How to Wear a Toga

A toga is a popular garment of the ancient Romans that was made of wool and is usually about 20 feet long. It was wrapped around the body and was worn above a tunic. In ancient times, only the men were allowed to wear it. The women wore the equivalent of it, called the stola. The demise of the Roman Empire also spelled the disappearance of the toga-wearing population.

Toga wearing became popular once again when the American film “Animal House”, released in the 80’s, featured a toga party in one of its scenes. The toga has become such a fashion icon that Hollywood stars routinely walk the red carpet with varying styles of the toga. But today, the themed parties that are routinely thrown by college organizations all over the world are where the toga is still most at home. And with the popularity of toga parties in colleges today, it is important to know the basics on how to properly wear a toga so as not to become the joke of the party.

Proper Wearing of Toga

You would basically need these three items:

• A cloth, about 6 meters diameter and made of cotton, linen, muslin or silk, and cut in a semi-circle
• Safety pins
• Tunic (as an undergarment)

Important Tips on Wearing a Toga

First, throw out the “dirty” look. What I mean by this is you should NEVER use your old blanket or bed sheet as your toga. It is just disgusting. Plus, do you really want to wear a shapeless lump in a college party? Not only will you look stupid but you will just hide your shaped body. For the cloth you will need, the internet offers a lot of options for you. You can also visit nearby bazaars and I am sure that you will find affordable materials there.

            Remember that to achieve the authentic look of the ancient Romans, you could wear a tunic or, if you can’t find one, a sleeveless t-shirt under your toga. A bathing suit as a top does not hurt either. Just bear in mind that your top should match the color of your toga. For women, it is alright to wear brightly colored togas. You should iron or press the cloth if it looks crumpled.

This is How the Ancient Romans Wear the Toga:

Holding the cloth over your head, one end should be placed over the left shoulder and arm. And then, the other end would be wrapped around the body and with the remaining length, carried back over the left shoulder. To secure the material, the final length was wrapped around the waist. Remember to use the safety pins to secure the toga in place. Males can wear laurel wreaths to give that ancient Roman look. For the females, a big flower around the ear or hoop earrings can definitely add glamour to the dress. The final authentic touch would be wearing a sandal to the party.