Like everything else in Ancient Roman Society, the kind of clothes you wore depended on your status.
Slaves and the poorer Romans wore different clothes to the rich and wealthy Romans and the Emperor's family.
Poor people, shop-keepers, slaves and workers would wear a "Tunica" at all times.
The tunica, or tunic was a one-piece linen or wool vest which was convenient to wear all day and did not get in the way of work.
The tunic of an ordinary Roman Citizen was made of plain white wool.
Roman Knights and Roman Senators had stripes of purple cloth woven into the material of the tunica, one running from each shoulder to the bottom of the tunic in both back and front.
Men and womens clothing tended to be very similar, though women might wear more ornate jewellery with their clothes.
Scroll down the page to see more information about Roman Mens Clothes and some illustrations and photographs of Roman Clothes. There are Roman Togas and Roman Sandals.
Emperor Hadrian Ruled from 117 to 138 AD.
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The Emperor Hadrian ruled for 21 years from A.D. 117 until A.D. 138, when the Empire of Ancient Rome was at its height.
The Emperor Hadrian consolidated and strengthened The Roman Empire. He was The Roman Emperor responsible for the building of Hadrian's Wall in England.
Hadrian was one of the most remarkable and talented of all the Emperors of Rome.... more
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A statue of a Roman Man wearing a Toga, probably a Roman Senator.
An illustration of a Roman Man wearing a Toga.
The Toga was a universal item of Roman Clothing for men. It was really just a long white sheet that was wrapped around the body. Many Romans complained about wearing the Toga and said they were cold.
The Toga was a symbol of Roman Citizenship. The right to wear one was treasured by freedmen, some of whom had made their way from slavery to citizenship and earned the right to wear a Romen Citizens toga.
At the time of the Emperor Hadrian togas were being worn just to official functions. Senators were expected to wear togas at meetings of the Senate.
Roman Emperors even passed laws to ensure people wore togas. Many differing styles of Toga were worn at different times in the Roman Empire.
An Ancient Roman was even buried in a toga when he died.
The Toga fell out of fashion and people preferred to wear a tunic. This was like a long jumper or T-Shirt that reached doen to the knees. It was made of linen in the summer and wool in the winter. Some Romans wore leggings or trousers to keep warm in winter.
Replica of a Roman sandal modern.
EUR (Rome), Museum of Roman Civilization.
Source: www.vroma.org
Men wore sandals made of leather when indoors. Street shoes would also be made of leather and would offer more protection for the feet.
Only the poorest Romans and Roman Slaves appeared in public in bare feet.
A Roman Emperor, who was a direct descendant of Augustus, named Gaius, earned the nickname Caligula, meaning “Little Boots” because he appeared in front of soldiers as a youngster wearing scaled down sandals, caligae.
Ancient Roman leather shoe.
Chesters, Museum.
Source: www.vroma.org
Roman Men's Clothes Go here for a very informative article on Roman Mens's Clothes and jewellery. By Barbara F. McManus, The College of New Rochelle.
Other Free resources on the web:
Ancient Rome History Resource
Ancient Rome History Resource at Hadrians.Com
Ancient Rome History Resources relating to the daily life and times of the Emperor Hadrian plus Hadrians Wall History and Images and Hadrian's Wall Photographs
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