How to Make a Toga Fancy Dress

You may think the answer to a last minute toga-themed party is a bed sheet wrapped around your body. However, if you have a little bit more time on your hands, you can create a fairly accurate looking Roman toga for your next party. Learn how to make a fancy toga dress that drapes correctly and is easy to move around in.

Things You'll Need

• Fabric such as cotton
• Needle and thread of sewing machine
• Scissors
• T-shirt or tunic

Instructions

1. Choose the correct fabric. Some people assume that you can easily make a toga from a bed sheet. However, by taking some time to choose the right fabric, you can end up with a toga that drapes correctly. When choosing a fabric for your toga, stick with cotton and other medium weight fabrics.

2. Cut the fabric to the right size. In order to have the toga fit well and hang correctly, the fabric for your toga needs to be three times your height. If you are 6 feet tall, then the toga needs to be at least 18 feet in length and preferably 6 feet wide.

3. Cut and sew the fabric. To do this you will first need to mark out the mid point in the length of the fabric. Then, with tailor's chalk, mark out a semi-circle. Start from the bottom corner of one side, go up to the mid point and then back down to the bottom corner of the other side. Cut out the semi-circle of the fabric. Now hem the raw edges of the fabric for a finished look.

4. Prepare to wear your toga. It's always a good idea to wash the fabric before wearing it. In addition, you will need to decide what to wear underneath your toga. This will depend on how accurate you want to be for your fancy dress party. If you are looking for an accurate look, you can create a short sleeve Roman style tunic to wear underneath. If you don't require the toga to look accurate, you can always wear a t-shirt underneath.

5. Tie the toga. Take one end of the toga and place it over your left shoulder with the end of the fabric dangling in front of you. Take the rest of the fabric and drape it across your back and under your right arm. Taking the fabric under your right arm, bring it across your front and throw it over your left shoulder. Finish by arranging the folds. You could even take part of the left fabric that is hanging down, and tuck it into your belt.

References

• Fashion Era: More Fancy Dress Tips for Making a Roman Toga
• Fashion Era: Roman Women's Wear
• VROMA: Roman Clothing Women