Oh, no. I am such a fan of Etsy and so want to support and promote the work of independent crafters and artists, but I just can’t with this.
The vendor writes,
Turn any outfit into clerical wear! This cute detachable collar can serve multiple purposes: as a cute accessory OR as a cool, comfortable alternative to a clergy shirt. The collar fits regular sized clergy tabs and is modeled with my own “Blinged Out Clergy Collar Tab” available EXCLUSIVELY in my etsy store. The blinged out tab is not included, but you can add it on for only $5!
Available in three colors (black, pink leopard print, or black pebble; see photo) and in three sizes: 12.5, 13.5, and 14.5 inches in circumference. Every collar will be custom made by me, so allow 1-2 weeks for turn around. And just a note: I’m a professional pastor, not a professional tailor, so I hope you will enjoy the charm of my ethically handmade stuff!
Oh, oh, PeaceBang is groaning. She loves the enthusiastic tone. She appreciates the effort. Sort of. It pains her to say this but AW, HONEY, HELL NO.
Here’s why.
Clericals and “cute accessory” do not belong in the same sentence. They do not belong in the same conceptual space in our minds, and more importantly, they do not belong in the same conceptual space in the public eye or mind.
These blinged-out collars are tacky, yes, but worse than that, they are confusing. If I saw someone wearing a pink leopard print clergy collar my brain would generate a big scribble like the kind Charles Schulz used to draw for Snoopy when he was totally baffled and irritated. These collars give me a bad case of the Snoopy scramble. I can only imagine the cognitive dissonance they would create in the mind of the average lay person. “Who is this? What are they wearing? What is that thing?”
Please let us remember that the collar is not about us expressing our awesome individuality, it is about identifying us as clergy. Express your awesome individuality in a way that does not make a tacky mockery of this simple symbol. Would you want to go to a doctor’s office and have your doc show up in a bedazzled white coat? My first reaction would be, “Lady, how much attention do you need?”
I’m afraid this has to go in the Naughty Corner. Many thanks to the alert pigeon who provided this link. I may need to go lie down now.
But now you know what to wear in the Pride parade?
I would clutch my pearls in horror. Sadly, I am nursing a sunburn and wearing no pearls. Sunburned pastor = breaking every rule in the Peacebang book. I shall fan myself with my hand fan in shock at the above collar.
Overall, I agree entirely with your assessment.
No. Just no.
Oh, HAYLL no.
I actually gasped so sharply that my dog woke up. She is not only going deaf, but she is recovering from a weekend with 2 children under 4 around the house, so that’s saying something.
I feel like I need to take a shower now to wash off the blingy ick!
No, no, no!!!! I cannot imagine anyone wearing a ‘blinged out’ clergy collar. Still shaking my head at the mere thought of it.
my favourite clergy in the pride parade go a teensy bit creative with the colour of the shirt (if that works with their tradition). By dressing the same way they do every day, they are a more powerful presence, and show that their church supports Pride throughout the year, not just on one day.
I’m not sure I’d even know that was a clergy shirt…….