How to Make a Grecian Toga to Wear

Togas are a simple way to dress yourself.

Though togas are often thought of as an invention of the ancient Greeks, the toga was actually a Roman invention. The Romans did, however, take inspiration for the toga from a garment worn by the ancient Greeks, called a himation, which was a kind of lengthy cloak. The two cultures are often easily confused, so it is easy to see why the toga is so often associated with the ancient Greeks. There was no right way to wear a toga, but a good facsimile of the general style is easy to achieve.

Things You'll Need

• Bed sheet
• Two safety pins

Instructions

Men

1. Wrap the long end of the bed sheet around your waist once, starting at either hip.

2. Pin the end of the toga to the piece that you have wrapped around your waist.

3. Hang the remainder of the fabric over your shoulder from front to back or back to front. You can go across your body or hang it on the same side of the body that it is pinned on. Use the second safety pin to secure the piece that you have hung over your shoulder to the piece wrapped around your waist.

Women

1. Hold one end of the bed sheet under either armpit. Wrap the long side of the bed sheet across the front of your body, across your back and across the front of your body again. Use one of the safety pins to pin it just before the armpit.

2. Gather the extra fabric and throw it over your shoulder, on the same side of your body that you pinned it on.

3. Let the loose end hang down your back, or pin the loose end to the piece of bed sheet wrapped around your back.

References

• "Fashion, Costume, and Culture: Clothing, Headwear, Body Decorations, and Footwear through the Ages"; Toga; 2004
• YouTube; How to Tie a Toga; November 2007