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.

[threat matrix]

[tiamat]

You're welcome!

;-)

[mindspy]

I'm too tired right now to think about it much less do anything about it, like get out of my pajamas.

[cyborg]

Let's just hope she doesn't move her hand :-) Sheesh my mother would be going on and on at how she could have worn a scarf.

[threat matrix]

These folks in England have got their bonnets on..

[KarlInOhio]

Is it better to look good for Easter than to be good?

[TC Rider]

The author should visit some churches here in NC.

He wants to see some Easter bonnets, he should visit some of the black Baptists churches.

[PennsylvaniaMom]

Happy Easter Willie!!!

IMO fashion is cyclical. We are just in a 'down' turn right now. Low rise jeans, stretchy nylon tops, tees and khakis will give way to something else. Heck even platform shoes came back and they will go away (again). Suits and the Jackie Kennedy look will come back at some point too...just wait.

As for dressing to the nines for Easter (buying new clothes, etc.) I think alot of families just can't afford it. My boys wore the same 'dress' khakis' with a nice shirt as they would wear any Sunday. And I didn't really notice alot of all-out, brand new Easter finery...just people dressed as they normally would have.

[Willie Green]

I would have bought the wife a new dress, but the local stores had NOTHING.

And she BELIEVED you???

Geeez, I NEVER would've gotten away with THAT whopper!!!

[MrsEmmaPeel]

Could somebody here please explain to this Jew what bunnies, eggs and bonnets have to do with the resurrection of Christ?

Medieval tradition. The peasants didn't have to work on the Lord's manor lands on Easter and were given extra eggs for their trouble.

In time, eggs symbolized birth renewal (easter is near the spring equinox -- officially its the First Sunday after the First Full Moon After the Spring Equinox) -- Spring -- renewal -- resurrection -- renewal .. etc

Easter Bunny grew out of all of that.

[barrymdeep]

Got on a pretty pink dress with pearls and pumps!! Off to Church!!! Im so out of it - but happy to be so!!!

[CindyDawg]

Funny. I was just thinking of the time it takes to get the whole family dressed up and keep dressed up. Exhausted by the time you get there. June didn't have to work and Ward helped her :')

[Romish_Papist]

Wouldn't dressing up to look all pretty or dapper in front of your other church members be more egocentric than a person who shows up to truly honor and venerate God and the scrifice of His only begotten son regardless of how that person is dressed? Do you really think God cares about how you're dressed when you come to Him? These are unimportant things, how we dress, things like that. God cares about what is in our hearts, not what's in our wardrobe. I'm sorry if this seems confrontational, but this kind of thing seems like the height of arrogance and egocentrism.

[threat matrix]

I cant believe passes for formal wear in Europe! (its always so much fun to see who's wearing what)

[barrymdeep]

Got on a pretty pink dress with pearls and pumps!! Off to Church!!! Im so out of it - but happy to be so!!!

[cyborg]

Lovely... that's how my mother dresses for church. My mom is very particular about that sort of thing.

[Willie Green]

Happy Easter back at yinz!!!

[cyborg]

The 'see and be seen' crowd at the races always are 'trendy'. I bet that 'trendy' outfit costs thousands.

[freedox]

Mode of dress is a direct reflection of the level of importance that one attaches to an event and to the other people in attendance. Dressing down makes a statement......it says, "You and this event are not important enough for me to be bothered with trying to look my best." In other words, it's basic rudeness.

[threat matrix]

We've got a Jenna Bush sighting at Sunrise service!