This article was co-authored by Chloée Ohayon-Crosby. Chloée Ohayon-Crosby is a Costume Designer and Wardrobe Specialist in Los Angeles, California. With over eight years of experience in fashion consulting, Chloée specializes in personal, film, theater, and commercial styling as well as image consulting and costume design. Chloée has worked as an assistant designer for the distinguished fashion house Chloée and as a freelance stylist with Glamour Italia. Chloée studied Fine/Studio Arts at the Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts and Fashion Design and Merchandising at the world renowned ESMOD École Supérieure des Arts in Paris, France.
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A toga is essential wear for anyone regularly attending college fraternity or sorority parties in the US, and it's fun for all people when an occasion like Halloween or a fancy dress party arises. While a bed sheet is not the ideal fabric for fashioning a toga, it's a versatile source you can use, since being caught off guard is no reason to be sans-toga.
Steps
Wearing a Basic Toga
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1Grab the corner of the bed sheet in one hand. Leave about 6-8" (15 - 20 cm) of the sheet in one hand to tie the knot with. Hold the bed sheet above either shoulder with the corresponding hand (left hand to left shoulder, right hand to right shoulder, etc.).
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2Drape the sheet snug across your chest. Then tuck it under the opposite arm.[1]Advertisement
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3Shorten the toga if necessary. If the toga is too long, fold one edge over by about six inches (15 cm), and try again. Keep adjusting until you get the right length, which is around the knee area.
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4Wrap the toga around your back. Tuck the sheet under the arm you're holding it with, then once more around the front of your chest, under the opposite arm, and across your back.
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5
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6Secure the layers tightly. Make sure that your toga doesn't fall and that it is well fixed at the waist. Use a couple of safety pins inside the toga if necessary.[2]
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7Head to the party to show off that nice toga!
Donning a Sari-Style Toga
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1Hold the corner of the sheet hip level at your left side. It should be covering the front of your body, and not the back.
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2Wrap the fabric around your back to form a skirt. Wrap until it overlaps the first corner by a few inches.
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3Pin it in place. It should fit securely, forming a waist band.
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4Throw the remainder of the sheet over your right shoulder.
Fashioning a Women’s Greek Chiton
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1Decide the length of your toga. It is recommended to use a twin sheet, though a full sheet can work (especially if you are taller). Fold the sheet lengthwise until it is the desired length of the final dress. For a short toga, fold the sheet in half. For a longer toga, fold down only the top 6” to 1’.
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2Fold the sheet in half again. This should be done such that one half covers the back of your body and the other half covers the front. The folded down section should be at the top and outside of the rest of the material.
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3Pin the shoulders. Use a single pin for each shoulder or a number of pins. Pin the front section of sheet to the back section of sheet where your clavicle meets with your shoulder.[3] You can buy fancy pins for the occasion or you can use 2” or similar round button (like political buttons).
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4Place your arm through the hole. A hole should have been formed by the pinning on the side where the front of the sheet meets the back. Place your arm through this hole.
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5Tie the waist. Use string, a ribbon, or a tight-fitting belt to tie the waist. You will probably need to overlap the open sides a bit before you secure the waist, to ensure that your skin is not exposed.
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6Enjoy your toga! Have fun telling people that this is a historically accurate Greek dress...if you’re into that kind of thing.
Community Q&A
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QuestionHow can I make the toga look royal?
Community AnswerWear a wreath of olive branches on your head and place a gold brooch on the shoulder strap. Add a purple accent and wear strappy sandals. -
QuestionCan I use these techniques to make a toga for a child?
Community AnswerYes, but you might might want to fold the sheet in half, or use a smaller sheet. -
QuestionI have to look like Athena; how do I make this costume look more like a Greek God?Community AnswerWear a wreath of olive branches around your head (Athena invented them). Maybe add a helmet or a chest plate for armor. Adding a shield and spear will help too.
Warnings
- Make sure that you are not tripping on it.⧼thumbs_response⧽
- Be sure to wash the sheet before using. You don't want to go around smelling.⧼thumbs_response⧽
- Be careful, you may not trust the toga for covering parts that want to be covered (it may fall off).⧼thumbs_response⧽
Things You'll Need
- Sheet (twin sheet is recommended)
- Safety pins (optional)
References
About This Article
If you want to make a toga out of a bedsheet, grab the corner of the sheet in one hand, leaving about 6 to 8 inches to tie the knot with. Hold the sheet above your shoulder, then drape it snugly across your chest and tuck it under the opposite arm. Wrap the toga all the way around your body once, then bring it around your back again. Pull the second corner of the toga over your shoulder and tie it to the first corner with a secure knot. You can also secure the two ends with a brooch or pin. Use safety pins inside of the toga to make sure it stays in place. For other toga tying tips, including how to make a sari-style toga or a women's Greek chiton, read on!
