How to Actually Dress Like a Minoan in the Modern Day

December 11, 2025December 11, 2025 / Rei Arkangelakis / 2 Comments

Unless you’re a tailor or good at sewing, replicating the exact look of a Minoan woman may not be impossible, but it would certainly pose a challenge. You can find some of my own budget-friendly renditions here. But there are ways to achieve the overall essence of this ancient Aegean look, which is what I’ll be diving into in this article. You may even already have some similar items in your closet! And if you are an avid sewer unlike myself, then I highly recommend this amazing tutorial for both women’s and men’s Minoan outfits by Daisy Viktoria.

an impressive example of a Minoan/Mycenaean-inspired look by Greek cosplayer Persephonaae. She is waring a blue and red bodice and has long curly black hair — an impressive example of a Minoan/Mycenaean-inspired look by Greek cosplayer **Persephonaae on IG**

The Minoan Skirt

The biggest statement piece is the long flounced/pleated skirt. When looking for a long skirt, the main keywords would be maxi, tiered, layered, waterfall, ruffled, and multicolored.

tiered ruffle maxi skirts in black, red, and teal — While **these options** by Plus or Bust aren’t multicolored, they have the tiered ruffle appearance.

a patchwork skirt — a **patchwork skirt** by Ojas Kirti Creation can fit the bill, too!

The Minoan Bodice

For the upper garment, look for a cropped open-front bolero shrug. Half-sleeve is preferred, but long, short, or no sleeves work, too. 80s embroidered styles, especially (the third one was made in Greece):

a black bolero shrug with white embroidery — **Click here** for the listing on Etsy

a dark pink bolero shrug with light blue floral embroidery — **Click here** for the listing on Etsy

a back vest with white plantlike embroidery — **Click here** for the listing on Etsy

A suzani embroidered vest is a great alternative as well:

a teal suzani vest with floral design — **Click here** for the listing on Etsy (suzani originate from Central Asia – there was so much cultural exchange back in those times, so I’m not at all surprised that there are clear similarities in traditional clothing)

Minoan Footwear

For shoes, try Greek-style strappy sandals with no heel, or you can go barefoot:

strappy black sandles that wrap around the calves — the **Terpsichore sandal** by Mac&Lou

Minoan Makeup

thick black cat-eye eyeliner
red lipstick
black eyebrow pencil for a more striking look
that same red lipstick can also be used to draw matching little suns on your cheeks, chin, and forehead (more Mycenaean than Minoan but still captures the Minoan vibe quite well – Mycenaean fashion was also deeply influenced by Minoan styles). I saw a reel by public historian Han Parker where she colored the top of her lipstick cap with lipstick and stamped it on her face (so clever but maybe a little too big for my liking). She then used a fine makeup brush (or you can use a cotton swab) to fine-tune it and add the smaller circles around it.

Persephonaae again, but this time, you see the sun blush on her face and eyeliner better — The stunning details of **Persephonaae’s** makeup

Minoan Jewelry and Accessories

golden bangles
golden arm cuffs
colorful beaded chokers
long tassels to tie around the waist
Minoan-inspired pendants and dangling earrings

golden bangles featuring the Phaistos disc and Greek meander/key design by **Handmade Soulmates**

a golden snake arm cuff/bangle by **Jewels Sandra**

a golden Malia Bee Pendant replica with earrings — a **Malia Bee Pendant replica** by Ilios Shop with matching earrings, which I have

The Minoan Hairstyle

partial updo
curled or wavy long dark hair with lots of volume (you can wear a black wig if necessary)
curled strands, especially along the front
thick headbands
a string of pearls or beads

To find out more about Minoan women’s fashion, read this.

Wearable Minoan Art: Dolphins & Rosettes

December 4, 2024March 19, 2025 / Rei Arkangelakis / 8 Comments

Dressing like a Minoan during modern times would certainly turn some heads and even get you some strange looks. Bare-chested bodices and long, vibrant flounced skirts… It’s also no longer practical in this day and age, especially if you live in a colder climate. So, the next best thing is to search for lovers of ancient art who integrate it into their creations! From earrings to sweaters inspired by timeless frescoes, there’s a way to carry Minoan art with you into your everyday life without intricate hairstyles and waist-slimming belts that restrict breathing (and how much you can eat 😆).

Wearable Art with Ancient Flair

First, I’d like to share photos of a sweater inspired by the Minoan Dolphin Fresco, featuring both the iconic blue dolphins, blue fish, and rosettes 🐬. I initially came across it here on WordPress when looking under the “Minoan Art” tag and did a little happy dance in my computer chair. Greek Myth Comics is full of comics about Greek mythology, but they also host podcasts and create wearable art! I purchased the sweater you see below here. There are other options as well (from labrys totes to griffin cardigans).

The quality is amazing, the material is comfortable, and the fit is slightly on the larger side, so size down if you’re looking for a snugger fit. By the way, I have not been sponsored in any way. I’m just geeking out and wanted to share in my excitement 😁. You’ll also notice I’m wearing a dolphin earring, so next up is the jewelry!

The dolphin and rosette earrings below were created by Plato’s Fire (Natasha is behind this endeavor, a Classics alumna and talented jewelry-maker based out of Scotland). Sadly, there aren’t as many pieces left from her Minoan collection, but there are still a few dolphin and rosette ones available!

As you can see, the craftsmanship is superb! They are lightweight and made of acrylic. The only issue I’ve had with the dolphin earrings is getting them on and taking them off… The hoop is a bit tricky for me, and my very sensitive ears don’t react too well to the metal if I wear them for long periods of time. But they’re quite versatile, so I wear one of them as a pendant at times or dangle them from the cloth on my altar. Needless to say, these items definitely make a statement!

That’s a wrap! Now all I need to do is go to Knossos again while wearing my Minoan items (not in the heart of summer like last time… let’s just say sunny 100-degree weather is not ideal for checking out ancient sites 😅) and take a photo in front of the Dolphin Fresco. In all seriousness, that would be amazing (and amazingly geeky, but I put the “geek” in Greek so… 😂).

If you’d like to see other Minoan-inspired pieces, go here. I didn’t get to the symbolism of the dolphin and rosette imagery in Minoan art, but that’s because I’d like to devote posts to each symbol at some point, so stay tuned for those. 😊

Ancestral Connection and Healing through Dress: Minoan-Inspired Outfits by a Modern Day Cretan Person

January 6, 2023March 25, 2025 / Rei Arkangelakis / 4 Comments

One of the main ways I’ve been connecting to my ancestors is through fashion. Ancient Cretan fashion, to be exact. From Minoan-inspired jewelry and hairstyles, to patterned dresses and cropped cardigans, I’ve attempted to recreate the attire of the Minoans based off the dozens of frescoes I’ve seen in person and online. While my attempts are imperfect in various ways, the act in and of itself has been powerful and deeply meaningful to me.

Outfit #1: Blue Color Palette (Inspired by the Dolphin Fresco)

The earrings are replicas of the Malia Pendant (Minoan Bee pendant), which were gifted to me by my coven sibling and crafted by Greek Ancient Jewelry. The dolphin pendant is based off the Dolphin Fresco and was crafted by Plato’s Fire (same with the golden rosette in my hair).

a photo of me in my Dolphin Fresco inspired clothing

another photo of me in my Dolphin Fresco inspired clothing

and another photo of me in my Dolphin Fresco inspired clothing

^{the original Malia Pendant, 1800-1650 BCE}

Minoan Outfit #2: Red Color Palette (Inspired by The Griffin Fresco and Throne Room)

The Labrys Snake Goddess pendant was crafted by Dragonscale Jewelry. At the time, I didn’t have any Minoan-related earrings, so I wore my Athena coin earrings from GreekShops.com. I added some red ribbon to the sleeves of my cropped cardigan via my minimal sewing skills. The bare-chested look was a bit bold (not to mention freeing).