Posted on by PeaceBang

She’s Not Going Back to Omar the Tentmaker

Darling ones,

This just in from a frustrated abundantly-sized clergygal:

Dear PeaceBang,
I just stumbled across your website. Boy, do I need you! I’m a plus size woman and can’t find any clergy clothes that don’t look like they came from Omar the Tentmaker. Do you know of any websites that feature clergy clothes for the full-figured woman that don’t cost an arm and a leg? Thanks!

Dear heart,
What, you don’t have an arm and a leg to sacrifice to the cause of looking decent in your ministry? Whatsamatta you? What kind of servant-leader ARE you, anyway? What kind of example are you setting?

All kidding aside, many of us are with you in this struggle and we do hope you’ll check the archives under “Vestments and Clericals” and “Plus Sizes.” Read not only the posts but the comments, for therein you will find your plus-sized comrades bemoaning the same sad fact (i.e., manufacturers of clericals are still thinking in terms of tall, straight up-and-down male bodies) and offering loads of suggestions. Try Holy Threads (mentioned this week on the blog) and see how her prices are. Let us know what you find. But if memory serves, there really is a treasure trove of information and help in the comments.

Good luck, hon, and thanks for making me laugh this morning about Omar. We ALL KNOW OMAR, don’t we?

4 Replies to “She’s Not Going Back to Omar the Tentmaker”

  2. Hmm… I don’t know Omar but didn’t Paul make tents to support himself in his travels? Explains a lot, doesn’t it? 😉

    Anyway, I’m still in seminary so I’m not really clergy shirt shopping yet, but the only way I’ve found to get vestments that really really fit is to have them made. I’m a short, chubby pear shaped person so I cannot buy a cassock off the rack. I had one made in a style designed for women (more a-line, single breasted, only one pleat in the back instead of two!) and in the best fabric the manufacturer offered. It did cost an arm and a leg. However I do love it and feel really good (read: not self-conscious) in it. I’m about to give up my other arm and leg for an alb I actually don’t hate putting on (and don’t trip over!) Sigh. This does not bode well for clergy shirt shopping.

  3. I just got turned on to this blog and finally couldn’t resist commenting.
    I looked through the older posts and comments and unless I’m just wicked tired and missed it, no one has yet mentioned the Lydia Collection from Augsburg Fortress.
    I’ve started wearing clericals recently and these shirts are the best. They look feminine and crisp and clean. And they’re honestly wrinkle free.
    I too am a curvy woman and these shirts make me feel wonderful as I run around on Sunday mornings.
    The same company also helped me custom make an alb and it was worth the cost (around 230.00ish) though the bully who measured me must have been working for Omar and I’ll be making some minor home adjustments.

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