Fashion in the Roman Empire

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

Under the Empire the toga became a heavy, ceremonial garment and the tunic took over for everyday wear; costly silk imported from the East was moralised against even as dress grew in colour and pattern.

Fashion in the Roman Empire — Author: TyB CC BY 2.0 Source

Overview

The wealth and trade of the Empire brought silk and other rich textiles across its provinces.

Key garments and style

Men wore a tunic woven with clavi (vertical stripes) day to day and the toga for ceremony; women wore the stola over a tunic and the palla when out. The wide-sleeved dalmatica later spread, and dyed colour signalled rank.

Transition

After the fall of the Western Empire, dress shifted toward Byzantine and early-medieval European styles.

History of this period

Roman Empire 27 BC–AD 476