Growing up in the Mormon church, I always wore a knee-length dress to church. And guys always wore a suit, or at the very least, a button-down shirt and a tie. (The Mormon church dress code provides guidelines around what is appropriate both in and out of church.) So when I started to go to a non-Mormon church as an adult, I was shocked by how casual it was. Granted, that particular church was incredibly casual, even for a non-Mormon contemporary service, but still, it was a big adjustment.
Now, Tommy, Thomas, Charles and I go to a church with casual dress, but probably less so than the first one we went to together. And I’d say that how I dress for church now is a blend. I always dress respectfully and conservatively, but my dresses are not always knee-length, and I do wear sleeveless items. There are also weeks when I wear jeans to church with a nice blouse or sweater. The common theme is to dress nicely, appropriately, and conservatively when entering a church, regardless of denomination. (If you’re looking for good guys’ clothes for church, read my Duck Head clothing review. It’s Tommy’s favorite brand, and he often wears their tops and pants to church.)
Since many people attend church at the start of the New Year, I thought it would be helpful to share some church-appropriate outfits. I also answered a few common questions about how to dress for a regular Sunday service.
This all depends on the church you’re attending. Honestly, there’s rarely a true “church dress code” (except perhaps in the LDS church). As I mentioned above, when I was in the Mormon church (aka The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints), it was inappropriate to wear anything shorter than knee length; women didn’t wear sleeveless dresses or tops, and a button-up with a tie was expected for guys.
However, the church we go to now is more casual. It’s appropriate to wear jeans and a blouse, and I’d say most men wear a collared shirt and long pants. I almost always wear a dress because I enjoy dressing up. So, what to wear to church truly varies by congregation and denomination.
I haven’t been to every type of church, but I’ve been to Baptist churches, Catholic churches, Methodist churches, Presbyterian churches, and non-denominational churches. I think most churches lean dressier, with the exception of non-denominational ones, which lean more casual. Some church websites will list their dress code, so you could try to look it up before you attend. Or, check out the church’s Instagram account – most post pictures of people attending services, so you’ll be able to get an idea that way.
Generally, it’s always appropriate to dress modestly and respectfully in a place of worship. Here are some options that are appropriate for many churches:
For ladies:
For men:
It’s important to note that “casual” does not mean the same thing at church vs. the rest of your life. If you’re planning to attend a casual church and aren’t sure what to wear, it’s a safe bet to go with an appropriate dress and polished shoes. I don’t wear thin strapped dresses for church (like this), since they feel more revealing than I’m comfortable with, but I don’t think it’s necessarily inappropriate given the casual nature of our church. If you know that jeans are appropriate there, then you could also wear nice jeans and a dressy blouse.
When considering church outfits, even in a casual environment, steer clear of graphic tees, overly distressed or ripped jeans, revealing dresses, and athletic wear.
However, while these are all great things to keep in mind if you and/or your church cares about your attire, I wouldn’t let your outfit keep you from attending church. I’ve seen homeless men in our church, and I can promise you that absolutely NO ONE cared what they were wearing.
If you want church outfits with jeans, stick to a well-fitting pair and leave your distressed styles at home. I love my distressed straight leg jeans from Abercrombie, but I don’t wear them to church. Instead, I wear a pair of tailored jeans and heels (or sandals in the warm weather) or a pair of my favorite white jeans. I think the style of jeans (e.g. mom jeans, boyfriend jeans, skinny jeans, etc.) doesn’t matter as much as the distressing — or lack thereof. I love a good pair of flare jeans for church since they’re immediately polished-looking. I shared which shoes to pair with flare jeans in this post.
I also go for classic, dressy blouses or sweaters if I’m wearing jeans for church. Here’s a blog post with a roundup of my favorite Tuckernuck tops. Tuckernuck is a great place to shop for dressier items that you’ll wear outside of church too.
Boots, heels, and loafers are my most worn church shoes. I avoid sneakers (even fashion sneakers like Vejas), since they feel a little too casual for my taste.
My belief is no, he doesn’t. But again, I think this depends on your church and faith.
In the LDS church, your attire (wearing modest clothes) is viewed as a sign of respect for God and yourself. I can’t speak to how other denominations view it, however.
I’m confident our current church would say that God doesn’t care what you wear but cares more about your heart. And I’d love to hear how your church views this topic or how you view it personally.
Let’s get into some church attire inspiration. Below are a few cute church outfits.
Most of the dresses I wear to church now are dresses I wear in my daily life. I love maxi dresses, midi dresses, and even mini dresses, as long as they aren’t super short and I often pair them with tights.
I love to shop at Tuckernuck (see my favorite Tuckernuck dresses linked here), Hill House (my review of the best Hill House dresses here), and Nordstrom for dresses. I prefer to spend a bit more on something that I can wear for years than to order something trendy that only lasts one season.
And if you need a warm coat to style with your dress, check out this post with my round-up of the best winter coats. And see this list of the cutest puffer coats if those are more your speed.
I find skirts are incredibly convenient for church these days since I’m breastfeeding and often need to feed Charles mid-service in the nursing mother’s room. I recently got this super fun black tulle skirt, which isn’t something I’d wear in my daily life, but it’s fun when I want to dress up a little!
I also found a great faux suede skirt on Amazon that works perfectly for winter church services. I wear the size XS and love pairing it with black turtlenecks and long-sleeve tops. You can pair this skirt with heels or boots.
If I wear jeans to church (a rarity since I prefer to wear a dress), they are always non-distressed denim, and I pair them with a nice top.
I recently got this lace blouse from Tuckernuck, which is the perfect top for casual church outfits. It’s still polished and appropriate, but the lace makes it feel elevated. I paired it below with my favorite non-distressed black jeans from FRAME. A pair of festive kitten heels like these Sam Edelman Brit heels take this outfit up a notch, too.
Does your church have a specific dress code? If so, share below! Let’s help others who may be intimidated to attend church simply because they don’t know what to wear. Ultimately, God doesn’t care what you wear. 🙂
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5 responses to “What to Wear to Church (what’s appropriate and what’s not)”
sounds like we have very similar life experiences. After being mormon i showed up to a methodist church dressed as i normally would. I quickly realized that the Methodist church was more up to date with the times and as a woman I could even wear slacks! or a less formal dress. I have to agree, God cares what’s in your heart, and a less intense dress code allows for more people to feel comfortable to come and worship, which is so lovely.
I’d say this is way more noticeable in the South. I am from Mocksville NC. I was raised to dress up for church too. I now live in Wisconsin. Much more casual in the Midwest. I’ve worn leggings before. I let my kids pick out what they want to wear. If they wanna wear shorts and a hoody that’s fine with me. Like you said it’s more about their heart than what people wear. Most people cannot afford to buy different clothes just to wear to church.
I’m Catholic and how it’s been described to me is since we are going to the feast of the Lord, dress appropriately! As you mentioned, there’s no strict rules but it can also depend on the time of the service. Saturday evening tends to be more casual (jeans) than a Sunday morning. Generally no shoulders exposed is how I prefer to dress at church too (also because it can get cold!).
Thanks for the post combining faith and fashion.
I think your experience with attitudes about dress in the LDS church may have been heavily influenced by growing up in Utah, especially during a specific time period. I grew up LDS in another country and wore mini-skirts to church most weeks during high school in the 90’s and nobody batted an eye. Of course, there was a suggested dress code but how this was implemented varied from person to person depending on age, involvement level, convert status etc. and everyone was just happy you were there! Currently, it’s not unusual for women to wear dress pants to worship services. I’m certain your experiences were as you described them, but LDS people aren’t monolithic and all cultures have regional differences and change over time. I also have Muslim and Jewish friends who have a great deal of within group variance regarding style of dress, but are all of the same faith.
Anyhow, you look fabulous in all the outfits!
100% agree. I was explaining my experience 🙂