Dressing Like The Romans
Tunic
The basic unit of clothing for both man and woman were a basic tunic. This is a piece of clothing folded in two with a space for the arms, head and legs cut out. Men's tunics have no sleeves and are shorter than the woman's tunic. The woman's tunic is long and covers their arms and legs. In winter they would wear one or two tunics on top of each other.
Togas
Male citizens would wear togas when they went outside, they would wear these over a tunic or over a loincloth. Togas were long lengths of clothing that wrap around the body, they covered the left arm so only the right arm and head are visible.A toga worn by an ordinary citizen would normally be worn by wool, and is usually the colour of natural wool, without the dyeing process.Important people have colours on their togas to show their positions-A magistrates toga would have a border of purple wool sewed around the border. People who interpreted signs, Augurs, had bright yellow togas which had been died in saffron. A censors togas were purple. Generals returning from victory had purple togas that were edged in gold. Candidates who are standing for election wore a white dyed toga, White because candida is the Latin word for white.
Matronae( Married Woman) wore a different sleeveless tunic called a stola over their main tunics. Despite their tunics being plain, they were able to make fashion statements through elaborate hair-does done by long bone pins or sometimes hair nets made of gold. Many Roman woman wore jewelry made of bronze or glass, however wealthy woman had jewelry made of silver or gold. Woman also had their ears pierced for earring and bracelets, rings and necklaces were also popular. Decorative brooches were used to hold clothing together. The roman men also wore rings depending on rank, they were made from gold, silver or stone.
The basic unit of clothing for both man and woman were a basic tunic. This is a piece of clothing folded in two with a space for the arms, head and legs cut out. Men's tunics have no sleeves and are shorter than the woman's tunic. The woman's tunic is long and covers their arms and legs. In winter they would wear one or two tunics on top of each other.
Togas
Male citizens would wear togas when they went outside, they would wear these over a tunic or over a loincloth. Togas were long lengths of clothing that wrap around the body, they covered the left arm so only the right arm and head are visible.A toga worn by an ordinary citizen would normally be worn by wool, and is usually the colour of natural wool, without the dyeing process.Important people have colours on their togas to show their positions-A magistrates toga would have a border of purple wool sewed around the border. People who interpreted signs, Augurs, had bright yellow togas which had been died in saffron. A censors togas were purple. Generals returning from victory had purple togas that were edged in gold. Candidates who are standing for election wore a white dyed toga, White because candida is the Latin word for white.
Matronae( Married Woman) wore a different sleeveless tunic called a stola over their main tunics. Despite their tunics being plain, they were able to make fashion statements through elaborate hair-does done by long bone pins or sometimes hair nets made of gold. Many Roman woman wore jewelry made of bronze or glass, however wealthy woman had jewelry made of silver or gold. Woman also had their ears pierced for earring and bracelets, rings and necklaces were also popular. Decorative brooches were used to hold clothing together. The roman men also wore rings depending on rank, they were made from gold, silver or stone.