How to Dress for Church

Long gone are the days when people wore hats, white gloves and patent leather to a Sunday morning service. Modern churchgoers wear everything from suits and dresses to jeans and tees.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Hosiery
• Men's Dress Shirts
• Men's Dress Sweater
• Mens' Dress Pants
• Women's Dress Coats
• Women's Dress Pants
• Women's Dress Shirts
• Women's Dress Sweater
• dresses and skirts

1. Check with your new church or one that you'll be visiting to find out if a dress code exists.

2. Consider regional tendencies. Services in larger cities, particularly in the South and Northeast, often boast dressier congregations.

3. Go in business casual anytime you're unsure. Men and boys might opt for khaki pants, a button-down shirt and leather slip-on shoe. Women and girls may choose a simple dress or a matching skirt and top with nice, low-heeled shoes.

4. Keep shoulders covered and lengths long until you discover the levels of tolerance of your particular church. Shorts, miniskirts and tank tops are too revealing for many services.

5. Keep prints and patterns in good taste.

6. Be comfortable and be yourself. Don't feel obligated to dress in clothes that you feel are otherwise too fancy for who you are or likewise more casual than what you prefer.

Tips & Warnings

• Consult guidebooks if you plan to visit churches in any country whose religious customs are unfamiliar. Greek Orthodox churches, for example, require legs and arms to be covered prior to entry.

[SDKP]

on 2/3/2009 The comment about the Crucifix is complete crap. That is utterly untrue and sounds tacky as hell.

[tina1423]

on 1/17/2009 I will wear a dress and a shirt! That's what I wear 7 days a week. I aplaude you. WE MUST DRESS LIKE NICE!!!!!!!!!!!!

on 11/22/2005 Wearing a nice shirt and a pair of dress pants is a lot more presentable than your old jeans and a T-shirt. Keep a Church wardrobe. Have things for all seasons. Even a nice suit or dress, dress pants, and nice tops are fine. Blouses look good with dress pants.

on 11/22/2005 If attending a Catholic church service, try to incorporate crosses and crucifixes into your outfit, either with jewelry or by wearing garments with a crosses or crucifixes pattern. Priests generally respond well to this as it shows you are a keen practicer of your religion.

on 11/22/2005 Traditional Catholics -- those who attend the indult "Tridentine" Latin Mass and those who attend S.S.P.X. chapels -- should dress up. Women should wear dresses that cover the knees, and sleeves that cover the upper arms. They should also cover their heads (scarves, mantillas, chapel veils, hats, etc.).