The people of ancient India paid sufficient attention to their dresses and decorations. The garments were used mainly to cover the body and usually consisted of lengths of clothes draped around the body and over the shoulders fastened with a belt. The lower garment known as paridhana or vasana was tied round the waist with a belt or string known as mekhala or rasana. The lipper garment known as utterly was draped like a shawl over the shoulders. A third garment known as pravara was also used. It was like a mantle or cloak and was used only in cold seasons. The clothes were made mainly of cotton although woolen and silken clothes were also used.
Both men and women used ornaments. The ornaments were made of gold, silver, precious stones and other metals. The jewelled ornaments were used by the women of rich classes on their foreheads along the partings of their hair. Certain ornaments like ear-rings, necklaces, bracelets and anklets were won by both men and women.
Cosmetics were used by both men and women. The most common cosmetic was the paste made of finely ground dust of sandalwood. Eye-salve or anjana made of black powdered antimony was also popular with the people. Vermillion (sindura), lac (laksa) and yellow pigment called gorocana were also used for ornamental purposes, especially for making tilaka on the forehead. The practice of oiling and combing the hair was also in vogue.