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What Is a Tunic?

by 顺之 聂 29 Dec 2023

The fashion world is constantly changing, but some things remain, and delight us year after year! One such item of clothing is the tunic. Whether you are looking for a comfortable, casual outfit or a stylish piece for a special occasion, they can be your best friend!

A tunic (from the Latin word: tunica) is a straight, loose-fitting garment with one or two side slits in the front, usually without a collar, with or without sleeves. The length of them can vary, but always below the hip line.

The first model was a bag-like garment with slits for the head and arms. The centuries-old transformation turned it into the most popular element of the modern closet. This type of clothing has one of the longest and most transformative histories.

We bet you have never thought about the fact that there are a great many tunics and they can be completely different. It is a universal type of clothing, which is an elongated kind of shirt, T-shirt, long sleeve, or shortened dress, worn as an independent item of the closet or with a skirt, or pants.

They are very popular due to its practicality and versatility. In this article, we will talk about the versatility of the tunic, give recommendations on how to choose the right style for the figure, and separately talk about care and operation. Let's dive into the world of tunics and find out how this clothing can make your style perfect!
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What Is a Tunic?

A tunic is a loose-fitting garment that is waist or hip length. It is perfectly mixed with a variety of tops or worn on its own, depending on your preferences! It combines with almost everything! Pants, skirts, leggings, shorts, and even jeans, any of these options will fit and look fashionable and very modern! Tunics sew a variety of styles and from a variety of fabrics, each girl can choose the one that will make her irresistible in any situation!

In ancient times, it was a bag-like product made of linen or wool with slits for the hands and head and was a basic element of underwear together with the hip and breast bandages. Women's tunics were quite long, up to the ankles, the length of men's models varied depending on their age - the older, the longer.

The Evolution of the Tunic Shirt

The beginning of tunic can be considered the period before our era when the tribes of Africa wore loose garments made of cuts of cloth. The ancient Persians were also fond of this kind of garment (it can be called the "progenitor"). Having introduced their changes, they wore this garment as a long spacious dress with sleeves and a wide belt. Moreover, it was intended to be worn exclusively by men and only from among the warriors.

Similar clothes were common in ancient Greece - it was perfect for the hot climate and scorching sun. In the Hellenes, not suffering from excessive bashfulness, this free short outfit was called chiton. The Greeks preferred to wear something that did not require sewing: a large rectangular piece of cloth wrapped around the body and fastened on the shoulder, tying a belt on top.

The culture of Ancient Rome adopted quite a lot from the Greeks, clothing was no exception. The general look underwent some changes, and the chiton became a tunic. It was sewn from two cloths, was sleeveless, only with armholes for the head and arms. Interestingly, good citizens of Rome considered sleeves a sign of dandy and even pampering.

The garment was originally considered exclusively for men, but, as is often the case, over time, women began to wear it as well. However, for them, this garment was referred to as the lower garment - when leaving the house it was necessary to wear a long cape over it. Tunic performed and social functions: depending on its color, cut, and decorative elements could determine the position of a person in society.

After the historical decline of ancient Rome, a similar garment appeared in the closet of the Byzantines, and then - in Eastern culture. It was among the Arab peoples that it became widespread and diverse: it was richly decorated with precious stones, and embroidery and enjoyed special popularity among the upper strata of the population.

In Europe, the tunic appeared in the heyday of the Empire style - in the middle of the XVIII century. However the experiments of individual fashionistas, so bold for that time, did not find the understanding of society, and the outfit did not appear in the closet of Europeans until the second half of the XX century. The return to the West began thanks to the hippie movement - it was they who drew attention to the ethnic styles of Eastern peoples.

Yves Saint Laurent was the first to present a collection of tunics to the world. Now it is difficult to say about any exact criteria of this element of closet - so wide is the variety of models. They are united only by a one-piece cut (both back and front), as well as the absence of a collar. However, one thing is certain: the popularity of this outfit in the present time is extremely high.

Modern tunic - a thing almost classic, relevant under any circumstances: on a picnic or at a party, at work, or on a walk. It is very popular in the latest fashion collections. Tunics are often part of the collections of Gucci, Blumarine, Oscar De La Renta, etc.
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Types of Tunics

Seasonality. Summer lightweight ones are great for warm days in a hot city or at the beach. Demi-seasonals are usually made of some dense warm material. There are products designed for cool fall, and spring, as well as completely insulated - designed for cold winter.

Style. Sporty - suitable for lovers of active life. With the help of outfits in folklore style, ethnic images are created. Romantic models will harmoniously fit into a delicate feminine look.

Classic - universal in various situations.

Fashion. The choice depends on the situation for which the garment is intended and is very wide: asymmetrical, beach dress-tunic, transformer, and a huge number of others.

Length. Can be: long, elongated, or short.

Material.When choosing it is worth paying attention to the composition and texture of the fabric.

Despite the huge selection and variety, there are still models that are favored by women.

Summer tunic
A summer tunic is a light cotton, chiffon, silk, batiste, lace, or satin blouse, shirt, dress, or pareo. Designed mainly for beach vacations or wearing in hot weather. Beach tunic - an invariable part of the closet of most of the fair sex on vacation. Therefore, the model for summer is designed to be light, and airy, provide maximum comfort and freedom of movement, but at the same time protect from the sun. In addition, it should be easy to remove and dress.

Casual
Women's casual tunic is the most common and is represented by a variety of options. As a rule, they are combined with different types of pants, leggings, or jeans. But some styles are slightly different from the usual, they are also used to create a casual look.

Classic
Classic or "Greek" style has been gaining popularity lately. As a rule, these tunics are made of light airy fabric, which forms a lot of folds.

Ethno tunic
Thanks to their loose cut, they suit almost everyone: full women literally "drape" shortcomings, and skinny add the necessary volumes. Otherwise, the look of this model is varied: the length of the sleeves differs, the height of the waistline, the presence or absence of a belt, V-neckline, or open shoulders is possible.

Tunic with a square neckline
A textured tunic with a square neckline and gathers that will emphasize the breasts - the trend of the season, perfect for full girls. Put it on with flared jeans and a woven bag. Most often such a model is made in boho style, which we will talk about below.

How to Style the Tunic Shirt?

A long tunic shirt, combined with pants or a skirt, can become the basis of a casual look for women of any age and type of figure. When choosing one or another style, you can confidently pay attention to your taste and preferences. The presence of the tunic in the closet always makes the look seem interesting and comfortable and contributes to delicately emphasizing the advantages of the figure.

A tunic, the length of which is below mid-thigh, can be worn as an independent dress. Tight jeans, leggings, and long pants are also well combined with belted top things. Translucent models with open buttons combined with tops and tight pants look great, but it is suitable only for a perfect figure. Fans of sporty style are recommended to combine the shirt with carefully selected shorts. It is advised to avoid excessive volume in the thighs. The length depends on the peculiarities of the figure.

One of the important advantages of such a tunic is the possibility to choose the size according to the individual parameters of your figure. For example, if you want to hide extra centimeters in the waist area, it is best to choose flared shirts and pants that emphasize beautiful legs. The combination of vertical stripes with a monochrome bottom helps to make your contour more slender.

When choosing shoes, there are practically no limitations. Depending on the season, occasion, personal preferences, and type of figure, you can choose shoes with a heel, sandals, boots, or boots. The main thing is to adhere to a certain style, do not get carried away with jewelry. If the chosen shirt itself is bright and attractive enough with a refined print, then it usually does not require additional jewelry.

A long tunic shirt is a unique thing that can be creatively used to create almost any style of fashionable look:

Freestyle
If convenience and romance are the main criteria when choosing an image, then this option is perfect. A belted tunic in combination with tight jeans or shorts, complemented with large jewelry, bright scarves, and flat shoes, looks great. A great choice for summer days. In cold weather, you can recommend fleece options that can be combined with long skirts and high boots. The set can be complemented with a fur vest.

Romantic style
In this case, a classic solution will be the addition of lace and embroidery to the tunics. Facets with flying edges and gathered under the chest models have not lost their relevance. A feminine shirt dress with a belt, supplemented with a simple belt, will noticeably emphasize the figure. The question of what to wear with a feminine belted shirt-dress, especially often arises. You can combine it with a simple belt, a silk scarf, bright shoes, and a clutch handbag, without the need for bright details or shiny jewelry.

Loose style
If you need a practical and comfortable way to wear tunics, this style is the best solution. At the same time, nothing prevents you from looking luxurious, using interesting designs, bright fabrics, or expressive accessories to stand out in the crowd. A classic combination for a casual look is a long shirt with jeans or cotton pants. To maintain the style in cooler weather, you can wear a vest. It is recommended to choose clothes with contrasting textures, adding accessories (watch, scarf) if necessary. The best options for shoes are loafers, loafers, and sneakers.

Sporty style
If this style is close to you when forming the outfit should pay special attention to details. Striped pants are perfectly combined with a long tunic. You can choose styles with a hood or pockets. Prints with emblems of sports teams can become a central accent.
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