Beneath their main attire, Roman women wore undergarments consisting of two parts.
The first piece was the subligar, a precursor to modern underwear, made from soft linen, cotton, hemp, or silk. These garments were often adorned with intricate embroidery or elaborate patterns. Since elastic bands did not yet exist, the subligar was secured at the front with knots or laces.
For the upper body, they used a strophium, an early version of the modern bra. This was a wide band of fabric or leather that wrapped tightly around the chest, lifting and shaping it to appear high and firm.
Such a set, resembling a modern bikini, was worn as a bathing suit in the Roman baths and during athletic competitions.
Over this, women donned a long, lightweight inner tunic that reached the floor.
The outermost garment was the stola, the traditional dress of a Roman woman. It was fastened at the chest or shoulder with a brooch, pin, or clasp. High-waisted silhouettes were fashionable at the time, so the stola was cinched with a belt just below the bust, sometimes featuring crossed straps over the shoulders.
To enhance elegance and status, matrons decorated their stolas with a purple border, ribbons, gold foil embellishments, ruffles, and colorful embroidered fringes.