Man Foulards in Roman Carthage

Just above the artist quarter in Punic Carthage, which was destroyed by the Romans, I came across an impressive marble bust in one of the Roman villas.

This Roman guy’s sense of style was definitely cool!

His entire torso is nude, as he sports a large foulard draped around his shoulders, hangin infront and descending slightly more in the back.

Lately on the runways of fashion weeks around the world, there is much draping as layer is added upon layer, a trend that was very common among the Romans.

For more reading on Roman dress, go to Roman Blockbusters, Byzantium & Barbarians.

The additional photos that follow the bust were taken at the thermal bathes just below the Roman Villas.

Stroll through the ancient Roman bathes here.

Photos Copyright Men’s Fashion by Francesco.

Tunics in Tunisia

When the Romans destroyed ancient Carthage, they rebuilt the city and populated the land.

In the area of ancient Carthage, just above where the destroyed Punic artist quarter, the Romans constructed beautiful villas that ascend up the hill, terraced one on top of the other.

As I was walking through one such villa, I came across some floor mosaics, which narrate the story of how Roman men dressed in North Africa during the time of Roman Carthage.

Notice the colorful details on each Tunic. The patterns follow a geometric symmetry with lots of borders, cuffs, and breast pieces.

The photos that follow the mosaics are from the surrounding Roman villas. Enjoy the romantic walk through the villas here!

Photos Copyright Men’s Fashion by Francesco.

Hannibal, the Glory of Carthage

While the name Hannibal may ring familiar to some, most individuals have no idea of his origins or greatness.

Like his father Hamlicar Barca, Hannibal (248–183BC) was one of the most talented military commanders of antiquity that fought against the supremacy of the Roman Empire.

Hannibal was from Carthage and, thus, a Carthaginian. According to the Romans, he was Punic; to the Greeks, he was Phoenician—a member of the People, of Purple!

Hannibal’s father had conquered most of Iberia (or Spain)—hence, the city Cartagena.

Hannibal inherited the army after the death of his father and continued the Carthaginian expansion.

Eventually he led a campaign of elephants from Cartagena over the Alps and into Italy, where he defeated the Romans several times.

In the end, Rome attacked Carthage, waging three wars, and finally defeated and destroyed Carthage in 146 BC.

It was amazing to walk on the ancient Carthaginian stones where Hannibal most likely walked in the Quarter of Magon, the Punic residential area of artists near the sea. View the entire city here.

If you would like to read more about how Phoenician styles have also appeared on the runways today, go to Phoenicians the People of Purple.

For more information on the menswear of Carthage, or what I call “Punic fashion,” go to Carthage, of Phoenicians and Punics.

Photo Hannibal, Public Domain.

Sidi Bou Said—If Walls Could Only Speak!

Sidi Bou Said is a little town set on a hill just 20 kilometers outside the Tunisian capital, Tunis.

The name comes from a religious figure, Abu Said (1156-1231), who once lived there and, since, has gained the reputation of being a town of artists.

Although dating back to the times of Carthage, the town was inhabited by Ottoman rulers, who gave the town its Turkish architectural flair.

The Ottomans occupied Tunisia from 1574-1871, greatly influencing the culture, customs, and clothing.

Such styles in Sidi Bou Said are evidenced by the wooden box frames of intricate latticework known as mashrabiya, which protrude from windows for protection.

The picturesque colors of light blue on white in Sidi Bou Said were applied by French painter and Arab musicologist, Rodolphe d’Erlanger (1872-1932).

Hence, this color is reminiscent of the French occupation of Tunisia, which lasted from 1881 to 1956. French language and culture still dominates the country today.

Now, t Rodolphe d’Erlanger’s palace now houses the Center of Arab and Mediterranean Music.

Rodolphe was instrumental in developing the genre of music known as Ma'luf (or Malouf), which is a form of North African music that was born in Andalucia, in the 9th century and revived in the 1920’s.

View the city here.

Photos Copyright Men’s Fashion by Francesco.

Tunitrends in Tunis are Terrific!

“Besides the rich traditional heritage of Tunisian menswear and the few innovative designers that reinterpret such styles, what else is happening here in the Tunisian fashion scene,” you ask?
While there several local modern menswear brand names exist in Tunisia, the majority of labels that attract the most attention, especially among the youth, are ones that you and I know like Zara, Benetton, and Armani.

I did see other smaller name brands from Italy, such as Ex-bit, which is a brand from Naples whose look appears to be a big hit among the youth.

Young Tunisian men, particularly teenagers, are drawn to the trends that are most common in Italy.

Commonly on the streets, I saw Tunisian guys in a polo and tee that was pink, purple, violet, and fuchsia. Some young businessmen also wear these colors for a shirt and tie.

Jeans are the most common pants among the youth—hands down! But, again, they are very stylish with assorted details.

Like the tees, polos, and jeans, shirts are almost always very tight fitting—a slim silhouette.

Shoes among the youth tend to anything from a sporty Nike or stylish takeoff on a Converse.

As for accessories, I see lots of cool sunglasses, as well as wristbands, bracelets, necklaces, but not so many earrings and, even less, tattoos.

Teenage hairstyles are normally impeccable. (Oh, by the way, those aren’t black masks in the photo—I just blocked out the faces for privacy.)

All in all, I must say—way to go teenagers!!!

Photo Copyright Men’s Fashion by Francesco.

A Designer’s Day in Tunis

After another hearty breakfast of cheese, yogurt and figs, I had the chance to experience a typical day in the life of a young emerging designer in Tunis!

Tunisian designers Salah Barka and Hafedh Barchouchi invited me to accompany them to the textile souq, or marketplace, where they buy assorted fabrics and accessories for their collections.

I was particularly interested in making the rounds, knowing that the major challenge of a young Tunisian designer is finding an adequate assortment of fine fabrics.

So, we started our steps at the “Door of France,” then diving into the windy streets of the souq.

Not only did I meet many of their friends along the way, but I also visited some artisan shops of traditional menswear.

The crowning experience of the shopping spree was a sumptuous lunch, consisting of couscous, fish, onions, and hot peppers.

In short, it was great fun for me to try on a different pair of shoes for change!

See the designer's day here.

Photos Copyright Men’s Fashion by Francesco.

Roman Mosaics, Floors that Talk

From the winding streets of the old souq, I took an equally meandering taxi ride across the city to the Bardo Museum, which houses one of the largest collections of mosaic floors from the Roman Empire.

The ancient mosaics in the Bardo Museum narrate a gripping story concerning the four-and-a-half centuries of Roman domination in ancient Tunisia.

From these mosaics, it soon becomes clear how lavishly the Romans lived in Tunisia with huge estates, outdoor banquets, entertainment, wine drinking, and public games.

I loved the ancient Jacuzzis! (I'm sorry...I couldn't resist!)



Photos Copyright Men’s Fashion by Francesco.

Carthage—A Pillar of Western Civilization

During the 9th century BC, the ancient Phoenicians were searching for ports on their way from their homeland (modern-day Lebanon) to the mines of Southern Spain, conveniently founding the city of Carthage, which now lies north of Tunis—the capital of Tunisia.

In the Phoenician language, Carthage (Qart-ḥadašt) meant ‘the new city’ and referred to a colony of cities along the Gulf of Tunis.

The Phoenicians were not just skillful seafarers and fervent traders, but they were also avid inventors, laying the foundation of Western culture and civilization.

One of Phoenician inventions flashes before our eyes everyday—the alphabet!

They also invented purple dye, from which they derived their name: Phoenician (from the Greek phoinikos) and Punic (in Latin)—both of which mean 'purple', the color in which they dressed.

When the Phoenician homeland (present-day Lebanon) was invaded in 538 BC by Cyrus, the king of Persia (modern-day Iran), waves of Phoenicians sailed to Carthage.

Carthage soon emerged the greatest Phoenician colony and a major maritime power in the Mediterranean, ultimately entering into conflict with the Roman Empire.

Carthage waged 3 wars against Rome and, after the third loss in 146 BC, was completely destroyed by the Romans, who rebuilt Carthage and dominated the region for nearly 4 ½ centuries.

The greatest memories of the ancient Phoenicians in Punic Carthage lie in the cemeteries of children, where thousands of tophets are found.

Afterward a walk around the museum, I went to the once-walled city, which overlooks the remains of the harbor of ancient Carthage. The city was called Byrsa, meaning ‘citadel’ in the Phoenician language.

Upon the hill, I stood on the mounted glory of the ancient Phoenicians, Carthaginians, and Romans. There, I even lifted my eyes to see the mountains of Sicily through light haze in the distance!

I then traced my steps down to the ancient arena, the amphitheatre, the cistern, and finally the port—all of which were rebuilt by the Romans after the destruction of Phoenician Carthage.

Phoenician Fashion
If you would like to read more about how Phoenician styles have also appeared on the runways today, go to Phoenicians the People of Purple.

As you know, purple and all of its wonderful shades have been a dominant color for the past few seasons.

Just remember, the first men to wear purple were the ancient Phoenicians—the People of Purple!

Punic Fashion
For more information on the menswear of Carthage, or what I call “Punic fashion,” go to Carthage, of Phoenicians and Punics.

Roman Fashion
One of the predominant features of Roman menswear was draping, a trend that has been appearing on the runway for several seasons.

For details on how Roman styles rear their head today, read Roman Blockbusters, Byzantium & Barbarians.

See the photo gallery here.

Photos Copyright Men’s Fashion by Francesco.

A Night Out with Tunisia’s Best!

This evening I had the wonderful privilege of meeting nationally acclaimed Salah Barka—a young designer who is considered one of the most talented not only of Tunisia but also northern Africa!

Salah arrived at my hotel this evening with another emerging Tunisian designer named Hafedh Barchouchi.

After a round of photos, the three of us walked down the street in the cool of the night to the center of the city, where we enjoyed a pleasant meal as we conversed in Italian, French, English, and Arabic!

Salah and Hafedh discussed with me the many facets of their work as young designers in Tunisia and what it is like work as custom designer for the theater, commercials, and productions of films and movies, all the while designing for the general public.

Amazingly, both designers are self taught as they peruse the web and a multitude of resources, such as library archives, ancient mosaics, museum artifacts, and old films—all of which inspire their creations.

With ease, the two narrated the evening away about the differences—both subtle and vast—among the men’s styles of the ancient Romans, Carthaginians, Phoenicians, and Ottomans!

Young, talented, aspiring, and vibrant—Salah and Hafedh totally won my heart this evening! I look forward to meeting with them again this week to learn more about their lives and work. Stay tuned!


Photos Copyright Men’s Fashion by Francesco.

"Sooking" It up at the Local Market

This morning after a hearty breakfast of yogurt, cheese, dates, and coffee, I ventured into the old part of Tunis to meander through the streets of the souq qadim, otherwise known as traditional market.

The souq (pronounced ‘sook’) was all that which I expected, and more! Fez hats, Tunisian caps, ceramics, hookah pipes, leather bags and slippers, spices, fragrances, and oodles of tourist paraphernalia.

Most clothing consisted of women’s wear—totally outside my scope but interesting just as well, especially the handmade gowns for formal occasions.

My wanders culminated on the rooftop of the house belonging to the former Sultan who ruled during the Ottoman period. The view, which overlooked the homes of his four wives, was breathtaking.

Walk through the Souq here.

Photos Copyright Men’s Fashion by Francesco.

Jet-Lagged in Tunis!

If I have to take my laptop out of my carryon just one more time (chuckles).... I must admit, sometimes cheap tickets make for stressful trips!

Putting all kidding aside.… After 4 flights, 6 times zones, and 24 hours of traveling, I finally arrived to the palm-studded city of Tunis! And it was worth the effort!

I checked into my 3-star hotel, snapped a few photos from my 6th floor balcony for you, and took it to the dusty streets of the city in search of a quiet dinner, which, consisting of grilled fish and sautéed vegetables, I found just around the corner.

I cannot wait to begin my explorations tomorrow. I think I will hit an early morning souq, or market, and then work my way over to the Bardo Museum for a major dose of history.

Well, before I start rambling, I had better take my jet-lagged body to bed! Enjoy the photos!

Enjoy the photos here!

Photos Copyright Men's Fashion by Francesco.

See you in Tunisia!

Hopefully the next time I write to you, it will be from the exotic beaches of Tunisia, on my way back home to visit family and friends in Italy! I board the plane this afternoon!

But many people have asked me, why the fascination with Tunisia? Well, I have been intrigued by all foreign languages and cultures since my early years, at which time I became acquainted with a fellow classmate from the Middle East.

Unfortunately when I went on to study at university, I was not able to major in Arabic, since I was already double-majoring in Russian and Chinese languages. Nevertheless, I never lost my fervor for the Middle East!

Then last year when I began studying Arabic, I persuaded my family to be tested in the Genome Study. The results were mind blowing and fun, if nothing else!

While maternal and paternal sides originate in Africa, the DNA on my paternal side can be traced back to 6,000 BC, to the Fertile Crescent. Maternally, our DNA can be traced back to Lebanon at about the same time, sharing 25% in common with the Bedouin and Yemeni.

In a diverse world like today, such studies can do much to eradicate bigotry and hatred, as people realize that we are not so different but rather all related in one way or another!

Well in my case, such information is taking me to the ancient foundations of Carthage, where I will continue to explore the history of menswear and—who knows—possibly the old stomping grounds of my ancestors!

I imagine that, eventually, I will have to go to Lebanon and Yemen. But for now, see you in Tunisia!

Ancient Carthage—Here I Come!

When I returned home last year to visit friends and family in Italy, I travelled throughout the island of Sardinia, exploring the ancient ruins of the Phoenicians and Carthaginians.

During my exploration, I discovered the amazing fashion sense of the ancient Nuraghic men, who lived thousands of years ago, dwelling in honeycomb structures and sporting—what we would consider today—very avant-garde styles.

As I return home this Sunday, I plan to continue my research on Phoenician and Carthaginian menswear with a 4-day excursion to the ancient city of Carthage, the ruins of which lay just outside of Tunis—the capital of Tunisia.

Tunisia is a country in North Africa, which is situated just 95 miles (155km) from the coast of Sicily, Italy.

(One of my favorite Tunisians, by the way, is Oussama Mellouli—gold medalist in the 1500m free at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.)

Some scholars attribute the name Tunis to the ancient Phoenician goddess, Tanit, although there exists an array of explanations.

While researching the culture and dress of the ancient Phoenicians and Carthaginians, I hope to meet up with modern Tunisian designer Salah Barka, with whom I have been corresponding.

For the past year, I have been studying Arabic, so I hope it comes in handy! If not, well, fortunately I can rely on some French!

Photo Oussama Mellouli, GNU Free Documentation License at Wikipedia.
Photos Nuraghic figures & sketches, Copyright Angela Demontis 2005, used with permission.
Remaining photos of Phoenician and Nuraghic sites, Copyright Men’s Fashion by Francesco.