Help With Realistic Late Roman Clothing for Starting Out?

[Nathan Ross]

the caption read: the arrow-like object is probably not a weapon but a symbol of rank. That's it.

I've seen this book, and it is very weird. There's one picture of a signifer, I think, with some sort of floppy pink sausage thing draped over the top of his standard. Very unfortunate! I'd like to think it's a reference to the 'sausages' incident in Procopius, but I suspect it was just the illustrator getting confused...

As for late Roman 'soft kit', there are plenty of excellent groups reconstructing it - have a look for Vicus Ultimus, who do a good 'late frontier troops' impression. Besides Fectio and The Barcarii, of course!