In Old Testament times the distinction between male and female attire was not very marked. The statute forbidding men to wear female apparel ( Deuteronomy 22:5 ) referred especially to ornaments and head-dresses. Both men and women wore (1) an under garment or tunic, which was bound by a girdle. One who had only this tunic on was spoken of as "naked" ( 1 Samuel 19:24 ; Job 24:10 ; Isaiah 20:2 ). Those in high stations sometimes wore two tunics, the outer being called the "upper garment" ( 1 Samuel 15:27 ; 18:4 ; 24:5 ; Job 1:20 ).

They wore in common an over-garment ("mantle," Isaiah 3:22 ; 1 Kings 19:13 ; 2 Kings 2:13 ), a loose and flowing robe. The folds of this upper garment could be formed into a lap ( Ruth 3:15 ; Psalms 79:12 ; Proverbs 17:23 ; Luke 6:38 ). Generals of armies usually wore scarlet robes ( Judges 8:26 ; Nahum 2:3 ). A form of conspicuous raiment is mentioned in Luke 20:46 ; Compare Matthew 23:5 .

Priests alone wore trousers. Both men and women wore turbans. Kings and nobles usually had a store of costly garments for festive occasions ( Isaiah 3:22 ; Zechariah 3:4 ) and for presents ( Genesis 45:22 ; Esther 4:4 ; Esther 6:8 Esther 6:11 ; 1 Samuel 18:4 ; 2 Kings 5:5 ; 10:22 ). Prophets and ascetics wore coarse garments ( Isaiah 20:2 ; Zechariah 13:4 ; Matthew 3:4 ).

These dictionary topics are from
M.G. Easton M.A., D.D., Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition,
published by Thomas Nelson, 1897. Public Domain, copy freely.