How should a woman dress for a week day mass?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ogie_Reeves
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
Dress neatly and modestly, within your means and comfort level.

Some people choose to dress more casually for weekday Mass and be a little more formal on Sundays. I’m one of them - Sunday just feels more formal to me and I’m often a lector or EMHC so I want to look a little nicer. Our weekday Mass is held in the evening, and after spending all day in a business suit, I’m ready to change into something that’s a little easier to wear.

Unless the priest is commenting on your attire, you’re fine.
 
You read my mind. I usually wear a t-shirt, khaki capri length pants and sandals.
 
LOL I call this my Inner Protestant. 🤣🤣 Although my dad never went to Sunday Mass in jeans and an untucked shirt either. So maybe it’s my pre-V2 dad meeting my Inner Protestant (growing up in mostly the South there was assuredly a “Sunday best” dress code).

The only thing I’ve ever seen in a Sunday Mass that made me go, ‘what was she thinking’ was the racerback tank top with a non-racerback bra - but I think bra straps showing is just, well, trashy regardless of the setting. (I don’t mean the accidental slip - I mean you’re wearing the wrong undergarment for the top you’ve got on.) It’s 2018 - they make bras for everything these days. Fix it. Or just put on a shrug. It’s not THAT hot up here, trust me.

I’ve been to one daily Mass only because my schedule doesn’t permit it - I was in Seattle for the day with a friend (also Catholic) on my birthday and we walked to the cathedral for Mass that day. I’ve had such a full year that starting my next trip around the sun that way seemed right to me. So I was dressed for a day in the city - but so was everyone else. You’re there, and I know that’s what’s really important. I dress up on Sunday because I was raised that way - doesn’t make me right or wrong, just means that’s my preference.
mVitus said:
I will say that to gauge what’s appropriate, you may consider taking one day to wear your Sunday clothes, take a look at what others are wearing, and then dress down from there. Then you’ll know hiw to not stick out.
Click to expand...
I’m struggling with that last statement. Who cares if you “stick out” if you’re comfortable?
 
Last edited:
Ogie_Reeves said:
Is a t-shirt, black pants, and sandles appropriate?
Click to expand...
Yeah. I would think weekday mass is a bit less formal than Sunday or Holy Day mass.
I sometimes get up and just roll out of bed, pull on my jeans and T-shirt and walk to the Church for morning mass in the summer. I would generally try to dress up for Sunday mass though.
 
I always wear a blouse & skirt or dress to Divine Liturgy. Years ago, when I was on a walking pilgrimage, the priest who heard my confession (he was walking with me) looked at me and said: “Get rid of all your immodest clothing.” That was the TOUGHEST penance I ever had. I can’t tell you how much clothing I got rid of.
 
As a totally buff dude, I grease up and wear a tank-top and spandex shorts.

NOT! 😆

We are appearing before Jesus Christ, and offering ourselves as living sacrifices to the Father. Dress accordingly.
 
Yep! Just love working in the library. I’m a scientist/IT professional by training, but retired now. I’ve been learning the LC classification system, how libraries work, etc. It’s loads of fun; many oblates volunteer at the abbey, the most popular task being the porter’s desk. But as I’m not really a people person, and as I have some hearing loss that makes understanding folks with accents, poor articulation, etc, difficult on the telephone, the library is perfect, and the librarian monk I work with a saint, almost like a second father to me.

I also drive monks around, for example recently I drove the monk assigned as chaplain at the women’s abbey about 110 miles away, to his assignment.

Do you also work in a library?
 
It is more important the condition of your soul. Your soul needs to be humble seeking forgiveness.
 
Really it’s a seasonal thing for me. I tend to wear mostly skirts in summer and mostly pants in winter.
 
Pup7 said:
I’m struggling with that last statement. Who cares if you “stick out” if you’re comfortable?
Click to expand...
I agree somewhat but also disagree. We shouldn’t worry excessively about what others think. But we shouldn’t not care at all.
 
exnihilo said:
40.png
Pup7:
I’m struggling with that last statement. Who cares if you “stick out” if you’re comfortable?
Click to expand...
I agree somewhat but also disagree. We shouldn’t worry excessively about what others think. But we shouldn’t not care at all.
Click to expand...
When it comes to what I’m wearing, I really couldn’t care less what others think.

I honestly don’t care in the least what others think about what I wear to Mass (I’m a dresser, for the record, because I don’t feel comfortable in pants in a Sunday Mass, and because of my schedule I can’t go to daily Mass). Honestly do not care if I stick out because I don’t do it for anyone else. I do it for me.

That was the point and that was what I responded to - a poster had said to wear what you want, then observe and dress down from there so you don’t stick out.

So what if I stick out because I dress up? It’s not about the other people, and I can assure you - I don’t dress provocatively and never have. LOL I’m like an advert for Talbot’s (conservative for certain - long skirts, jackets, buttoned blouses and higher necklines - and I dress like that all the time). I don’t even wear sleeveless tops to Mass without a jacket or shrug.
 
Last edited:
I tend to dress up more than most myself. But there can be a limit to even dressing nicely. I don’t think you should not dress up just because others don’t. But I just can’t agree that we give no thought to other people’s perception. That doesn’t mean we agree with it or let it change what we do.
 
exnihilo said:
I tend to dress up more than most myself. But there can be a limit to even dressing nicely. I don’t think you should not dress up just because others don’t. But I just can’t agree that we give no thought to other people’s perception. That doesn’t mean we agree with it or let it change what we do.
Click to expand...
I don’t give a thought to what others think about my clothes. They didn’t buy them and they didn’t choose them. I buy and wear what I like. I am more comfortable wearing a skirt and top to Mass, so I do. I’m a child of the 1980s and love jackets and button downs, so I buy and wear them. I love Sperrys on the weekends and flats for church. I own an iron and I use it. And I do most of my shopping in thrift stores though it doesn’t look like it. 🙂 All of that has zero effect on anyone but me, and I actually don’t care about someone else’s perception of me just because I dress a certain way for Sunday Mass. I dress the same whether I go to the Cathedral or the chapel. It’s not a job interview.

I don’t agree with the person who chose the racerback tank and left her bra straps showing because I think that’s inappropriate for Mass, but I’m sure my personal opinion is meaningless to her, and I’m fine with that. She’s equally free to wear what she wants, and it has no effect on me in the long run. No big deal.
 
Last edited:
Weekday or Sunday, my Mass dress is always the same: white dress shirt, black trousers and black dress shoes. In autumn and winter I add a pullover sweater, and at Christmas and Easter a necktie. Off topic since I am a man, but I just thought I would add my $.02.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top