toga pura

The toga pura, also known as the toga virilis, was the plain white toga worn by Roman citizens. It signified manhood and was typically assumed by boys around the age of 15. This garment was a descendant of the toga adopted from the Etruscans and, while originally worn by all classes and sexes, eventually became the distinctive attire of upper-class Roman men.12

The toga was a voluminous, draped outer garment made from a large piece of wool. Its complex draping required skill, often necessitating assistance from a slave. Due to its impracticality for active pursuits, it became associated with leisure and status. Different togas indicated specific social roles or circumstances, such as the purple-bordered toga praetexta for boys and officials, the dark toga pulla for mourning, and the richly embroidered toga picta for triumphs.13