Early Roman fashion displayed a blending of diverse tastes such as had not yet been produced by other civilizations. As the Roman Empire grew, it encountered other civilizations through conquest. These civilizations had new ideas, customs, and fashions, which the Romans desired.

The Greek and Egyptian civilizations had the greatest impact on Roman fashion. Cloaks and fabric designs from Greece affected mostly the male styles of fashion. The Egyptians, however, affected mostly female styles of fashion. Many cosmetics and ornate jewelry used in Rome were derived from Egypt. Despite the vastness of the empire, fabrics such as silk were difficult to obtain, making them rare and highly expensive. Therefore, wool, which was found throughout the empire was the most common fabric used for clothing.

Male clothing had two basic garments. The garments decoration and color indicated various things ranging from social classes to a career. The basic garment...