Clothing in Ancient Rome was an important aspect of the daily life of the ancient Romans. In fact, clothing and fashion were significant to different aspects of ancient Roman life, including: social class, citizenship, and cultural values. The way Romans dressed revealed much about their place in society, their wealth, and even their political status. From the simple tunics of slaves and commoners to the togas of senators and emperors, Roman clothing symbolized the hierarchy and sophistication of Ancient Rome.
CLOTHING IN ANCIENT ROME – TUNIC
The main type of clothing worn by nearly everyone in Ancient Rome was the tunic. A tunic is a kind of long, white shirt and it was usually without sleeves, although it could have short ones. In general, tunics were made from wool or linen, similar to a long shirt, and were worn by both men and women. For most Romans, especially the poor and slaves, the tunic was the only piece of clothing they owned. Wealthier citizens wore tunics made of finer fabrics and sometimes decorated with colored stripes that displayed their social rank. For example, senators wore tunics with wide purple stripes, while Roman knights had narrower ones.
CLOTHING IN ANCIENT ROME – TOGA
The most famous type of clothing in Ancient Rome was the toga. This was a large, semicircular piece of woolen fabric that was draped over the body. The toga was the symbol of Roman citizenship and could only be worn by Roman men. It was not practical for daily work and was usually reserved for official occasions, ceremonies, and public appearances. Different types of togas indicated different social statuses within Ancient Roman society. For instance, the toga virilis, plain white in color, was worn by adult male citizens. Whereas, the toga praetexta, edged with purple, was worn by magistrates and young boys of noble birth. Also, the toga picta, richly decorated and dyed purple with gold embroidery, was reserved for military generals and later for emperors. Because the toga was so large and heavy it required skill to drape properly, and many wealthy Romans had slaves to help them put it on. In fact, some togas were known to be upwards of 20 feet in length.
CLOTHING IN ANCIENT ROME – WOMEN
The basic type of clothing for women in Ancient Rome the stola, which was a long, sleeveless dress worn over a tunic. The stola was usually made of linen, wool or silk for the wealthy and it represented whether nor not a woman was married. Unmarried women and girls typically wore simpler tunics, while wealthy Roman women used fine fabrics, bright colors, and jewelry to display their family’s social position.
Wealthy women styled their hair in elaborate curls and braids, often using wigs made from imported hair. Jewelry such as rings, necklaces, and bracelets were popular among both men and women. With that said, Roman women were known to wear jewelry made from gold, pearls and different types of gemstones.
CLOTHING IN ANCIENT ROME – SANDALS
Sandals were another important part of clothing in ancient Rome. In fact, most Romans wore sandals made from leather, which were simple and practical for daily use. Wealthier Romans wore closed shoes when attending official events, but for the most part sandals were the chosen type of footwear.
Soldiers and workers were known to wear a type of boot called caligae, which were durable and often studded with metal nails for better grip. These boots were the same as the types famously worn by a young Emperor Caligula, whose nickname came from these boots.
CLOTHING IN ANCIENT ROME – SIGNIFICANCE
Clothing in Ancient Rome was highly significant and played an important role in the daily lives of the people of Ancient Rome. In fact, historians argue that it was deeply tied to identity and politics of the time. For instance, ancient Roman clothing reflected a person’s role in society. Different people of different social standings wore different types and colors of clothes. As such, clothes were important in identifying someone’s status or wealth.
Clothing also symbolized Roman values like discipline, modesty and order. For example, public officials were expected to dress appropriately to reflect the dignity of their office. As such, historians argue that clothing was as a form of communication in ancient Roman life. This is because it showed who was a citizen, who was a foreigner and who held power.
