Roman Clothing for Women
The main items or garments of clothing
worn by Roman Women were as follows:
-
Fascia - a simple brassiere (bra) in the form of a
band, tightly tied around the body
-
Mamillare - Tight band bound about the bust worn
over clothing
-
Tunica - chemise
-
Stola - robe
-
Stophium - chord or girdle
-
Palla - cloak
-
Suffibulum - veil
For additional
information also refer to
Roman Wedding
Clothing
Roman Clothing for Women -
Underclothes, the Tunic
Roman women wore a simple
bra in the form of a band called a fascia. The fascia was
tightly tied around the body across the bust and under
clothing. The Roman Clothing
of women also included of an item of underwear called a tunica interior,
or subucula which was like a chemise which was worn next to the skin and
reached the knees. This tunic was usually made of wool. The
tunic in its variety of different forms could be worn by
people of all classes and was worn usually with sleeves and
cut in a variety of lengths and could be made from many
different types of materials. Roman women's tunics were
fuller and longer, usually extending to the feet. Outside the tunic was a chord or
girdle was often worn which supported the breasts and was called a strophium. Over the tunic
married Roman women wore a stola.
Roman Tunic
Roman Clothing for Women -
Stola
The stola was an outer garment reaching the ankles.
The stola was fastened round the body by a girdle with broad
folds above the breast. The essential distinction between
the tunic and the stola was that the latter always had
an Instita or flounce sewed to the bottom of the
garment reaching to the instep. The stola was
usually fastened over the shoulder by a Fibula or
clasp, and generally had sleeves. Over the stola the
Roman women wore a long shawl, called a palla,
when they went outside.
Stola
Roman Clothing for Women -
Cloaks
The palla was a shawl like
garment worn over the stola. Roman cloaks were a practical
accompaniment to the basic clothes worn by Roman women such
as the tunic and the stola. The purpose of Roman Cloaks were
primarily to provide protection from the cold and rain. Some
had hoods (cucullus) attached to them. The palla was
rectangular in shape and was usually draped over the left
shoulder, under the right arm and back across the body. It
was carried by the left arm or thrown back again over the
left shoulder. The palla could also be pulled up to cover
the head. The paenula was a simple form of cloak, worn by
both sexes and the abolla was the name of a cloak worn by
wealthy and aristocratic Patricians and were made of
different types of rich, costly materials.
Roman Cloaks
Roman Clothing for Women -
Veils
Roman Clothing for Women
also included a variety of different veils or head
coverings. Veils were short and and kept in place with a brooch
or pin called
a fibula. Details, facts and information about different
Roman Hairstyles, Hats, Jewelry, shoes , sandals and Make-up
for women are described in the following links and via our
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