Women's attire at Latin Mass

[genevieve4]

I’m thinking of going to a traditional Latin Mass on Christmas, but not if I can’t figure out what I’m required to wear. The latin mass “parish” here is apparently part of FSSP, not sure if that means it’s more “hardcore”?

No one seems to have any specifics of what to wear, i.e.,

• skirt vs. pants? or an Amish-style giant dress?
• do I need some sort of headcovering? what kind? where to buy such a thing?
  I’d like to blend in (…or at least not get death-glares.)

I looked at a few past bulletins to find some sort of dress code, but the best I could find was a vague passage…

It was brought to my attention that someone was not appropriately dressed for Mass on Sunday. Please accept this gentle reminder of the reverence that is due to Our Divine Lord present in the Tabernacle for love of us. Our attire ought to attest to our recognition of the sacredness of the place, and of what we are partaking in. The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is the most sublime action of the Church, and casual clothing is totally unbecoming the dignity of that action. Just as you rightly expect the priest and all the servers to wear the proper garments and vestments that are required, so also ought you make an effort to dress appropriately. As Traditional Catholics, the Mass should be the highlight of our day, and when we choose our attire, our choice is to be based on the fact that we are going to Mass, not on anything else that we will be doing that day. Thank you to all those who have been doing their best in this matter. Please be patient with those who are not, and with me, who has to keep reminding everyone about this.

… a vague passage that basically convinces me that I am way too ‘heathen’ to step foot in a latin mass anyway.
(And I’d kind of prefer not to be pointed out passive-aggressively in a future bulletin as “someone was not appropriately dressed for Mass.”)

Maybe I should ask also if I’m even allowed to go to a Latin Mass if I’m not Catholic?

Anyone’s help would be appreciated!

 

[ibkc]

You don’t have to wear anything special. Just look nice. For example, don’t wear jeans and a t-shirt, or shorts and flip-flops. Trads do prefer women to wear dresses or skirts, but they don’t have to be long (as long as it’s not a mini-skirt or something) nor do the clothes have to be dowdy or unfashionable. Look nice and neat without showing too much leg or cleavage and it’ll be fine.

It’s good to wear a headcovering. It doesn’t have to be a fancy mantilla. A simple scarf tied around your head will do nicely, or a tasteful hat.

 

[Rence]

my grandmother was as traditional as they come, and she used to wear dress pants with dress shoes and a pretty top under her coat. It was always cold on Christmas, whatever dressy hat she wore was what she wore during Mass. Not that it matters because the point is to cover your head, but hers was a white crocheted hat.

The elderly ladies who prayed the rosary in the front of Chruch before Mass used to dress the same. Some of them worse skirts or dresses. Some had veil like covers over their head, and some had winter hats.

Other people found it acceptable to wear “casual business”, which included pants, but of course, no jeans, sweatpants, etc.

One very zealous religious lady told us that the guideline was 2 inches below the knees, 2 inches below the elbows and 2 inches below the collar bone. I don’t know how true that guideline is, and I didn’t strictly adhere to it, but figure I’d pass it along. Don’t get me wrong, I was covered and covered well, but didn’t pay attention to the 2 inches guideline.

 

[Catholic1954]

Of course you may attend a Latin Mass if you are not Catholic! Don’t let the notice in the bulletin scare you off, they were probably refering to someone who came to Mass in a football tee shirt and shorts or something. The regulars at the Latin Mass prefer to dress up more than us barefoot hippie types, so you might want to wear something dressy with heels. As for the headcovering, it varies church by church; I would call the parish office and ask, or maybe take a chapel cap or mantilla in your purse and slip it on before you go in, if you see the other ladies are covered. There is no rule that says you must be covered, but you might feel out of place if you are the only one who is not. :tiphat:

 

[nannygirl]

I attend the Latin Mass every day, so I can tell you from experience the best way to blend in:
A skirt below the knees
Nothing tight or revealing
Head covered with a hat, mantilla (found at many Catholic bookstores), scarf, knit cap, etc.

I don’t know your age, but most of the younger women dress this way. The older women wear slacks, pantsuits, etc.

If you don’t have a skirt, wear nice slacks with a longer coat and leave it on.
People will be dressed (at least at our Oratory) very nicely on Christmas Day since it is a special occasion…

I always wear long skirts with tees and a jacket or sweater and my cool Italian boots. I’ve been experimenting with hats and found some cute knit cloches. I usually wear a mantilla.

Just dress like you’re visiting someone special…

 

[grace_singh]

Just dress like you’re visiting someone special…

exactly.