Mass Dress Code, Church 'Uniform'?

[SeekerJen]

CarolAnnSFO:

As for me, separates are the way to go. A few tops, and a few bottoms, in colors that go well together, then you can mix and match, and have several different outfits, for little money. I don’t wear the ladies’ equivalent of a suit, because the only stores I can afford to shop in, don’t sell suits.

Yup, separates are it for me on Sundays. I have nice dress pants in gray, black, and dark tan, and long skirts in navy, black, gray, and light khaki linen (for summer). I also have a few knee-length floral print skirts for summer, and several modest tops that can be mixed and matched with the bottoms, in all different sleeve lengths. I hate clothes shopping and don’t have the money to buy new wardrobes every year- or suits- so I buy the clothes a piece at a time (on sale if possible), make sure to take care of the stuff, and it lasts for several seasons.

Most people at my parish at least dress modestly, even if it’s jeans and a T-shirt. I’ve become accustomed to dressing a little more nicely for church (although I wear jeans to work in a research lab) because I am a choir member and also serve as a cantor on occasion. I’m 26- I figure maybe I can help set an example for other young women in my parish by not wearing jeans and tight shirts.

Oh, and I think how the ushers dress DOES matter. At our parish the ushers, male and female, are always in suits or blazers/dress pants (or skirts for women) with ties for the men. Our Masses are pretty reverent, and the congregation is generally either silent or praying/singing (when needed). I visited a different parish a couple of weeks ago and couldn’t believe the difference in atmosphere. Ushers in t-shirts, the congregation chit-chattering through the entire Mass, and I’m pretty sure I was the only one in my section singing the hymns and psalm.

 

[KathleenElsie]

Well I am out of place. I wear a longish skirt and high neckline blouse. I also wear some form of head covering. Mostly darkish colors. LOL Two skirts and two or three blouses work and keep things simple Sunday mornings. Darling husband wears a gray or navy blue suit.

The following is a good reason for dress standards:

I was in Mass alone one day listening to a non-Catholic commenting on the way some of the women were dressed in church. It was a real eye-opener. The man was saying he did not know where to look. The lector had on a spagetti-strap dress and was lower then we were so he could see down her dress. The woman standing in the row in front of him had on a short short skirt. He said he felt embarrised for both himself and the women around him. As I looked around there were hip-hugger pants, jeans with holes, t-shirts with slogans and bare back or deep plunging blouses.

Most people would not dress like this for a nice meal, important meeting or other function. Yet they feel it is OK at MASS. Go figure.

Kathleen Elsie Gibbs
Pray the Rosary and Divine Mercy daily

 

[Lisa_N]

KathleenElsie:

Well I am out of place. I wear a longish skirt and high neckline blouse. I also wear some form of head covering. Mostly darkish colors. LOL Two skirts and two or three blouses work and keep things simple Sunday mornings. Darling husband wears a gray or navy blue suit.

Sounds like my wardrobe too but I did find a red suit for Pentecost! We had quite a bright and colorful congregation. Honestly I bet even if women wore the same thing over and over if it were some kind of a ‘classic’ dress or skirt/blouse or suit, people wouldn’t really notice. Think about it, what do you remember about how people dressed UNLESS there was something bizarre, provacative, or inappropriate?

KathleenElsie:

The following is a good reason for dress standards:

I was in Mass alone one day listening to a non-Catholic commenting on the way some of the women were dressed in church. It was a real eye-opener. The man was saying he did not know where to look. The lector had on a spagetti-strap dress and was lower then we were so he could see down her dress. The woman standing in the row in front of him had on a short short skirt. He said he felt embarrised for both himself and the women around him. As I looked around there were hip-hugger pants, jeans with holes, t-shirts with slogans and bare back or deep plunging blouses.

Most people would not dress like this for a nice meal, important meeting or other function. Yet they feel it is OK at MASS. Go figure.

Kathleen Elsie Gibbs
Pray the Rosary and Divine Mercy daily

It is odd people wear this to church isn’t it? I am plain dressed but never outlandish. Better to be boring than scary
Lisa N