Clothing+in+Ancient+Rome



A toga is a white sheet that was used as clothing in ancient Rome. The toga was mainly worn indoors because it was a delicate type of cloth that needed special care and proper cleaning. The white toga was made out of wool therefore it was made without sewing. Different people wore different colored togas to show how important they were or what type of person they are. In Rome what you wore reflects on what type of person you were. Ordinary citizens wore the original white toga to show that they were not important. [|Priest] and [|senators] and their wife’s were allowed to wear a white toga with purple sleeves to show that they were a [|V.I.P.] because purple was a wealthy color in ancient Rome. The emperor off Rome had to wear an embroided purple toga to show they were the emperors.

Ancient Roman likes curled, perfumes, waved, long hair and dying their hair was popular too. But then short hair became into fashion and long and messy hair was meant for slaves. Going to the barbershop to shave your beard could sometimes be painful because when you went, the barbers would pluck your beard hair one by one.

Blond was a popular hair color in ancient Rome. Brown or black haired Romans wanted to dye their hair blond. Women used vinegar and lye to dye their hair but a long time ago before that method was used they used soap made out of urine and wood ash. In order for the hair not to turn white the Romans made “potions”.

Women in Rome liked to paint their face white because they thought white faces were pretty and elegant. Woman wore and made their own lipstick, eyeliner, and face powered. The lipstick was made from plant juice, and eyeliner from powdered antimony. Face powder was made from white led, and red [|ocher] was used to make blush. Men also wore make up to cover up their scars, and used patches of cloths called spenia to cover up spots on their faces.

Shoes were worn indoors and outdoors. Lace up boots with nails on the bottom of the shoe was the basic style. Nails at the bottom of the shoes were for the shoes not to get worn out. Socks were worn in cool weathers they were made out of wool.

Combs were made out of bones, ivory and wood. The Romans thought that the more ornaments had the wealthier woman you were. Woman wore rings and bracelets, and men wore necklaces, pendants, and anklets. Woman only wore fillets. Iron rings were the most popular but only could be worn by senators and [|equates]. Rings could not be worn in times of mourning. The head was sometimes covered with extra pieces of the toga or a beautiful headdress was worn.

Citation
Figure 1: [|http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/pic/MEPOD/10140801~Ancient-Rome-Clothing-Worn-by-a-Public-Orator-Posters.jpg]

Figure 2:http://www.britannicaschool.eb.com/eb/art-1106/The-Roman-toga-worn-pouched-in-the-front-and-drawn?&articleTypeId=1

29 Oct. 2007 .
 * Encyclopædia Britannica Online School Edition. "dress." __Encyclopædia Britannica__.

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 * "Hairdressing." __Encyclopedia Britannica__. 29 Oct. 2007


 * Macdonald, Fiona. __I Wonder Why Romans Wore Togas__. London: Kingfisher, 1999.


 * __100 things You Should Know about Ancient Rome__. Broomall: Manson Crest, 2001.


 * Sichel, Marion. __Costume of the Calssical World__. New York: Chelsea House, 1980.


 * __History of Women's Costumes__. New York: Chelsea House, 1984.

by Kay Lynn