What do YOU wear to church?

[prayerfull]

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?

[Steeltrap]

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.

[Secretluv]

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.

[Urbane]

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.

[exquizit]

Originally posted by Secretluv


My mama and granny would cut the monkey !!!

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.

[Honeykiss1974]

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.

[Secretluv]

Originally posted by Honeykiss1974

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

[FeeFee]

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.

[Shelacious]

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.

[AKAtude]

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! She is able to control him better in pants. That's just an active child.

[TempleAlum1993]

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

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.

[SweetestDiva]

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. It's easier to just go with the dress until school starts again.

[Exquisite5]

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.

[pinkpassion08]

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

[ClassyLady]

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.