Church attire

[rt2dz]

Our church was founded on the come as you are mentality. When our church was started, there was the huge survey done that evaluated what people dislike about church/why they don't attend. And the very first thing was dressing up, especially when the kids hate it. So, a causal church it was.

They send little notes home with kids on their first visit that says to please send kids in play clothes so they are comfortable. Kids church is during Main services & is very active. Kids love it and quite frequently you'll hear people say they go to our church partly because (1) the kids asked to & (2) refused to go anywhere else after trying it. Heck, our pastor frequently is in jeans & a golf shirt when preaching.

It's not like God cares. And you are supposed to have God with you in every aspect of your life, every day, not just at church. So, if dressing up is a requirement of church, you should live your life dressed up.

You will frequently see some dressed up, but they stand out. Last night (yup, we go to Saturday night services v. Sunday morning), I wore a cute shirt & a pair of shorts.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

I dress nicely for church - but that is because it is important to me and I want to show respect. I don't think that it is important to God, but as a society one of the ways we show "respect" is by dressing for the occasion.

Now, my kids - they are much more casual, but they are devoted, so that is more important to me, than for them to dress up and not care. Different generation - different way of thinking.

The only manner of dress I think is disrespectful is when people dress to attract the opposite sex - then I think they are missing the point of going to church in the first place, and they distract others. IMO, of course.

 

[Stitchfans]

No dress code at our church either. (even though I haven't been real good about going lately- )
I usually wear a dress once in a great while if it is real cold out dress pants and a sweater.

 

[TheDisneyTraveler06]

Our church is very laid back. Show up in jeans and flip-flops, it doesn't matter.

 

[disykat]

No dress code here. People wear anything from dresses to jeans, but most dress one step up from everyday. I prefer to wear dresses (I'm just about to get dressed now, and I'm dressing pretty formally today) or pants that I might wear to work, dh usually wears dress slacks and a nice shirt, but the boys wear jeans and t shirts. My only rule for the boys is no holes and no words or pictures on their shirts - for them that IS dressing up!

 

[Stacerita]

My church is a come as you are type. I see everything from dressed up, to casual. It also has to do with which service you attend. Saturday nights tend to be more casual. I know there have been planty of time we have gone from the field straight to church. Or have been out all day and do not have time to go and change. And almost no matter what I wear, its usually some sort of flip flop on my feet. Its not about what we wear to service, its about being there. The pastor of our church doesn't dress up, it sets the tone I think. He usually wears khaki pants or dockers with a shirt. Most time its just a shirt, no collar or buttons. Sometimes he will wear one with a collar. I dont think I have ever seen him in a tie. It helps to make everyone feel welcome, no matter what they wear.

 

[Stepharoonie!]

The church we attend is very low key and laid back. A lot of people show up in flip flops and jeans...I tend to wear a skirt and nice shirt, hubby will wear jeans and a nice shirt.

 

[Keli]

Mostly I dress up. Some times I go in dressy casual. Never in really casual clothes though. I think I am the only person I know who hates to dress in very casual clothes for anything beside the grocery store, lol.

As far as the rest of the congragation, well, there's a little bit of everything I guess. People on the platform will dress up, guys in suits, women in nice clothes. People in the pews are more casual, kahki (sp?), denim, t-shirts, dress pants, nice shirts, dressy skirts, dresses. There isn't a dress code and we have people from all walks of life and more than one ethniticy so I think that is reflected in the clothing that is worn.

 

[GeorgeG]

I play in a church band (contemporary service) and from what I see most are in nice casual with a few ties. I wear dress pants and a casual collared shirt and the guy who runs the band is usually in flip-flops and very casual pants and shirt. This service is held in what they call the fellowship hall and traditional sevices are held in the main chuch. I have no idea how they dress there, but I believe the choir is in robes.

 

[lemondog]

I live in the Bible Belt where people tend to get snazzed up for church, but we attend a large Catholic church where you will see everything from "Sunday best" to sweats and sneakers. There is no dress code, per se. The Sat. night mass tends to be more casual, with most people in jeans and whatnot.

 

[JoyG]

I see a variety at my church also.

I wouldn't feel comfortable in jeans, but I do see people wear jeans occasionally and they don't look out of place. Today I wore a jean dress with no stockings.

My kids wore shorts and polo shirts today. But sometimes they are in long pants and a tie depending on what mood strikes me.

My pastor always wears dress casual with a tie and khaki's but not usually a jacket.

 

[AKLRULZ]

I'm a Pentacostal and attend what is probably best categorized as a "Mega Church". Worship is band driven and contemporary and you'll find old and young alike dressed in anything from suit/tie/dress to grunge. We sorta fall somewhere in between and I'll wear anything from dress slacks and a button down in the winter to jeans/shorts in the summer with flips.

 

[allie&mattsmom]

We belong to a Catholic church and you see pretty much everything there. No real dress codes, except they have had to send notes home to the school kids (mostly directed at the girls) at the end of the school year that they need to watch their "attire" for the upcoming summer. Like no tube tops and no bare midriffs. In the summer, you still see some pretty skimpy tops on some of the teens. Today I had on black capris and a blouse, DS had on jeans and a oxford button down. DH had on a button down and kakis and DD had on a cute little skirt and sleeveless top. Like I said, you see a variety.

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

I guess I feel God is worth the extra effort on my part. Now, if I couldn't afford to wear something nicer than jeans and flips to church, that would be different. I know, and God knows, that I can, so I do.

i am in full agreement with this!

DH is always in suitpants and a shirt & DD is ALWAYS in adress and DS is in a little suit or khakis and a pol && i am in dress slacks, dress or skirts

The Lord IS worth the effort for me

 

[DVCLiz]

I am a real Luddite when it comes to this. Most of my friends would embrace a casual service, but I would never dream of going to church without wearing a dress, hose and nice shoes. I couldn't bring myself to wear pants, let alone jeans, to church. My oldest daughter has occasionally worn dress slacks, and I had a hard time with that, as well. My feeling is, if I wanted to be that casual, I could stay home and listen to the service on the radio (our service is carried by one of the local stations.)

But as I said, I'm very old-fashioned about this. I do think it is disrespectful to dress for church as though you were running errands. I think it's a "formal" experience and you should dress for it.

But then, I also hate all contemporary services - no guitars, bands, etc. for me!!!! My church is and always has been traditional organ music and choir, and that's what I really like.

If a service is advertised as casual, I think it's perfectly fine to wear jeans - I just wouldn't attend that kind of service. If I can't tell the difference between church and MTV, it's time for me to face the fact that I'm turning into an old lady!

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

But as I said, I'm very old-fashioned about this. I do think it is disrespectful to dress for church as though you were running errands. I think it's a "formal" experience and you should dress for it.

but i'm not that old (26) i was just raised by parents that expected us to dress up for mass every sunday and it seemed to carry over into my life too.

 

[disneylizzy]

You see pretty much everything at our suburban Catholic church. I don't wear jeans, usually khakis and a nice sweater. My rules for the kids (teens) are that jeans are okay, but not ripped or frayed ones. No sports teams or writing on the shirts, no sandals or flip flops. The boys usually wear polos or a button down shirt over a plain t shirt.

I'm just glad that people show up, but sometimes I wince when I see girls in spaghetti strap tops or real short skirts.

 

[Free4Life11]

I usually dress casually though I do expect the pastor to dress up. My dad is a pastor and always wears a suit.

I don't really mind what people wear, however, I did see a young kid on today with a Metallica shirt that had a big skull impaled with some sort of spiked club. It didn't bother me that much but I thought it was a little tasteless to be wearing in church.

ETA: Found a picture of the shirt, what do you think?

 

[kayeandjim00]

I grew up in a Southern Baptist church and while there was no dress code per say I very rarely saw people in jeans during Sunday morning services. Women were always in dresses and men always in shirt and tie. I now attend a Catholic mass and there it's everything and anything. Some of it surprises me honestly but I agree with the sentiment that it really doesn't matter. I sometimes thought growing up that church turned into a fashion show with the women I wear "business casual" usually skirts in the summer and dressy pants in the winter. I would say I'm dress more formally than 90% of the attendees but it's my choice.

 

[Saphire]

Our church has no dress code and I honestly couldn't attend one that did. I would squirm under a rule of a dress and stockings. I don't want men telling me how to dress. If I ever felt like God wanted me to dress a certain way, I would do it in a second. But I feel God looks right through us to the heart, and all the outside stuff doesn't matter at all to Him.