Beauty Tips for Ministers

Maxi Dresses

July 14, 2009 on 11:55 am | In Clergy Image, Women's Clothing | 7 Comments

I am wearing a maxi dress for a wedding rehearsal next weekend.

Mine is not clingy jersey (who NEEDS that?) but substantial cotton with a lining. It is blue and white and has thicker straps and a more substantial bodice (which is to say that I won’t be Cleavage Queen that night, which I should not be). I will wear it with a white shrug sweater and the flat sandals I bought in Greece. I will bring a pair of dressier wedge sandals with me if I suffer a last minute insecurity about not being dressed up enough.

Maxi dresses are all the rage and they’re very comfortable, beautiful and romantic. However, they’re also too gypsy mama-beachy for clergywomen to wear to professional appearances. Because I am a close friend of the family, I decided to wear my maxi dress to the rehearsal dinner after the bride assured me that it was an informal affair. I would not wear such an unstructured dress under any other circumstances.

This is what I am probably wearing to the wedding, with a black short-sleeved jacket that ties at the waist. I’m short, so it will be longer on me. I will wear a pair of black strappy wedges. I love the full skirt, ’cause the Rev is gonna DANCE, baby!

I love doing these “family” weddings. I can be both guest and officiant and it’s really one of the great joys of ministry. Yay for Bethany and Jonathan!

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1. Very nice! I also don’t do spaghetti straps (with a G cup? You can’t be serious!). I haven’t found a pretty maxi that doesn’t have them, though.

   So, for an ‘informal’ evening party in a garden hosted by the Archbishop’s chaplain next Friday, I am wearing a pretty maxi skirt I bought a few years ago:

   http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v484/templegoddess/skirts/turquoisepatternedskirt.jpg

   and these comfortable sandals:

   http://www.clarks.co.uk/find/keyword-is-Rona+shine/product-is-20329305

   I can’t find the link to the dress I’m wearing to a reception next Friday at Lambeth Palace, though….grr.

   [oooh, LOVE! What will you wear on top with that gorgeous skirt? - PB]

   Comment by Wendy in England — July 14, 2009 #

2. as a short woman, I always assumed that as I walked by these cute little things in the store, that they would make me look incredibly dumpy–what’s your secret? Petites? a taylor?

   Even if it isn’t dragging on the floor, how does a short gal pull this off?

   [I've been lucky enough to find two from Target, I think, that hit me at a good spot above the ankle. But I would guess that hemming is your best bet. The fabric and cut has to be right, too -- I've put back anything that didn't drape nicely or that was FABRIC GALORE. - PB]

   Comment by beckydv — July 14, 2009 #

3. I don’t know what the heck happened to the comment I just made (maybe this is moderated?), but PB, can you post something about the appropriate type of undergarments to wear with a maxi dress? [Good question. A strapless bra with the one shown, I should imagine. The straps and bodice on my maxi dress work fine with a regular bra, and whatever undies you like. The beauty of the maxi dress is that NO PANTYHOSE NECESSARY. EVER. Jiggly gals should be aware, however, that like all flowy garments, the maxi dress is not a cover-all. It moves with the body and reveals the shape underneath. So if you're into looking neat and put-together, Spanx or a similarly smoothing item is recommended. - PB]

   Comment by hafidha sofia — July 14, 2009 #

4. me likey the dress. very much. where do you find such a great dress????
   [I got it on sale at Target.com in the Plus Size section. I tried it on a month or so ago when it was full price and kept my eyeballs on the web site in case it got reduced... and it did!! $44 and free shipping. - PB]

   Comment by karla — July 14, 2009 #

5. I got a lovely maxi dress at JC Penney that I’ve worn twice now. It does not have spaghetti straps so I could wear my bra and the bodice is very supportive:

   http://www4.jcpenney.com/jcp/X6.aspx?ItemID=1612561&ItemTyp=G&GrpTyp=PRD&ShowMenu=T&ShopBy=0&SearchString=floral+maxi+dress&RefPage=SearchDepartment.aspx&s4PageSize=15&CmCatId=EXTERNAL|searchdepartment&Search1Prod=True

   The dress looks very boob-ilicious in the photo but it’s not like that on me (and I’m a D cup).

   PB, I recommend gladiator sandals for your maxi dress if you’re feeling insecure about your Greece sandals. I wore a bronze pair with mine – so comfy and very in style now:

   http://www.planetshoes.com/itemmatrix.asp?groupcode=4580

   Comment by Gina — July 14, 2009 #

6. I LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! the dress you’re going to wear to the wedding.

   But I can’t get into the maxi dress. Something about it makes me feel as if I would drown under all that fabric.

   Comment by Kim Hampton — July 14, 2009 #

7. With the skirt, it’s very best with a simple plain tee in a coordinating colour. Because it’s a casual event, outdoors in the evening, I’m also putting a sage green cotton ‘biker blazer’ that I got about 6 summers ago at Old Navy.

   Probably either abalone or some other shell earrings.

   Comment by Wendy in England — July 15, 2009 #

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