What to Wear to Church: Sunday Best Simplified

If you have ever wondered what to wear to church or other religious services, you are in the right place!

Going to church, whether weekly, yearly, or just for your niece’s baptism or bat mitzvah, demands attire different from most of our work and streetwear. In fact, some religious traditions and ceremonies will require a specific dress code.

Many religious groups will accept anyone, no matter the clothes on their back, but for those of us who are able, dressing up should be the go-to option for churchgoing.

Demonstrating respect and worship through the way we dress allows us a powerful tool to enhance both our religious and cultural understanding. 

Let’s explore different styles and scenarios to make selecting your Sunday best easier.

The Basics

Different religious organizations will either have an informal or formal dress code for some or all of their services. While it is important to know these, if this is your first time walking into a new church or service, here is a general rule of thumb on what to wear.

For men, the standard church-going apparel usually consists of a suit jacket, dress pants, belt, dress shirt, tie, socks, and formal footwear. In some cases, additional categories exist, such as headwear for certain religions and religious practices. 

Other variations of these guidelines will occur based on factors such as temperature, where an overcoat, sweater, and/or vest might be practical. 

When familiarizing yourself with the church members and leadership, feel free to adjust accordingly.

Just a few reminders about suits.

A basic two-piece suit should consist of a matching pair of pants and a jacket. Try choosing a dark, solid color like black, navy, or charcoal. Personally, I prefer two-button jackets to their three-button counterparts. 

Regarding suit etiquette, don’t forget to unbutton your suit jacket when you sit down and rebutton when you stand back up. For two-button coats, button only the top button. For three-button suits, from top to bottom, think: “Sometimes, always, never.” 

Double-breasted jackets typically stayed buttoned at all times, even when sitting. 

Variations of Sunday’s (or Saturday’s) Best

Now that we’ve established a simple baseline for what to wear to church, here are some adjustments that you can make depending on factors such as temperature, type of service, and familiarity. 

Temperature

In northern Russian winters, a simple suit coat won’t be enough to keep you safe and warm. In Fiji, you might not only become uncomfortable wearing your suit jacket all day, but you will also be one of the only people wearing one. 

These differences are why variations in these guidelines and suggestions exist. Let’s explore some alternatives for both hot and cold weather.

When possible, I recommend wearing a suit jacket. However, in cases of extreme heat, it may not be the best option. 

Instead, you might opt for a vest.

Skipping the suit coat is a simple solution to dressing for church services in high-temperature areas or seasons.

I would still recommend a long-sleeved dress shirt over a short sleeve. If it truly is too hot for a long-sleeved dress shirt, roll up your sleeves instead of wearing a short-sleeved shirt. 

A long-sleeve shirt is more formal than its short-sleeved counterpart. Why? Because maintaining the option of rolling your sleeves back down. 

There are many ways to prepare for frigid temperatures and keep your outfit church-ready. 

Wearing a sweater, over your dress shirt and tie and under your suit jacket, is a suitable option for colder weather. Try to follow similar rules regarding the color and pattern of the sweater, and stick with solid, complimentary colors.