A tunic is clothing that covers the body from the neck to the waist. It is usually simple in design and reaches from the shoulders to a length between the hips and ankles. It may have sleeves that are short or long. Most tunics do not have buttons or other fastenings. The word "tunic" comes from the Latin word "tunica," which was a basic piece of clothing worn by men and women in ancient Rome. This style was based on earlier Greek clothing that covered the waist. The term may also come from a Semitic word "kittan," with a change in the order of letters. The Greek word "khiton" (χῐτών) shares the same origin.

Ancient era

The Roman tunica was worn by Roman citizens starting in the 3rd century BC. It was commonly worn by both citizens and non-citizens. However, citizens often wore it under the toga during formal events.

The length of the tunica, the number of stripes, their width, and how they were decorated showed the wearer's position in Roman society. Roman senators wore a tunica called the laticlavus, which had wide purple stripes. Members of the equestrian class wore the Angusticlavia, which had narrower stripes. Soldiers, slaves, and workers who did physical jobs wore tunics that reached just above the knee. People with jobs that did not require much physical work wore tunics that reached to the ankle, unless they were preparing to ride a horse, in which case they wore shorter tunics.

The tunica or chiton was worn as a shirt or gown by all genders in ancient Rome. For men, the tunica was loose-fitting, starting at the neck and ending above the knee. For women, the tunica could be either tight or loose, starting at the neck and covering a skirt or skirts.

Tunics were also worn in ancient Greece, and the Roman version was based on Greek styles. Over time, Roman and Greek tunics evolved from earlier Greek garments like the chiton, chitoniskos, and exomis. In ancient Greece, tunics were decorated at the bottom to show the city-state where the person lived. Tunics were sometimes dyed bright colors like red, purple, or green.

There was also a garment called the sisúra, which some sources described as a tunic with skin sleeves. Other sources called it a simple, one-shoulder cloak used for warmth or sleeping. Later writers sometimes used the term to describe a piece of cloth.

The Celts wore tunics that were documented by the Greek historian Diodorus Siculus. Many groups in colder parts of Europe, including the Celts and Germanic tribes, wore long-sleeved tunics as early as the time of ancient Roman monuments. These tunics were simple, pull-over styles that reached the mid-thighs or knees. The Romans later adopted these tunics, and they were still worn into the Byzantine period.

After the Western Roman Empire fell, the long-sleeved Celto-Germanic tunic remained popular. These tunics had a tighter fit around the neck, with a split in the front for pulling them over the head. They also had gussets under the arms and around the lower body to create a flaring skirt. This style was worn by Vikings and Normans and continued as a common male garment during the Middle Ages. In Norway, it was still worn as late as the 17th century.

Figurines from the Indus Valley Civilization show men and women wearing tunics. A terracotta model called the Lady of the Spiked Throne shows two men wearing conical gowns with vertical lines that might suggest stiffened fabric. A similar gold disc from the Indus Valley shows men wearing tunics and holding bulls under a pipal tree. A mother goddess figurine from India shows a woman wearing a short, tight tunic.

In the Indian subcontinent, including India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, tunics are usually called kurta. These tunics are often decorated with embroidery, beads, or threadwork using many different colors.

In Vietnam, tunics are called áo dài, which means "long shirt." This traditional garment was developed from the áo ngũ thân, or "five-piece shirt." The áo dài is similar to the kurta because both are long tunics worn over trousers.

In the 18th century, Nguyễn Phúc Khoát, who ruled from 1738 to 1765, changed the clothing style in his region to create an independent state. He replaced the áo giao lĩnh, a robe with a cross-collar, with a new robe that had a front collar and buttons. He also replaced the skirt with trousers. This new style became the basis for the áo dài. Later, under the rule of Minh Mạng, two new styles of áo dài were created from the áo ngũ thân: the áo tứ thân, or "four-piece shirt," and the Huế-style áo dài, which reflected royal court culture in Huế. The Huế-style áo dài influenced the modern version of the garment.

Medieval tunic

The tunic was the main clothing item for both men and women in the Byzantine Roman Empire during the medieval period. Wealthier people wore extra clothes over the tunic, such as the dalmatica, a heavier and shorter tunic, or the scaramangion, a riding coat from Persia. Except for military or riding clothes, people of higher status wore tunics that reached their ankles. Tunics were often colored or decorated with embroidery, but simpler tunics were used when wearing multiple layers of clothing.

In areas outside the empire, tunics were worn across Europe during the Middle Ages with different sleeve and hem lengths. Tunics usually covered the knees or ankles and were worn over underclothes, such as a shirt (often hip-length or longer) and drawers (pants that reached the knees or ankles, similar to braccae). Tunics might also be paired with hose. Common materials included wool and linen, while wealthy people sometimes wore tunics made of expensive silk or fabric with silk trim. In English, this clothing was called a sark, and the word is still used in some northern UK dialects to describe a shirt or chemise.

Tunics from the Early Middle Ages often had embroidery or braids along the neck, hem, and wrists. For example, both rich and poor Anglo-Saxons wore tunics with these features before the Norman Conquest.

Modern tunic

Around 1830, young boys started wearing tunics with sashes or belts over trousers. This style replaced the earlier skeleton suit.

During the Crimean War in the 1850s, British soldiers realized that their short jackets, worn since Napoleonic times, were not good for fighting in cold weather. A new, longer jacket was created that reached to the middle of the thigh. This jacket was called a "tunic" because it was similar to the "tunica" worn by ancient Roman soldiers. This type of jacket became the standard for most armies.

In Western culture, tunics are still used mainly in religious and uniform settings. They are the main clothing worn by clergy and members of religious groups. Religious tunics reach to the feet and inspired the clerical cassock, as well as the alb, which is based on the long tunics worn by Roman citizens. The word "tunic" is also used to describe the high-collar coats worn by military and police personnel. Lightweight women's clothing, especially for sports or exercise, often reaches only to the middle of the thigh and is also called tunics.