Whatever happened to dressing up on Easter Sunday?

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review ^ | Saturday, April 10, 2004 | Alyson Walls

[Willie Green]

Although famed musical composer Irving Berlin thought them lovely enough to write a sonnet, nowadays few women are donning Easter bonnets.

In fact, you're more apt to see wrinkled khakis and rumpled polo shirts than pressed suits and pastel pumps at church on Sunday.

While Easter Sunday has traditionally been the day to show off your new spring finery, America has become a nation that dresses down, and not just on "casual Fridays" in the office.

[TankerKC]

Thank you for saying that.

[mindspy]

And don't forget trodding around in heels all day. If you don't wear your heels, you can't be dressed up. How can you be dressed up if you don't wear your heels. (Just a twist on old Pink Floyd lyrics. So you don't think I'm writing nonsensical babble I added this disclaimer for those that don't know the song.)

[jern]

Why don't people still dress up in first class </oh the horror>

[BobS]

I wonder if anyone hits on Jenna Bush at church? Or do I have it backwards? Her sister looks like she's missing he Sunday Harley ride:)

[altura]

Jenna looks very cute. Both girls are pretty.

It looks like an eyelet skirt on Barbara ... haven't seen that in quite a while.

[InvisibleChurch]

a hat has no affect on my salvation

[streetpreacher]

Whatever happened to dressing up on Easter Sunday?

Now there's a cause that Jesus died for... wonder why that's not mentioned in "The Passion of the Christ"?

[altura]

I miss hats!

We have a few elderly die-hards who don the hat and dress up for Church.

My mother and aunt would not go anywhere except perhaps the grocery store without hat and gloves. Wasn't done.

I also miss dressing up at the theater. People used to do that religiously (ha). I convinced my niece that we would dress up at the theater no matter what others did, but sometimes we stick out.

I wore a nice suit to church this morning in honor of Easter, but usually wear pantsuits. However, there were many people there who were very casual, including jeans.

It's easy to be casual, but I miss dressing up.

[CindyDawg]

Yeah. I hate to wear dresses because of all the stuff that goes with them. I sit and squirm with slips that ride up and pantyhose that make my legs claustrophobic:'). It's hard to pay attention when you are uncomfortable.

[streetpreacher]

Well, people will dress up nicely to see the Pres or to out to a party but, they won't dress up nicely to see Our Lord.

Sad...

That's because God is looking at the place that matters, the heart. All of the "dressing up" in the world won't conceal that area.

Remember, as far as "dress up" goes, God is not an affluent westerner.

[altura]

Loved the women who put a kleenex on their hair. That was classy.

[altura]

Thanks for the pics!

But that is NOT a basic point.

Nothing inherently tacky about denim and she looked fine.

(Unless you want to agree with Roger Ebert--remember his hissy fit because he thought Barbara wore jeans to meet the Queen (of E). She didn't but he never apologized.

[streetpreacher]

Hmmm...in the Old Testament God gave the Israelites specific rules about what to wear for worship and required that they bathe, in the middle of the desert! The priests were told just how their vestments were to be designed and covered with golden embroidery. The even the floor of the tabernacle was to be covered with gold...a pretty exacting requirement for a nomadic people in the middle of the desert. God has not changed. He still expects the best we can offer him in our worship, and most of us can afford better clothes than a tee shirt or tank top. This "God will love me even if I am a slob" is a convenient excuse for laziness.

God has not changed. Agreed. He still cares more about the internal rather than the external. Or, by your own logic, we can start sacrificing the sheep today.

[threat matrix]

I have a feeling young Bar was using the demin jacket to shield her self from the storm. (no way Laura would let that go inside a church Sunday on Easter)

[PennsylvaniaMom]

I remember that!!!! That is why we HAD to have our little chapel veils tucked in our little purses in grade school...to avoid the shame of the dreaded Puffs!!!!

Now that I think of it, I think my mom had a 'mantilla'...it was longer on the sides and it had a little plastic comb sewn into it so that you could attach it (to your 1970's bouffant do) w/o having to use a bobby pin.

It was about this same time frame that I started to 'question' the Church. I remember really obnoxious, smart a$$ boys, who as altar boys, could go behind the altar, but the sisters who taught us couldn't because they were women...anyone else remember that? I can remember thinking how wrong that an adult woman, who had dedicated her life to the church couldn't set foot back there, but Bobby so-and-so could.

[dsc]

"The only King I ever hope to meet will love me whether I wear a suit or a tanktop."

Okay, **He** will love **you.**

Don't **you** want to honor **Him?**

[lonestar]

I don't know but the little Jewish boy in my neighborhood had as much fun with his Easter eggs and Christmas trees as did the Christian kids. His mother felt that until he was old enough to understand WHY, it didn't hurt him to have a tree and eggs.

[dsc]

"Nothing inherently tacky about denim"

Actually, there is.

Matter of fact, denim is the only fabric I can think of that is inherently, irremediably tacky.

I haven't owned a pair of blue jeans since I went in the Navy in 1974, and God willing never will again.

[dsc]

"God has not changed. Agreed. He still cares more about the internal rather than the external."

When it comes to dress, the external is an indicator of the internal.

What does God want? I believe he wants us to love Him. If we loved Him, we would show it, wouldn't we? One way that humans have always shown respect and high regard is to dress up.

[dsc]

"I can remember thinking how wrong that an adult woman, who had dedicated her life to the church couldn't set foot back there, but Bobby so-and-so could."

When you were thinking that, you were a child, weren't you?