Harry Thurston Peck, Harpers Dictionary of Classical Antiquities (1898)

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Stola

The outer garment worn by Roman matrons above the tunica intima or chemise (Petron. 81). It was longer than the body, slit open at the top on either side and fastened together by clasps, while below it was provided with a border (instita) woven on to it, and was gathered up below the breast by a girdle so as to form broad falling folds (rugae). It had either no sleeves or half-sleeves, according as the under-tunic had or had not half-sleeves. For the garb of women unmarried or in disgrace, see Toga. Under the Empire the stola fell gradually out of use. After the fourth century A.D. there appears in its stead the dalmatica (q. v.), worn by men and women, which was a kind of tunic with sleeves. In Greek, the corresponding term στολή is used as a general word for any kind of robe, whether for men or for women.