What is your "Sunday Best"?

[Crimson_Skies]

Often I’ll just wear jeans and a collared shirt to mass, with some nice shoes.
I don’t mean to overdress, but I don’t really want to go too casual.
Of course I’ll shave too and bathe in the morning. Perhaps even throw on a nice scent.

It’s not really the contents of you clothing that matters in the end, but it’s always nice to dress up for the occasion. After all you’re visiting the house of The Lord.

 

[sudy]

I go to Church in whatever I’m wearing that day. I don’t think God would mind what I’m wearing as long as I attend, have prayerful thoughts, and what I’m wearing is not distracting for others… although having said this, my Mum always makes an effort to dress nice for Church.

You know, I used to attend a Protestant service frequently and always felt most people dressed a little too showy… kinda like going to Ascot Races on ladies day. Btw, this was just an observation with that particular church congregation.

 

[Cat]

I don’t own that many articles of clothing, so I wear what is clean and most importantly, what is appropriate for our Midwestern weather. I don’t believe in being uncomfortable in my clothing, and I certainly don’t believe in freezing or sweating while sitting in church.

I don’t wear the same clothing that I wear to the gym (where I wear a pair of very baggy sweats that I’ve owned for over 12 years), but I wear jeans and sweaters/nice sweatshirts to Mass without feeling guilty in the least.

If I am playing the piano/organ, I wear one of my two pairs of black slacks, and my one “nice” long sleeved top, or in the winter, one of my two “nice” sweaters.

I am trying to find another “nice” long-sleeved top, but I’m having a hard time because so many of the queen-sized tops this year are long tunics, which I think make my stomach look really fat!

I think it’s wrong to spend so much money on a “wardrobe.” We need to have enough articles of clothing to be able to wear something clean each day (and since most of us wash our clothes in an automatic washer, it’s no big deal to do a small load of laundry every few days).

But I see no reason to have multiple pairs of slacks, skirts, tops, blouses, sweaters, shorts, and especially shoes. I think that’s materialistic, and if I sound like I’m judgmental, then I am guilty as charged and not ashamed of it.

I think American Christians need to take a hard, honest look at their 'wardrobes" and cut way back on their clothing expenditures. There are many parts of the world where people still own only a few articles of clothing. We really don’t need to wear a different “outfit” every day.

A lot of people criticize Glamour Magazine with good reason. But one feature that is always interesting is “A Month of Outfits.” Basically this feature makes use of five basic pieces of clothing and a few accessories (e.g., a scarf or shawl) to create 30 different outfits, one for every day of the month. I think that Christians need to read this and consider the value of this kind of thinking. It would simplify so many of our lives, and eliminate the need for us to live in “castle homes” with walk-in closets that are big enough to be bedrooms!

I just bought a skirt and a top to wear to the Latin Mass parish in my city when I go. That makes TWO dresses that I own! Wow–I feel positively decadent! I should probably give away one of the dresses. I don’t need two. But the new dress is longer and covers up my shoes.

I really dislike wearing dresses because my shoes are an orthopedic style that are necessary because I have had surgery on both feet and they are rather deformed, and dresses just emphasize those clunky shoes. That’s why I prefer to wear slacks. But I also think it’s important to respect the traditions of the Latin Mass parishes.

Anyway, I hope I’ve given some of you something to think about. I do realize that my thinking regarding clothing is not in the mainstream of American Christian thinking.

 

[Used2beSherryG]

When I get ready to go to Sunday Mass, I dress appropriately. IOW, my outfit reflects the importance of the occasion. I wear dress pants, blouse, jacket and dress shoes usually, a dress sometimes. The most important thing I do is arrive early and spend time in prayer and reflecting on the great gift that Jesus gives us during the Mass. If needed, I go to confession then as the priest makes himself available about one hour prior to Mass time up until 15 minutes before Mass begins. clean clothes, clean body, clean soul…then I’m ready to participate in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. .

 

[PolycarpMeans]

Monday through Saturday I am in ripped jeans and metal band tee shirts with the sleeves ripped off.

I keep non-ripped clothes in my car and at my office just in case I decided to go to a midweek mass.

On Sunday I wear a black suit with a modest necktie.

 

[signit]

Shirt, pants, and shoes.

No jacket or tie, although I notice the ushers wear them.

That’s the way I was taught to dress for Sunday Mass.

 

[Yeoman]

I just wear normal clothes. I wouldn’t dress too casually but I wouldn’t really dress up. I have a mental list of a few things I’d never wear but I’d be fine wearing a t-shirt and normal pants on a warm day and a normal hoodie if it was cold. Might sound very strange to you guys but here we pretty much all dress like we would if we were going to the cinema with our friends. Dressing up for mass isn’t a thing here. You’ll never see anyone wearing something they wouldn’t normally wear.

Interesting, that’s the rule here (Wyoming) as well.

Some people dress up for Mass, but its unusual enough that you really notice it. Otherwise, people wear clean clothes, but not formal clothes. For that matter, a lot of Wyomingites don’t even own formal clothes.

The first time I ever even became aware of this being different in some places is when an out of state visiting priest somewhat rebuked parishioners for showing up poorly dressed. I wasn’t even aware that we were doing this, but in a highly rural state where a lot of Catholics have pretty blue collar or outdoor jobs, this is to be expected, I think.

Indeed, I’ve sometimes told my wife on occasions when I had to wear coat and tie to Mass for one reason or another that it makes me “feel like a Protestant”, as they do seem to dress up.

 

[Yeoman]

Anything other than jeans and t-shirts is my Sunday Best. So, sometimes that’s a skirt and top and other times it’s casual slacks and a top. I don’t normally wear spaghetti strap, tight or short clothes, so modesty is not an issue.

I’ve noticed a minor trend in our Church of people wearing religious t-shirts. There are two men who attend the early morning Mass who always wear a t-shirt with a Catholic message.

One young man must have a tremendous collection of them, as he never repeats one.

 

[Yeoman]

Once upon a time people dressed nice to go to the game too. I’m sure some still do.

That’s very true.

Indeed the United States at least has experienced a tremendous decline in the formality of clothing starting in the late 1960s. Entire occupations that used to wear suit and tie everyday now no longer do. In one of my occupations men dressed that way everyday but now few do.

Whatever the cause or what we think of it, the trend continues and seems to have gone too far. Americans may be the worst dressed people on the planet, and now it’s not uncommon to see people in the stores in their pjs. They just couldn’t be bothered to actually dress.

On the term “Sunday Best”, I’ll note that I used to use that term when people asked me how to dress for court. I used to tell them to dress like they were going to church. Now, however, a lot of people don’t know what that means, so I have to explain it in greater detail.

 

[Yeoman]

Shirt, pants, and shoes.

No jacket or tie, although I notice the ushers wear them.

That’s the way I was taught to dress for Sunday Mass.

Regarding the ushers, I know that in our parish extraordinary ministers are told to dress appropriately and one step above the parishioners. Lectors seem to always do that, but Eucharistic Ministers, oddly enough, do not always do that.

 

[thistle]

A the very least, my rule of thumb is “long pants and a collared shirt”. This can include polo shirts, jeans (clean and without holes), and my tennis shoes (which are grayish-brown, so they don’t stand out). I may also wear black loafers or cowboy boots.

I feel more appropriately dressed if I wear an Oxford shirt and dress pants. I wear a coat and tie when I usher.

I always shave and use cologne.

What about you?

I assume you have never attended Mass in a tropical country when the temperature is 30C and there is no aircon!

 

[edward_george]

My Sunday best is my school uniform: a cassock (I’m a seminarian).

 

[Tigg]

When I get ready to go to Sunday Mass, I dress appropriately. IOW, my outfit reflects the importance of the occasion.

Exactly! ** It isn’t about us.** It isn’t about fashion and it certainly isn’t about our own comfort.

There appears to be much hostility directed toward those who are convicted in their heart to dress in their Sunday best. It is simple respect to dress up for your best friend’s wedding conveying the message to the couple that their occasion is special and you honor it as such. Can we do less for the Lord present in our tabernacles?l

 

[Yeoman]

My Sunday best is my school uniform: a cassock (I’m a seminarian).

Stupid question on my part, but are cassocks required or common of all seminarians?

 

[Yeoman]

Exactly! ** It isn’t about us.** It isn’t about fashion and it certainly isn’t about our own comfort.

There appears to be much hostility directed toward those who are convicted in their heart to dress in their Sunday best. It is simple respect to dress up for your best friend’s wedding conveying the message to the couple that their occasion is special and you honor it as such. Can we do less for the Lord present in our tabernacles?l

I don’t think its hostility for the most part, although I’ve certainly met people who are hostile to “dressing up”. Rather, I think the culture of more formal wear has broken down in our society. Now, semi formal dress that used to be common for work, church, and even travel, has just gone out the window to a very large degree, and a lot of people don’t recognize the frame of reference. Indeed, about the only profession left that wears coat and tie routinely seems to be news casters and, oddly sports casters.

Not that you don’t have a point, and frankly your point applies beyond the pews. I still try to wear a tie most days at work, as people expect that of my profession, but I’m rapidly becoming a minority in regards to that.

 

[JRKH]

I assume you have never attended Mass in a tropical country when the temperature is 30C and there is no aircon!

:clapping:

Yup - We definitely have to take into account climate…

Peace
James

 

[tomarin]

I wear a sportscoat and Oxford shirt but no tie. Chinos, not jeans. Dressy shoes. Business casual, I guess. I do love a tweed sportscoat.

 

[Whipstock]

I think those who so venerate lounge suits (also known as “business suits” or “sack suits”) need to understand their history a bit better. They weren’t commonly worn until around 1900. Following WWII suits became increasingly less and less formal, culminating in the hideous leisure suits of the 1970’s.

Viewed from a position of greater perspective, suits (and sports coats with ties) had a fairly short run in terms of being the predominant garb of the respectfully attired in the US. The only two professions I know that pretty much require them today are politicians and lawyers.

Other clothes convey every bit as much respect (and likely even more) today in the US than a suit or sports coat/tie. Stop worshiping the garb.

 

[Whipstock]

That’s very true.

Indeed the United States at least has experienced a tremendous decline in the formality of clothing starting in the late 1960s. Entire occupations that used to wear suit and tie everyday now no longer do. In one of my occupations men dressed that way everyday but now few do.

Whatever the cause or what we think of it, the trend continues and seems to have gone too far. Americans may be the worst dressed people on the planet, and now it’s not uncommon to see people in the stores in their pjs. They just couldn’t be bothered to actually dress.

On the term “Sunday Best”, I’ll note that I used to use that term when people asked me how to dress for court. I used to tell them to dress like they were going to church. Now, however, a lot of people don’t know what that means, so I have to explain it in greater detail.

The “decline” began much earlier, following WWII, right through the 1950’s. The “business suits” of today are actually the product of “decline” from frock coats and morning wear of decades past.

There’s really no way to defend wearing clothes with offensive wording or symbols on them to Mass. Likewise, there’s no way to defend wearing overly provocative clothes or those that expose too much of one’s body.

On the other hand there’s also no way to defend the belief that a three piece suit and tie is any more appropriate or respectful than clean, modest clothing.

 

[Whipstock]

Quite a few men at my parish overtly try to coerce other men to wear suits/coats/ties, yet several of them commit serious faux pas when it comes to their own garb that makes me wince.

Things like white socks with dress shoes and a suit. Or thick-soled 1970’s suede shoes along with their polyester suits. Some like to pair new slacks with old suit coats (including old pinstriped suit coats.) Others wear short sleeved “dress shirts” (white-on-white is a favorite) with their suits, others show 6" of cuff with their coats on or they wear gaudy tie pins/lapel pins.

It’s humorous taking “how to dress right for Mass” comments from men attired in this manner. Men who have never learned how to dress in a timeless manner should always refrain from trying to give fashion advice to anyone.