The Enduring Fashions of the Roman Empire

The mighty Roman Empire is the stuff of legend. Tales of Roman conquests endure to this day. Indeed, the Romans were quite the trendsetters of their day. Their fashions were heavily influenced by the civilizations with which they interacted. These included the Egyptians and the Greeks. And like any rapidly growing empire, the Romans absorbed various styles and materials. Indeed, acquiring foreign luxuries like Chinese silk exemplified Rome’s enduring power and wealth.

As a fashion-conscious empire, the Romans emphasized styles, trends, luxury, and accouterments. Fashion was sacrosanct in cultural and political life. As with modern-day trends, the fashions of Romans reflected political affiliation, social order, rank, or individual tastes and preferences. For illustrative purposes, the early days of Republican Rome were characterized by simplicity. The dress code reflected as much. Societal values of austerity and modesty were the order of the day. 

 

As Rome evolved and grew stronger, elaborate styles became the cultural zeitgeist. It became all about luxury, splendor, grace, and sophistication. Indeed, the latter part of the Roman Empire was characterized by a shift towards extravagance and utter decadence. As with any emergent or dominant culture, Roman fashions reflected the broader dynamics of the time. History suggests that the fashion of Rome was inextricably intertwined with the values and identity of Roman society. 

 

How Did it Feel to Walk Among the Romans?

The Roman Empire is one of the longest-lasting empires. The start of the Roman Empire was 27 BCE, and the end of the Western Roman Empire was 476 CE. The end of the Eastern Roman Empire – the Byzantine Empire – was 1453 CE. This empire is widely regarded to have been the most influential and profound vis-a-vis its impact on the development of Western civilization. 

 

For centuries, the Roman Empire influenced culture, language, architecture, government, and law. There is tremendous literature available on all aspects of Roman society. It all began when Octavian, later known as Augustus, became the first Roman emperor. This, after the defeat of Mark Antony and Cleopatra, became the stuff of legend. Living among history’s most influential leaders must have been an excellent experience.

 

Such is the glittering appeal of Rome that we see evidence aplenty of this in our modern day cultural zeitgeist. The Glory of Rome is more than a catchphrase and a period in history – it’s also the title of Hollywood blockbusters, a pulse-pounding social slot game, scores of novels, historical texts, academic papers, and much more.

 

From an immersive point of view, the entertainment industry has seized the initiative by creating engaging games designed to relive, reimagine, and rekindle the majesty of the Roman Empire. 

For example, players in the Glory of Rome slot are instantly thrust back in time with fearsome gladiators battling one another in the Coliseum. The extraordinary audiovisuals depict a proud nation of warriors decked out in body armor, ostentatious headgear, and flowing red capes. Indeed, all the pomp and ceremony of Rome is on full display.

 

What were the Key Elements of Roman Fashion?

The Roman toga is undoubtedly the most famous export of the Roman Empire. It is the poster child of Roman fashion. These iconic garments were worn exclusively by male citizens. They comprise a large, draped piece of cloth made from wool. It is usually white or slightly off-white. 

 

It symbolized peace and citizenship. The toga was draped around the body in a specific style and manner. The process required a degree of skill. The Roman toga was not uniform – several variations of it existed, notably the toga praetexta with a purple frame. Of course, this was reserved for higher-ranking Romans.

 

For the females, the clothing item of choice was the stola. Married women wore it. It featured a long, sleeveless tunic that draped down to the ankles. It was also fastened with the girdle under the bust, providing a distinct, flowing appearance. Married Roman women wore large shawls draped over their shoulders or heads. 

 

The Tunica, also known as the tunic, was worn by men and women. This was an undergarment. It could be belted at the waist and was available for all classes of society. And then, there was Roman footwear. Depending on your status, you would have different shoes. The affluent members of society wore caligae, while the soldiers wore sandals.

 

Jewellery and accessories were equally important in the Roman Empire. These fashionable pieces were the pride and joy of women. Wealthy Romans had many different types of earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and rings. They were mainly made from gemstones, gold, and silver. The Romans were also known to wear lots of brooches to fasten their garments and provide gorgeous decorations. 

 

As for hairstyles, women’s hairstyle choices were elaborate, meticulous and stylish beyond compare. Men favored the clean-shaven look in the early part of the Roman Empire. Later on, this gave way to elaborate beards and curls. And there you have it folks, a walk down memory lane as we explore the glorious fashions, accoutrements, styles, and trends that characterized the Roman Empire!

 

Fraquoh and Franchomme

 

 

 

 

 

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