Clothing in Ancient Rome Before we begin Think

Clothing in Ancient Rome

Before we begin… Think about all the different types of clothing we wear. 1. Are there brands of clothing that serve as a “status symbol”? 2. What types of clothing distinguish those in different occupations?

Class differences • Roman dress differed from one class to another. • Plebians (common people) wore tunics made from a coarse dark material. • Patricians (upper class) wore tunics made of fine wool or linen. • Magistrates wore the tunic augusticlavia • Senators wore the tunic laticlavia • Military tunics were shorter than those worn by civilians

Roman Men Wigs were worn by men as a disguise and to hide baldness. Long hair and beards went in and out of style.

Men’s Jewelry • Rings were the only thing worn by Ancient Roman men • Many rings worn was considered “tacky”

Fabric Material Color • Silk • Red • Cotton • Purple • Wool • Indigo • Yellow • Worn by married women and Vestal Virgins

dyeing

Leather We all know that the Italians are known for their leather… Leather provided warmth during the cold seasons Primary use was for belts and sandals

Toga praetexta • A toga with a purple border • Worn by priests and magistrates • Worn by Roman boys until they were 16

Toga Virilis • Off white toga worn by adult males

Toga picta • Purple with a gold border, worn by victorious generals

Toga Candida • Bright white toga worn by men running for office • Hence our word for “candidate”

Tunics A short-sleeved woolen shirt reaching to the knees. It was the usual garment for indoor wear.

Tunics

Footwear • Footwear defined a person's position in society. • Women wore closed shoes that were either white, green or yellow. • Men wore sandals. • Patricians wore red sandals with an ornament at the back. • Senators wore brown footwear with black straps which wound round the leg to mid-calf, where the straps were tied. • Consuls wore white shoes, and soldiers, heavy boots.

Footwear in Ancient Rome

Roman Military Most Roman armor probably didn’t shine. They used a lot of chain mail, scale armor, and leather.

Women’s Clothing • Over a tunic, women wore the • Stola: a long, full garment extending to the feet and fastened by a girdle at the waste. It was worn indoors. • Palla: a woolen, shawl-like wrap for use outdoors.

Jewelry The ancient Roman women loved ornate necklaces, pins, earrings, bracelets and friendship rings. Pearls were favorites. Women often dyed their hair, usually golden-red.

Women’s Hairpieces made women’s hair thicker or longer often made from the hair of slave girls. Sometimes they wore it down, curled in ringlets.

Make. Up Yes, Ancient Roman women used makeup too…

Children’s Clothing Girls Boys • Girls wore a simple tunic with a belt at the waist. • Boys wore a tunic down to their knees. • When they went outside, they wore a second tunic that reached their feet. • It was white, with a crimson border.

The Bulla Children wore a special locket around their neck, given to them at birth, called a bulla. It contained an amulet as a protection against evil and was worn on a chain, cord, or strap.

Washing the Clothes • Well, if there weren’t washers and dryers… • Clothing washed by hand dried on racks.

Making Connections The dress code of the day was complex and had to reflect one's position accurately in the social order, one's gender, and one's language. Do you think these ideas about clothing still exist today?