# Did Romans really go around in just toga and sandals everywhere? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 23, 2006, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-romans-really-go-around-in-just-toga-and-sandals-everywhere/381569 "2006-11-23T17:52:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![According\_to\_Pliny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e7dd6/32.png) [@According\_to\_Pliny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/According_to_Pliny)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2006, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-romans-really-go-around-in-just-toga-and-sandals-everywhere/381569/1 "2006-11-23T17:52:59Z")
Seems like, while it rarely snows in Rome itself, that there is freezing rain in the winter, and in the mountains, and rough weather any time. Yet we always see Romans depicted dressed for sunny days. Weren’t sandals a poor choice in cold rain and mostly unpaved streets? Something more along the lines of moccasins would be appropriate. And coats against the wind, and longer, monk-like robes with hoods in the mountains in winter. Were these men, such great solvers of mechanical and engineering problems so unattuned to clothing? Or are the images we see all based on those put on pottery and mosaics, presumably the elite posed in their finest sunny day wear. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2006, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-romans-really-go-around-in-just-toga-and-sandals-everywhere/381569/2 "2006-11-23T17:56:59Z")
Roman men only wore togas on formal occasions (think business suits today). The richer a man was he more occasions he’d have to wear one. Women did not wear togas unless they were whores or convicted adultresses. ---
**Author:** ![DaphneBlack](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/daphneblack/32/5389_2.png) [@DaphneBlack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaphneBlack)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2006, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-romans-really-go-around-in-just-toga-and-sandals-everywhere/381569/3 "2006-11-23T18:10:43Z")
If walking any distance, as for example in the army, men would wear boots. Togas were ‘special’, and indeed recognised as inconvenient; normally men would wear a tunic and women a stola (basically a dress). What is true is that Romans never wore trousers, and thought they were weird. ---
**Author:** ![slaphead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9bcb4/32.png) [@slaphead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slaphead)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2006, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-romans-really-go-around-in-just-toga-and-sandals-everywhere/381569/4 "2006-11-23T20:31:31Z")
[QUOTE=DaphneBlack] If walking any distance, as for example in the army, men would wear boots. [/QUOTE] This is correct if by ‘boots’ you mean ‘really super-sturdy sandals’. The roman soldier wore something like [these](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caligae). ---
**Author:** ![Septima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@Septima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Septima)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2006, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-romans-really-go-around-in-just-toga-and-sandals-everywhere/381569/5 "2006-11-23T22:13:53Z")
The toga was never worn as the only article of clothing. Under would be atleast two tunics, one being an “undershirt”, the other being the actual “clothes”. Think of the toga as a fancy jacket. The military boots are called _Caligae_, and were so distinctive as to mark any man who wore them as a soldier (which is why modern drawings or films sett in Rome showing everyone, including slaves, wearing something like them are so silly.) In fact, “Your mother wears Caligae” was a roman insult. It implied that said mother was a soldier’s whore. (That’s an anecdote by the way, so don’t quote me on it. It’s fun to use, though.) BTW, the silly things are damned uncomfortable until you develop calluses. _wince_ ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2006, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-romans-really-go-around-in-just-toga-and-sandals-everywhere/381569/6 "2006-11-23T22:42:47Z")
I read somewhere that Roman soldiers stationed in Germanic areas of Europe wore enclosed boots during the winter. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2006, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-romans-really-go-around-in-just-toga-and-sandals-everywhere/381569/7 "2006-11-23T22:46:05Z")
[Roman clothing of men and boys](http://www.classicsunveiled.com/romel/html/clothmen.html): > [@](#): > > Originally, Romans had no trousers, but later they adopted one for riding and hunting. It was called the Gallic bracae. It resembled riding breeches. Sometimes Roman soldiers stationed in the north wore bracae for warmth. ---
**Author:** ![slaphead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9bcb4/32.png) [@slaphead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slaphead)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2006, 9:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-romans-really-go-around-in-just-toga-and-sandals-everywhere/381569/8 "2006-11-24T09:36:38Z")
[QUOTE=Septima] In fact, “Your mother wears Caligae” was a roman insult. It implied that said mother was a soldier’s whore. (That’s an anecdote by the way, so don’t quote me on it. It’s fun to use, though.) BTW, the silly things are damned uncomfortable until you develop calluses. _wince_ [/QUOTE] Some modern-day echoes there. “Your mother wears army boots” is still extant, and the army surplus boots I bought as a student were also dammned uncomfortable until my feet adjusted 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Septima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@Septima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Septima)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2006, 10:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-romans-really-go-around-in-just-toga-and-sandals-everywhere/381569/9 "2006-11-24T10:28:00Z")
Thanks for pointing that out, **slaphead**. I was afraid people would think I was joking if I did it 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2006, 10:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-romans-really-go-around-in-just-toga-and-sandals-everywhere/381569/10 "2006-11-24T10:52:33Z")
[QUOTE=Septima] The toga was never worn as the only article of clothing. Under would be atleast two tunics, one being an “undershirt”, the other being the actual “clothes”. Think of the toga as a fancy jacket. [/QUOTE] Aww, now you’re going and ruining my fantasies… Can I still wear nothing under my toga at the next toga party and pretend we didn’t have this conversation? Yes? OK, great! ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2006, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-romans-really-go-around-in-just-toga-and-sandals-everywhere/381569/11 "2006-11-24T11:19:12Z")
[QUOTE=Rigamarole] Aww, now you’re going and ruining my fantasies… Can I still wear nothing under my toga at the next toga party and pretend we didn’t have this conversation? Yes? OK, great! [/QUOTE] Ah, but women can wear [bikinis](http://www.utexas.edu/courses/romanciv/Romancivimages17/bikinigirls.jpg)😃 ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2006, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-romans-really-go-around-in-just-toga-and-sandals-everywhere/381569/12 "2006-11-24T16:58:58Z")
In Soviet Russia, his mother probably does wear army boots. And she’ll hurt you. ---
**Author:** ![Septima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@Septima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Septima)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2006, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-romans-really-go-around-in-just-toga-and-sandals-everywhere/381569/13 "2006-11-25T00:44:41Z")
[QUOTE=Rigamarole] Can I still wear nothing under my toga at the next toga party and pretend we didn’t have this conversation? Yes? OK, great! [/QUOTE] Since I don’t attend toga parties, you can even skip the toga. ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2006, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-romans-really-go-around-in-just-toga-and-sandals-everywhere/381569/14 "2006-11-26T05:47:55Z")
[QUOTE=slaphead] This is correct if by ‘boots’ you mean ‘really super-sturdy sandals’. The roman soldier wore something like [these](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caligae). [/QUOTE] In cold weather Roman soldiers wore socks . ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2006, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-romans-really-go-around-in-just-toga-and-sandals-everywhere/381569/15 "2006-11-26T06:09:09Z")
Roman’s would wear a Tunic, not a Toga. I’d call a Toga= suit or even a Tux. They’d wear a sheepskin as a cloak in bad weather. I know from experience one can wear shorts, sandals and heavy high wool socks and be fine even in quite cold weather. The Toga was made out of wool and was thought to be rather warm wear. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2006, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-romans-really-go-around-in-just-toga-and-sandals-everywhere/381569/16 "2006-11-26T14:06:36Z")
Didn’t Cato go around wearing a toga without a tunic underneath? Something about the “traditional” way of wearing it. Also, Colleen McCullough did massive experimentation with togas and wrapping while writing her excellent _Masters of Rome_ series and determined that a man could not wear a loincloth under a toga. Something about how the toga was wrapped around the body and supported by the left arm meant that a man could not keep the toga on AND fiddle with a loincloth if he needed to urinate, and it was unthinkable a slave would help him with such an intimate thing. She did twelve years of research before setting pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard, as the case may be) so take it for what it’s worth. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2006, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-romans-really-go-around-in-just-toga-and-sandals-everywhere/381569/17 "2006-11-26T14:13:07Z")
[QUOTE=Septima] “Your mother wears Caligae” was a roman insult… It’s fun to use, though. [/QUOTE] It would be more fun in Latin. Unfortunately Babelfish doesn’t do Latin. ---
**Author:** ![AtomicDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@AtomicDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AtomicDog)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2006, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-romans-really-go-around-in-just-toga-and-sandals-everywhere/381569/18 "2006-11-26T14:59:03Z")
[QUOTE=slaphead] Some modern-day echoes there. “Your mother wears army boots” is still extant, and the army surplus boots I bought as a student were also dammned uncomfortable until my feet adjusted 😃 [/QUOTE] My god. That saying now actually makes sense. “Mom” wears army boots because she got them from a solider - the old fashioned way. Which makes it a lot rougher insult than it is understood today. I can’t wait to use it. ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2006, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-romans-really-go-around-in-just-toga-and-sandals-everywhere/381569/19 "2006-11-26T16:29:02Z")
[QUOTE=Johnny L.A.] It would be more fun in Latin. Unfortunately Babelfish doesn’t do Latin. [/QUOTE] A matter which has caused much frustration for me. (Can’t find a good Latin translator.) ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2006, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-romans-really-go-around-in-just-toga-and-sandals-everywhere/381569/20 "2006-11-26T17:23:26Z")
[QUOTE=slaphead] This is correct if by ‘boots’ you mean ‘really super-sturdy sandals’. The roman soldier wore something like [these](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caligae). [/QUOTE] Romans also wore closed shoes and boots. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-romans-really-go-around-in-just-toga-and-sandals-everywhere/381569.md?page=2)