---
node: fashion_magna_graecia
type: fashion
slug: magna_graecia_fashion
title: "Fashion in Magna Graecia"
lead: "In the Greek colonial cities of southern Italy, dress followed the Greek world — the draped chiton and himation — as shown on South Italian red-figure vases."
published: 2026-07-28
updated: 2026-07-28
image_file: magna_graecia_fashion.jpg
image_source: "https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fresco_painting_from_lateral_walls_of_the_Tomb_of_the_Diver_depicting_a_symposium_scene,_5th_century_BC,_Paestum_Archaeological_Museum.jpg"
image_author: "Carole Raddato"
image_license: "CC BY-SA 2.0"
change: "Created as a fashion sub-page under the history section, with a period image (italy region)"
requester: internal
reason: "Per the owner's decision, fashion lives under each history era"
---

## Overview

The cities of "Magna Graecia" in southern Italy carried on the culture of the Greek homeland, and their dress too was Greek in style.

## Key garments and style

The basis was the chiton, a rectangle of cloth wrapped and pinned on the body, worn under the himation, a mantle. Fibulae fastened the shoulder and the fall of the drapery was prized.

## Transition

As Roman power spread south, these cities were drawn into the Roman world of dress.