Dress Code

[JonC]

A recent thread discussed a restaurant that required a jacket for dinner during peak operating months. This got me thinking about changes in dress code.

At one time one would wear formal dinner attire to such restaurants (not a jacket and tie, but a frock jacket which evolved into the morning coat and lounge coated which later became our suit coat). Later a suit was the appropriate attire for business then this was ditched for a coat and tie.

All of that was mostly before my time (before my time in terms of adulthood). In my teens and early 20's the attire had bevome a sports coat with an optional tie.

But today it is different. Those who dominated the business/ professional sector when a coat and tie were the standard have mostly been long retired.

Today professional attire is much larger a range. A suit could be worn. A coat and tie could be worn. Bit most in the professional world do not. Most CEO's, for example, wear an open collar shirt with many opting for t-shirts and some for jeans.

Jeans and T-shirts are considered professional or business attire, but these are not teen concert shirts and Levis. We are talking t-shirts in the $400 to $1,500 price range and blue jeans up to $4,000.

Professional attire has become more about the fit and material than a blanket set of clothes.

It blows my mind. I could not imagine spending $5,500 for a t-shirt and pair of jeans.

 

[Armchair Apologist]

I'm a Levi's 501 kind of guy myself.

I have a few nice blazers purchased from Macy's or some place similar - perhaps one or two I bought at a thrift store.

How you dress does set the tone for whatever event you may happen to be attending hence why you have certain "Black Tie" affairs and so forth.

I'm not going to spend $5,000 for a pair of blue jeans and a t-shirt either! I don't even know where to go to find such ridiculous things. My wife has filled my closet with some really nice Ralph Lauren Polo shirts which I will often wear with my Levi's 501 jeans and a blazer and this is typically how I dress when I am teaching/preaching. The elders decided it would be a good idea for everyone serving communion to be wearing a coat and tie and in context to my statement in the third line here, I have no objections to this. I told our deacons that so long as pastor is wearing a tie, we all wear ties but if pastor does not have a tie, ours comes off as well.

 

[JonC]

I'm a Levi's 501 kind of guy myself.

I have a few nice blazers purchased from Macy's or some place similar - perhaps one or two I bought at a thrift store.

How you dress does set the tone for whatever event you may happen to be attending hence why you have certain "Black Tie" affairs and so forth.

I'm not going to spend $5,000 for a pair of blue jeans and a t-shirt either! I don't even know where to go to find such ridiculous things. My wife has filled my closet with some really nice Ralph Lauren Polo shirts which I will often wear with my Levi's 501 jeans and a blazer and this is typically how I dress when I am teaching/preaching. The elders decided it would be a good idea for everyone serving communion to be wearing a coat and tie and in context to my statement in the third line here, I have no objections to this. I told our deacons that so long as pastor is wearing a tie, we all wear ties but if pastor does not have a tie, ours comes off as well.

We find it ridiculous, but those who find do not probably find wearing a coat and tie ridiculous. Guess it is in the eye of the beholder.

T-shirts are professional attire now (nice ones, often with a jacket). I prefer a collar. And a shirt pocket for my reading glasses.

 

[Ascetic X]

I quit wearing blue jeans in the 1970s. I think denim looks tacky. Jeans originally were intended as rugged attire for farmers and factory workers. Not for offices, church, or special occasions.

Since then, my casual pants are khakis or black cotton slacks. Since I injured my back and hip, I often wear nice sweatpants around the house, because I need to lie down now and then.

For attending church I used to always wear a sport coat and tie. But lately, since almost nobody dresses up for church anymore, possibly due to lower standards for honoring the house of the Lord, I compromise and wear polo shirts and khakis.

Pastors who dress sloppy and look like bums are offensive to me.

People used to dress up nicely to go shopping downtown, and to travel by train or plane.

Now people have no self respect or sense of decorum.

 

[rockytopva]

I go to church in shirt and tie and have been looked down for doing so. I have had elders in my church trying to talk to be over it and I will tell them look... God has first of all called me to be a gentleman I will continue that practice. If they want to throw me out of the church so be it!

 

[JonC]

I go to church in shirt and tie and have been looked down for doing so. I have had elders in my church trying to talk to be over it and I will tell them look... God has first of all called me to be a gentleman I will continue that practice. If they want to throw me out of the church so be it!

I am sorry you have to deal with that.

It is wrong for any Christian to look down on a brother because of how they dress (whether they are dressed in a three piece suit or shorts and a t-shirt).

How we dress is a reflection of our cultural and often generation. We do not have to set that aside, but we cannot demand others adopt our preferences. Your elders are wrong to do so.

For you dressing in a shirt and tie is proper (you link it to gentlemanship). From your post you do not view those who dress differently as lacking that quality. You should be able to expect the same from your brethern.

I get that many wear a tie or coat and tie because to them it is being respectful (even an act of worship). I get that they would not consider wearing shorts and a t-shirt to church as it would be disrespectful to God (if they were to do it).

I get that many wearing casual clothes because to them it it is modest, focusing on God and their spiritual relationship in Christ. I get that they would not wear a coat and tie because it would be disrespectful to God and immodest (if they did).

This would not even be an issue if Christians were less worldly and more spiritual. Each would wear the clothes that does not form a barrier to their worship without looking down on their fellow brothers because of a difference in preference and tradition.

 

[JonC]

BTW, we (my congregation) have people coming to church dressing differently. We do not place a value on conforming to another's culture. We actually enjoy learning about other cultures (whether ethnic or generational). Our pastor is Korean. The congregation is Black, White, Hispanic, Asian... probable others. BUT we all strive to comform to Christ.

The average age of our congregation is mid-20's. What we consider "Sunday clothes" ceased, both in style and principle, over a decade before they were born. I do not conform to their generational norms and I do not expect them to conform to mine (I wear Khaki pants or jeans and a collard shirt).

We have to worship in spirit and truth. Focusing on dressing in accordance with another's traditions would be an unnecessary obstacle.


So you could come wearing a coat and tie. People would not think anything of it. Most wear jeans and either a collard shirt or t-shirt. It is not a facade (trying to identify with a younger generation, like the stereotype of an evangelical youth minister in his late 40's trying to look as if he is in his 20's).

 

[SovereignGrace]

I personally could not care less what one wears to church, as far as it being decent looking. Hate seeing low cut blouses and mini dresses on women/young ladies, skin tight jeans on either sex. I think putting a premium on what ppl wear to church is rather myopic.

 

[rockytopva]

I can imagine a new MAD magazine draw up comparing the standards of...

1. 1926 formal and semi-formal
2. 2026 formal and semi-formal

 

[Kai]

I definitely don't think it's proper for anyone to attend church looking like they just got back from a Taylor Swift concert.

The main concern should be for Christians to use discernment and avoid dressing in a way that draws attention to the body or causes another believer to stumble.

 

[Ascetic X]

Back in the 1960s, even poor people had their “Sunday best” clothing that they wore to church.

It was considered appropriate to dress up to go to church, because of the dignity of what a church represented.

Many view dressing formally as a way to honor God and to show that a worship service is a special, set-apart occasion—much like dressing up for a wedding, graduation, or a job interview.

Historically, people wore their cleanest or finest clothes (often tied to agrarian or mid-century social standards) to mark the Sabbath as different from the rest of the week.

Many modern churches adopt a "come as you are" approach, hoping to attract more people due to relaxed dress codes. This is also why many churches will not label homosexuality as a sinful abomination, refuse to preach against witchcraft, and stick to non-confrontational themes like tolerance, positive thinking, and success principles, instead of the gospel.

Today, people dress sloppy all the time, with no regard to occasion or place.

 

[rockytopva]

I don't normally follow other translations besides the KJV but I like this one...

Without revelation the people run wild, but one who follows divine instruction will be happy. - Proverbs 29:18 CSB (Christian Standard Bible)

 

[Mike B]

I've hated wearing a ceremonial neck ornament since I put the first one on, but had to wear one as
part of my job for much of my working career. Always felt like being choked.

Now, slacks and a polo shirt with a collar, and a light jacket.

 

[SovereignGrace]

I think we are making more of this than the bible does. I don't think the bible says that by wearing your "Sunday Best" you are honoring God than by wearing a white t-shirt with jeans and a pair of cloth Chuck Taylor's is dishonoring Him.

My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism. For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes, and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes, and say, “You sit here in a good place,” and you say to the poor man, “You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool,” have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives? Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? But you have dishonored the poor man. Is it not the rich who oppress you and personally drag you into court? Do they not blaspheme the fair name by which you have been called?[James 2:1-7]

I know this is about showing favoritism due to one's social status, but I do think it is applicable here. It not about what one wears on the outside, but He who dwells withing that person. A gold ring in a snout still makes it a pig.