Roman Clothing

citizen, matron, magistrate, emperor, general, workman, slave

Roman Clothing

Roman paintings, statues, and writing all included information about clothes. Roman fashions didn't really change for nearly a thousand years. Most of the clothes which people wore were made out of wool or linen. I n I mperial times, cloth made out of fine cotton was imported f rom I ndia, but it was very expensive. Silk f rom China cost three times its weight in gold. I n cold climates fur and felt were also used.

Many slaves were inevitably dressed in poor clothing, as Junius, the young kitchen slave, is depicted in a basic tunic.

Sometimes their tunics also left one shoulder uncovered, as depicted in this mosaic of a man being attended by two slaves, Myro and Victor.

The Tunic

The tunic was worn the whole day by lower class citizens, f reedmen and f reedwomen, shopkeepers, as well as building workers. Romans could move comfortably in this article of clothing. Sometimes the tunic was also worn under the toga. The tunic was a simple long shirt with sleeves. Tunics were made of cool linen f or summer wear and warm wool for winter wear.

The Toga

The toga was made f rom white wool or white linen. I t was square or

rectangular in shape and was worn draped around the body. Togas were arranged very carefully, in a stylish way.

A Roman could tell how important or wealthy a person was f rom their toga. Government offi cials wore a toga edged with purple. When a Roman was a candidate f or one of the many political f unctions, he was allowed to wear a toga candida, an extra white toga. Only f ree male citizens wore togas.

Women's Clothing Women wore a tunica which was usually knee-length. Over this the women wore a stola, which was a f ull-length dress f rom neck to ankle. The stola was usually white, brown, or gray, though some were brightly colored with vegetable dyes. Richer women had brightly colored stolae made out of silk or fi ne I ndian cotton. A shawl, called a palla, was worn wrapped around the shoulders and arm, or could be draped over her head.

Stola (dress) and palla (shawl)

Footwear

The most common f orm of f ootwear was the sandal. Soldiers wore boots, and some emperors wore them too.

ancient leather shoes on top and modern reconstructions below

J ewelry The Romans were f ond of colored stones such as topaz, emeralds, rubies

and sapphires. Pearls were f avorites. Pendants, especially in gold f rames, were popular.

Rings were the only jewelry worn by Roman men. The ancient Roman women loved ornate necklaces, pins, earrings,

bracelets, and rings.

Gold coins (aurei) were often made into jewelry

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