Though fashion was far more practical than stylish in the old days, most ancient people did pay attention to what they wore. Even the ancient Romans who are famous for their modest, unpretentious outfits had several popular garments. The two most common vestments were the toga and the tunica.
The toga was an outfit that was designed for public display, while the tunica was a comfortable garment that could be worn in the home. What's the difference? Generally speaking, the tunica was a short woolen under garment that was often worn under a toga. Even the longer versions, often known simply as tunics were rarely worn in public because they were considered effeminate.
Who wore the tunica? As we mentioned, they were occasionally worn in the home when guests were not expected. But when guests did come to call, only working class plebes, servants, or slaves dressed in tunicas. The man of the house would always wear a toga when he had company in his Domus
How about the toga? Only Roman citizens were allowed to wear it. Since it was a public garment, the toga was a simple and effective way to differentiate citizens from plebs, servants, or slaves. But in spite of its efficacy as a symbol, it was an incredibly uncomfortable garment and few citizens actually enjoyed wearing it.
After all, it was a large heavy robe that was made from nine yards of white wool. The weight and the rigidity of the toga made it uncomfortable to wear on almost any occasion. That is why in the later years of the Roman Empire it was only worn to important state events.
