Most people think of pants as a man’s clothing item, but that was not the case in the first millennium. In fact, many women in the empire had the good fortune of having their legs tucked away in a sleeved tunic or a strophium (breast cloth) during their off time. Some women also wore a sleeveless top-to-toe ensemble if it was raining.
The ancient Romans did not wear pants. This was a good thing. As the Roman empire spread across the Mediterranean and into the Near East, they were forced to wear some form of leg covering. Hence, the “smart-pants” aficionados among you may have wondered, what exactly was the Romans wearing in this era of unyielding warfare. While not all of them had the best of times, the sexes could certainly eke out a living by putting their best foot forward. One would hope that the ladies and gentleman of Rome could have a nice time slaying the foes without the worry of being the next Napoleonic Wars. With a little discipline, the sexy women of the empire could have a good time and keep their digits out of the mud.
Why Were Pants Illegal in Rome?
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The ancient Romans had a lot to boast about when it came to fashion. While trousers were not widely worn, they were certainly popular among Roman soldiers. This was particularly true in the more remote parts of the empire.
For instance, the subligaculum was a pants that was worn by athletes to ward off the cold. These were loose fitting trousers tied at the ankles with a leather tie. A modern day equivalent might be the slacks worn by students.
There were other notable examples like the toga, the paludamentum, and the stolla. As time moved on, fashion changed from the classical to the more functional. In the end, the most expensive and elegantly designed garments were worn by the elite. Some of the more mundane items were made of natural color wool and were augmented with various cold weather wear.
The aforementioned stolla, which was made of cloth, was a woven decoration whose design was time consuming. It was also the most expensive if you counted the cost of the tiniest silk thread.
Did the Romans Ban Pants?
Pants were not commonly worn by the Romans. In fact, they were considered barbarous garb. They were so disliked that they were banned in 397 CE.
This ban was issued by the Roman Emperors. It was in place after a battle in which Emperor Valens was killed. After this, emperors from both the Eastern and Western empires issued a decree declaring pants illegal.
The Romans’ dislike of pants was likely less to do with their functionality and more to do with their association with non-Romans. As an example, the Dacians, an ethnic group from Romania, wore trousers. Throughout the years, foreign tribes fought with Rome.
These tribes were referred to as “barbarians.” They were seen as enemies and wore garments that were perceived as barbaric. During the late period of the Roman Empire, emperors pushed to ban the use of any barbarian influence in fashion or identity.
A 98 foot tall marble monument, Trajan’s Column, was built to commemorate the victory of Trajan over the Dacians. It depicts high-ranking figures in tunics.
Did Roman Soldiers Wear Pants?
Roman soldiers weren’t the first to wear pants. However, it’s probably a good idea to take a closer look at this fashion item before making a definitive statement.
Before the invention of pants, the Graeco-Roman world was warm and cozy. Aside from the occasional use of leg armour, wearing a pair of trousers was a rarity.
When the Roman Empire expanded north of the Mediterranean, pants became commonplace among the legionaries. They were made of wool or cotton. Their design was utilitarian and functional. Compared to flappy tunics, military trousers were a better fit.
A couple of centuries later, they were also adopted by Germanic tribes in northern Europe. The term braccae was used to describe these garments, a term believed to have its origins in the ancient Greek word breeches. It was a loose fitting, but somewhat masculine, garment, secured by a leather tie.
During the Carolingian period, a short trouser started to become standard in cavalry. Emperors from the Western and Eastern empires wanted to make a distinction between their militarists and civilians.
When Did Pants Become Gendered?
The history of women wearing pants is a complex one. Pants have been around for thousands of years in various cultures. They are often used for different purposes, and have given women more freedom and functionality. However, for most of history, they were considered unfeminine.
Women first started wearing pants for different reasons, including for comfort and to ease movement. Some women also wanted to wear them in public. This caused some controversy.
When the 1960s came along, pants were considered a symbol of power and masculinity. But the 1970s brought more openness and acceptance for pants. Eventually, they became acceptable in workplaces, and women wore them more often.
In the 1930s, conservatives still saw pants as highly unfeminine. But as the feminist movement began, they were increasingly accepted by the public. A number of women wore pants for their own pleasure, and others dressed in the same manner as men to pursue careers in the military or government.
Pants are now considered standard clothing for both men and women. However, they were not embraced by everyone until the mid-19th century.
Is It OK to Wear Jeans in Rome?
Historically, Romans didn’t wear pants. They considered them barbarous and associated them with non-Romans. This was because they viewed foreign nations as enemies.
When the Roman Empire expanded beyond the Mediterranean, pants became common among soldiers. The soldiers of northern climate zones had to be careful to avoid hypothermia and frostbite.
In order to combat these problems, the Romans started to ban the wearing of pants. A decree was issued in 400 AD. Later, the ban was repeated twice. However, it’s not clear whether the ban was enforced or not.
The emperors didn’t like the idea that their soldiers would wear clothes from a non-Roman culture. It was also said that the wearing of pants was a sign of inborn aggressiveness from the Gauls.
But there is little historical evidence to support this claim. According to Professor Kelly Olson, a professor of history at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the change in opinion was not caused by hygienic reasons. Instead, it might have had more to do with keeping the capital safe and policing it more efficiently.
Did Ancient Romans Have Bras?
Throughout history, there have been various forms of bras. They are thought to have originated in Ancient Egypt. In fact, the first recorded bras were created as early as 2500 BC. These garments were made of silk and wire. The early bras are sometimes referred to as mamillares.
Many early cultures did not wear bras. However, in the Ming dynasty, women wore a loose silk bodice tied at the neck. Another form of lingerie was a strophium.
During the time of ancient Greece, Greek women used razors and depilatory cream to remove hair from their bodies. Some women also wore a band of cloth or leather to support their breasts.
Women in the Ancient Roman Empire wore a simple bra called the strophion. It was made of a fabric or linen band wrapped around the torso. Sometimes, a woman would even wear the strophion under her toga.
Other forms of lingerie included the subligaculum and the mamillare. Both of these were similar to the modern bra. The subligaculum was a loincloth worn by men and women.
Did Romans Have to Shave?
In the early days of Rome, the Romans wore a beard. They even had statues of famous emperors with beards. This is because a man with a beard was considered a wise man.
But did the Romans have to shave? The answer is yes, but not all.
As you can imagine, shaving was not a very pleasant practice. For one, razors of the time weren’t very good. So, you were left with an awful lot of wounds.
While a good shave was an essential part of a Roman’s grooming ritual, it wasn’t a painless exercise. Some of the emperors had live-in barbers to do it for them.
A young Roman’s first shave was celebrated by a party. The shave itself was a big deal, and it was a sign of adulthood.
Another thing the Romans did was take baths. They didn’t always use soap, but they did make use of massage oils to soften the skin.
There were also some interesting other practices, like using pumice stones to remove stubble and using the correct shaver.
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