If you have ever wondered what to wear to church or other religious services, you are in the right place!
Going to church, whether weekly, yearly, or just for your niece’s baptism or bat mitzvah, demands attire different from most of our work and streetwear. In fact, some religious traditions and ceremonies will require a specific dress code.
Many religious groups will accept anyone, no matter the clothes on their back, but for those of us who are able, dressing up should be the go-to option for churchgoing.
Demonstrating respect and worship through the way we dress allows us a powerful tool to enhance both our religious and cultural understanding.
Let’s explore different styles and scenarios to make selecting your Sunday best easier.
The Basics
Different religious organizations will either have an informal or formal dress code for some or all of their services. While it is important to know these, if this is your first time walking into a new church or service, here is a general rule of thumb on what to wear.
For men, the standard church-going apparel usually consists of a suit jacket, dress pants, belt, dress shirt, tie, socks, and formal footwear. In some cases, additional categories exist, such as headwear for certain religions and religious practices.
Other variations of these guidelines will occur based on factors such as temperature, where an overcoat, sweater, and/or vest might be practical.
When familiarizing yourself with the church members and leadership, feel free to adjust accordingly.
Just a few reminders about suits.
A basic two-piece suit should consist of a matching pair of pants and a jacket. Try choosing a dark, solid color like black, navy, or charcoal. Personally, I prefer two-button jackets to their three-button counterparts.
Regarding suit etiquette, don’t forget to unbutton your suit jacket when you sit down and rebutton when you stand back up. For two-button coats, button only the top button. For three-button suits, from top to bottom, think: “Sometimes, always, never.”
Double-breasted jackets typically stayed buttoned at all times, even when sitting.
Variations of Sunday’s (or Saturday’s) Best
Now that we’ve established a simple baseline for what to wear to church, here are some adjustments that you can make depending on factors such as temperature, type of service, and familiarity.
Temperature
In northern Russian winters, a simple suit coat won’t be enough to keep you safe and warm. In Fiji, you might not only become uncomfortable wearing your suit jacket all day, but you will also be one of the only people wearing one.
These differences are why variations in these guidelines and suggestions exist. Let’s explore some alternatives for both hot and cold weather.
When possible, I recommend wearing a suit jacket. However, in cases of extreme heat, it may not be the best option.
Instead, you might opt for a vest.
Skipping the suit coat is a simple solution to dressing for church services in high-temperature areas or seasons.
I would still recommend a long-sleeved dress shirt over a short sleeve. If it truly is too hot for a long-sleeved dress shirt, roll up your sleeves instead of wearing a short-sleeved shirt.
A long-sleeve shirt is more formal than its short-sleeved counterpart. Why? Because maintaining the option of rolling your sleeves back down.
There are many ways to prepare for frigid temperatures and keep your outfit church-ready.
Wearing a sweater, over your dress shirt and tie and under your suit jacket, is a suitable option for colder weather. Try to follow similar rules regarding the color and pattern of the sweater, and stick with solid, complimentary colors.
Formal overcoats will keep you and your clothes warm and safe in even colder temperatures.
While you will likely take this article of clothing off once indoors, it is still important to wear while traveling to and from the service.
Religion-Specific Dress Codes
Of course, these are general. Different sects and individual congregations may vary. Ask your local congregation if you are unsure about a specific dress code requirement or custom.
Synagogue
As I alluded to earlier, certain religious practices require specific articles of clothing for their services. One example would be the yarmulke (kippah) worn in Jewish synagogues.
Whether you are Jewish or not, many Jewish services will require all men to wear a yarmulke. Many synagogues are prepared with yarmulkes to lend out to visitors, so you will likely not need to bring your own.
Observant Jews wear the yarmulke as a reminder that someone above is always watching and aware of them. Participating in this practice while visiting a synagogue is a great wear to demonstrate respect for their devotion.
Mosque
Attending a service at a mosque, or Masjid, is about observation. Visitors are welcome to observe prayer, but there are certain requirements.
When you enter the prayer room, you must remove their shoes. Make sure you are wearing appropriate, clean socks. Women are required to wear clothing that covers most of their body, and usually, a headscarf.
Protestant Church
With a wide variety of practices, denominations, and cultures, Protestant church meetings differ greatly. These differences inevitably affect the expected dress.
One Protestant meeting may be done standing up, complete with music, and lots of member interaction. Another may be conducted with everyone seated, a designated leader like a pastor, preacher, or priest, who directs the meeting.
Business casual may be the best bet if you are attending for the first time. A polo, slacks or khakis, and comfortable, conservative shoes are a good choice. This way, you will neither be overdressed or underdressed.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons)
While there is currently no formal dress code, many members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints adhere to the same, simple standard. This usually consists of a white shirt, and tie (with a full two-piece suit common).
Men will typically be clean-shaven, especially those in leadership positions.
You’ll see many men wearing a white shirt and tie without jackets — in fact, the look is a common Mormon stereotype.
Pocket squares and double-breasted jackets are few and far between. Shoes are very practical — often dress shoes with thick rubber soles or dress shoe-sneaker hybrids.
Popular brands you’ll see Latter-day Saint men wearing include &Collar, Ecco shoes, Mr. Mac, CTR Clothing, and Mission Belt.
Catholic Church
With a rich history and churches and cathedrals all over the globe, each local church may have its own customs and traditions. It is safe to say that in older, traditional meetinghouses, you will find more formal wear, like complete suits.
Like most religions, there is not a formal dress code imposed on members and visitors.
However, take St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, in Corpus Christi, Texas, for example. Their website recommends, “ It is not appropriate to wear shorts or t-shirts at Mass or dress immodestly. Men must never wear a hat or cap…”
These are some of the informal rules that may apply when attending Catholic services.
As a general rule, many Catholics follow what is written in the Catechism of the Catholic Church — “To prepare for worthy reception of this sacrament, the faithful should observe the fast required in their Church.
Bodily demeanor (gestures, clothing) ought to convey the respect, solemnity, and joy of this moment when Christ becomes our guest”.
Orthodox Christian Church
In the Orthodox congregations I’ve attended, I’ve typically seen men wearing darker colors. Not necessarily suits, but dark, conservative clothing.
Women will cover their heads and are required to wear clothing that covers their shoulders and most of their legs.
Shorts, or similar casual clothing, will see the wearer denied entry to the church and services.
Hindu Temple
In Hindu temples, visitors are welcome to observe certain meetings or even guided tours. Clothing restrictions similarly include no shorts, short skirts, or revealing clothing. Inside the temple, you will have to remove your shoes.
Comfortable, loose-fitting clothing is recommended since most sitting is done cross-legged.
Outside of clothing, there are other traditions to be aware of. Use only your right hand when receiving or exchanging anything, and refrain from touching any of the statues.
Sikh Temple
Visiting a Sikh temple, or Gurdwara, can be done wearing nearly anything from jeans to long, loose clothing. Your legs will have to be mostly-to-fully covered while seated on the carpeted floor.
Most importantly, be prepared to wear a head covering. The Gurdwara will provide scarves and dupattas for visitors to wear, to cover the entirety of the top of your head and forehead.
Still Don’t Know What to Wear? Here are 5 Clues and Tips
If you are visiting different congregations and sects, it does not matter whether you are exploring the world or your neighborhood. You don’t want to get hit with a curveball.
Now that we have established some basics and some general tips, there are some more nuanced cases that deviate from the basics.
There are several tools at your disposal that will help you make the right decision. These include clues like region and architecture, as well as, checking online and asking regular members.
City Vs. Rural
First and foremost, for all churches and temples, it is important to be clean and modest. It does not matter if you are in the big city or hundreds of miles away from the nearest Walmart.
That being said, there certainly are identifiable trends, common to different religious groups across the United States. These dress standards fluctuate with population density and demographics, often changing with time and culture.
Cities will typically see more formal wear, and in rural communities, some churches see many members in shorts.
In the United States, geographic location also plays a key part in urban and rural worship. Take rural towns around Boston that mirror the traditional apparel found in the city center’s churches, for example.
On the other hand, look at mega-churches located in various population centers in Texas. There, attendees wear comfortable, casual outfits to attend a wide variety of religious activities.
Formality of Architecture
A quick way to determine to what degree of formality you should expect out of a specific meeting group is through their architecture.
An ornate cathedral tends to lend to more conservative, traditional attire. A church in a strip mall, on the other hand, will probably be welcoming to a much wider degree of apparel, such as jeans, simple tee shirts, and more.
Other times the age of the building tells the story. Consider dressing up for older churches that are steeped in tradition and down for New Age offshoots.
Check The Website
Just as I had to do my research in preparation for this publication, you too can seek information online regarding dress codes and etiquette.
Many religions have one, official website where you can find a lot of information regarding culture and expectations. Sometimes, individual congregations or groups will have a specific website that includes details about their own local customs.
Ask Someone
A surefire way to identify the best choice of clothing for a service is to ask a member of the congregation.
They will be able to offer the most up-to-date information regarding the specific denomination and group you plan on attending. You can do this by calling the building (if they have a number provided) or checking in in person ahead of time.
Type of Service
One final consideration regarding religious apparel: pay attention to the type of service you plan on observing. There are some services exclusive to members. There are others that are open to the public. For those that are public, as a visitor, take extra care in your outfit preparations.
Friends and family that invite you to milestone events like baptism, first communion, bar and bat mitzvah, means more formal wear, and these events will typically have the suggested dress code outlined in the invitation.
Other events, such as weddings or funerals, have their own general guidelines.
FAQ
Here are answers to common questions about choosing what to wear to a religious service:
What should I wear to church for the first time?
Wearing a suit, collared dress shirt, and tie, will be a safe option to wear to most church meetings for the first time. If you plan on attending a Masjid, Gurdwara, or Hindu temple, make sure to wear clean, appropriate socks since you will be asked to remove your shoes.
What is a church’s dress code?
While nearly all denominations refrain from imposing a specific dress code today, there are a few standards you should consider. First, be clean and dress modestly. Do not wear shorts, graphic tees, or other casual clothing.
At a bare minimum, wear a clean pair of jeans and a plain shirt or polo. If possible, wear more formal pants like dress slacks.
Conclusion
Wearing the appropriate attire to a religious service helps you avoid feeling out of place and prepares you to better understand the religion’s customs and culture. Consider these guidelines and suggestions the next time you set out to go somewhere new to observe and worship this weekend.
Choosing an appropriate outfit demonstrates your respect for the place of worship, the people there, and the traditions and cultures that surround the religion. This will ensure you are welcomed and able to observe their services.
Check out articles like “Dress Codes For Men Explained” for further discussion on dress codes for different occasions!
