The beginning of the Egyptian fashion craze came about due to a number of events happening during the 1880's. With the advent of the camera, many travelers ventured into previously unknown exotic lands, bringing back photographs and trinkets of people and places never before seen by most Europeans.

In 1880, a British Egyptologist, Mathew Flinders Petrie, excavated the large tombs of Egypt, sending thousands of fragmented artifacts back to England. News of Petrie's work in the tombs and the exotic artifacts he discovered spread quickly.

The influence of these new discoveries began to sweep across Europe, providing new ideas to artists, writers, theatre playwrights, and fashions of the day. By the turn of the century, every aspect of life from Oscar Wilde's Salome and the Mata Hari to the French Nude Postcards, we see a trend of exotic Egyptian influence. And, of course, Paris, being the leader of avant-garde trends, took full advantage of this new fashion, eventually spreading it around the world.
In 1917, Howard Carter, another British Egyptologist excavating tombs became convinced, based on some stone writings there was a undiscovered tomb of a boy King named Tutankhamen. His friend, Lord Carnarvon, a wealthy British man who owned the rights to dig the very land thought to house the tomb, allowed Carter to dig in search of the boy King.

After five years of digging, only four days before giving up Carter discovered the entrance to the tomb of King Tutankhamen. Lord Carnarvon immediately went to Egypt. Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon were the first to find and enter the tomb of King Tutankhamen in over 3,000 years. The year was 1922. As the untouched 3,000 year-old mummy and treasures were excavated, the Egyptian fashion trend went into full swing, spreading into very part of Europe.

Have a look at some of the many varieties of Egyptian costumes worn by many some of the most famous stars and models around the world.

We thank the people who worked so diligently to uncover many of the most significant discoveries the world has ever known and bring to us many great exotic Egyptian fashion styles we still wear today!