Unveiling the Fashion Secrets of Ancient Roman Britain (Video)
Have you ever wondered how people dressed in Roman Britain? The ancient Romans had a distinctive sense of fashion and beauty, and this extended to their clothing and accessories. Women would bind their breasts with long lengths of linen or leather and wear a single tunic as their main garment. Clothes were made from wool or linen, but the wealthiest could afford silk adorned with gold thread borders. Skilled domestic slaves were essential for dressing hair, makeup, and putting on jewelry, which changed more rapidly than styles of dress.
Roman women could remain fashionable by setting new trends with highly patterned textiles and jewelry. The traditional mantle worn by Roman women, called the pala, took skill to manage elegantly and could be used to conceal small precious items. When the Roman occupation of Britain came to an end in 410 AD, so did this fascinating era of fashion and culture.
- Golden hoard of Roman jewelry found hidden from Queen Boudicca and her army
- High Fashion of Ancient Rome: Togas and Stolas
Top image: Roman women. Source: burnel11 / Adobe Stock.
