Fashion in the Etruscan civilization

Published: July 28, 2026 · Updated: July 28, 2026

Etruscan dress is known from tomb paintings and bronzes: the tebenna, a curved mantle, is regarded as the ancestor of the Roman toga, and pointed shoes and rich jewellery were characteristic.

Fashion in the Etruscan civilization — Author: Unknown (Etruscan, c. 475 BC) Public domain Source

Overview

Etruscan dress survives vividly in the coloured tomb paintings of Tarquinia and elsewhere. As a society enriched by Mediterranean trade, it was rich in jewellery and textiles.

Key garments and style

Both men and women wore a tunic under the tebenna, a semicircular mantle. Pointed, up-curved shoes (calcei repandi), the women’s conical tutulus hat, and fine goldwork are all characteristic.

Transition

As Etruria was absorbed by Rome, the tebenna evolved into the toga and this dress passed into Roman use.

History of this period

Etruscan civilization c. 900–c. 100 BC