What ancient Roman garment was worn before a boy received the toga virilis?

The ancient Roman garment worn before a boy received the toga virilis was the toga praetexta.

The toga praetexta was a white toga edged with a broad purple stripe. Roman children of citizen families wore it, and the garment signaled protected youth and civic status. When a male citizen reached the appropriate stage of adolescence, he exchanged it for the plain adult toga, the toga virilis or toga pura.

The change was part of a broader coming-of-age process rather than a simple uniform exchange. The young man could be presented at religious sites, introduced into adult civic life, and registered as an adult citizen. His new status brought expectations, although age, wealth, family, and political influence still shaped what he could actually do.

The toga praetexta was not limited to boys: certain magistrates and priests also wore versions of it. That overlap is why identifying the garment requires attention to context, especially when discussing Roman childhood and the toga virilis ceremony.