Clothing

City Women Robes of Concealment The norm for the Free Women of the cities of Gor is for them to wear robes of concealment and veils. Women of high caste are much more likely to wear robes of concealment and veils though many low caste women do as well. The general idea of this garb is to conceal a woman from head to toe, allowing only her eyes to be revealed, perhaps not even that. This garb is reminiscent of the clothing worn by Muslim women on Earth, though the Gorean garb may be even more intricate and bulky. asically, the higher your caste or station, the more comple! your clothing will be. " low caste woman may only own a single or a couple robes, while a high caste woman might own do#ens of different ones. The robes are worn in layers, each outer layer being stiffer and bulkier than the one below it. $nly a couple of robes were specifically named in the books though undoubtedly other robes are named as well. The street robe is a very stiff robe and it goes over the house robe, which is more fle!ible. The robes are kept secure by a series of eyes and hooks and it can take some time for a high caste woman to dress in her multiple layers. %he will need help dressing properly. Gloves are also commonly worn. The robes may be of any colors though one&s caste colors will often be the predominant color. eneath these robes, a woman may wear a slip' like undergarment, its fabric dependent upon the wealth of the woman. (igh caste women are more likely to own an undergarment of silk or a similar material. " low caste woman is more likely to wear an undergarment of rep cloth. ras, panties and hosiery are not worn on Gor. Veils )ike robes, veils are worn in various numbers and combinations dependent upon one&s *aste and station. Many low caste women possess only a single veil which must suffice for all occasions. (igh caste women often own many veils and will wear a number commensurate with the occasion. %ome wealthy women may wear up to ten veils on a formal occasion. +n general, most women will wear only one or two veils, such as the last veil and the street veil. Each veil is heavier and more opa,ue than the veil beneath it. " veil is commonly a long length of fabric that is wound around a woman&s head and secured by veil pins. " narrow gap is left for one&s eyes. There are a number of veils named in the books and others may e!ist as well. The last veil, also known as the light veil, is often worn ne!t to one&s face. +t is similar in some ways to the intimacy veil. The intimacy veil is also worn ne!t to the face but it is diaphanous. This veil is long though and can be wound several times around one&s face, thus making it more opa,ue with each revolution. T he freedom veil, also known as the citi#eness veil, is worn above the last veil. The pride veil is then worn above the freedom veil. The house veil is worn over the pride veil. The house veil is often worn indoors when the household is having guests, especially guests unfamiliar to the woman. The street veil is commonly the topmost veil worn in public. This veil is very heavy and absolutely opa,ue. There are also veils that signify one&s position, such as the veil of state, an item worn by a tatri! or ubara. This will be an intricately embroidered item, fancy but still opa,ue. Conventions +n many Gorean cities, such as "r and "r&s %tation, it is not legally mandatory for Free Women to

wear robes of concealment and veils. +t is more a matter of custom, tradition and modesty. ut, there are some cities that make it mandatory and repeated violations can lead to enslavement. -art of the .ustification for this garb is to protect Free Women from being kidnapped by raiders. Most men will not risk their life to try to abduct a woman who might turn out to be ugly. +t is much more profitable to steal a slave who they can easily see is attractive. Gorean men are aware that many Free Women do not take care of their figures. There are slavers, though, who speciali#e in the abduction of Free Women. "There is a Gorean saying that Free Women, raised gently in the high cylinders, in their robes of concealment, unarmed, untrained in weapons, may, by the slaver, be plucked like flowers." (Hunters of Gor, p. 118) +n the robes and veils, it is easy for a Free Woman to disguise her identity while she travels around the city. "nother .ustification is that Free Women are supposed to be modest and not act like a slave in any way. Wearing clothes that are too revealing would be a social fau! pas. Even in cities where such garb is not mandatory, there will still be laws that prevent Free Women from baring too much flesh in public. /iolations of such laws can lead to enslavement. +n addition, some high caste women do not want the low castes to see their faces. They feel they are above the low castes who are not worthy to look upon their faces. 0ormally only one&s family may look upon a Free Woman without her veil. Within their homes, some women may not wear a veil in the presence of certain special guests. Free Women, when drinking in public, commonly lift their veils with their left hands to drink. $thers will drink right through their veils. +n public, some low caste women don&t wear veils and a few bold high caste women may also not wear them. This is more likely to lead to negative ramifications for the high caste woman. -eer pressure helps to contribute to women wearing veils. +f a high caste woman does not wear veils in public, she may find herself shunned by other women or even publicly insulted. Women of the barbaric lands often do not wear veils, and even women of some of the northern cities do not commonly wear veils. +n the cities, it is often a serious crime for someone to face strip a Free Woman, to remove her veils against her will. +t can be dangerous for other reasons as well. "It is not wise to try to tear away the garments of a free woman with one s bare hands. They may contain poisoned needles." (Beasts of Gor, p. !") #oot$ear Footwear for Free Women is commonly either sandals or slippers, dependent on caste. oots may also be worn, dependent on the situation. %ome women wear platform shoes, especially those of high caste or station. For e!ample, Talena once wore platform shoes that were about ten inches high so she could look down upon the citi#ens of "r. Cosmetics an% Hair%ressin& Most Free Women rarely wear cosmetics or perfume, believing they are only for slaves. +n certain cities, such as "r, many Free Women do commonly use them. There are even stores that cater specifically to Free Women. Those stores do not commonly stock products for slaves, only Free Women. +t is interesting though that many perfumers, hairdressers and cosmeticians treat their Free Women clients almost like slaves. This does not stop the Free Women from patroni#ing their establishments. Free Women may wear upswept hairdos, something generally not permitted to

slaves who must often wear their hair long. %ome Free Women even may purchase wigs or falls though they only want items made from the hair of Free Women. Women&s hair is a common trade item and is especially pri#ed for catapult ropes. 1uring times of war, some Free Women will give their hair to the city to use for catapults. 't(er Clot(in& *ertain women may wear garb other than robes, dependent on the situation. For e!ample, wealthy Free Women who own orchards, fields, ranches, vineyards or such may wear different clothes when they are supervising or inspecting their properties. $ne type of such outfit includes a full skirt, its hem about si! inches off the ground, a blouse, a belted .acket that falls to the thighs, a hood attached to the .acket by hooks, leather boots, and an opa,ue veil. The height of the skirt hem is to protect it from dirt, water or mud. +nterestingly enough, it also functions as a slave control device for ka.iri. The sight of a Mistress& ankle, even booted, is very alluring to a ka.irus. (e will want to stare at it but understands he can be punished for doing so. This will make him a bit tense and wary around his Mistress and this can be used to control the ka.irus. Women who go hunting may also wear different garb such as hunting leathers or a tunic, trousers, a cape and boots. +n the 0orth, a kirtle is commonly worn. This is a dress similar to a robe, e!cept that it may be more tailored to the figure. +t can be plain or ornamented, belted, sashed or no waist binding. "dditional items include vests and cloaks. ecause of the colder climate, boots are commonly worn, though slippers may be worn indoors.