Stola

[3] The stola was a staple of fashion in ancient Rome spanning from the early Roman Republic until the beginning of the 2nd century CE.

[4] The first evidence of the stola/vestis longa dates to the 3rd century BCE, but the form of the garment is common in the Mediterranean world and so it must be much older.

In Augustan times, when it was used much less, the stola was taken up by Imperial cultural policy and was turned – like the vitta (plaited headband) – into a dress insigne of married Roman women.

[citation needed] It has long been believed that Roman women originally did not wear stolae and that they instead wore togas like the men.

[9][10] For the most part, the toga was worn exclusively by men, and Roman wives (matronae) traditionally wore the stola.

[citation needed] The stola was a long, pleated, sleeveless robe that could be worn by Roman wives (matronae).