Isn’t it funny how we have to think of what to wear every day of the week? After sorting out your outfits for work, and loungewear for staying home, you still have to know how to dress for church too. Phew! How tiring can it be?
But what if you had a wardrobe consultant who helped you figure out all your outfits, including what to wear to church, without paying a dime? You’d jump at the opportunity and hire them instantly, right?
Well, there’s good news. Svelte Magazine is that wardrobe consultant you don’t have to pay. And since we know how stressful choosing outfits can get, we’ve done the homework for you. In this post you’ll find modest styles for church you can recreate to make a style statement while praising the Lord.
Let’s dive in.
How to Dress for Church with Style
Someone once told me that besides fashion shows and celebrity events, the next place to get in touch with the latest styles and trends is the church. I don’t know how true that is, but if you look at it, it’s not completely false.
Since the church is a public gathering, people will definitely bring their A-game when pulling off their church outfits. You also need to know how to dress for church so you won’t feel left out.
This doesn’t mean you should go break the bank just because you wanna keep up with dressing trends in the church. No! The church isn’t a place to “pepper anyone” or pressure yourself to prove you’re rich. It’s a place of worship to show your subservience to your creator.
And part of that entails putting in the effort to look good. God made everything beautiful for His glory. And as one of His beloved creations, you should reflect this glory and beauty in all you do, including your fashion choices.
How do you do so? For one, you must always remember the church is a religious gathering. And as such, your outfits should be conservative and decent enough for the setting.
So which outfits meet this modest mark? Here they are:
Bubu/Abaya
This is the mother of all conservative dresses. Abaya reveals almost nothing. It’s long in length and even in the sleeves. It’s free-flowing and not tight-fitting so you need not worry about people noticing your curves.
Furthermore, it’s the perfect decent dress if you want to give off rich aunty vibes. You can use any fabric from ankara to adire, kente, kampala, etc., to achieve your bubu dress. Just pair yours with a good hairdo, scarf, and jewelry and you’ll look dashing.
Jumpsuit
A jumpsuit never goes out of style. It’s the perfect blend of trousers and tops in one outfit. Go for this for an easy way out when you don’t know what to wear on Sundays.
But to be safe, ensure your jumpsuit has a conservative neckline and doesn’t expose delicate parts of your body.
Jeans & Top/Blazer
Yes, you can wear jeans to church. But there’s a clause to this. Your denim pants for church should neither be ripped nor too form-fitting. They should be modestly fit.
So, straight-cut jeans and flared jeans like bootcut come in handy here. Pair them with a nice shirt or blazer to give it that semi-formal look needed for a religious setting.
How to Dress for Church with Pants & Modest Tops
Your chinos, slacks, palazzo, and any other type of trousers fall here. Pair them with a modest top in your wardrobe and head to church. This could be T-shirts, turtlenecks, collared shirts, etc.
If you’re going for tees, it’s best you go for plain T-shirts. But if you want to wear something that has an inscription, ensure the words on your top aren’t offensive.
Ankara Styles for Church
If there’s any Nigerian fabric that makes it to church every Sunday, it’s ankara. This fabric is versatile enough to be sewn into different modest styles for church.
So, if you don’t know how to dress for church. Pick any ankara style for church that suits your taste, show it to your tailor alongside your fabric, and slay on Sunday.
Nigerian Lace Styles
Did you know the lace you rock to weddings as asoebi can also be worn to church? If you didn’t, well now you know.
The hack for achieving this is by giving your lace asoebi modest necklines and sleeves. You don’t plan to flaunt your cleavages in the house of the Lord, do you?
How to Dress for Church with Kaftan/Senator
Kaftan styles for men are also great outfits for church. Just like any senator style, they’re stylish and modest.
Wear them if you don’t want to rock an English suit.
How to Dress for Church with Suits
You can’t have complete formal attire without mentioning suits. These outfits are a perfect blend of modesty and style. So, when you’re not wearing them to work, wear them as your Sunday outfits.
But before you hurry to do so, ensure your suit is well-tailored to reflect today’s fashion.
Maxi/Midi Dresses/Skirts
Short dresses aren’t welcome in church, especially if they’re way above your knees. The keyword here is modesty, remember? So you shouldn’t show your thighs in the house of the Lord.
Only wear dresses and skirts that extend below your knees. This includes midi or maxi skirts and dresses to church. They could be flared or form-fitting, depending on your choice.
Layer Your Sleeveless Pieces
Don’t write off your sleeveless tops and dresses when learning how to dress for church. Instead, pair them with outerwear for a refreshing look. This includes your jackets, blazers, coats, kimono, etc.
Layering is a great way to restyle your outfits without looking like you repeat them. Never forget that.
Accessorizing for Church
It’s not enough to wear good clothes to church. You also need to pair them with the right shoes and accessories. They complete your outfit and give you a stylish look.
Remember, dressing for church is a bit similar to dressing for work. You pull it off through formal office wear or business casual outfits. So, if you won’t wear a particular type of footwear or accessory to work, don’t wear it to church. This means your flip-flops, slippers, pool sliders, etc., will be out of place here.
Instead, wear shoes like heels (pumps, stiletto, platforms), sneakers, sandals, and formal shoes for men. Also, try to keep your accessories moderate. Wear your necklace, jewelry, and other jewelry but try not to over-accessorize lest your outfit should become noisy.
In addition, aim to smell nice always by wearing your perfume correctly. If you go to church smelling awful, you’ll distract other congregants from the gospel. You don’t want that, do you?
Finally, don’t be scared to wear more colors in church. You can do so with your shoes, scarves, outerwear, etc. That’s how you praise the Lord with style!
