By: Lindsey Campbell

THE STYLE OF A PATRICIAN

Roman women that were not married would usually tend to wear white clothing known as Peplos. Peplos was normally made of wool or linen. If you could afford to buy your own clothes, you would most likely buy silk or cotton.

Peplos were made from two rectangular pieces of cloth partially sewn together on both sides and the top sections would be folded down with two large pins which would form a sleeveless dress.

A NON-MARRIED PATRICIAN’S OUTFIT

LARGE PINS

SIDES SEWN

TOGETHER

A MARRIED PATRICIAN’S OUTFIT

At the time of marriage Roman women wore a long, sleeveless tunic fastened at the shoulders with short strips using a clasps or button better known as a stola usual made of undyed wool.

When a women wore a stola this was the way a woman could claim her respect to tradition.

Respectable women were also known to wear a palla over their tunic/stola when they would go outside. This was a rectangular shape, draped over the left shoulder, under the right arm and back across the body. The Palla could also be used to cover the head.

STOLA

PALLA

FRONT AND BACK VIEW OF THE STOLA AND PALLA

This photo provides a front and back view of the Stola and the Pella. Hats were not worn except by slaves, however women were able to use the Pella to cover their heads since women were expected to keep there heads covered when outdoors.

FABRIC TYPES THAT WAS USED

Wool was the most commonly used fabric and the first material to be spun due to the sheep and the quality of their wool.

Silk and cotton were other materials used. Both of these materials imported from China. Silk was considered to be the most expensive and due to the cost for importing the material

Wild silk and also sea silk where were both rare luxury materials.

All the fibrics had to be prepared differently according to the amount of fatty impurities, flax, hemp, and weather or not it was impure

The fabric was also dyed using a manual spinner

CLASS DIFFERENCES IN ROMAN DRESS

Patrician’s are distinguished by their jewelry that they wear, By the bright color’s in their clothes, and by the material of their outfits.

Patricians was the upper class and there tunic was made of white wool or linen. If you were from the richer side, you could afford to buy materials that were made of silk and cotton.

The Roman dress is different according to the class difference.

ROMAN’S WOMEN JEWELRY

Women loved glazing, polished jewelry, metal not glass. Pearls were a favorite along with

necklaces, pins, earrings, bracelets

and rings.

A DESIGN OF THE STOLA AND PALLA