Clothing and Fashion in Ancient Rome Intriguingly, attire in the Roman world was of such significant value that it frequently became a target for theft. For free Roman citizens, however, clothing served as a vital social indicator, explicitly announcing one's rank and standing within the community. Due to the high cost of garments, they were often pilfered from public baths. At the thermal springs of Bath in Roman Britain, the goddess Sulis Minerva was regularly invoked in curses directed at those who had stolen clothing from the popular site. The Romans maintained a keen awareness of the power of appearances; thus, throughout the history of Rome, it remained undeniably true that clothing made the man—and the woman. #fashion #roman #clothes #clothing #ancient #history #worldhistory