The main sources for Minoan costume are the great number of fresco representations, the dress of anthropomorphic statuettes, and votive dresses. Given the fact that most of these representations were religious, it is mot always clear whether these costumes represent the everyday dress or clothes worn only for official social events or garments worn by priests in religious ceremonies.

Iconographic sources come mainly from the palaces and other important buildings. They usually show cult scenes and scenes from the life of people of high social standing. As a result we know next to nothing about the clothes of ordinary people.

Nevertheless, it is easy to identify difference between female and male dress. Typical priestess garments and the fringed garments worn only by priests make this difference clear. The only exception is in the athletic dress and a specific type of priestly mantle which covered only one shoulder that were worn by both men and women. Both female and male garments were made of coloured, patterned material, by various techniques. The ends of the clothes and their surface were decorated with coloured woven bands, fringes and jewels.
In addition to their colourful clothes and the richness of their jewellery, the Minoans, men and women, also went in for make-up and tattooing.