What do YOU wear to church?
 

Sorors and Sisterfriends - I had a dilemna a few weeks ago. I have a nice selection of pant suits and really wanted to wear one to church. In all of my 31 years, I have NEVER worn pants to church...to a sunday morning service. It must come from the way that I was raised. My mother would fall out if she ever saw me walk into church with pants on. I literally debated with myself in the mirror for about an hour that day. My husband was like WTF...you look fine...let's go. So, I DID IT. This pants suit was nice - black and grey pinstripe..conservative..professional, etc. I looked great, but was very self-aware.

Now, there may be some "regional" differences in church attire. Here in my area of Cali, I rarely see a woman wear a pant suit to church...and when I do, it's usually someone close to my age, and never any of the older women. I would probably never go any more casual than a pant suit (no casual pants with only a blouse or sweater).

So...what do YOU wear to church? Were you raised with the custom that women should not wear pants to church?

Dress/skirt preferred
 

When I do go to church, I prefer wearing a dress or a skirt suit, and I don't know why. Just out of habit, I guess.

Hello Ladies,

I also wear a dress or a skirt suit... Never in my life have I worn pants to church. My mama and granny would cut the monkey !!! I was raised that women should always wear dresses or skirt suits to church (other than your ocassional church picnic could you get away with pants or shorts). I have noticed that a lot of people in the baptist churches are raised this way.

Off the subject for a moment....
Also in most baptist churches they don't believe in women in the pulpit... My mama will not attend a church that has a woman pastor.

It all depends on how you were raised.

I prefer to wear slacks...
 

and a shirt or sweater.. or even a khaki skirt and a twin set (very casual). Just last week, I went to 2nd service and forgot it was dress down Sunday. I had on my little matte jersey dress and heels... and other members had on jean skirts, jeans, sneakers, sandals. Overall, the congregation's dress is mixed but the younger folks tend to wear whatever they want.

ROTFL
 

That was too funny! lmao

But anyhow..I wear skirts and dresses, but pants are allowed in our church. My pastor is pretty much a "come as you are as long as you're looking to serve the Lord" type person. He draws the line at micro mini (yes they try it) skirts and shorts. Some people come in their work clothes because they';re just getting off or they have to go directly afterward.

I usually just wear a simple dress and sandles during the summer
(the summer is dress down (from June thru August) because it is sooo hot here).

During the rest of the year, I wear pants, skirts, or dresses. They really don't care what you wear to church as long as you're their to hear the Word.

I was raised in a Baptist church un Mississippi and we did not have a "dress down" day or nothing. Women better come in their dress or skirts because pants were not allowed ( our ushers were from the "old school" and they would straight turn you away at the door in a second) and men better come in a suit and tie or dress shirt and tie. :)

OK... them southern (DEEP SOUTH) Baptist folks don't play that wearing pants to church:D

I attend a Pentecostal church and was also raised to wear either a dress or skirt suit to church - no pants in the sanctuary. Now if we held some sort of service downstairs in our dining hall (ie, a youth service), then pants would not be a problem.

Very Casual
 

I'm in Cali, and the big church in which I grew up was fairly conservative (women didn't wear pants to Sunday service, although if you did, you weren't turned away at the door--just maybe looked at oddly by a few people). The church I attend now though is pretty casual, and it's really whatever you feel comfortable wearing: for some women, it's a "traditional church dress", others wear casual business (pants and a twin set) and still others rock the jeans or khakis every week. Almost no one rocks the suits with the rhinestones or feathers with the big church hat though, although if that floats your boat, you'd be welcomed to do so. The same type of flexible dress code goes for men and youth, and on the last Sunday of the month, the choir even dresses in jeans and t-shirts.

Frankly, it was one of the requirements when I looked at a new church home though...I'm so lazy, that if there's ANY excuse I can find, I will use it, so I didn't want the fact that I didn't have a pair of clean hosiery or didn't feel like dressing up to prevent me from worshiping on Sunday.

I grew up wearing dresses or skirt and blouse. However, by the time I got to college I began to wear more casual attire including sandals during the summer. I have actually worn jeans to church before, but not to a Sunday morning service.

My sister didn't believe in wearing a pant suit to church until my nephew came along!:p She is able to control him better in pants. That's just an active child.

Funny how things change
 

I was raised Catholic and for the longest time I would would never think of wearing pants (not ladylike) or going sleeveless(not modest).

NOTE: I am not old enough to be of the generation when women had to have their heads covered too :D

I am now a Baptist and while I will wear pants and still cover my arms.

AND when I see people going to Mass now; its hard to tell if they are going to a barbeque (or some other causal event) and not worship service. :(

I was raised to wear dresses and/or skirt suits. I have worn pants to church at school (when I am away from my mother), but it is strictly dresses/skirts when I come home. I wore pants and a nice shirt ONCE when I was home and I had to hear her little grunts of disapproval ALL DAY. :rolleyes: It's easier to just go with the dress until school starts again. :cool:

I wear pants suits and dresses to church. I have NEVER worn shorts, however. When I was younger the women in my church always wore dresses, so the females in my family followed suit, but as I grew older my pastor began to emphasize "come as you are", so pants became more acceptable. We even have a casual Sunday (third Sunday), but some people wear jeans even when its not casual Sunday. Mostly this is the youth, but I have seen middle aged women in jeans and a church t-shirt on regular occasions. This is especially true of those of on the communications corps, yet when I was growing up even those ladies worn skirts with their communication corps' polos.

Oddly enough, my church is a big Southern Baptist Church, but as my church is located in Houston's III Ward my pastor finds it imperative that not having expensive/fine clothing not deter some from coming. Anyone not attending church due to attire is most certainly NOT was is desired. We'll take all the souls we can save, be they dressed in jeans or Ralph Lauren Black Label.

I grew up in a penecostal (COGIC) church and we were also raised to wear a dress or skirt. When my mom first started going to church women could wear very little make-up and your dress had to be a certain length. The first lady(pastors wife) of the church would tell certain women she thought looked out of place to put on a girdle. I have never worn pants to church, however I do think people shouls come as they are because your clothes aren't what gets you into heaven. People sometimes get too caught up with outer appearance, when it is the soul that needs to be saved.

Alpha Kappa Alpha
Kappa Sigma Chapter
Pink Passion the devastaing deuce

I'm baptist and I generally wear skirt suits and nice dresses to church. But, a few years ago, my church instituted a casual Sunday policy for the fourth Sunday of every month. Really, it's just a little bit more relaxed. It's no where close to casual. Women will wear nice pants and a blouse or sweater set.

I can say that I have never gone to church without stockings on. My mother would send me to meet my maker if I ever showed up to praise him like that. I always used to ask why I had to dress up when God said "come as you are." My mother would say that was for people who didn't have nice clothes and since I did, I had better put them on if I knew what was good for me.

I think that the "only wear dresses" rule is just a leftover from the pre-women's lib era. Women just didn't wear anything but skirts, and long skirts at that, anywhere, let alone church. Older women seem stuck in that era, but if you don't stand behind your husband, work in the home b/c that's what women are for, etc. then this rule is a bit outdated.

I believe that you just need to give God your best effort, that means be clean, ironed, with nothing too revealing, and praise Him with all your might.

HTH and this is just my opinion
MMW

I was brought up to wear only skirts or dresses to church.

Just recently, I started wearing nice pants suits or pants and a nice top. It took me a long time to come to this though.

Can I get an AMEN? Well said. I wear the same thing I wear to work: clean, neat and stylish business casual attire. Once in a great while, I wear jeans or chinos to the evening service.

Outside of wearing hoochie gear (A big no-no ANYWHERE, to a self-respecting woman, let alone church), I think this whole emphasis on women's dress is yet another example of folks fixating on tradition rather than focusing on the teaching and doing of God's word.

Thank you Discogoddess--

By the way I hope that you don't mind me posting on your Avenue. I am a serious Sisterfriend and just enjoy your page.

Sunday Morning Attire
 

I generally wear pants. Since it us the summer, I will wear a sundress, but rarely pantyhose.

My church atmosphere is generally confortable but not down right tacky or hoochie-fied.

Attire
 

As I child, I was raised in the Catholic church and you could pretty much wear anything. Jeans were very commonplace there, way before some churches began considering allowing jeans. While you may have seen very casual attire, for the most part I wore skirts and dresses or nice dress pants.

On the other hand, my grandfather and uncle were Baptist ministers. If I attended thier church, it was dresses and skirts.

Now, I attend a Baptist church. I did inquire first as to whether it was appropriate to wear pants. I ljust ove my pants suits.

Come as you are.....
 

I think pastors realize that we can't afford the finer clothing and it is really their job to spead God's word and be messengers rather than the fashion police. Like the saying goes, "You can't judge a book by it's cover", and though you may see a brotha with cornrows and timberlands or a sista with tight pants on he or she probably is serving his Lord God and doing his or her duty; they just may not have received their blessing. :D
I attend a Word of Faith church. It is basically non-Denomination and these type of churches are spreading fast around the US.<b> I can say that the one thing that I believe and love is that they continue to show and preach is that our God is a God of change. People fail to realize this and get stuck on tradition. </b> As times change, we have to along with it. Why not feel comfortable while praising the Lord? How will wearing a skirt or pants change my faith in God? God knows your heart and that is what counts.

personally, i wear whatever i feel like to church. it could be shorts, a dress, pants suit, jeans or whatever. i was raised to look like a young lady, when i went to church, which meant wearing dresses. but, over the years, i've come to realize that my choice of clothes doesn't matter, it's what's in my heart that truly counts.

I was raised to wear dresses to church. Just recently, I have allowed my self to wear nice business pants suits to functions such as bible study. Yet, I doubt if I will ever break the traditional dresses only for Sunday service.

I have always been the "tom-boy" type and as a young girl my mother made me wear dresses and skirts. Since high school, I have worn slacksand pant suits. My church is a "come as you are" type of church so pants seem to be acceptable.

I only wear pants if I have to leave church and go straight to work. I believe that you should dress your best for the Lord, so if peope wear pants, its not a problem but I refuse to believe that ripped jeans, short-short shorts and the like are your best. We also have a casual Sunday on the 5th Sunday. My grandparents can't get with it. I still feel awkward wearing jeans to service so I don't.

I attend a nondenominataional and being that I'm active in both the main sanctuary and the youth ministry (we have our own building for worship) we have the policy to wear whatever you want. When at the youth building I wear whatever; however, when I'm at the main sanctuary we tend to look niceer than any Sunday!

Our wardrobe basically includes jeans, shirts, etc.,

Hello ladies, I've been a silent observer on your board and just wanted to start posting. I hope you don't mind me posting to this board.

This topic just reminded me of home where a good part of the chruches frowned upon wearing pants, having non-natural hair (ie permed, extensions), wearing excessive jewelry, wearing makeup or nail polish and not covering your head. Fortunately, I went to one of the less hardcore ones but even when I went to church with braids, I got funny looks. But at my current church - come as you are - but be decent :)

Anyway, I hope you all are having a wonderful Sunday, and a great summer.

Funny thing happened this Sunday, they posted a dress code (8 of them) in the bulletin...How inappropriate is that!

A DRESS CODE...WTF? :eek:

Lawdy...sometimes I wish some of the former pimps (and their hoes...oops did I say that...) could be made privy to some dressing "tips".

They roll up in church with coordinating (the pimps and hoes...oops did I say that again :D) outfits. Yesterday, for example, this one dude rolled up with a red, pin-stripe, long-tail suit, with coordinating cane, red hat and red shoes. His "wife" (is that better...she's a reformed hoe) sported a matching red, booty tight, thigh-length red dress, (her thighs are quite thick) spike red heels and a white fur coat. Of course, they were both draped with the "bling-bling".

Dannnnnnng.....I bet he/she thought it was tight too...LOL It is sad that someone took the energy to come up with rules for dress at church what happened to come as you are? It shows ou just how vain some people are in the church. That's why soooo many people today have lost faith in chuch because of the many hypocrites that they find....we are trying to win souls not lose them

You both said it well...

I also grew up in a COGIC...And they were stuck in the mentality of women wearing dresses and no nail polish and no short hair cuts (yes, I know :eek: )...Now I go to a different church, where our Pastor & church basically has a 'come as you are' policy...I usually wear nice pants and a sweater (I'm still in college) or a skirt...I don't care about what others wear as long as you look somewhat presentable (read: do not come looking like you are going to the club...and some do this). People show up in work clothes, jeans, etc...Some people might not have money to buy nice clothes--and those nice clothes, as Pinkpassion08 put it, don't "get you into heaven"... ;)

I could not resist replying to this message. I can remember as a youth attending a church that did not allow its female members to wear pants at all. I ran track in high school and on evenings when we had choir rehersal I would go immediately to the church. Now mind you I wore jeans and polo shirts to school, which meant I was wearing that when I went to church. I ABSOLUTELY COULD NOT ENTER THE SANTUARY WITH OUT PUTTING ON A CHOIR ROBE. Now I must admit I went along with it at that point because that was just the way it was, but now I ask this, did GOD really care that I had on a pair of jeans. I was not dressed scantilly nor wore the clothes revealing, but sometimes people put more emphasis on the clothing issue than God does. Do you think God is really concerned with the way you dress? I ask this becuase people make this an issue because they want people to dress a certain way, so they make this assertion that we should wear certain things. I now wear dresses, skirts and blouses, pants, and during the summer months I even wear sandals with no hose. I also wear hats when I feel like it and that may only be a few times a year.

Secondly, I am kind of wondering why the church felt the need to place a dress code in the bulletin. Was it because people were dressing inappropriately? It does not automatically mean that anyone was dressed inappropriately and yet there is such a thing as dressed inappropriately, regardless of where you are. If your dress is distracting to others and is making it difficult for others to concentrate on their reason for coming to church (prayerfully it is to praise the Lord), then there is a problem. Maybe the congregation is large and they wanted to make sure that everyone was on the same page. :o :p :)

I was wondering the exact same thing (but didn't want to say it)...Prayerfull, do you know their reasons for posting the dress code? Whatever the reason though, it's sad that it was done (and it's even sadder if it was b/c of these reasons...)

What Christ wants...
 

I guess folks had to post a Dress Code 'cuz the "elders" of the church say, "this is a church service, a place to beholden unto God, it is not a nightclub"... Some negroes may need to be told that...

But I think the issue is more about, what Christ wants--I guess He'd rather ask you to come as your are and repent from sin, than to lose you altogether 'cuz you failed to met a "man-made" dress code.

Really, if all of us truly belief in the One True God, then we really should have no shame in our fashion attire, because really, the Creator made us naked and it was only by deception man found that out...

Mary Magadelene, a known high cost prostitute came in rags and broke an illegal expensive bottle of perfum on Jesus' feet then wiped them with her hair and tears... She could have come in dressed provocatively, but she decided to strip herself into her lowliest of her rags for her Salvation...

There are numerous verses in the New Testament regarding how one is to treat those of lesser acquisitions--appropriate attire being one of them.

Really, what difference does it make, if you ain't saved, then you'd just be another somebody in a high priced suit 6 feet under... And you cain't take it with you...

My Mama always said: There's a difference between a 10 cent person and a Million dollar person--And it has nothing to do with monetary value... You can take a 10 cent person and put them in a million dollar dress, and you've still got a 10 cent person... At the same time, you can take a Million dollar person and put them in a 10 cent dress, and you've still got a Million dollar person...

What Christ wants to know is what dress will you choose to wear?

I'm not sure what the purpose of the dress code was for ...we just got a new pastor and the old pastor was VERY handsome and more than a few women were after him but they didn't necessarily dress provocatively...it didn't matter what they wore, he was just out there like that they say:rolleyes: . Now the new pastor is just as attractive and the old folks call themselves running thangs to try to prevent what happened before...as if that would rectify the whole thing.....