Ladies,
No matter how hot it gets, it is not appropriate to wear spaghetti strapped garments to church or to any ministerial function. Save the strappy sundresses for your vacation or your friend’s wedding at which you are a guest, not the officiant.
There’s a reason woman are asked to cover their shoulders at every cathedral in Europe; it’s called respect. Bare shoulders are way too informal to be part of your on-duty clerical wardrobe. Spaghetti straps are the worst, but I am against anything sleeveless unless it’s a very steamy day and you’re at a picnic or out boating with your folks.
Guys, no Hawaiian shirts for you. I’m just making this up here, but let’s say it’s roughly the equivalent.
PeaceBang is making a very stern face about this and if you argue she will purse her lips disapprovingly at you.
It’s so funny that you should talk about shoulders today. Yesterday I was doing some serious musings over a tattoo I want to get eventually; I want to have “Isaiah 52:7” placed somewhere on my back where I can easily hide it when I’m ministering, but can show off at other times. I was thinking about the back of my shoulder, since I know I’d never wear a tank top while I was working.
I’m fully with you here on the no spaghetti straps, and fully on board for no bare shoulders for anything official, though I’m not sure for church softball games or that sort of thing.
But the no hawaiian shirt thing doesn’t jive. I live and work in California and my conference includes Hawaii and hawaiian shirts are it–Annual conference, I think that might be all the men wear, and for many of us who are in the desert where you will literally pass out from heat stroke if you wear a robe in 100-120 degree heat, Hawaiian shirts are seen in all kinds of pulpits–it’s sort of the norm out here–casual and liveable for those inferno months…I’d love for you to reconsider your advice on this. (Even as a woman, I know Hawaiian shirts are fairly safe in the summer and much easier than figuring out which short sleeve blouses do and don’t show too much arm or cleavage….
[Deb, I’m horrified!! It’s bad enough for male pastors to wear Hawaiian shirts, which communicate a casual I’m-totally-on-vacation-get-me-a-beer vibe, but to suggest that women wear them too for comfort’s sake is ludicrous to mine ears! Girl, that’s why God made cotton blouses in solid colors! It’s 96 degrees here today, for instance, and I am wearing a white cotton skirt, sandals, and a plain black short-sleeved T-shirt with an elegant boat neck. I stand firmly by my conviction that no one on the planet will really take another person seriously if they’re clad in a Don Ho shirt — except in Hawaii, perhaps. If my pastor showed up wearing a Hawaiian shirt I’d assume one thing and one thing only: he’s been interrupted from a vacation. See my lips? They’re SO pursed right now!!! – PB]
Well, if you’re already in a strop, I’ll admit that I popped down to the church dinner in spaghetti straps and flip flops on Sunday night. It was hot and humid, they’d been cooking in the basement all afternoon and my ankles were swollen from the cute strappy sandals I’d worn to our (3) morning services. I took a turn washing dishes, and took meals home for the kids and I. [That doesn’t sound like a terrible look for such an occasion, especially if you’re washing dishes and stuff. I still wouldn’t show that much skin — would probably opt for a t-shirt and cotton skirt, but … hey, what does “strop” mean?? – PB]
I think it depends totally on the sleeveless garment, and the arms protruding from said sleeveless garment.
If it is relatively modest and covers ones’ undergarments, and ones’ arms are flattered by such a garment, then I really don’t see the problem (unless one is presiding of course).
For most of us, it’s probably better to go with some sleeves (and frankly, it’s not that much hotter).
[Exactly. Bare arms is a very casual look — too casual for on-duty pastors no matter what their body type. Just because bare arms have become acceptable in society at large in recent years doesn’t mean that we should exercise our right to bare arms. HA HA! But seriously…. it is also an issue of neatness and aesthetics and self-respect. No ministers should be revealing a lot of skin. Out-of-shape and flabby ministers need to work even harder to look neat than their slim counterparts. People can scream fat discrimination if they want to, but as a very overweight and lumpy gal myself, I don’t want to hear it. The expression “sloppy fat” didn’t come out of nowhere. – PB]
to be in a strop – to be in a bad mood – apparently an English colloquialism (according to the Cambridge online dictionary. (And I was being facetious, please don’t be offended!)
As penance for my spaghetti strap wearing ways, I want to say how helpful I found your entry (ages ago) on paying attention to wearing ‘at work’ clothes when on retreat, or other occasions. There have been a number of times that I’ve dressed up a bit after considering that advice. And my corollary to it – I’ve had a number of days when I’ve been unexpectedly called into the hospital, and glad I was wearing something reasonably professional.
Confession time. I was ordained as a transitional deacon last Saturday in an un-airconditioned chapel in the middle that horrendous heat wave. I chose to wear a basic black pencil skirt, brand new Magrete shoes by Dansko (I know you hate them but they are simultaneously closed-toed, super comfy, and can be worn without stockings), a very nice gray blazer and the black WomenSpirit sleeveless shell with full collar. The idea was that I could take off the jacket for the ceremony and be relatively cool under my alb. It worked reasonably well, although I still turned bright red and sweat buckets. (Must learn to carry liturgical handkerchiefs!)
But I must admit, when it came time to disrobe and walk over to the reception, I couldn’t bear to put the jacket back on. And I left it off during the reception (thankfully air-conditioned) until it was time to take some more formal photos. I also proceeded to wander about town a bit with my shoulders exposed while getting lunch at the deli with my family. So I was fairly mortified to come back and read your post about bare shoulders! My first day on the job and I had apparently already committed a major faux pas.
Are you ready for the kicker? Both for my ordination and for the outdoor eucharist the next day, my fabulous (female) rector wore sleeveless black button-down shirts that had been converted for use with a collar. And we didn’t vest for the outdoor eucharist, so that’s what she wore to preside.
I personally thought she and I both looked great, but I’ll send you some pictures and you can decide.
I confess that I sometimes wear wide-shoulder sleeveless tops for our early contemporary (uber-casual) service, and then put my robe on top for the two more traditional services so I don’t die of heat stroke. But that early service is full of people who really want “lay-led” “no hierarchy” church…it’s been a big battle to be one church again and this is one way I’m able to do it. But spaghetti straps? No way, Jose!