How To Make A Toga - Part 4 - The Trim

OK so you now have your toga all sewn up (geddit!!!). But if you have gone for a plain material you may be thinking that it looks well, erm, rather plain. So how about adding a trim?The trim can be in any color you like, perhaps you may opt for something that matches the color your toga material, or something that is in keeping with Roman tradition (see the post Adding Colored Trims). You will need to join and hem the strip so that it forms one long continuous strip first before anything else.

So now comes the question of where to place it? Well it can go along the straight edge or the curved edge. Historically, and according to Terry (yawn!) the trim went definitely went along the straight edge but it is uncertain whether it was ever placed around the curve - but believe me if you do decide to position the trim along the curved edge it really looks great!

So here's what to do.

1) Lay your toga flat and start pinning the trim along the length of the toga, starting from one corner. You must keep measuring the position of the trim, using a tape measure, so that the trim is the same distance from the edge of the toga all the way along. If you decide to add the trim to the curved edge, and hey I am not saying this is easy, then you may need to create small tucks on the inner edge of the trim as you go along.

2) Once you have pinned the trim then you will either need to sew it on, using a basic hemming stitch or using a sewing machine. Try and use an appropriate colored cotton so that the stitches do not look too obvious. Or cheat like I do and use hemming tape!

So there it is...how to make a toga trim!

How To Make A Toga Party Movie Night

I am going to have another toga party a week on Saturday - just something 'low key' for close friends. I thought as it was the end of summer everyone needed cheering up. The weather has certainly cooled a bit, but I still may chance a barbecue.

But what to do if it's raining or there is a howling gale outside?

Well I thought I might make it a toga party movie night. On offer are to be the following dvd's:

• Animal House 30th Anniversary Gift Set,of course
• Troy Director's Cut Unrated Widescreen
• Alexander
• Ben Hur
  

Toga's are still required, of course, and I was going to give one of the dvd's away as a prize for the best toga of the night.

How To Make A Toga - Sexy Female Version

OK so I have mainly concentrated my how to make a toga directions for men.

So here's a video for the girlies!

Has Terry Swallowed A History Book?

The guy has gone quite mad!

But I promised him I would relay the information here - so sorry if it's becoming boring - its not meant too...I am trying to stimulate the creative juices - both yours and mine!

So here it is....

Did you know that the colors of toga’s worn in ancient times discriminated between classes and professions?

There was only one sombre color allowed for peasants.
Officers were permitted to have 2 colors.
Clan commanders generally wore 3 colors.
The Imperial household could wear up to 7 colors.
Plain white was the color of choice of soothsayers.
Black was worn by theologians.
Philosphers kept to blue.
Green was the color of choice of medical practitioners.

Have a think what is most appropriate to you, and the theme of your toga party, when deciding on your fabric color and how to make your toga.

Alternatively do what I will probably end up doing - dispense with tradition and make your toga one that everyone will remember!

Ooops sorry Terry...

How To Make A Toga - Adding Colored Trims

According to Terry, many of the traditional togas had trims.

Take the toga praetexta for example , this was a white toga with a purple trim. The trim he tells me was about 3 inches wide.

I like adding trims to my toga's and we will discuss how to do this in more detail in a later post.

You don't have to stick with tradition though -you can select whatever color you like - I always like golds, silvers or reds - anything really that makes my toga look sumptuous.

If you want to add a trim my advice is to either buy ready made trims from a craft store or buy a piece of cotton fabric and sew (eww the dreaded 's' word) or iron on. I have used ribbons in the past, and found them expensive, so I would avoid these at all costs. Some of the ready-made trims can be pricey too, but they more than make-up for it in glamor!

Is Your College Toga King?

Can you believe this? Al l through my college days I never once went to a toga party. Me - a complete toga-fanatic! In fact, I don't believe anybody had a toga party on campus. The main aim of college parties I went to, seemed to be just to get as drunk as you could in the shortest possible time - what you wore to them, no-one cared. I feel I missed out, maybe not on alcohol consumption but definitely on the dressing up....but now I am encouraged.

On sale today is the 2008 edition of 'The Best 366 Colleges'. For those of you that don't know, this is a survey that has canvassed the opinions of over 120,000 college students during the 2006/07 school year, on various aspects of college life.

One of its main reviews is of the top 20 toga party schools throughout the US, and here's the results of the first 15:

1. West Virginia University
2. University of Mississippi
3. University of Texas, Austin
4. University of Florida
5. University of Georgia
6. Penn State University
7. University of New Hampshire
8. Indiana University, Bloomington
9. Ohio University, Athens
10. University of California, Santa Barbara
11. Randolph-Macon College, Va.
12. University of Iowa
13. Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge
14. University of Maryland, College Park
15. University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Does anybody go to these colleges ? What do you think? Would love to hear from you (and see the photo's!). Oh and I think that anyone about to go to one of these colleges, needs to learn how to make a toga quick!

Just out of interest, I thought I would show the top 15 "Stone Cold Sober" Schools

1. Brigham Young University
2. Wheaton College (Ill.)
3. Thomas Aquinas College (Santa Paula, Calif.)
4. College of the Ozarks (Mo.)
5. Grove City College (Pa.)
6. U.S. Coast Guard Academy
7. U.S. Air Force Academy
8. U.S. Naval Academy
9. City University of New York, Queens College
10. Webb Institute (N.Y.)
11. Wellesley College, Mass.
12. Calvin College, Mich.
13. Wesleyan College, Ga.
14. U.S. Military Academy, N.Y.
15. Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering, Mass.

Source:LA Daily News

Toga Party Phrases

OK, I am trying to collect some handy Latin phrases for use at my next toga party. I have only managed a few so far - my Latin is not all it should be. I will keep adding as I get more

If there are any Latin aficionado's out there - your additions would be much appreciated!

Toga Party Phrases

1. Estne volumen in toga, an solum tibi libet me videre?
Is that a scroll in your toga, or are you just happy to see me?

2. Braccae tuae aperiuntur
Your fly is open

3.Capillamentum? Haudquaquam conieci esse!
A wig? I never would have guessed!

4.Da mihi sis cerevisiam dilutam
I'll have a light beer

5.Absum!
I'm outta here!

6.Animadvertistine, ubicumque stes, fumum recta in faciem ferri?
(At a barbeque) Ever noticed how wherever you stand, the smoke goes right into your face?

7.Apudne te vel me?
Your place or mine?

8.Bonum vinum laetificat cor hominis
Good wine gladdens a person's heart

9.Brevior saltare cum deformibus mulieribus est vita
Life is too short to dance with ugly women

10.Brevior saltare cum deformibus viris est vita
Life is too short to dance with ugly men

11.Caesar si viveret, ad remum dareris
If Caesar were alive, you'd be chained to an oar

12.Carpe Cerevisi or Corripe Cervisiam (thanks to anonymous for this!)
Seize the beer!

13.Cave cibum, valde malus est
Beware the food, it is very bad

14.Cedant arma togae
Let arms yield to the toga.

15.Certamen bikini-suicidus-disci mox coepit?
Does the Bikini-Suicide-Frisbee match start soon?

16.Cogito sumere potum alterum
I think I'll have another drink

17.Crapulam terriblem habeo
I have a terrible hangover