Archive for March 21st, 2008
March 21st, 2008 | Author: Surfer
The beauty of ancient Roman fashion is lasting impact on the modern fashion industry till now. Look at new Spring 2008 Collection created by fashion designer Vera Wang and you will see that it was definitely inspired by Ancient Rome.
At first glance Roman dress appears to be identical to Greek dress in it’s draperies and design. But more close inspection reveals many important changes. Roman men generally wore two garments, the tunica and the toga. The tunica was a short woolen under garment with short sleeves. By contrast, to wear a long tunic with long sleeves was considered effeminate and was generally avoided by society as a whole. It was originally worn mainly by the working class plebes, freedmen and slaves, though its function as an undergarment for any class of people is attested. The basic garments are sewn, not pinned, and close on both sides, elaborate fabric decoration nearly disappears, and bold patterns on garments are nonexistent. Sandals, boots and shoes are common; virtually all men wear them, and many women.
Roman adult male citizens wear only one item of jewelry, a personalized signet ring that was used to make an impression in sealing wax in order to authorize documents. Jewelry looks so simple in design and execution it looks crude, even without the comparison of the fine Greek work standing in contrast to it.
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