? (Glenys Davies); Men are Mars, women are Venus: Divine costumes in Imperial Rome (Shelley Hales); Dress in the Historia Augusta: The role of dress in historical narrative (Mary Harlow); Get your kit on! Some issues in the depiction of clothing in Byzantium (Liz James and Shaun Tougher); Tunics from Kasr al-Yahud (Orit Shamir); Bibliography.

These essays...offer new socially relevant insights into familiar works of antiquity [and] offer challening directions for continued research using precision studies of garment construction, fibers and fabrics, and, especially, their meanings in social contexts. -- Choice Choice Highly recommended.' -- Choice Choice This publication will be of interest to textile conservationists, archaeologists, classicists, art historians, theatrical costume designers, and re-enactment enthusiasts. -- Costume Costume The book will be especially useful to scholars specialising in gender studies, fabric manufacture, and the social importance and interpretation of clothes. However, anyone with a general interest in these areas and a healthy sense of curiosity will learn something from every chapter.' -- Ancient West & East Ancient West & East