{"id":4481,"date":"2022-06-10T14:48:32","date_gmt":"2022-06-10T13:48:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/englishhistory.net\/?p=4481"},"modified":"2022-06-10T14:48:34","modified_gmt":"2022-06-10T13:48:34","slug":"roman-clothing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/englishhistory.net\/romans\/roman-clothing\/","title":{"rendered":"Roman Clothing"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In Ancient Rome, the clothes in which the Romans wore said a lot about who they were and their status in society. Roman clothing consisted of togas, tunics and stolas, but different types and colors represented different members of public and those in positions of power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most Roman\u2019s wore colorful clothing, and dyed their clothes in purple, indigo, red, yellow and other colors. There were also expensive dyes that could be used by those wealthy enough to show their status. Clean, bright clothing was also a mark of respectability and status among all social classes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The toga was considered Rome’s “national costume,” but for day-to-day activities most Romans preferred more casual, practical and comfortable clothing, in the form of a tunic. The tunic was the basic garment for both genders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Clothing was very simple in the Roman Empire, and its production required minimal cutting and tailoring. It was produced by hand through spinning and weaving, which was considered a virtuous yet frugal occupation for Roman women of all classes. However, those who could afford it, would have their clothes made by specialists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s take a look at Roman clothing in more depth below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Fabrics and Materials of Roman Clothing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The most commonly used fiber in Roman clothing was wool, with white wool being preferred. This is because it could then be further bleached or dyed. Naturally dark wool was used for the toga pulla, <\/em>which was a toga used for mourning, and work garments subjected to dirt and stains. Wool used in Roman clothing was usually sheep\u2019s wool.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Linen and hemp were also commonly used in Roman clothing, as these could be produced on Roman territory. The plant stems were retted after harvesting to loosen the outer layers and internal were fibres, stripped, pounded and then smoothed. Following this, the materials were woven. Natural linen was greyish brown in color that faded to off-white through repeated washing and exposure to sunlight. It did not absorb dyes as well, and so was generally bleached or used in its raw, undyed state.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Other materials were used by the Romans to make their clothes, but these had to be imported. Silk and cotton were imported from China and India. Because they were very expensive, they were reserved for higher classes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cotton was especially used in the summer, as it was a more lightweight material. It was also more comfortable than wool, less costly than silk, and unlike linen, it could be brightly dyed. For this reason, cotton and linen were sometimes interwoven to produce vividly coloured, soft but tough fabric.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Clothes Production<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In producing the clothes, fibers were pressed mechanically with a mallet and smoothed with large combs. They were then spun and woven on looms. Most fabric and clothing was produced by professionals, and these were available for all classes, at a price.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, carding, combing, spinning and weaving of wool were part of daily housekeeping for most women and those from middle or low income families could supplement their personal or family income by spinning and selling yarn, or by weaving fabric for sale. In fact, spinning and weaving were considered a virtuous yet frugal occupation for Roman women of all classes, with wool-baskets, spindles and looms positioned in the semi-public reception area of houses so those you could show off their frugality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those from low income families could hire out high quality clothing for special occasions or when they needed to make an impression. Expensive clothing was also a target in street robbery or stolen in public baths.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even when clothes had fallen to rags, centonarii<\/em> (“patch-workers”) made a living by sewing clothing and other items from recycled fabric patches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tunics<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The basic item of dress for both genders during Roman times was the tunic, made of two pieces of undyed wool sewn together at the sides and shoulders. It usually had very short sleeves, covering hardly half of the upper arm. Men had theirs belted so that the garment just covered the knees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Men of the equestrian class were entitled to wear a tunic with narrow stripes, in the color the Romans called purple but was more like a deep crimson, extending from shoulder to hem, while broad stripes distinguished the tunics of men of the senatorial class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For comfort and protection from cold, both sexes could wear a soft under-tunic or vest (subucula<\/em>) beneath a coarser over-tunic. Loincloths, known as subligacula<\/em> or subligaria, <\/em>were used as undergarments but could be worn under a tunic. They could also be worn on their own, particularly by slaves who engaged in hot, sweaty or dirty work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Women’s tunics were usually ankle or foot-length, long-sleeved, and could be worn loosely or belted. Women wore both a loincloth and strophium<\/em> (a breast cloth) under their tunics, and some wore tailored underwear for work or leisure, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Men\u2019s Clothing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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The toga was probably the most significant item in the ancient Roman wardrobe, worn predominantly by men, and known as the the national garment of Rome. Togas were made of a large woolen cloth, around 6 feet in width and 12 feet in length, and were not sewn by instead draped across the shoulders and around the body. It was usually worn over a plain white linen tunic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Togas were specifically meant as a public display garment, and so would only be worn outside of the home, where tunics would be worn. Distinct tunics were worn to signify one’s title. The main types of toga were:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n