Roman Women’s Clothing

  • The main items worn by Roman women were the Tunic, the Stola and the Palla.

Women’s Dress

  • Roman Women did not wear the Roman Toga, but wore two Tunics instead, which were white with no stripes:
  • The ‘Sublicaculum:
    • this was an undergarment that came down to the knees. Beneath this she wore a type of bra consisting of a sash.
  • The ‘Stola’:
    • this was a long loose garment made from two pieces of material sewn together. It had an opening to put the head through, was very long, and had many folds. It had a purple border around the neck and that the base. As the Stola was very long, the folds needed to be kept from trailing along the ground, so the woman wore a belt, and the folds hung over it.
    • A white stola was worn by the Vestal Virgins, along with a Suffibulum, a short veil attached by a Fibula and a headband, the infula.
  • The ‘Palla’:
    • Called the ‘Pallium’ when worn by Men.
    • this was a rectangular woolen shawl, worn over the shoulders, and usually worn in the following way, going fronm the statues of Roman women. One end would start by hanging over the back of the left shoulder, and made to hang in a loop over the front. It would then be thrown back over the left shoulder wrapped around the upper shoulders, under the right arm, and then the end thrown back over the left shoulder.
  • The Bikini:
    • The House of Julia in Pompeii held a statue of the Goddess Venus wearing a Bikini. Several other statues of Venus wearing a Bikini were found in Pompeii.
    • The Villa Romana del Casale, in Sicily, built during the time of Diocletian (286-305 AD) contains a Mosaic of ten women playing at various sports and athletics, wearing Bikinis.

Roman Shoes

  • Women wore the same leather shoes and sandals as men, but made of finer leather.
  • They were often dyed white or with a colour, and sometimes with jewels sewed on. Winter shoes would have soles made from cork. To increase height, several layers of cork might be used.
    • Carbatina: lace up sandal, with sole and upper made from one piece of leather. The upper was worked into a semi open herring bone design.
    • Soccus: loose fitting slipper. Leather sole without hobnails, having a separate leather upper.
    • Calceus: Formal shoe, often worn by men with the Roman Toga. It was a lace up sandal with hobnails in the sole.
    • Solea: Flat sandal with hobnails in the sole and held on by a strap between the toes (like flip flops today).

Roman Hairdressing

  • Roman women did not wear hats.
  • Roman women wore their hair long, but tied up in folds or knots.
  • Haipins were straight, not bent, and made from Ivory, Silver or Gold.
  • They used Roman Mirrors made from polished metal, along with bronze combs and metal boxes for powders.

Keeping Cool

  • As Roman Ladies did not wear hats, they protected themselves from the sun by the use of Parasols and fans.
  • The Roman fan was made either from the wing of a bird, or with peacock feathers attached to a wooden frame. The Roman lady held the Parasol whilst a Slave, not the woman herself, moved the fan.
  • Linen Handkerchiefs were used to mop up any perspiration.
  • To keep the palm of the hands cool, the lady would hold a globe of amber or glass.

Roman Jewellery

  • Rings, Pins, Pendants, Earrings, Brooches, Bracelets, Necklaces and Tiaras were made from Iron, Bronze, Tin, Silver and Gold.
  • Precious Stones were sometimes added, Pearls being the most common.

Roman Clothing Materials

  • Wool:
    • came from Italy, the finest wool came from Calabria, Apulia and particularly Tarentum. Most woollen garments were made from undyed wool in its natural colour.
    • Colours in natural undyed wool: grey and white wool came from Modena (Mutina), Reddish Brown wool came from Apulia, dark grey wool came from Liguria, and pale yellow wool came from Baetica.
    • The Roman Toga was made from wool, but this was a heavy Garment for formal occasions. The borders and stripes were coloured with a purple dye that faded. The Emperor’s Toga was dyed with Tyrian Purple made from Murex.
    • The Tunic was worn most of the time, which for the majority of Romans were made of wool. The more expensive Tunics made from linen.
    • Britannia was famous for its luxury woollen cape, the Birus Britannicus.
  • Linen:
    • was made from flax grown in Italy, but the best linen came from Egypt. It was used in Undergarments and as well as finer men and women’s Tunics.
  • Cotton:
    • came from India.
  • Silk:
    • from China, was usually woven into a linen garment, rather than be of pure Silk.

 

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