Women's Clothing: 753 - 101 BCE

The Kingdom of Rome: 753 - 509 BCE

• The Romans wore clothing they evolved and adapted from both the Greeks & the Etruscans
• The toga was based on a dress robe used by Rome’s northern neighbors, the Etruscans. The toga is believed to have been established around the time of Numa Pompilius, the 2nd King of Rome.
  • Free citizens were required to wear togas because slaves could only wear tunics. Tunics were a sign of poverty and would let those wearing them work with ease.
  • Because the toga was not worn by soldiers, it was regarded as a sign of peace. A civilian was sometimes called Togātus (toga-wearer) in contrast to sagum-wearing soldiers.
  • Members of the Praetoriani wore togas for Imperial palace or escort duty during the earlier Imperium Rōmānum, in order to maintain the impression that civilian authority was still dominant.
  • In the Kingdom of Rome, BOTH sexes wore the toga
    • Men often wore just the toga (no tunic); women began wearing a garment underneath the toga

The Early Republic: 508 – 101 BCE

• As early as the 2nd Century BC, the toga (along with the calceus) was looked upon as the characteristic badge of Roman citizenship. It was denied to foreigners, and even to banished Romans, and it was worn by Roman magistrates on all occasions as a badge of office.
• By the 5th century BCE the garment worn under the toga by Roman women was called the Vestis Longa (long robe) and it was long enough to cover the feet when belted.
• By the 3rd century BCE respectable women no longer wore the toga – they now wore the vestis longa and Palla
  • The palla is derived from the Greek himation
• The word Stola first appears in the 2nd century BCE, and is derives from the Greek*. This is the new name for the vestis longa.