While the Roman national garment may have been the toga, it was unsuitable for active work, so the tunica was the common dress of those who had to work for a living. Should the weather be inclement, workers would wear Roman cloaks or other forms of outerwear. The names of these garments with brief description are as follows:
- Paenula
For cold or wet weather; a sleeveless cloak fastened in front made of a thick cloth or leather. - Sagum
A looser cloak than the paenula, worn by soldiers. - Paludamentum
The red sagum of Roman generals. - Lacerna
A more expensive sagum that might have a hood; large enough to be worn over the toga; often showy and sometimes used simply for ornament. - Cucullus
A hood for the lacerna. - Laena
Like the sagum, but made of the heavy cloth of the paenula later made of expensive purple cloth.
Source: Classical Antiquities: II. Roman Antiquities, by Augustus Samuel Wilkins
