Hi darlings!
Alert reader Sara sent me this link to an Ontario company that makes stoles and clericals. Look how flattering!
The shirts are made of sustainable, breathable, totally groovy Save-The-Earth fabrics, which is why they cost $90. Eek. That’s expensive. But I guess if you wear clericals every day you would certainly get your money’s worth.
What do you think of that bright red? I think it’s too much. I would recommend one of the other earthier tones. Seriously, because I don’t want my pastor coming to visit me on my sickbed in such a screaming shade of scarlet, okay? It might cause retinal bleeding or something. Be considerate.
Now here’s one of those girl-priest dickey deals that I haven’t ever succumbed to, but I don’t don the collar very often. Check it out.
This garment is called a “Clergy Bodice,” and I love the idea of something that you can actually wear like a shirt, or as the web site claims, like a sports bra. That sucker won’t move around like a dickey will.
I think the product looks great but I don’t understand the weird leather-shiny looking shirt the model is wearing on their web site. What is that all about?
Also, hey Spiritual Apparel, do you think we’re MADE OF MONEY? Why in the name of Geraldine Granger would charge NINETY BLOODY DOLLARS for a half-shirt? Get OUT of here! Plus $12 S&H? Did I read that wrong? Please tell me that I read that wrong.
A factory made (man’s) rabat cost me $55 and that was 7 years ago. My gowns each ran over $300 before that. It’s high, but not impossible. (That color of red is, however, even for someone like me who can wear it, impossible.)
Oooh, bit pricey. But look nice. (I would have it in black…)
Oh PB, look at the preaching stole that they are offering on the other part of the website and comment please–after your mouth has stopped burning from the bad taste!
Their rainbow sheep stole would get you a mention on “Bad Vestments” for sure! But the shirt looks good.
Red is usually reserved for Deans in our tradition. I still like a black clergy shirt with collar (no tabs) – I like WomenSpirit’s
These are innovative but I don’t like a tab colllar: mock neck turtlenecks can be adapted for like 20 dollars each.
I was looking at the bodice collar piece they offered, even though I don’t wear a collar myself (never have).
I’m not sure I could even wear one. I’m a very busty gal, and the sizes and measurements they offer would not even come close to fitting around me. They only have a 1-3″ difference between “bust” and “underbust.” That seems to me like anyone who wears a D-cup or bigger would be left out. So much for those of us who move far deeper into the bra-size alphabet!
Got the tab-collar bodice about a year ago, as a present to myself. As someone who regularly wears a collar, and often wears a sweater – it’s nice not having the bunched up look under a thin knit v neck… It has really expanded my options for the uniform, and made me feel less like I wear a pillowcase everday to work, while still rocking the traditional black.
The first one I bought was washed by hand once, and the collar part wrinkled. I immediately contacted them, and they told me to send it back and they replaced it for free. Had no problems since, and it has held up nicely.
The bust size is a little bit of an issue. I’m barely a D and I wish it was a little more tailored to the size difference between boob and not boob. It’s not tight, its just not as fitted around the “underbust” as it could be.
Try Cross Designs: http://www.crossdesignsltd.com/index.html
Custom made to your measurements. Tops run $60-70US, shipping about $6. Some of their fabrics are a bit wild; but they are out of England, and I believe European churches are a bit more relaxed than we are in the US. I haven’t ordered anything – yet – but I’ve corresponded and they’ve always been very prompt and helpful.
I have the clergy shirt from Stitches of Ayr in a black, and it is the most comfortable thing I have ever worn. It breathes in the hot, sweaty summer weather too. SO much nicer for summer services even than the 100% cotton ones from Lydia. It was well worth the investment.
I have a coleague who ordered it in the red, and she loves it. Taste is personal. Let’s not trash people’s taste, eh, even if we don’t share it. I have another coleague who has the rainbow sheep stole, and the children in the congregation love it. The seamstress custom designs your stole, and this was requested. She features stoles she has made. My taste runs to simpler designs and solids. But some folks really like the busier prints. This seamstress is trustworthy, hard-working, bright, and generally doesn’t charge enough to cover her materials. I strongly recommend her as someone to consider if you want well-made, extremely comfortable custom designed clergy fashion.
Ladies, ladies — 1. Buy a cheap clergy shirt. 2. Cut it off about 2 inches under the armpits. 3. Cut up the side seams. 4. Sew elastic between the side seams to pull the shirt tight under your bust. 5. Enjoy your inexpensive non-ride-up dickey.
Whatever you do, don’t spend $90 on a heavy polyester garment that will only make you hotter.