It’s easy to spot a priest from a mile away. With a black shirt and a white clerical collar, it’s easy to spot them from afar. And this person will most likely be a Catholic priest— clergymen, as they say. The clergy is a body of people ordained by the church to perform religious duties. These people have given their lives to the church to serve God better and continue His work here on Earth. The clergy is composed of both men and women. But while men are so easy to identify, how can people identify women clergy?
Before, women who are part of the clergy usually wear almost the same attire as a priest—black trousers, shirt, and clerical collar. This is all because there are not many available options on the market. There are no rules for women’s fashion in the clergy as long as they maintain modesty in their attire, meaning no plunging necklines and thin spaghetti straps. Thus, this means women can explore different styles of clothing, even when they’re serving a religious body.
The Weather and Its Disadvantages
Wearing the same uniform is okay, and even then, it’s mandated by the church itself. But sometimes, it gets quite inconvenient for some clergymen and women during particular situations that involve the weather. With the seasons changing every few months a year, there’s a constant shift between sunny and rainy days. Sometimes, it even snows! Thus, when it gets too hot or too cold, the usual religious attire might be deemed uncomfortable.
This has been one of the factors that sparked a great idea of making fashionable cleric clothing for them—and by fashionable, it means something that would match the particular weather and season of the year. Short-sleeve full-cut tab collar shirts may be more appropriate during summer. And during winter, male priests may also opt to use vests to add style to their usual long-sleeve outfits.
Clothing Options for the Clergy
These days, fashionable cleric clothing exists, and members of the clergy need not feel restricted in wardrobe limitations.
Here are some wardrobe ideas if you’re looking for clergy fashion to try:
- Tab Collar Clergy Shirts
When you want to be laid back and relax for the day, tab collar clergy shirts will surely save you from having to take so much time dressing up. This variation is perfect for when there aren’t many religious activities scheduled for the day. When all you have is a scheduled daily devotion, you don’t need to dress up and walk around. If you’re not seeing other people or have no formal religious rites to perform, you can sit around your room, read a book, and enjoy the cool feeling of having to wear only a shirt.
With a regular shirt, you will not only feel yourself, but you will also be able to move freely and comfortably. Tab collar shirts will also look like your everyday attire, with only the central part of the color being white and the rest of the collar matching the color of your shirt. You can even choose different shirt colors depending on your mood, preference, and style. Aside from this, both men and women can enjoy this design.
- Neckband Collar Clergy Shirts
If you want to explore a different style and do away with only a small part of the usual white clerical collar, you can choose a neckband collar clergy shirt. With this design, your shirt color may be different from your collar. The collar will stay white, but your shirt color will vary depending on your choice.
This may not be much of a noticeable change. But in case a clergy person wishes to mix things up a bit or provide a distinction, one can easily pick this shirt style and use it for the day. Both men and women clergy can make use of this style. Sometimes, being simple is the best way to look elegant, and this style will surely make you look ready for the day.
- Clergy Dresses
Women want to be carefree and have an easy day. One of the designs women can model is a clergy dress. This will allow clergywomen to move freely, without the discomfort of wearing tight jeans or trousers. With clergy dresses, women can look more elegant and beautiful with a little bit of flair, without sacrificing the overall look.
Of course, the clerical collar will still be present, but this time, instead of pairing it with a shirt and trousers, women can choose to wear a dress. Depending on one’s fashion sense, one can even pair it with leggings or tights. A jacket will complete the look as well, as they could also choose between a neckband and a tab collar.
- Sleeveless Clergywear
It can get too hot sometimes, especially in the summer. It’s nice to put the steam off by wearing something to match the weather. Thus, aside from the coolness of sleeveless clergy wear, it will also make one look businesslike and professional.
However, sleeveless clergy wear can mainly be sported by women. The elegance it exudes will be phenomenal, and it can be paired easily with a formal jacket to amp up the get-up. They could look stylish without having to do so much.
- Long-sleeved Clergywear
Can the clergy pray the cold away, you think? Of course, it’s impossible. It gets cold fast during winter, and your everyday shirt won’t help during harsh weather.
Thus, the clergy can opt to wear long-sleeved clergy fashion to protect them from the cold and the blowing wind. Woven clothes will not only bring comfort, but the style also brings out an elegance that cannot be compared with other styles of clothing.
- Short-sleeved Clergywear
When the clergy want to look a bit more formal than their usual clothing, they can opt for short-sleeved clergy fashion. This style’s sleeves usually reach the elbow. The cloth’s material can even vary, but most people prefer knitted ones. Like the other styles, this one can be paired with a formal jacket for an additional touch.
Conclusion
Simplicity is beauty, and simple clothes can always become elegant with a little improvement. Sometimes, it’s also good to be able to touch up. The clergy meet people every day. Thus, it’s vital to keep and maintain a good image as well—and improving their clergy fashion would be a good style move.
