Begining of Costumes

From the beginning the subject of costume was received a full share of the world’s attention. The impulse towards adornment was prominent in the primitive ancestor in his usage of paints, tattoos and human bones which is today expressed in milady’s rouge, feathers and fur. In the distant age man lived in caves and under rocky cliffs. He mainly wanted to secure food and preserve his life. Dress did not exist but the impulse towards dress out of this early life which was dedicated to the hunt and the chase.

Body Decoration

The beginning of dress was in the form of body decoration. Painting, cutting and tattooing of the skin are forms of body decoration which were the first steps towards dress.

1. Painting

The ambition to be distinguished from others stimulated the desire towards dress.

a) Blood Marks

When primitive hunter returned to his tribe stained with blood, he found that these evidences of his might were respected and admired. Thus physical power was the only standard of worth in early age. The blood stains indicated courage and might which compelled veneration of others. So, man sought for more permanent badges of bravery. Blood marks were left upon the body as long as possible. When they were gone, the scars remained. Out of admiring blood marks and scars on human skin, a dim sense of beauty arose.

b) Coloured Clay

The next source of inspiration after blood marks were coloured clays. They were available in plenty. The people started to apply the clay to their faces, heads and bodies. Soon they were expressed at regular and measured intervals. Thus a sense of rhythm and idea of pattern began. Even now the present day savage of Australia carries a supply of white earth and red and yellow ochre with which he touches up his face with spots of colour. On festive occasions, he paints his entire body in pattern.

The Adamese living in Andaman island of Indian ocean are the lowest order of savages and paint the entire body with a pale green when in mourning. They use while for decoration and yellow ochre mixed with fat for facial decoration. The American indians when going on war cover their faces with rhythmic patches of yellow, red and blue. The rouge and patch which were in fashion during the 18^th century are refinements of age old body painting.

2. Cutting

After painting another form of body decoration was discovered. It was the cutting edge. Knife blades made of bones, horns, flints and other stones were finished with a fine point and edges. With these tools the fashion leader used to cut or slash his skin in forms of pattern.

3. Tattooing

Cutting was followed by tattooing. Here the skin was marked with incisions and colouring material was added. This form of decorative was expressed in elaborate pattern. This custom is even today found among South sea islanders, the Burmese, the Chinese and Japanese. Among the things found of the ancient cave men remnants of ground ochre and other colours used in painting and tattooing have been found.

Body Ornamentation

The second impulse towards dress was body ornamentation. The marks of distinction were ornaments added to the body. People in many parts of the world have worn a bit of bone, wood or stone run through a hole in the lip, nose or ears. Slowly these bits of facial ornamentation were supplemented by trophies of war and the chase.