1908 dress code

[JReducation]

I say every woman should wear a starched linen coif under a bandeau with a flowing veil and a skirt made of serge that is at least one inch too long for her.

Every man should wear a suchetto or kippa, a tunic shirt with a hood, bubble pants with boots.

Now THAT would be cool. Ok a little warm, but quite a sight.

Just kidding! No tomatos please.

JR

 

[KMark]

I grew up in a Polish/Slavic community and to Mass most of the women either wore hats (normally the “younger” generation at that time) or a simple headscarf tied under the chin for the 50-something and overs. This scarf was known as a babushka, after the Russian word for “grandmother.” A lace head covering (mantilla style) might be worn only at a very formal occasion in the church. I have pictures of my family (back in the Old Country) from the 1908 era and that’s the same way they dressed then, too. The fancy Victorian apparel was worn by a different economic class than what were my ancestors.

I also grew up in a Polish community. I do not remember the Mass before 1970, but I do remember seeing the older ladies still wearing their “babushkas” to Mass.

I found a long black skirt and a pin striped black/white blouse, long sleeves and high collar. The blouse is actually nice enough that I can use it after this special mass. I will go with a hat, but I am not a lacy/flowery person. I am trying to decide whether I will go “fancy” with a single feather in my hat. Oh, I am also going to use a shawl. Actually, aside for the hat/feather, it should all be “reusable.”

The really hard part is finding dresses for my girls. It was easier to find skirts/blouses for me online and locally than it was to find girls’ dresses. If anyone hits upon a website that sells them, not just sewing plans, let me know. If anyone if familiar with the American Girl “Samantha”, that is the dress style I am going for.

My husband can use his regular dark suit and I will buy him a shirt, maybe a tie (his Penn State tie wouldn’t work in this case ) And a hat.

The choir director was aware that women were not allowed to be in the choir in 1908. She is trying to find male voices but we will also have women. We will sing the service music antiphonally (swapping male/female voices) and a cappella since there was no organ in the basement of the church.

 

[Therese_Martin]

Note:

Images deleted from thread because the use of them violated copyright issues. If you wish to include images, please be certain to follow the Terms of Service of the copyright holder. Thanks.

 

[JReducation]

Immigrants in this country who descended from Northern Europeans tended more toward hats, while Southern Europeans, particularly in Spain, France and Italy, preferred mantillas. Eastern Europeans wore scarves.

Of course, all of these were also heavily tied into socio-economic status, as well. Southern and Eastern European immigrants who came here tended to be working class, meaning that the upper classes back home tended to dressee differently.

Let’s not forget climate. The further south you went in Europe the warmer and shorter the winters. My father’s family came from Southern Spain they look absolutely Arab. We have some old portraits of when they came in the 1500s. They look Arabic, with the lighter weight clothing and the simpler head coverings than the northern Spaniards with the starch around their neck and the plumed hats, which look very heavy.

My mother’s family is Jewish and they wore the scarf and darker clothing. From pictures it looks like heavy clothing, unlike the Mediterranean region or what you would see even in Israel.

Climate has much to do with clothing as well as economics.

Just look at the USA.

JR

JR

 

[JessMBH]

As much as I like that idea, I have a question or two…

I understand that you want to celebrate 100 years, but does everyone understand why they are dressing and acting in a certain way?

Do these people understand why women wore veils? Do they know that is infact, in the bible, for the women to cover their heads? ( I Corinthians 11)
In the same note: Do they understand why men never wore hats in church? Because, that too, is in the bible.

When they wear those modest clothes…do they understand why they wore them?

I think in order to make this celebration a little more meaningful, why not explain to everyone WHY you are dressing different.

Please click here to learn more about the veil!

Also, please click here to learn the BEAUTY and love of SUBMISSION.

Also, please visit CHRISTIAN FAMILY OUTREACH for more wonderful and TRUTHFUL Catholic information!

 

[KMark]

As much as I like that idea, I have a question or two…

I understand that you want to celebrate 100 years, but does everyone understand why they are dressing and acting in a certain way?

Do these people understand why women wore veils? Do they know that is infact, in the bible, for the women to cover their heads? ( I Corinthians 11)
In the same note: Do they understand why men never wore hats in church? Because, that too, is in the bible.

When they wear those modest clothes…do they understand why they wore them?

I think in order to make this celebration a little more meaningful, why not explain to everyone WHY you are dressing different.

Please click here to learn more about the veil!

Also, please click here to learn the BEAUTY and love of SUBMISSION.

Also, please visit CHRISTIAN FAMILY OUTREACH for more wonderful and TRUTHFUL Catholic information!

I purchased a DVD containing the Traditional Mass and Gregorian chant. It was recorded in 1998. It just arrived this afternoon. I homeschool my two daughters, which is why they are learning Latin. I wanted them to have a feeling for what is going on so that they will be able to appreciate the Mass more. I made this known to my DRE and she is agreeable to putting together a class with me. (I’m a newly certified catechist.) Right now I do not know if the focus will be only the children with possibly an additional class with adults. My parish is very good about offering adult education. However, the trick is getting more adults to actually attend. There is some sort of class on various subjects almost every Thursday night. For example, last year I attended a class dedicated to discussing the Moto Proprio of Pope Benedict: Summorum Pontificum - Sanct Missa.
My guess is that the people who already dress respectfully for Mass will be the ones who take the time to find clothes to dress modestly for the special liturgy. They will be the ones who care about the meaning behind the words and gestures.
I fully agree with you that education is important, which is why I want to at least educate my daughters. Then again, that is why I run a Catholic homeschool because, passing on the Faith and helping them develop a Catholic moral conscience is the most important thing that I can do. I will look at the links you included to find material for the class. Thanks for taking the time to respond!