The Tunic
The most basic dress of clothing in ancient Rome was the tunic. It was the standard dress of Rome. For most Romans and slaves the tunic would be all that they wore before going outside.
The male tunic would reach to the knees, the women’s tunics would be longer, sometimes reaching to the ground. Female tunics often had long sleeves. However, it took until the second or third century AD for long sleeves to become acceptable for men. Until then it was thought to be girly for a male to wear a long sleeved tunic.
Cold weather would likely see Romans wear two or three tunics to keep warm.
There was some differences in tunics which showed social rank.
A purple stripe worn on the tunic was called a clavus and meant membership to a particular order:
- the latus clavus denoted senators.
- the angustus clavus was the mark of the equestrian order
The male tunic would reach to the knees, the women’s tunics would be longer, sometimes reaching to the ground. Female tunics often had long sleeves. However, it took until the second or third century AD for long sleeves to become acceptable for men. Until then it was thought to be girly for a male to wear a long sleeved tunic.
Cold weather would likely see Romans wear two or three tunics to keep warm.
There was some differences in tunics which showed social rank.
A purple stripe worn on the tunic was called a clavus and meant membership to a particular order:
- the latus clavus denoted senators.
- the angustus clavus was the mark of the equestrian order
The Toga
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.
In the early days the toga was worn directly on the naked body, then later a simple tunic was added, tied at the waist with a belt.
Basically the toga was a large blanket, draped over the body, leaving one arm free.
Usually the toga was between 2 ½ and 3 meters long and at its widest point it will have been up to 2 metres wide.
In order to help the toga sit right, slaves were known to place pieces of wood in the folds.
Roman Children Wore
Most children even those not borne to rich families spent their time in simple belted tunics.
Children wore an amulet called the bulla. Boys would wear it until reaching their manhood, usually around the age of sixteen. Girls would wear it until they married.
Children wore an amulet called the bulla. Boys would wear it until reaching their manhood, usually around the age of sixteen. Girls would wear it until they married.
Cloaks
Cloaks and other over garments were used to protect against bad weather. At times worn over the toga itself, but more often replacing it.
Footwear
Roman footwear showed little difference between male and female. One usually wore sandals tied round the ankle with thin strips of leather.