Alternative clothing

[Pleater]

The long plaid worn around the body and over the left shoulder is very like an ancient Greek garment, but I forget the name - no I don't - pallium, which was rectangular and is related to the simple form of the Roman toga, but that was shaped into an elipse, and then I think it was folded lengthways so it was worn as a half elipse.

Togas became very elaborate and quite huge, not really practical, but the simple pallium is in many ways more practical than a jacket as it can be adjusted to the needs of the wearer - and even the wind direction very easily.

I love the foot gloves.

I wear sandals all year round, and only put on solid footwear for reasons of safety or hygene, or when dressing up, which is not very often at all.

[sharpdressedscot]

The long plaid worn around the body and over the left shoulder is very like an ancient Greek garment, but I forget the name - no I don't - pallium, which was rectangular and is related to the simple form of the Roman toga, but that was shaped into an elipse, and then I think it was folded lengthways so it was worn as a half elipse.

Togas became very elaborate and quite huge, not really practical, but the simple pallium is in many ways more practical than a jacket as it can be adjusted to the needs of the wearer - and even the wind direction very easily.

I love the foot gloves.

I wear sandals all year round, and only put on solid footwear for reasons of safety or hygene, or when dressing up, which is not very often at all.

I think you might mean a chiton as the big rectangular garment? Is that what you mean?

[Pleater]

Ah now - the history of costume - something of a hobby horse of mine.

The himation was a big square of wool - when made of linen it was called the pharos.

The Dorian and Athenian men wore only the himation, I suppose (hope) they had the climate for it.

The chiton is equivalent to the Roman tunica, though the Greeks considered it more feminine or effeminate, I think both peoples wore it as a short sleeved garment, or something made out of two rectangles with whatever joining and gathering was the fashion at the time.

The Romans wore the pallium in the same way as the Greeks wore the himation when it was combined with the chiton, that is as an outdoor garment, though it also served as a bed cover.

The Roman pallium was as wide as the distance of the wearer's shoulder from the floor and about three times as long, and was worn by men, women and children, and both civil and military personnel.

It became characterised as the dress of the scholar and philosopher, as the sole garment, and could be the seamless mantle referred to as the garment of Christ.

There is an ecclesiastical pallium which is something worn by the Pope, which is a much reduced item, still worn wrapped around - but I think only around the neck rather like a scarf.

[sharpdressedscot]

Don't forget the sagum, the war cloak. Basically a rectangular piece of cloth fastened at the corners. It's worn over the shoulders and above armor...

I think we're getting a bit off topic.

[Pleater]

Ah now - I wasn't going to mention the saggum as it is Gallic in origin, fastened with a pin or thorn rather than a fibula, and striped.

To put on the saggum meant to go to war.

On Trajan's column there are almost 70 soldiers wearing the saggum, most of the other cloaked soldiers are wearing the paenula.

Comfortable practical clothing is never absolutely out of fashion, and impractical fashions soon vanish, or are only seen on certain rare occasions.

[sharpdressedscot]

Ah now - I wasn't going to mention the saggum as it is Gallic in origin, fastened with a pin or thorn rather than a fibula, and striped.

To put on the saggum meant to go to war.

On Trajan's column there are almost 70 soldiers wearing the saggum, most of the other cloaked soldiers are wearing the paenula.

Comfortable practical clothing is never absolutely out of fashion, and impractical fashions soon vanish, or are only seen on certain rare occasions.

The paenula? Is that the bigger one?

[Pleater]

Should I call the class to order yet?

The paenula is probably Etruscan from maybe the 4th century BC, and is a hooded bell shaped weatherproof garment of leather or wool - presumably with the lanolin in or felted. It was fairly ubiquitous being worn by civilian and military alike.

Despite attempts to ban it, it eventually replaced the toga, though it gradually evolved into a more poncho like garment, being lengthened and becoming the casula, from which came the name cagoulle and the garment which is the liturgical chasuble.