Ancient Roman Clothing

The Romans had adapted to a very Greek architecture for their own purposes and created new styles in architecture as well. Vaults and arches and an intimate knowledge of building materials enabled them to achieve great success in constructing and making structures that could be used by the population.

Roman literature had its very birth influenced from Greek authors. The earliest works that are possessed till now are of historical epics telling the earliest military history of Rome.  While the republic expanded, authors began to make poetry, comedy, history and tragedy.

The paintings that were found had Etruscan influences, especially in the practice of political paintings. . Music was a part of life. Public and private events had music.  Great attention was paid to physical activities and sports and games were intricately woven into Roman culture.

There is evidence of the existence of a substantial garment industry employing  dyers and professional tailors. The main fabric was wool, later followed by linen, cotton and silk. Dyeing was done primarily from an extract of the murex sea snail harvested in the Eastern Mediterranean.

The basic garments used in Roman clothing were the Tunic, Toga, Cloak and the Stola, which was worn by women. 

Men generally wore two garments, the Tunica and the Toga, the Tunica being a short woolen under garment with short sleeves. In cold weather they were likely to wear two or three Tunics, in which case the one nearest the body, functioning as a vest, would be the Subucula. 

The Types of Tunics were Tunica Augusti Clavi: decorated with narrow Purple Stripes and worn by Knights and Legislators; Tunica Laticlavia: a much wider Clavi, reserved for wear by Senators; Tunica Palmata: made of purple silk Embroidered with Gold Thread, depicting scenes of  Military Campaigns. It was worn with Toga Picta; Tunica Recta: worn by both Men and Women during Marriage; Tunica Talaris: a full length Tunic which came into vogue during the 2^nd Century. 

The Toga was allowed to be worn only by Free Roman citizens. Foreigners or even exiled citizens could not appear in public wearing a Toga.

The Toga was basically a large Blanket, draped over the body, leaving one arm free. It usually spanned between 2.5 to 3 meters in length, some reaching up to 5.5 meters long, and up to 2 meters at its  widest.

Types of Togas:- Toga Praetexta: worn by all free Sons and Daughters of nobility until the age of 16 and also by Old Senators. It was White with a Purple Border; Toga Pura or Viriles: a plain natural Toga made od Unbleached Wool and worn by all Roman citizens over 16; Toga Candida: similar to Toga Pura, but of Bleached Wool, usually worn by candidates for Public Office, without Tunica; Toga Picta: worn on special occasions by High Ranking Officials. It was Purple in colour with Golden Embroidery; Toga Pulla: a Black or Dark coloured toga worn for Mourning. 

Paludamentum (Cloak): a Cloak or Cape fastened at one shoulder, worn by Military commanders and (less often) by their troops. It was generally Crimson, Scarlet or Purple  or sometimes White. It was fastened at the shoulder with a Clasp called the Fibula, whose size and form varied through time. Putting on the Paludamentum was a ceremonial act on setting out for War.

 

Stola: The basic female garment was the Stola, which was Long Tunic reaching to the ground. It could bave long or short sleeves, or be entirely sleeveless. The Stola was generally worn over another Tunic, the Tunica Interior.

As an Over garment women in the early days of the Republic wore the Recinium, a simple square Cloak, covering the shoulders. Later the Recinium was replaced by the Palla. 

 

The Palla was there as a Wrap for the females and they had to necessarily wear it while in the outdoors. It was either Simple or Decorated. 

 

Beards: The tradition of  intricately groomed beards was quite common among the Greeks, Etruscans and Romans. The fashion of Shaving was adopted by the Greeks during the age of Alexander and was introduced by them to the Romans. In the Late Republic it was very fashionable for young Romans to keep a small, well-groomed beard known as Barbula.

Hairstyles: Roman women’s hair was plaited in braids and tied at the back of the head. Men’s hairstyle was simple curled or straight hairs.