Sunday, July 09, 2006

Fashionista Advice Solicited

Girls--Where do you get your pulpit robes? I really need to replace both of mine. My black robe was a gift from my now-departed grandmother upon my ordination seventeen years ago. It's in okay shape--except for a little melted part on the bottom of one sleeve: the result of an unfortunate Advent Wreath Incident a few years back. My white robe was purchased for me by a well-meaning but clueless group at a previous church. They bought it at the Christian Bookstore in their town and it is basically a white baptismal robe that looks kind of dorky and has no pockets.

For the first time in years, I'm actually in a place where I have an expense allowance that enables me to even think about buying new robes. But in surfing the web and leafing through catalogues, I'm not finding any robes designed for clergywomen that do not absolutely REEK of primness. I'm not looking for sleek and sexy, necessarily--just something with a little more flair and pizzaz. Any suggestions?

13 comments:

kwpershey said...

I love Womenspirit. They fit really well and are relatively flattering.

Jody Harrington said...

Ask Sister PeaceBang--
www.beautytipsforministers.blogspot.com

I bet she can tell you!

I just LOVE her...

Jules said...

I have a lot of friends who go the Womenspirit route. I went with Bentley & Simon for a classic Geneva, and bought my alb from some company that came to Semi-Famous Theological Skool and set up a little showroom--can't remember name.

Bentley & Simon (also found under 'Oak Hall' name) send out a nice catalogue with fabric swatches. My Geneva is black crepe-ish that has a very nice drape to it and is as lightweight as a Geneva can be with all those pleats. They had lots of options as far as customizing the pocket-side slit issue, and custom fit for men or women to your measurements.

I did have to send it back once this Spring for repairs-- the velvet panels were coming off, and they did the fix for no charge.

Anonymous said...

Being Lutheran, I'm an alb gal... Almy is great in terms of price and quality (and speed of delivery!)... don't know if they might have what you need?

Unknown said...

I like my robe from Womenspirit, but I have the added issue of being short, so those giant Geneva robes just aren't in the cards for me.

St. Casserole said...

I wore a Geneva gown and tabs for years. Now I'm an Almy alb gal. I like a gown I can wash at home.

It's great that you have the money to think about another robe! Congrats on 17 years of ordination!

PeaceBang said...

PeaceBang is IN THE HOUSE.
And yes, WomenSpirit has lovely offerings. Does any girl really look her best with those enormous mutton sleeves of the Geneva gown? Doth the Lord require of us that we look like linebackers on Sunday morning? Anyone under 5'7" or so just can't be SEEN behind those bloody sleeves!

PeaceBang adores the Esther cut in linen white blend. www.womenspirit.com

Jules said...

Well, at 5'10", I work those sleeves!

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Karen Sapio said...

On the other hand, the volumunous Geneva gown worked really well preaching through two pregnancies . . .

Anonymous said...

The womenspirit robes are nice---I have one--but not particularly durable. My friend has had to replace every couple years due to pilling and whatnot. My geneva was an almy, and despite my 5'2"ness, it fits really well. It took about 6 weeks to order though, and almost didn't arrive in time for graduation.

I'm fascinated, stcassy, with the tabs. Where on earth do you find tabs for women? I've always thought it would be fun just for kicks once or twice. But I've never found them.

Catherine said...

I wear tabs sometimes too and I got mine at McKays, Church Supply Warehouse. I love the stoles at Icthys in Texas, and of course, the gowns of Womenspirit. I always go to Almy for my albs and occasionally their clergy shirts.

Catherine+

Anonymous said...

At my first church, which hadn't ever had a woman pastor before, I was troubled by what I perceived as a certain lack of respect for me as an actual minister. (This was 25 years ago. Have things changed, young women of the Word?) I thought that wearing a robe might make me look more like a minister, so I bought one. After the service, as I stood at the back door, shaking hands, one of the Mothers of the Church filed past. "Good sermon," she said. "And, oh! I love your little costume."
So now I only wear my "costume" at weddings, events at which everyone else is wearing funny costumes, too.