Mantilla Question for the Ladies

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mair_francis

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Hello sisters (and brothers too, if you know the answer),

I wear a head covering every Sunday, a black mantilla. Can a woman wear a black head covering on Easter? I love the black, but I’m not sure if it’s distasteful to wear such a somber color on our most important feast day. I’m wearing a white dress, too, although my shoes are black. Forgive me for sounding horribly vain, but I’m coming into the church with all my children and we’re joining my cradle Catholic hubby, finally. Yes, sisters and brothers, I’ve surrendered being the Protestant turned Eastern Orthodox spiritual bully and we’re going to be a Catholic family. I’m so excited about this blessed event I can’t help but want every detail to be wonderful.

I have no idea what to do on the mantilla color. And I’m aware that not all women wear head coverings, but I love the beauty of this practice.

Any advice?
mair francis
 
Hello and welcome home!

My mother-in-law has worn a black mantilla for years (which looks really lovely against her white hair) regardless of the color of her outfit. She is now a widow, but she wore the black one for ages before my FIL died. My mother’s worn a black one for years (and my dad’s still alive.) At one time, young single women wore the white mantillas, married women wore black or dark colors. Now you can wear whatever you like. I’ve seen some lovely silver or dove-grey ones with black trim (and vice versa) that seem to go with just about everything.

God bless you!
 
How about a beautiful blue? Blue is the color of Our Lady. There are some really nice beige ones, and even pink. Pink is the color of joy and is appropriate for the season. It would look really pretty against a white dress, too. But, that is why I decided against a veil, because I obsess over what type, who’s staring, etc.

I tried wearing a bandana style triangle for a while. It was too casual-looking, even though they were nice. One made of a fleece material in beige and reversible to black. The other is made of a red, embroidered satin (like a kimono). I just felt too self-conscious. I know that’s ridiculous, but I don’t wish to draw attention to myself.

I told the Lord that if He wants me to wear a head-covering, it needs to be mandated by the Church. Then I’ll know it’s what He wants. It is a beautiful tradition. I wish they would bring it back.

Praise be to God you have embraced the Church. :byzsoc:
 
I have two mantillas-
Black for Ordinary Time and Triduum, and Cream for Christmas/Christmas Season and for Easter/Easter Season. I think it’s a pretty good plan.
 
I’m married, and I just would feel really silly in a white veil. Totally personal opinion. I have veils in solid black, black with a dull gold trim, black with gray trim, and the one I wear most is a very dark brownish burgundy, almost the color of my hair.

For Easter I’m wearing a dress that is mostly black with little white circles all over it, so I think I’ll wear the black with gray trim. 🙂

~Liza
 
I’m beginning to feel a little silly at the thought of a white one myself, though I spent hours last night joyfully crafting white mantillas in a variety of sizes. My hubby and I are having our marriage blessed (regularized) before the congregation, but I don’t want to look like a new bride! I’ve been married for twelve years, though admittedly, not in the eyes of the Catholic Church.

The idea of the black, or even blue or silver mantilla is growing on me, however. Nothing a bit of rit dye won’t fix.

Thanks, everyone for chiming in.

mair francis
 
OH WOW!!! I totally missed what’s going on for you this Easter!!!

Congratulations!!! :extrahappy:

I think for this wonderful and holy day, wearing white would be perfectly acceptable!!!

~Liza
 
lizaanne said:
OH WOW!!! I totally missed what’s going on for you this Easter!!!

Congratulations!!! :extrahappy:

I think for this wonderful and holy day, wearing white would be perfectly acceptable!!!

~Liza
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I totally agree.
I think your white dress with the white veil is completely appropriate.
 
Good gravy, wear white and congrats and welcome!!!

If you choose this option (it is not madatory), wear whatever color pleases you. if I went this route, I’d probably wear lilac, a very good Easter color.
 
I think a white mantilla would look nice.

Back in the 50’s and 60’s in the parishes I attended everyone wore hats or those little veils that were like the veils on the hats (I think they were called Whimseys). Then the short and longer mantillas became fashionable. And there was the ever popular hanky or kleenex held on with a bobby pin for those who forgot a hat. We didn’t have any rules about colors of mantillas for certain ages, just whatever looked good on you. Maybe they did in other countries though.
 
Claire_from_DE said:
I think a white mantilla would look nice.

Back in the 50’s and 60’s in the parishes I attended everyone wore hats or those little veils that were like the veils on the hats (I think they were called Whimseys). Then the short and longer mantillas became fashionable. And there was the ever popular hanky or kleenex held on with a bobby pin for those who forgot a hat. We didn’t have any rules about colors of mantillas for certain ages, just whatever looked good on you. Maybe they did in other countries though.
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Indeed they were called whimseys!!! I am not insane!!! Somebody else remembers them!!!

😉 I think the OP should wear something just a little nicer than a kleenex. She is having her marriage blessed, after all, and joining us in Catholicland.
 
I always wear a cream-coloured veil, just because it’s the only one I’ve ever liked… I’ve had it for about five years now.

I love black veils, though. I find that they’re a bit more subtle, because my hair is dark, and they tend to match most of my winter clothes, at least. I really could have used a black veil this past winter, but the lace I got turned out too stiff and the mantilla I made with it kind of stuck out at every angle.

I don’t see that a black veil would be inappropriate for the Easter season, any more than a black dress would be. The only thing I’d take into consideration is that you’re wearing a white dress, and I don’t know how a black veil would look with that. Is it white white or more of a creamy white? White white and black might look a little out of place, but I could see a creamy white dress going very well with a black veil… they’d be more complementary.

Keep in mind, though, that I’m a bit obsessive about everything matching. 😛 I’m currently wearing a brown and blue that do not match, and it’s been driving me crazy. 😃

Congratulations on your entrance into the Church! I’ll keep you all in my prayers!
 
Ha! My sister goes insane when she doesn’t match, which is almost never. It’d be a kind of penance for her. 😛

I got the dress yesterday. It turns out its a creamy white rather than a true white, and my shoes are black just because I’m not buying new shoes because I have to dress all our kids! Hubby is wearing a black suit and I thought it’d be cool to contrast. Besides. I wanted more black on than just my shoes.

You all are great! I’ve gotten so many generous responses and warm sentiments. Thanks, everybody.

mair francis
 
Oooh… if it’s a creamy white, I could see a black mantilla going really well with it. When trying to match head-wear with the rest of the outfit, I try to picture the head-wear colour being a trim for the outfit. Black trim on a pure white dress would be a little strange, but, if I’m visualizing correctly, black trim on a creamy dress would look lovely.

Rather the same way that my creamy mantilla complements my black dresses nicely, though pure white would be a little too much contrast.
 
Do you have any creamy white lace you could edge the black with? I’ve seen them like that, and I have a mantilla that is black edged with light gray, and they are very beautiful.

How wonderful and exciting for you!! 😃

~Liza
 
Man, Liza. I thought to do that, but my sixteen-year-old fashionista totally ix-nayed that idea. But I hadn’t really gotten the dress yet, and I had the white lace at the time. I can dye what I’ve already made a creamy color, or I can buy more lace. It was surprising cheap.

It was easy to make a mantilla. And I don’t even sew, nor did I have a pattern. I used some iron fuse kinda stuff to attach the lace trim.

Can we post pictures here? I can show y’all what I did. The lace is kinda stiff. I think I should try again with a lighter weight lace and make a mantilla that’s not as ginormous as the one I made.

Thanks!
mair francis
 
Yes! Please post a photo!! I would love to see it!! 👍

Try washing the lace (by hand) - it may have some sizing in it that is making it stiff. Use a bit of fabric softener when you rinse it out and see if that helps.

I think if you had a cream lace on the edge of a black veil it would look very nice. Do you have a black bracelet or brooch, and earrings too? That might help carry the color scheme through your outfit when you don’t have the veil on, and the only black is your shoes.

~Liza
 
I think you should wear a covering that complements the outfit you plan to wear. 🙂
 
I love this! It’s like we’re all sisters helping mair francis get ready for her “Big Date”! :grouphug:

Gosh, I feel like crying! 'scuse me!
 
Hi! Another ex-Orthodox coming into the Catholic Church (in my case, I’m a revert, though). Just wanted to say congrats and that I have no idea what color would be appropriate, but since you’re having your marriage blessed, I would think white with your dress would be just fine. 🙂
 
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