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The Romans came from a hot country so they had to adapt their clothing for the colder weather in England. Those soldiers who were stationed in the north of England would have had the biggest change. The north of England was the furthest point north of the Roman Empire. The most common materials used for the production of clothes in Roman Britain were wool and linen. Some leather remains have shown the sophisticated nature of clothing and shoe production in the Roman period. Leather sandals would be tied with long laces, the laces being wrapped halfway up the leg. Men would wear a knee-length tunic and a cloak over their tunic that was draped over their shoulders and wrapped around the body. Women wore a tunic which was often ankle-length. Over this the women also wore a cloak, full length and fastened at the shoulders with clasps. Children had mini versions of these clothes and also had a necklace called a bulla which was given to them when they were a few days old. It seems unlikely that either men or women wore any underwear. Most men had short hair and shaved their faces although it appears the emperor Hadrian had slightly longer hair and a beard. Women both poor and wealthy generally had long hair. The wealthy Roman ladies would have their hair styled in various ways and wear elaborate gold or enamel jewellery in their hair
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