Beauty Tips for Ministers
Because you're in the public eye, and God knows you need to look good.
Rain, Rain, Go AWAY!!
June 23, 2009 on 12:16 pm | In Clergy Image, Fighting Frump | 15 CommentsWe have had the rainiest, darkest June here in Boston in a century. BLECH. I’m coughing all night from what I think is probably a mold allergy and we’re all growing fins.
Some tips for dressing professionally in chronically crumola weather:
1. Keep it simple. A clean, pressed cotton blouse and skirt for gals works well for two reasons: first, the cotton wicks away moisture. Second, who needs soggy hems dragging around your ankles all day?
A PeaceBang Digression
I’m sorry, ducks, but capris are generally not appropriate for professional wear. They look good on the young and slim (I SAID I’m sorry!), with perhaps a pair of slingbacks and a sweater swet or a similarly smart ensemble. PeaceBang knows darn well, however, that most clergy who wear capris do not wear them with a “smart” ensemble but with ugly sandals and camp or T-shirts. She knows because she has seen this at too many gatherings, and it has made her extremely cranky and depressed.
Capris are not a dignified choice for professional appearances, period.
Big floppy shorts should also be avoided. In fact, they should be more than avoided: they should be taken out and shot.
2. Constant rain does not give any of us an excuse to wear Crocs.
3. Please rotate shoes so that each pair has an appropriate amount of time to thoroughly dry. If thou dost not, thou risketh foot stinketh und itcheth.
4. A trench or structured raincoat and umbrella will keep the Rev. Mr. or Ms. dry and looking professionally appropriate for important meetings. If you want to represent a respectable institution for an important occasion, don’t make an entrance in your Eddie Bauer pull-over windbreaker with your hair all windblown and wet. Just. Don’t. For pastoral calls in people’s homes, it’s fine. For a sit-down with your local councilman or woman or a lecture to the college group, it’s not.
Need a guideline? An appropriate rain coat has a collar, buttons and often a belt. It is not made of plastic and it does not have a college or sports team logo over the left breast.
5. Have a plan for umbrellas in the church. Do ushers know where to direct people to deposit their wet brellies? Wet umbrellas do not belong in the pews where they might poke someone in the eye or soak Mrs. Dillingham’s purse.
People lose their tempers easily in long periods of bad weather (or as we call it here, “weath-ah.”). Be pastorally aware of building aggressions in yourself and within the congregation.
“Your Honor, it rained every day for fourteen days. I HAD to stab him with those scissors when he poked me with his umbrella for the third time that morning!”
“Fourteen days, you say? Acquitted!” (bangs gavel)
6. It takes longer to get around in the rain. Leave plenty of time. Pack your bag with care. Nothing says, “I’m losing it in this ENDLESS DRIZZLE” like you arriving somewhere with soaking pants cuffs, struggling through the door with your briefcase bursting with lunch and paperwork and holding a streaming, half-closed umbrella. Do yourself and everyone else the favor of leaving extra time to prepare for, and get to, appointments.
Rain seems romantic to some people, but how happy do you think that cat is?
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i know, i know…crocs are the WORST. however, these little numbers look quasi-fine and are good for rain: http://shop.crocs.com/pc-33-4-prima.aspx
could these be acceptable to wear up until you are in your office and then change into a fabulous pair of beautiful non-croc shoes? [absolutely, doll - PB]
love,
rev-in-training
Comment by rev-in-training — June 23, 2009 #
Oh my goodness, it’s been even worse here in Maine, pouring for weeks. (and of course I left my light blue fitted rain coat, and my rain boots in California….) do you know if those boots you linked to will fit over a large calf? [They fit over mine, so yes, but maybe not extra-large? - PB]
Comment by Flo — June 23, 2009 #
On a related – but not fashion-related note – I find that lighting lots of candles in my home helps during periods of lots of grey. This helped me through months of grey winter in Michigan. Either it’s enough like natural light, or an act I associate with engaging the sacred – or both – but it helped me.
Comment by Rev. Gidget — June 24, 2009 #
In the Midwest we are mired in HOT, humid, i mean Floridian weather. you wanna talk cranky??
Comment by Carol — June 24, 2009 #
Carol, I hear ya! Although my office and the majority of the church is air-conditioned, just walking to the car makes me melt! Any tips for keeping cool while maintaining professional dress?
Comment by Sue — June 24, 2009 #
I think in particularly icky weather conditions, while our natural tendency is to complain and succumb to the conditions – you should take special care to prepare yourself for what is ahead.
In the dark days of winter – I begin my day with a candlelit shower….It’s very peaceful and easier on the eyes when I crawl out of bed.
In the wet rainy weather – I like to wear bright colors – I am a traditional clothes dresser – however love a pop of color with a scarf, handbag or shell.
In the hot days of summer – I will take a break and soak my feet in cold water with rocks and then lather on a great smelling lotion or gel moisturizer.
Self care is important – and can keep our eyes focused on what matters more – care for others.
Comment by Nancy — June 26, 2009 #
I don’t really understand your decree against capris. I’m wearing a black pair right now – they’re trim and tailored with tidy waistband and cuffs… I have patent leather sandals and a grey striped sweater/shirt thing.
How is this unprofessional? [READ THE POST! READ THE POST! It's NOT! And I said so. There's a way to dress them up, and some of you are doing so. But many are not, and that's who I'm talking to. And to those who insist on wearing them to events like funerals, etc. - PB]
Comment by beachpsalms — June 26, 2009 #
Wellll, I’m going to have to disagree with the “no capris” ruling. In summer I wear cropped pants often – with sweater sets, with a short blazer or linen jacket, whatever. Here’s a good example. http://www1.talbots.com/talbotsonline/product/itempage.aspx?item=J161987&PFID=1451&BID=&h=M&sk=M
I wear them with wedge sandals or peep-toed pumps and they look good. These are made like gabardine trousers but they are shorter. I have a black pair and a navy pair. They make up the basis of my summer professional wardrobe, along with a few print jersey dresses and cardigans. [Well HONEY BUN, didja read the post or WHAT? I SAID that capris or crops needed to be dressed up with sweater sets, et al. Sounds like you're looking terrif. And I'm also guessing that you're not clergy. Our 'professional appearances' are different than those of an academic, for instance. - PB]
Comment by ann — June 26, 2009 #
Like beachpsalms, I wear trim and tailored capris with a smart top and maybe a jacket. Not the camp t-shirt kind of ensemble. And, I am tall and relatively slim, so I like to think they look nice on me. But I get Peacebang’s assertion that it is not “dignified” or supremely “professional,” so I wouldn’t wear it to an occasion where I must be as such. However, for an average day around the parish – writing sermons, making visits, going to some low-key meetings or conferences (where I am not presenting), I am fine with that choice. [Right. Precisely. You got it, babe. - PB]
Comment by K — June 27, 2009 #
Have to agree with beachpsalms and K- of course our parish is in a beach/resort community, where the heat index is currently over 120 degrees. Capris are survival gear here-especially for those of us over 45, with the spider veins to prove it- and can be dressed up to pass muster. BUT I didn’t dig them out for this afternoon’s funeral, nor will I wear them under my alb tommorrow. There’s a time and a place. [EGGGZACTLY, darlin'! Amen! - PB]
Comment by Rev. Hannah — June 27, 2009 #
for Flo – i bought a pair of rubber rain boots a while back that seemed big enough for a big calf, but they were really tall and would get kind of stuck around the widest part of my calf. my solution was to cut off the top 2 inches of the boots, now they’re perfect. [You DID NOT. Really??- PB]
Comment by Claire — June 29, 2009 #
“Capris are not a dignified choice for professional appearances, period.”
Sorry, don’t agree with you. I have on a very dressy pair of capris bought at TJMAX with a blouse and jacket. A pair of dressy sandels. I’m off to meet a real estate client. I look very professional. [Yes, and for a real estate agent that would be perfectly appropriate. For an ordination or installation, funeral or wedding that is not perfectly appropriate. Professional appearances for clergy are different than for other working people. - PB]
Comment by Marlene — June 29, 2009 #
Just in case any size 12-14 women are looking for rain boots, http://tiny.cc/OknJx.
Otherwise, I’d have to wear my crocs. :0)
Comment by Kym — July 1, 2009 #
I think you threw us when you referenced the ugly t-shirt/camp shirt ensemble. Who would think to wear those to a professional event. I thought you were referring to everyday office professional. Sorry
[You'd be surprised, my dear, you'd be surprised! -PB]
Comment by Marlene — July 2, 2009 #
[Well HONEY BUN, didja read the post or WHAT? I SAID that capris or crops needed to be dressed up with sweater sets, et al. Sounds like you're looking terrif. And I'm also guessing that you're not clergy. Our 'professional appearances' are different than those of an academic, for instance. - PB]
I serve in a seminary and am ordained. Most of my weekday contact is with congregations, pastors and some business leaders as well as seminary colleagues. I am without a doubt the most-dressed-up person at the seminary except for the President, who always wears suits. If I am with a congregation for worship, I wear a skirted suit or a dress – I was thinking you were mostly speaking about capris in relation to day-to-day office wear. Thanks!
Comment by ann — July 6, 2009 #