From ancient Egypt to the catwalks: fashion as an expression of Egyptomania in the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century

From architecture to furniture, from cinema to video games, and from literature to comic books, ancient Egypt has been a constant presence for centuries through the adoption and adaptation of its themes, symbolism, and even its fantastical imagery. We call these manifestations of appreciation for ancient Egypt, as well as its reuse and reinterpretation, Egyptomania, a concept that encompasses the different aspects of the reception and globalisation of knowledge about ancient Egypt. Among the expressions of Egyptomania, we must consider fashion – a theme that has not been the subject of an in-depth and broad analysis.

This investigation has allowed us to conclude that the influence of ancient Egypt on fashion can be divided into two different periods: the period from Napoleon’s expedition to Egypt (1798–1801) to the discovery of Pharaoh Tutankhamun’s tomb (4th of November 1922), and the post-discovery period, which continues to the present day. This text is devoted to exploring the characteristics of Egyptomania in fashion during the first period, analysing the factors that spurred this interest and the ways in which it manifested itself throughout the nineteenth century and the first decades of the twentieth century. As we consider illustrations essential to a proper understanding of this theme, the text is extensively illustrated, offering readers the opportunity to see concrete representations of what is being discussed.