Marble statue of Emperor Augustus (27 B.C.-14 A.D.) wearing a toga.
The toga, a long cloth that drapes around the body, was the go-to garment for ancient Roman citizens. It served to distinguish free men from slaves, who sported simple tunics that were better-suited for manual labor, while the egalitarian nature of the toga emphasized the republican ideals of Rome. The civic associations inherent to the toga made it, in the eyes of Roman citizens, a symbol of the power of the people.