Ancient Roman Clothing Worksheets

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The Etruscans and Greeks inspired ancient Roman dress, yet it also had distinct fashions. Men wore the toga for formal events as a mark of ancient Roman citizenship. Stola and Palla, which were long garments with numerous layers and ornaments, were worn by women. Senators and magistrates wore different clothing that indicated their social standing and employment.

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Key Facts & Information

ROMAN CLOTHES

The ancient Romans’ garments indicated much about who they were and their social rank in Ancient Rome.
Togas, tunics, and stolas were standard ancient Roman garments, but varied kinds and colors denoted different members of the public and those in positions of authority.
Most ancient Romans wore colorful attire and dyed it purple, indigo, red, yellow, and other hues.
Pricey dyes were also available for those with enough money to flaunt their affluence.
Clean, colorful attire was also a sign of respectability and prestige among all socioeconomic strata.
The toga was considered Rome’s “national costume,” although most ancient Romans preferred more informal, practical, and comfortable attire in a tunic for day-to-day activities.
The tunic was the most essential clothing for both men and women.
Clothing was reasonably basic in ancient Rome, requiring little cutting and trimming.
It was made by hand using spinning and weaving, considered a virtuous yet frugal vocation for ancient Roman women of all grades.
On the other hand, those who could afford it would have their garments manufactured by professionals.

FABRICS AND MATERIALS

Wool was the most often used fiber in ancient Roman clothes, with white wool being prized. This is because it might be bleached or colored further.
Naturally, dark wool was chosen for the toga pulla, a mourning toga, and labor clothing susceptible to filth and stains.
Sheep’s wool was commonly utilized in ancient Roman attire.
Linen and hemp, which could be cultivated within the ancient Roman territory, were also extensively used in ancient Roman apparel.
After harvesting, the plant stems retted to release the outer layers and interior fibers, then stripped, crushed, and smoothed. After that, the materials were weaved.
Natural linen was a greyish brown tint that faded to off-white with repeated washings and sun exposure. Because it did not absorb colors as well, it was usually bleached or utilized in its natural, undyed condition.
Other materials were utilized to manufacture ancient Roman Clothing, although these had to be imported. China and India supplied silk and cotton. They were only available to the upper classes due to their exorbitant cost.

CLOTHES PRODUCTION

Fibers were mechanically pounded with a hammer and smoothed with big combs throughout the clothing production.
They were then spun into yarn and weaved on looms. Most fabric and apparel were created by experts and offered at a cost to all classes.
However, most women’s regular housework included carding, combing, spinning, and weaving wool, and those from medium or low-income households may augment their personal or family income by spinning and selling yarn or weaving cloth for sale.
Spinning and weaving were considered virtuous yet thrifty occupations for ancient Roman women of all classes, with wool baskets, spindles, and looms placed in semi-public reception areas of houses so those who could show off their frugality may do so.
Those from low-income households might rent high-quality apparel for special events or to create a good impression. Expensive apparel was sometimes a target for thievery on the street or in public baths.
Centonarii (“patch-workers”) made a profession by mending garments and other products from recycled fabric patches even after clothes had gone to rags.

Tunics

The tunic, comprised of two pieces of undyed wool sewed together at the sides and shoulders, was the fundamental attire for both genders throughout ancient Roman times.
It generally had short sleeves that barely covered half of the upper arm. Men wore theirs belted such that the garment just reached their knees.
Men of the equestrian class were authorized to wear a tunic with thin stripes reaching from shoulder to hem in the color the ancient Romans termed purple but were more like a deep red. In contrast, men of the senatorial class wore tunics with broad stripes.
Both sexes might wear a delicate under-tunic or vest (subucula) beneath a coarser over-tunic for warmth and comfort. Subligacula, subligaria, or loincloths were used as underwear but may also be worn over a tunic.
They might also be worn independently, especially by enslaved people doing hot, sweaty, or filthy tasks.
Tunics for women were typically ankle or foot length, long-sleeved, and may be worn casually or belted.
Under their tunics, women wore a loincloth and a strophium (a breast cloth); others wore fitted undergarments for work or recreation.

MEN’S CLOTHING

The toga, or national garment of Rome, was perhaps the most crucial piece in the ancient Roman wardrobe, worn chiefly by males.
Togas were constructed of an ample woolen material, about 6 feet wide and 12 feet long, and were draped across the shoulders and around the torso rather than sewn.
It was often worn over a simple white linen tunic.
Togas were designed as a public exhibition garment and were thus exclusively worn outside the home, where tunics were worn.
To represent one’s title, distinct tunics were worn. The following were the most common forms of togas:
Toga Virilis – This was a simple toga in an off-white tint. Any adult guy might wear it.
Toga Praetexta – This toga was off-white with a large purple border. Senators and Curule Magistrates like Consuls wore this toga. There were slight differences in stripe indicators for different magistrate seats.
Toga Pulla – This was a dark toga that was only worn during grief.
Toga Candida – This was an artificially whitened toga worn by political candidates. The candidate’s clothing needed to be white to demonstrate purity of intention and stand out from the crowd.
Toga Picta – An Ancient Roman commander wore this spectacular all-purple toga embroidered with a gold thread during a triumphant march.
Julius Caesar eventually adopted it as part of his usual attire, and the emperors followed suit, wearing it on several state occasions. The picta was most likely derived from the toga purpura, an all-purple toga used by early rulers.
Citizens were expected to wear togas for all public events, but it was impossible to do it effectively. Thus influential ancient Romans enslaved people who were professionally taught to do so.
Togas were expensive, heavy, and difficult to wear – while the wearer appeared dignified, it would have been impossible for them to perform anything vigorous, and most inhabitants avoided wearing one.
The higher classes preferred longer and bigger togas that were increasingly unsuitable for arduous labor or physically active recreation.
Furthermore, they would occasionally wrap a belt around the waist of the tunica to keep the waist snug, creating the impression of a two-piece garment.
Because togas were a garment intended for free-living ancient Roman citizens exclusively, Ancient Roman enslaved people were not permitted to wear them regardless of their function or work. Foreigners and exiled ancient Romans were likewise prohibited from wearing togas.
Men utilized leather to shield themselves from the elements in bad weather, but its main application was in footwear and belts.

MILITARY CLOTHING

Military personnel wore basic white tunics over a yellow or brown cloak. Their tunics were cut shorter than the average man’s, and sat just above their knees, signaling their rank to others.
Active-duty Roman soldiers wore short trousers under a military kilt. To keep the soldier’s armor from chaffing, their garments sometimes reached up to the neck or contained a linen scarf.
They may use the sagum, a heavy-duty cloak worn by citizens, to shield themselves from the wind and weather. The sagum differentiated ordinary troops from the highest-ranked commanders, who wore the paludamentum, a larger, purple-red cloak.
While white was the usual hue for military tunics, archaeologists have discovered red, purple, green, and blue military tunics.
It appears that blue and green tunics were worn by guardsmen stationed in towns and colonies. It’s possible that some military personnel colored their tunics to show off their affluence.
Soldiers wore animal skins as well. Legionaries wore bearskins, while the Praetorian Guards wore feline skins.

WOMEN’S CLOTHING

Both men and women originally wore togas. Women wore two styles of togas, which were comparable to tunics. These were peplos and chiton.
Peplos was created from two rectangular pieces of fabric partially sewn together on both sides, with the open top parts folded down in the front and rear.
It was pulled over the head and secured with two huge pins to create a sleeveless garment. After that, a belt was knotted over or under the folds.
Two large strips of cloth were sewed together almost to the top to make the chiton, leaving just enough room for armholes. This garment was pulled over the head and fastened with multiple pins or buttons over her shoulders and arms, making a dress with sleeves that may be belted under the breasts, at the waist, or at the hips.
The toga eventually became male-only clothing. Married Roman women wore the stola, a long garment stretching down to their feet. It was layered over a tunic.
Stolas were often constructed of linen, cotton, or wool and lacked sleeves. Citizen women frequently wore the palla, a rectangular shawl up to 11 feet long and five broad, over the stola.
It might be worn as a coat or thrown over the left shoulder, right arm, and left arm.
Women convicted of adultery, as well as high-class female prostitutes (meretrices), were not only prohibited from wearing the stola in public but were also expected to wear a toga muliebris (a “woman’s toga”) as a sign of their infamy.

CHILDREN’S CLOTHING

Ancient Roman children were typically swaddled as neonates.
Most ancient Roman children wore scaled-down copies of what their parents wore, with females wearing a long tunic that reached the foot or instep, was belted at the waist, and was very simply ornamented, most commonly in white—boys wearing a tunic, but shorter.
When the girls went outside, they may have worn another tunic over the foundation one.
Both boys and girls wore amulets to protect them against immoral influences and sexual predation.
Boys wore a bulla around the neck, and girls wore a crescent-shaped lunula.
Boys wore a toga praetexta for proper use until puberty, when they relinquished their toga praetexta and childhood bulla to their family Lares and put on the adult male’s toga virilis.
Girls may have worn a toga praetexta until marriage when they gave their childhood toys and maybe their maidenly praetexta to Fortuna Virginalis.

ENSLAVED PERSONS CLOTHING

Enslaved people and freedmen wore tunics, but they wore no uniform. They may have dressed beautifully or poorly depending on their enslavers, and they usually dressed according to their assigned duties.
House-enslaved people were frequently the finest clothed since they lived so close to their enslavers. Enslaved people and freedmen, however, were not permitted to wear togas regardless of their job or work.

CLEANING CLOTHES

Ancient Romans went to a fullonica to wash their garments, which was managed by fullers and was the ancient equivalent of a laundry mat or dry cleaners.
The Romans did not use soap to clean their garments but rather a combination of human and animal urine.
You might wonder where the Romans obtained enough pee to wash their clothes. They hung jars on street corners across the neighborhood where they operated so that people may donate.
The first stage was for the fuller to wash the clothing. This was accomplished by placing the garments in a shallow tub filled with water, nitrum or fuller’s earth (also known as creta fullonia), alkali elements, and urine.
Once the clothes had been scrubbed in the mixture, the fuller would stand on top of the tub and stomp away until they were clean.
After that, the clothing was rinsed in a series of bigger, linked wash basins into which fresh flowing water from the municipal water supply was dumped.
Finally, the clothes were brushed with thistly herbs or hedgehog skin before being hanged to dry on a huge upside-down wicker basket work with sulfur beneath it to allow the gases to whiten the clothes.

SHOES

The ancient Romans wore various shoes, all of which had flat soles. Footwear was typically composed of leather and was a one-piece shoe.
A solea was a thin-soled sandal tied with thongs; a soccus was a laced, soft half-shoe; a calcea was a hobnailed, thick-soled walking shoe; and a caliga was a heavy-duty, hobnailed standard-issue military marching boot.
Most moderately well-off Romans of both sexes wore felt or leather slippers or light shoes when indoors.
Brides would wear uniquely orange-colored light soft shoes or slippers (lutei socci) on their wedding day.
There were also different shoes worn based on one’s rank. Senators wore red ankle boots, while equites wore shoes with crescent-shaped buckles. In damp weather, rustics, and field, enslaved people wore wooden clogs with leather uppers.

ROMAN HAIRSTYLES AND BRAIDS

Hairstyles were highly significant to the Ancient Romans, especially to Roman ladies. To change their image, they used extravagant hairstyles rather than clothing.
Ancient Roman ladies curled their hair in a corkscrew pattern to hold their hair in place and used hairpins made of ivory, silver, and gold, frequently set with gems.
Women also wore hairnets consisting of delicately woven gold wires.
Enslaved people trained in hairdressing and cosmetics were required for these extravagant hairdos. Women also had a plethora of lotions, make-up, and fragrances.
Mirrors were needed for cosmetics and hairstyling, and they were crafted of highly polished bronze or silver in rectangular or circular designs.
The most ornate mirrors had handles and relief carvings on the back.
Conversely, men wore short and clean-shaven hair, even though shaving was unpleasant. It usually resulted in cuts and scratches, especially throughout the Middle and late republics and into the early Empire.
In ancient Roman times, Emperors became trendsetters. Emperor Nero, for example, chose a more ornate haircut with curls surrounding his face and eventually added sideburns.
Hadrian was the first emperor to wear a short beard, and many others imitated him. In fact, after his rule, beards were highly prevalent among Roman males.
In contrast to the Greeks, who valued light hair, the Romans preferred black hair. Many elderly Romans used colors made from burnt walnut shells and leeks to cover up gray hair.
Some ancient Romans wore a paste of herbs and earthworms at night to avoid graying.
The ancient Romans used bear grease and crushed myrtle berries to treat baldness.
Some ancient Romans also wore blonde wigs fashioned from German prisoners’ hair. Prostitutes in Rome were known to wear blonde wigs to promote their services.
Children’s hair, including boys’, was permitted to grow long and dangle over their necks and shoulders.
When the child reached puberty and donned the toga of manhood, his long hair was chopped off.

HATS AND HEAD COVERINGS

Ancient Romans did not commonly wear hats, and some Romans, such as enslaved people, were not permitted to cover their heads.
In ancient Roman times, the primary motive for covering one’s head was to shield oneself from poor weather. In this case, men would wear a cloak, while women would wear a palla or veil.
If they were trapped in the rain, they would cover their heads by drawing their togas up.
On the other hand, workers who were outside all day wore a pileus, a conical felt cap. While traveling or in the country, a man of the higher classes would shield his head, especially against the sun.
He would achieve this by wearing a broad-brimmed felt hat of foreign provenances, such as the causia or petasus.
As a symbol of their liberation, formerly enslaved people frequently donned a Phrygian (a cone-shaped cap).

JEWELRY

Jewelry, like hairstyles, was another method for Ancient Roman women to express themselves.
Because ancient Roman clothing was frequently fastened rather than sewed, brooches and pins allowed Romans to display their riches and position by wearing finely adorned jewelry.
Necklaces, bracelets, and earrings were other popular pieces of jewelry, often fashioned of gold and embellished with valuable jewels and bright glass beads.
Armbands, many of which were designed like snakes, appear to have been popular around the time Pompeii was destroyed. Pearls were also popular, albeit highly expensive, and reserved for the wealthiest.
Both men and women wore rings. After reaching the age of adulthood, the ring was the only piece of jewelry worn by an Ancient Roman citizen.
Rings were widespread on ancient Roman men’s hands, with five on each. Only men of high social status could wear gold or silver rings, while lower-class men were only permitted to wear iron rings.
Despite this, certain ancient Roman soldiers of low social status were permitted to wear a single gold ring as a reward for courage in combat.

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about Ancient Roman Clothing across 34 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about Ancient Roman Clothing. The Etruscans and Greeks inspired ancient Roman dress, yet it also had distinct fashions. Men wore the toga for formal events as a mark of ancient Roman citizenship.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

Ancient Roman Clothing Facts
True or False
European Costumes
Clothing Color
Attire Restrictions
National Costumes
Roman Togas
Are Clothes a Basic Need?
Sketch it Up!
Stylist for a Day!
Dress-Up Time!

Frequently Asked Questions

What were the basic garments worn by Romans?

Romans wore various garments, but the basic attire for men consisted of a tunic (tunica) and a cloak (paenula or toga). The tunic was a simple, knee-length garment made of wool or linen and was worn under the toga or on its own. Women also wore tunics, but theirs were longer and often accompanied by a stola, a longer and more elegant dress.

What was the toga, and who wore it?

The toga was a distinctive garment worn exclusively by Roman male citizens. It was a large, semicircular or oval-shaped piece of fabric, typically made of wool, that was wrapped around the body in a specific manner. The toga was a symbol of Roman citizenship and was worn on formal occasions, such as public ceremonies, important meetings, or religious events.

Did Roman clothing vary based on social status?

Yes, Roman clothing did vary based on social status. For example, wealthy Romans often wore more elaborate and finely crafted garments made of expensive materials like silk. They also had access to a wider range of colors and patterns. In contrast, commoners typically wore simpler, plain garments made of coarser materials such as wool or linen.

What were some common accessories worn by Romans?

Romans wore various accessories to complement their clothing. Both men and women wore belts (cingulum) to secure their garments and give them a more fitted appearance. They also wore footwear such as sandals or shoes, and head coverings like hats or veils. Jewelry, including rings, bracelets, necklaces, and earrings, was popular among those who could afford it.

Did Romans wear any specific clothing for special occasions?

Yes, Romans had specific garments for special occasions. For example, the toga picta (or “painted toga”) was a richly decorated toga worn by victorious generals during triumphal processions. The toga praetexta was a toga with a purple border, worn by high-ranking officials and magistrates. Roman brides would wear a special white dress known as the flammeum during wedding ceremonies.

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