There was a young man at our Good Friday service wearing a baseball cap. This would have been unheard of when I was growing up in the United Church. A young woman came in with a Tim Hortons coffee which also surprised me. 

 

I go to church dressed "business casual" I would say. 

I feel exactly the opposite about it. I'd prefer to see it more casual and real, not dressing to impress. I don't think God worries about that and there are other things I'd rather be concerned about. I occassionalky dress up- when it's time to do laundry and my jeans and casual clothes are dirty (I'm the most dressed up tenant in the laundry room sometimes- I joked with my boss one day when people commented on me being more dressed up than usual "if I ever show up in my wedding dress, you'll really know it's laundry day." okay, I haven't done that, but it was funny at the time) , or if it's a very special occassion. Business casual, to me feels dressed up. I used to have to dress like that for work- slacks, skirts, blouses, blazers- so now that I don't have to, I prefer not to.

I dress with some style. Jeans and tshirts and sweaters that have a style- is my most common 'dress code'. I don't show up in tatters, but even if I did (it's an urban church and many are low income), I would hope no one would care too much.

 

Actually, around here, business casual just is pretty relaxed. It just means clean pants/slacks and a blouse, sport shirt, or polo/golf shirt. Women may wear skirts on occasion but it's not that common, at least in my office, and the skirts are neat, casual ones rather than skirt suits. No jeans and t-shirts, shorts, or track suits but it's fairly loose beyond that. Blazers may be donned for meetings but aren't the norm.

 

Mendalla

 

At the office I work at now, that would be dressy. The boss shows up in jeans and tshirts mostly, seldom suits unless he's having a meeting (but hey, it's Vancouver). The only rule is that our clothes are clean and in good repair. It's really great. I used to have to dress in business casual (we had denim Fridays). I felt uncomfortable, but I still have a bunch of clothes I bought then.

 

You work in the tech sector? 

 

One of the amazing things about the tech industry is how they've gone from suits and ties back when IBM and Digital dominated to jeans and golf shirts in the post-Apple/Microsoft era. Of course, the work environments tend to be pretty non-standard as well, with a fairly laid-back atmosphere (meetings in lounges rather than board rooms and that sort of thing), time for gaming (esp. in game dev companies), company-paid meals, and so on.

 

Mendalla

 

Dressing for church?

 

I wear my cleanest overall and shirt, both freshly laundered, and my town boots. I have two pairs of boots. One I use for work, the other for going to town. When the work boots wear out, the town boots get demoted to work boots, and I buy a new pair for going out. Ditto for shirt and overall.

 

 

 

 

No. I work in the non-profit sector. The woman in HR wears yoga suits and runners to work. Most people wear jeans. There's no common 'look'. You could have pink hair and tatoos, or a suit, and that'd be okay there. Everyone has their own thing. Nobody looks sloppy to me, though.

:)

The rare time I do, it's difficult.  I have a casual dress that I will wear with leggings that works if the weather is nice.  When I wore it to church once, two people commented on my nice *shirt*.

 

With my health, my weight has gone up and down and I don't always have black pants that fit.  If I were to go today, I wouldn't have anything I felt was appropriate.  It's too cold for the dress.  If I was suddenly forced to go, I would wear jeans, a colourful tank top with a thin almost ballet-style sweater over top.  For another Sunday it wouldn't be too bad, but for Easter I still wouldn't feel comfortable.

 

I find the appropriate clothes are hard to find when I'm not buying clothes for work.  Even if I was working, there's a good chance jeans would be appropriate, Chemguy almost always wears them for work.  There are some cute, casual skirts out there, but the style of tops is now longer.  Lots of dresses, but hard to find one church appropriate, it's easier to find on that looks good with a sweater, but that can be difficult too.  The flowy tops with sleaves aren't popular like they were about 5 years ago.

 

Some people also need to get over themselves and the rules when they were growing up.  There are flip-flops out there that are as equally dressy as a ballet flat.  That's much more appropriate than a strappy heel IMO.

 

I wish jeans were more often worn in church.  They aren't once they once were, especially in a dark wash.  I think if there were more people under the age of 40 this would be much more common.  Seniors tend to not wear jeans and I think since there are few young-sih people, jeans would just stand out too much.  Generally, unless someone is working downtown jeans are considered appropriate work wear.

 

I know quite a few people, me included who wear yoga pants due to many different medical problems.  Sometimes pants simply won't fit.  Other times, they are very uncomfortable and make the medical condition worse.  If the opportunity came up where I had planned to go and then couldn't find anything that would work that day but yoga pants, I would stay home as I feel like they would be considered too inappropriate by others.  If I was a regular attender maybe I would be more ok with it.

You'd be totally fine at the church I go to. There are some seniors who dress up, but otherwise, anything goes. Rarely anyone, I'd say under 45, dresses up much. Occassionally for Christmas concerts, etc. but not often, and you never 'have to'. It's come as you are. I like that. I've heard people say they wished more people would dress up, but that hasn't changed the fact that many people don't and likely won't.

This article is so NOT where my church is at-and remember I'm one of the young ones at church.

Coffee and tea are welcome in the service. And yes they get spilt sometimes-but our floor is painted plywood and it's ok.

Dress is casual. In the summer shorts are common. Simple pants and casual tops for the women ar ethe norm. Men seldom wear ties and a jacket is rare.

Overall though the dress code in this town is very casual. One example would be that I often wear runners for work. That didn't happen in my  previous jobs.

I guess I should add, I am basing my experiences off of 2 churches.  In one, all the people around my age would not wear jeans.  I felt like their outfits often looked mismatched, due to the skirts.  I think they would have looked better in jeans.

 

Another one was more formal dress overall.  Jeans would have been seen as too dressed down.

 

I know other churches are different.  You don't really know until you show up though.

Sounds good to me Tabitha. :) our building is quite fancy, but the people in it, not as much.

I attend weekly and always wear jeans and sneakers (with a nice top) even when I'm reading.   Am I being disrespectful?  At least I'm there to volunteer my time & money.

I think I do this because for my weekday job I have to dress up and I hate it.

My friend actually left his church as he was told to not wear khakis shorts in the hot summer months.  Their loss.

At my church, there is a man who stinks as he wears his barn clothes covered in cow manure to church.  He's still single.  Poor man.  I'm glad he comes though :)  All our other farmers shower first and put on clean clothes.

Lol! Poor guy. Maybe someone should tell him to at least shower and wear clean clothes. A good friend would, I'd hope. :)

I don't think it's disrespectful of you. You should be comfortable. I think it's disrespectful of others to expect that everyone dress up. Some people can't afford it. Others dress up all week and want a break from it. As long as people are comfortable, I really don't care what anyone wears. To work, or to church, or anywhere else. I used to work in employment counselling. I had to dress businesslike, and I had to advise my clients about what to wear to job interviews. Beneath the surface, I resented this "way things are", but pretended not to. Some of my clients were lucky to be able to get one dressy outfit together, and I knew that if they got the job they'd likely be wearing the same clothes until they got a couple of paycheques - which puts them at a further disadvantage socially. Whereas, if they could just wear jeans, the best they have, and be clean and comfortable, if that were 'acceptable' they'd probably be more confident. Oh, the silly rules humans make up. What's so wrong with denim anyway? It's just a type of fabric!

My goodness what is the world coming to. A baseball cap in church, a Tim Hortons coffee and the worse of all women showing too much cleavage! Will someone please think of the children. Okay sarcasm off now. Are people really offended by this at a church service? Here I thought a Christmas eve service was similiar to a party. Wow people in church are still worried about what others are wearing.

I agree, Dreamerman. I understand it's a cultural thing that people are used to, and it makes some feel better to dress up, but I think it should be fine nowdays not to.

As long as you're wearing the top, nope :)

If I went to your church for the first time, it would put me at ease and the 2nd I probably would wear jeans or maybe jean capris for the summer.

What if the guy did cut his grass just before he went to church or he decided to go fishing that morning and felt he would like to go to church right after? Who cares well apparently some people do. What ever happened to the idea of come as you are? Actually I am quite surpised by this coming from you Mandalla. I hope you don't go over to the person showing too much cleavage and tell them to cover up.

My maid of honour wore flip flops at my church wedding. They were sparkly, but still flip flops. Her ankle tatoo was showing. A few of the guys in attendance wore jeans (my side of the family was dressed up because that's what they're used to, and several of our friends weren't. It was come as you are- perfect.) My dress was white, but simple. It's probably the only time my husband will have ever worn a three piece suit. That's how casual I am and the church I go to welcomes everyone as they are and doesn't make rules about dress (well, you have to be dressed but that's it). I wouldn't feel comfortable at a place that expected dressy. God's people come in all shapes, sizes, colours and manners of dress, don't they?

Hi Mendalla,

 

 

Read and while reading had the same line of scripture pounding in my head the whole time.

 

 

That's some contrast.

 

The concluding paragraphs were also very telling.

 

It brings to mind another passage:

 

 

And that in turn brings up an echo from Saturday Night Live and Billy Crystal's character Fernando whom I'd like to paraphrase,

 

"It's better to look tacky than feel tacky.  If you know what I mean."

 

Grace and peace to you.

John

I like Father Guido- speaking of SNL.

 

Relax, dreamerman, if you actually bother to read the thread, most people are taking your position against the article, including, for the most part, me. I did place some limits on what I feel comfortable with in church but I'm suggesting that I would not dress that way, not that we should have dress codes or something.

 

On the issue of "exposure": To be clear, I think there is way too much cleavage on display in general these days. It's not just church. Modesty has its charms and I think our society has lost sight of that. I am not a prude (in fact, quite the opposite in some regards) but I'm also of the opinion that theres a time and a place. This also has nothing to do with thinking of the children. I would have no issue with taking kids to a nudist beach but I'd rather the nudity stay at that beach than come into church (N.B. at a pagan gathering, for instance, it may be appropriate, but that's another beast again than a church). A church service is not, and never should be, a party. It is an event of a rather different sort. 

 

Mendalla

 

Oh, I disagree. Is it always supposed to be a serious affair? Why can't it be a party once in awhile? A celebration? Not a disco...but I went to an Easter service once where there was dancing. People were having fun. I don't think people need to be wearing nightclub clothes, but if that's what they want to wear I wouldn't say that can't.

This looks like a good service:

Well I did actually read the thread mandalla. I guess my sarcasm rubbed you the wrong way. So that wasn't you that felt uncomfortable with the guy who wears hit fishing outfit to church or the guy who cuts his grass before church or the lady that shows too much cleavage? Okay I am going to relax now because the doctor says it is not good for my blood pressure. I think I will take a chill pill or have another glass of wine. BTW I usually agree with most of what you write mandalla probably more than any other person on WC but in this instance I didn't. I can't always pick on the fundies.

 

Oh, I feel uncomfortable but I know that's me and I'm not about to impose that on the church in question.

 

Mendalla

 

I don't know what kind of churches these are but they are examples of how church can be casual and a celebration.

See, for me, church is definitely a celebration but is not a party. It is not a place to socialize and be the focus of attention, but to focus our attention on bigger matters, whether that is God or something else. In fact, it should explicitly be about not being the focus of attention and recognizing that we are not the centre of the universe. To that extent, I suppose more casual dress actually helps, since it tends to mean less showy, less fashion-conscious dressing.

 

Mendalla

 

I would rather someone come to church in what they feel comfortable in, than feeing that they aren't themselves.

 

One thing that is interesting is "business casual" is typical of middle-class type work. I had someone point out to me it was easier to get a suit pant at value village than nice current business casual stuff.  Good point.

 

For me, I wear business casual to work most days, with more business than casual, because I am at a marketing / sales building.  

 

If I was at the mfg facility, I would like dress more casual, and jeans would be worn on occassion.

 

For church, I have been known to break from gardening to head to church.  I figure being there was more important than if I had a pretty dress on.

Ideally, I'd like to see church attire be similar to a casual restaurant.  People have business lunches or go out after work, so they are in suits.  Business casual is common.  Yoga pants aren't out of place.  A group might grab a bite before a more formal event.  During the day, someone isn't too likely to be wearing club wear though.

I'm with Mandella on this one. Casual is overrated and often seems disrespectful.

 

I would not show up in jeans for a funeral or a wedding why does that change when one goes into a church? I've accepted it as normal to see others dress overly casual in church and I don't spend time worrying about it, but honestly sometimes it's taken waay overboard.

 

 

 

 

I think dressing up to go to church is overrated. For reasons for not attending church I think making an effort to put on my Sunday best would not make the top ten. What would be at the top of the list would be the theology, the music and boredom. Dressing to impress imho is for job interviews and first dates.

BLUE DENIM

 

I wear my blue denim overalls everywhere,

To work, to town, even to church,

And even when preaching a sermon.

 

People look at me oddly.

I give the overall impression

Of being a simple farmer,

But my sermons are not that simple.

 

Jesus wore simple sackcloth clothing

When preaching his sermons.

What would he wear today?

 

Blue denim?

 

-Arminius

 

 

 

 

There are so many levels of understanding of this issue.  Often mine are colored by experiences in childhood - watching the children with fancier clothing get picked for a special role (helping pass the plates for the offering for example).   Hearing my sibling ask why this was so onlyto be told that if he wanted to do special things at church he should dress appropriately in a suit, or at least wear a dress jacket.  The poorer kids in my community learned that clothing seemed to be valued more than people at that church.

When camping as a young woman I was told that my clothing wasn't suitable for entering this church on Easter morning. Admittedly I was wearing blue jeans - but I was camping - in a tent - and it had been raining since the previous afternoon!  The young men in front of me had walked right in without any comments despite their jeans. 

 

More recently an older woman complained to me about young people showing up at church in jeans. It just wasn't 'proper' she said indignantly.  'On Sundays everyone should wear their best clothes'.  I quietly pointed out that for many young people their jeans ARE their best clothes and probably cost more than the  outfits some of the adults wore to church.  Eventually I asked her whether she would rather have no young people in church or have young people there wearing jeans?  A few weeks later she thanked me for saying thos words eve thoughthe ade her cross at the time.

 

Around here I have seen jeans at weddings and funerals (haven't been at a baptism since 1964).  Seems to be a more recent thing - occasions like that many years ago used to bring out a range of 'best' clothing, including outdated suits and dresses, sometimes even the occasional dusty old hat!

 

The only dress code we have at our church is that people don't dress provocatively. People wear everything from jeans and a sweatshirt to casual to dresses and suits.

I see worship services as times when Christians can gather together, focus on God, get reenergized for service in their communities.

My father was a kind, sweet man but he was also stubborn. When he was a young man in the country(farm) ,he was on his way to church on a Sunday morning. Walking along , he met the minister, who said it was too bad he was wearing his farm overalls(clean)  or he could go to church.

 

He never went again except for weddings and funerals ( and not even many of  those;

 

Haven't thought of this in many years. My dad was a very christian man but his stubborness won out.

Crazy, it's funny how sometimes a line can be heard and just stick in our craw,isn't it.

 

I think so. Probably something like that.

Jesus hates cleavage?

 

He and I would not get along.

 

Hi...

 

I am a communicator and realize that my apparel speaks as plainly as my vocabulary. So I take care in what I wear when entering any room designated for some specific purpose.

 

Most often I wear a sports jacket, shirt and trousers bought at the local thrift shop. Sometimes a bow tie, sometimes no tie. Once in a while rainbow suspenders with a bright red nose. Always second hand black military dress boots polished to a high sheen.

 

In the high days of the Church fancy dress was the norm. Clearly indicating class bias and the ethos of gain as the sign of blessing. As hippies grew to maturity, casual made its entrance to the dismay of grandmothers and grandfathers looking down from the heavenly heights.

 

I am unable, because of prophetic bias, to wear any indication of priestly status.

 

George

I'm not sure what denomination he is, but the chaplain at a nursing home I was touring yesterday came in wearing the old black shirt and white dog collar. I have not seen clergy dressed that way in quite some time, though Grandad often wore his collar with a black or blue shirt when on church business (but he's been gone almost 30 years now, so that would have been in the seventies and eighties). I think like George's clerical garb better  (What, no clown smiley? Something we'll have to remedy on WC2.)

 

Mendalla

 

 

You have cleavage chansen?

Depends how well my pants fit.

 

I'm probably showing my age here.

I remember years ago my aunt telling her daughter (my cousin) and me that we should wear our best to church.  Very best would be different for different people - if your very best was a clean shirt and slacks (or for a woman in that generation a clean housedress) that was fine.  But if you dressed up to go 'to town', or to a party, you dressed up for church. 

I kind of agree.  I actually like dressing for church.

 

Around home I dress strictly for comfort - an old faded pair of stretch denim shorts, a stained T-shirt.  For shopping or bowling it's slacks, capris, or shorts with a clean T-shirt.  For square dancing its either those same slacks and T, or a riduculous looking outfit of peasant blouse and full skirt over a crinoline.  I almost never have any reason to dress up except for church. 

In recent years I've almost given up wearing skirts or dresses.  I wear black, or dark brown slacks in winter, beige or other light coloured slacks or capris the rest of the year.  And I wear an appropriate blouse.  Because our big old church is drafty I often wear a blazer or shawl in cold weather. 

 

I've noticed that my daughter wears dress casual.  She's fussy about her clothes.  Her friend also wears dress casual.  And the grandchildren wear jeans.  I'm just glad to see them in church.   (At around 12 to 15 granddaughter would show up in deliberately torn jeans; but either the style has changed or she has outgrown that look and now her jeans don't have holes in them.

 

At my downtown church you would see all manner of dress.  Except very few women wear hats, and few men wear suits and ties.