How do non-Catholics dress to go to church?

[Episcopalian]

Easter morning Mass at my Church, all the ladies wear bonnets!!

 

[TC3033]

I’d say not much different than what people where to Mass.

Growing up my Dad almost always wore a suit, but he’s coming backwards on that. Dress shirt and jeans.

I always wore good “school clothes” growing up. Now I would say I wear “work” clothes. Jeans/or khakis and a golf polo or sweater in the winter. Summer is nice khaki shorts and a golf shirt. I’ve heard the priest here and there make comment about the dress of the parish. Kinda goes in one ear and out the other. It’s a farming community…to many of us, that is dressing up.

 

[YourNameHere]

Call me old school, but I believe that we all should dress up for Mass.
But I do not want to get into an argument with folks who will say, what is a person is too poor to have any dress type clothes? Or should a person not attend Mass because they have no dress type clothes to wear?
The issue has been hammered to death on other threads.

 

[jzea1992]

For real that is hard to believe

 

[Minks]

@jzea1992

In the US, at least in the Central States, when women quit wearing head coverings—hats of all sizes, scarves, rain hats, mantillas, chapel veils, and even Kleenex when they forgot their headgear—they also quit wearing gloves and gradually quit wearing the higher heels, moving down to mid- or short heels and dress flats, but they still wore nylon stockings. Sunday go-to-meetin’ clothes gradually devolved to what you see today.

“As goes the Catholic Church, so goes the world!” It was a death knell for the women’s hat industry at both the factory and retail levels, because other churches followed suit within a few short years. All the department stores once featured hat departments, and about every county seat had one or more specialty hat shops. Larger cities, of course, had many such boutiques. Before long, only the dodo bird was more extinct. Hats could only be found in very large cities.

The one really bright spot that remained for the hat industry was the Kentucky Derby, due to the decades-long tradition of women trying to outdo each other in wearing fancy hats.

Recently, hats have begun making a tad-bit of a comeback, appearing in catalogues, as well as in nicer stores and the anonymous big box stores . . . and, yes, even occasionally in churches, especially for Easter, the Sunday on or before Mother’s Day, and at weddings.

 

[Peeps]

Would someone wear a T-shirt with a pop culture logo and a pair of gym shorts to their mother’s funeral?

Depends on their mother!

My brother wore an old suit coat out of a Good Will box to our father’s funeral. He’s quite wealthy, but has no sense of dress at all, and Dad didn’t care one bit what people were wearing as long as they didn’t show private body parts.

 

[Peeps]

It’s even changing in the business world. Plenty of professional jobs now where interviewing in a suit would mark you as out of touch. I work for the government and half the office wears jeans and a t-shirt or sweatshirt.

My husband was let go from his job of 40 years in an international company (systems administrator). For years (at least 20), he has worked from home, and there have been days when he never got out of his pajamas! And when he did travel or go into a regional office for a meeting, it was strictly business casual–khakis, shirt (not button-down), and no tie.

All of his interviews for a new job were over the phone. No in-person interviews at all. It makes sense, since most of his work tasks were done over the phone (lots of “help desk” work) or online. It was more important for the interviewer to see how he sounded over the phone than in person.

He got a new job, BTW. (Praise God!)

 

[Peeps]

It may also be that the “first” churches as you describe them, especially the old downtown variety, currently have congregations from the middle to higher income groups, which can show in that type of dress to an extent.

Goodness gracious, how different things are elsewhere! in our city, all of the “white” downtown churches have huge and very effective ministries to the poor, the homeless, the addicts, and the prostitutes. NO ONE dresses up for church because it seems unjust when the poor show up in their donated clothing. No one wants to look better than someone else. Even the pastors of these churches (all Mainlines–ELCA Lutheran, UCC, Presbyterian, Congregational, Episcopal) wear jeans and their vestments on top.

The “black” churches do dress up, and it’s a treat to watch them as they enter their churches. But for many “whites” the “black” dress-up clothing would be considered theatrical–bright bright colors, lots of tulle and chiffon, HUGE hats for the women! And for the men–the “zoot suits”, long suit coats (which I love, BTW!), wing-tip shoes, patterned dressed socks, and hats that look like those worn in the 1920s. Or, both sexes wear “African” clothings–long wrapped-type outfits for the women (wrapped in such as way as to show the shape of the female body) with head-wraps of the same fabric, and dashikis for the men. A lot of the young people wear very very fine clothing, but often it is rather immodest for the young girls. And some “black churches” have “societies” in which the women wear white if they are in a certain level of the “society”–these societies have to do with their mission and work in the Church, not their money or job status, BTW.

I don’t think we who are “white” should compare ourselves to the “black” churches and question our own lack of fancy dress. Their traditions have to do with pride in their identity and African heritage as much as with respect for the Lord. Most of us would never show up to Mass dressed in “formal wear” or in clothing of our ancestral country.

 

[Dhc8_Type]

Since my closet is mainly flight uniforms I’m a jeans golf shirt guy. And my church however in the big city it is a farming and oil field community. Most guys are jeans and polo/golf shirt. Women tend to dress it up a little more but usually just slacks or what my wife calls a tunic and leggings type get up.

The older attendees are suit and tie and a dress/skirt though.

 

[HomeschoolDad]

Or, both sexes wear “African” clothings–long wrapped-type outfits for the women (wrapped in such as way as to show the shape of the female body) with head-wraps of the same fabric, and dashikis for the men.

You will see this occasionally in Catholic churches as well. They look very nice.

And some “black churches” have “societies” in which the women wear white if they are in a certain level of the “society”–these societies have to do with their mission and work in the Church, not their money or job status, BTW.

I thought this was special dress for “communion Sunday”. Evidently white is worn for other reasons as well. I have happened to be driving by black churches as services were letting out and have seen this mode of dress, and wondered why the women were all dressed in white.

 

[SeekSalvation]

I am not a fan of those lay people who come to mass in shorts and sleeveless shirts, unless that truly is all you have to wear.

 

[mrsdizzyd]

I have never figured out how to explain to people who go to a “First” or an A-A church how we give a free pass to someone who comes to Mass in a thin T-shirt, gym shorts, and sandals.

You don’t have to explain it. I come from one of those AA super dressy “Sunday Best” kinda of churches. I still understood what it meant to “come as you are”. Many AA churches are shifting to a more “come as you are” kind of attitude with women wearing skirts with bare legs or even pants as well as an uptick in exposed shoulders. Many young people show up at church in their nicest casual clothes these days. The emphasis now is that you make an effort to give your best to God whatever that “best” looks like.

 

[TULIPed]

Growing up, it was strictly coat and tie. 90% of the time it was a suit. As a kid, I dreaded going to church because I hated buttoning the top collar button and wearing the clip-on tie. I just felt itchy all the time!

These days, I would say the average dress at a Reformed church is business casual. It’s not unusual to see a coat and tie, but it’s not the norm. You almost never see a suit. Generally speaking, the younger the person in the pew, the more casual it gets.

The idea behind dressing up at church in Reformed churches revolves around the audience at worship, which of course is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Why do we dress up for an important business meeting? If we were invited to the White House to meet the President, would we go in jeans and flip flops? When we have dinner with our boss, why are we concerned about our appearance? You guys believe in the Real Presence - the great I AM is present in physical form! Should we not at least be as concerned about our appearance as if it were our boss?

On the other hand, the great beauty of the incarnation is that God came to dwell among us as we are. He came to us in a lowly manger, greeted by shepherds (in their work clothes), and waited upon by farm animals. God is always most concerned about the condition of our hearts - our sartorial splendor isn’t part of His equation (thank God!). And so, we come as we are…

“Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind;
Sight, riches, healing of the mind;
Yes, all I need, in Thee to find,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come!”

 

[KD8TZC]

I don’t think there is right answer for this. I have been to poor churches where people come in the best they have, and that might be a 50 year old suit that looks horrible that they were able to save up for and get from Goodwill. In their mind, it is the best they have, but in our eyes, it may look dirty, or sloppy.

I know others who wear a t-shirt and dirty jeans… again, possibly the best they have.

And I know others who have to wear the $3,000 suit, their Rolex watch, and drive up to church in their Jaguar all because they want to be noticed.

I have no problem with the first two example showing up in any church, but the last one troubles me. It troubles me because it’s all about them, not the Lord. I know, I’m being judgemental in that statement, and that is one of my faults… possible that guy who shows up in the $3000 suit gives a ton of money to the church, and volunteers a lot of his time, and that is great.

I think the moral of this post is we should not get too caught up in how people dress. Let God worry about His Church… I just want to worry about my soul getting to Heaven and help those around me to do the same.

 

[whatistrue]

And I know others who have to wear the $3,000 suit, their Rolex watch, and drive up to church in their Jaguar all because they want to be noticed.

I am quite sure that there are such people everywhere. And I would be willing to bet that there are others with the $3000.00 suit, Rolex, and Jaguar that come to church that way because that is just how they dress for important events. Or maybe it’s just what they wear and drive every day to work and it’s comfortable to them.

 

[KD8TZC]

I am quite sure that there are such people everywhere. And I would be willing to bet that there are others with the $3000.00 suit, Rolex, and Jaguar that come to church that way because that is just how they dress for important events. Or maybe it’s just what they wear and drive every day to work and it’s comfortable to them.

I agree 100%, I was just pointing out that some people dress up for the wrong reasons at times. If that is what they are comfortable in, by all means, dress how you feel comfortable.

 

[Peeps]

I think the moral of this post is we should not get too caught up in how people dress. Let God worry about His Church… I just want to worry about my soul getting to Heaven and help those around me to do the same.

Amen! And AAAA-men!!

 

[Tommy999]

In my Methodist congregation, style of dress is oftentimes generational. Men in their 50’s or older are usually dressed up in suits and ties, nice slacks and a dress shirt, or perhaps khakis and a polo shirt, provided they can afford such attire. Women tend to wear a nice dress or perhaps pants with a nice blouse or sweater, etc. Most of this age group attend the traditional worship services, where the pastoral staff wear vestments, there is a choir and orchestra, and where hymns are sung as the primary music.

The younger men and women (40+ and younger) routinely dress more casually, such as in blue jeans and a casual shirt or tee shirt, casual shoes, shorts (in the summer). Most of this age group gravitate to the contemporary worship service, where the pastor usually isn’t dressed in religious vestments and where the choir is replaced by a “praise team” of a half dozen or so singers and musicians, with acoustic guitars the norm – singing mostly contemporary Christian praise songs.

The sermon is the same for both services. In my opinion, the only problem with this arrangement is that sometimes there isn’t a lot of interaction between generations unless at “all-church” functions or when they serve together at special events, ushering, or other service opportunities.

 

[PeterT]

HomeschoolDad:

Would someone wear a T-shirt with a pop culture logo and a pair of gym shorts to their mother’s funeral? Would someone go to the State of the Union address in a tank top and ripped jeans?

On the flip side, there are people who literally don’t have clothes other than ripped jeans, tank tops, pop culture t’s etc. There are also people who have avoided church and Jesus their whole lives because they don’t want to have to dress a certain way or they were looked down upon for their style of dress when they were younger. Some churches are actively seeking to evangelize “outsiders” and that includes people with idiosyncratic styles of dress. And yes, these people would go to funerals or to the State of the Union dressed in these clothes; it’s how they dress.

Dressing in one’s “Sunday Best” still applies to these people too. One should strive to dress their best when going to encountering the King of Kings, our Lord and Savior.

That said, the rest of us should accept that for some people — as you described — their “Sunday Best” might be a ragged t-shirt and jeans with holes in them.

That’s perfectly fine if that’s the best they have. God understands and we should too.

But for those of us that God had blessed with the financial means to afford to dress better, we ought to make an effort to do so when we attend Mass. It’s a very sacred liturgy and celebration and in our society (like all societies down through the ages) how we dress and present ourselves to others is a tangible sign of how much reverence with have for the Holy Mass, the Church and for God.

Again, God knows how much we can afford and He doesn’t expect a poor person or a poor family to dress like someone who is rich and well off. And I have found it ironic that at some of the Catholic churches where I’ve attended Mass the poorer families often show up to Mass showing far more respect wearing simple white dress shirts and jeans for the father and sons with the mothers and daughters wear very modest blouses and skirts (or dresses), while at the same Mass some of the more financially well-to-do show up in t-shirts, shorts and flip-flops.

 

[RaisedCatholic]

Personally, I wear dress slacks, a dress shirt, and tie. I don’t do so because I feel I “have” to. But since I am going to worship with the rest of the congregation, my desire is to wear my “Sunday best.” Plus, if I am going to “dress up” at a wedding, funeral, or other formal occasion, I feel I can at least do the same when I go to worship in the presence of my Lord. To “dress down” just seems like I would be putting Him below these other formal gatherings…but that is just me.