Roman costume ideas needed

[CryCeratops]

School are having a day where DC will have to dress up in a Roman themed costume.

Does anyone have any cheap and simple ideas for costumes?
I’d prefer to avoid buying one if possible, as the DC aren’t into dressing up at home so they’d probably never wear it again.

Are you thinking gladiator or an ordinary citizen?

Ordinary citizens wore togas. If you have an old sheet or just a bit of material you can fashion a toga wrap easily and either sew, knot or staple where required. If you have a scarf or a contrasting bit of material use it as an over one shoulder sash, secure with a belt or material round the child's waist.
I'd put shorts and tea shirt/ leggings and long sleeved tea shirt underneath for modesty and warmth.
Mens' togas were shorter than womens' but basically the same.

Gladiator requires a bit more effort, toga with extras.

A sheet as a toga
A pair of sandals
A crown made with leaves (boy) or jewellery (girl)
Girl- hair loosely up if long enough
A cape of velour or similar in a rich colour.

i made my DN a toga by cutting a whole in a plain white bedsheet 😂 and a belt around the middle.

For most dress up days, i use a large t shirt (mens) as the basis for their outfits;

roman - white t-shirt with a belt for a 'toga'. Roman emperors wore purple, so a purple t-shirt could also work.

medieval/victorian - brown t-shirt for a peasant, again with a belt, plus dark trousers or shorts. if it's an old t-shirt, i add rips/holes.

bin liners and tin foil are my go to for props. foil can be wrapped around cardboard to make crowns, medals, weapons.

How did I not think of a toga 🤣🤣

Sounds like a plan. I’ll be experimenting with the sheets this weekend!

Cut holes in a big cardboard box for his arms, legs and head to go through and paint grey squares on it.

Ta da, Hadrians Wall

I think I bought a long white mens t shirt, bought some gold curtain tie rope as it has a tassel and used it as a belt. Then draped some material over one shoulder. One Roman!

Genius 🤣🤣

Slight variation on bedsheet toga, if they are quite small you can use an old pillowcase and cut arm and head hole. Ideally sew a large gold buckle/button to each shoulder.

Some sort of head wreath made of wire and leaves if you’ve got any evergreens around. Get DC to make it

LOVE the Hadrian’s Wall idea!

Dress them up as Roman Kemp.

Easiest: Go as an Olympian. Wreath of laurel leaves round the head and nude smeared with oil. It has the delightful side effect your dc will probably be sent home immediately and other dressing up days may be cancelled from now on.

Alternatively go for the boring option of trying a toga with a sheet, as our school suggested. I think I was marked down as a troublemaker for pointing out most people have fitted sheets which don't work as well.

I bet the ancient Greeks and Romans wouldn’t have been doing athletics in the nude if their competitions were in a British December!

Red pillow case cheap from Asda worked for mine. Cut holes for head and arms. And a belt. Adult t shirt would do if you have one. Cardboard shield and sword.

You can go to the thrift store to see if they have white sheets to make togas.

I once made a supertato hero belt from thick cardboard paper and it still lasted so could poss do this for an olive crown or belt

All the best