ROME - CLOTHING AND FASHION

ROME CLOTHING AND FASHION 

The official dress code in ancient Rome for the day was complex and had to compulsorily reflect one's position accurately in the social order, one's gender, and also, one’s language. "The importance of official dress, even more than other distinctions, signalled the social status and rank of freeborn Romans and the public roles of magistrates and priests.” Quoted. 

Fig: Tunics were dyed in different colours because Romans loved vibrancy.

TYPES OF CLOTHING

Individual clothes were woven on vertical looms which contrasts with the medieval period where clothes were produced on  horizontal looms that later tailors made. The weaver used to sit at the horizontal loom and produce rectangular lengths of cloth which never weren’t  wider than the weaver's two arms.

Fig: Drawing of a Stola.

Besides tunics, women wore “STOLA” which are simple garments. They usually followed the fashions of their Greek contemporaries which comprised of two rectangular pieces of cloth joined at the side by  buttons in a manner which allowed the garment to drape freely over the front .Over it, women often wore the palla - i.e. shawl made of a piece of material that could be worn as a coat.

Roman girls wore nothing more than a tunic which used to hang below the knees or lower and was belted at the waist. It was very simply decorated, mostly in the colour white.

Clothing for men and women were very similar and they usually went barefoot. However, the garments varied in material 

UNDERGARMENTS

The basic garment which both the sexes wore under their one or more additional layers, was called the tunica or tunic. This was a very simple rectangle which was sewn into a tubular shape and pinned around the shoulders, just like a Greek chiton. Women also wore a breast cloth. Garments to cover the loins,were worn, especially by soldiers.

FABRICS USED

Wool, was the most commonly used fibre and was most likely the first material to be spun.

Silk and cotton were imported from China and India respectively. A luxury afforded only to the rich ; Silk was rare and expensive.

The tanned leather was used to fashion heavy coats to keep Roman soldiers warm during their travel.

Leather  was used sometimes for protection against the poor weather,however, its primary use was in footwear and also,belts.

Animal skins were usually worn over the helmet .The Romans hardly used goat skin for their leather and preferred pig or sheepskin. 

Fig: Besides tunics, women wore a simple garment known as a stola and usually followed  the fashions of  their Greek contemporaries. 

ACCESSORIES

Romans wore long hair and full beards. The only kind of jewellery they wore were rings which had a precious stone.