This month, I’m writing some new content for my fellow pastor’s wives.
—> (Have you checked out my Pastor’s Wives posts here on the blog yet?)
One of the challenges pastor’s wives face every week is what to wear on Sunday. *wink*
This, of course, is something you might worry about after you’ve tackled
- what your kids are wearing to church,
- what everyone is going to eat after church, and
- finishing up the lesson plan for that class you teach.
Pastor’s wives wear a lot of hats. I know it’s easy to neglect the woman in the mirror in the middle of trying to juggle all the roles.
If you’re in the thick of managing a family and raising the preacher’s kids on top of being the pastor’s wife, then I totally get why you may not feel like “what to wear on Sunday” should even be on your radar.
But it should.
Not for anyone’s sake but your own.
You are still a woman and a wife.
Appearances aren’t everything, but they are something.
Don’t neglect to present yourself well.
Embracing the habit of dressing well is a matter of stewardship. And, ladies, it’s really fun!
The role of a pastor’s wife is indeed a professional position, and it’s okay to dress the part.
In fact, I highly recommend it!
I’m going to share five of my personal hacks for looking more put together on Sundays.
In this season of my life, all five of these things are part of my regular lifestyle habits.
However, when my kids were little and I wasn’t getting nearly enough sleep, I didn’t manage all five. But I did what I could, and you can too.
Your personal preference may not be the “put together” style; maybe you’re super casual, chic and fun, or outrageously bold.
Find your own unique style and embrace it well.
My personal style is definitely the classic look, so here are five ways I look and feel more put together on Sundays:
Tweak, nix, or add to any of these hacks in order to suit your own unique personality, style, and season of life.
#1 Wear Tailored Clothing
I confess: I’m a pretty big fan of the Duchess of Cambridge (aka, Kate Middleton).
One of the “secrets” of her fantastic appearance is that she always wears clothes that fit her frame really well.
Now, I know what you may be thinking:
I don’t have access to the brands, stylists, or designers that the Duchess has access to.
And that’s true.
But I do have Trinny and Susanna’s Body Shape Bible– a book I highly recommend, by the way.
I also found a local alteration shop where I get my clothes tailored at a reasonable price.
In fact, I take a lot of my clothes in for alternations so that they fit really well.
I’ve nailed my body type and I know that I can’t get by with baggy, misfitting dresses, tops, or skirts.
I’ve also discovered a few brands that fit me really well and I look for those brands in-
- thrift stores,
- consignment shops,
- Poshmark (use “ksclassycloset” as your referral when you set up a new account and receive $10 in Poshmark credit),
- and when I’m doing online shopping (I always click through Mr. Rebates to earn cash back!).
Brands I look for include:
- Talbots
- White House Black Market
- Anne Taylor
- Dainty Jewell’s
Dressing well is really just a matter of shopping smart.
Learn what looks good on you, and then stick with that.
For most of us, tailored clothing will accentuate our best features and hide the problem areas.
—–> By the way: you don’t have to be a size two (like the Duchess) to look great in your clothes.
Dressing well for YOUR BODY can help you love your wardrobe and feel confident in your own skin. (This is a major theme in Trinny and Susanna’s book, The Body Shape Bible.)
Pastor’s wives, we set the tone for the women in our church; let’s show others that it’s completely possible to be beautiful, modest, and confident.
#2 Understate With Accessories
I loved a little quote I read recently by Joy Clarkson in Girls’ Club:
… she was always over-dressed and understated.”
Honestly, that pretty much states how I like to dress.
If you’re going for a polished, classy look, understate your style.
This is especially true with how you choose to accessorize.
I have lots of beautiful, fun friends who love to pile on the accessories: lots of bling, sparkles, bulky jewelry, bold makeup or big hair. And it suits them well!
But it’s not me.
I tend to opt for the quieter side of accessorizing.
My top picks for pulling together a classy outfit are
- a designer purse
- matching kitten heels or stylish flats
- a small statement necklace
That’s typically it.
Occasionally I’ll wear a pretty broach (instead of a necklace), hair jewelry or a flower in my hair.
During cold-weather months, I opt for colorful scarves, hats and coats.
My rule-of-thumb is go low-key with accessories.
Timeless simplicity is part of the classic style I love.
#3 Get a Manicure
Nothing makes a woman look and feel quite so “put together” as well-manicured hands.
I’m a big fan of the manicure, a trait I attribute to my MeMe (her nails were always “done”).
I use my personal spending money for a monthly manicure at my favorite nail salon, but if you are a DIY’er you can definitely do your own nails to save time and money.
Here are some organic manicure products I love:
Just for fun, I like to have a “signature” color for my nails.
My favorite is a pale, almost-flesh colored pink. It looks elegantly natural and matches pretty much everything I wear.
Allegedly, Queen Elizabeth’s signature nail polish color is “ballet slippers.”
I liked the idea so much that I copied. it. *wink*
#4 Perfect Your Hair Style
Now, notice that I used “perfect” as a verb not a noun.
In other words, I’m not suggesting that you should try to have perfect hair (because that’s impossible, right?).
But do perfect- or improve, tweak, and develop– your hair style.
Because, honestly, nothing looks less “put together” than unkept or unhealthy hair.
Here are a few practical ways to “perfect” your hair style for a polished look:
- Find a hair cut or hair style that accentuates your face.
- Nourish your hair so that it’s shiny and healthy.
- Use the Lunar Hair Calendar to time your hair cuts for optimal hair growth and/or health.
- Choose plant-based hair products instead of products laden with chemicals.
- If you’re graying early (like I am), find a natural product to preserve your hair color. I’m a huge fan of Hairprint (for brunettes) or Morrocco Methods (for auburn or blond hair).
My favorite shampoo and conditioner:
I find it interesting that even Scripture states that a woman’s hair is-
- “her glory” (KJV).
- her “glorious beauty” (PHILLIPS New Testament).
- her “ornament and glory” (Amplified Bible).
If your hair doesn’t feel “glorious,” take some time to brainstorm ways you can nourish your hair and bring it to life.
Well-kept hair can make a simple but profound statement about the woman you are: vibrant, alive, and beautifully feminine
#5 Consider Wearing Tights/Hose
This might be the least popular point in this post, but please hear me out! *wink*
If you’re going for a polished, “put together” look, don’t neglect to consider the fact that bare legs might detract from your classy style.
I referenced Kate Middleton earlier in this post, and I think it bears mentioning that another secret to her polished look is that she wears tights/hose a lot.
Apparently, this is more of a European fashion code; but we American women can stand to learn a thing or two about fashion from our European sisters, can we not?
I grew up wearing hose to church and hated them. As a young pastor’s wife in my twenties I vowed I’d never wear hose again and, for years, I didn’t.
As my style has evolved over the years- and after five pregnancies that left me with varicose veins– well, my preferences have changed a bit.
These days, I honestly, I don’t feel particularly put-together when I go bare-legged while wearing a smart blazer-and-pencil-skirt or classy-dress-and-pumps.
The exception to this is during the hot summer months in Texas, when I opt for peep-toe shoes and, obviously, no pantyhose.
During the fall, winter, and spring, however, I wear nude hose and closed-toe pumps.
This works well for me for two reasons:
- I’m a conservative-dresser.
- I’m a pastor’s wife at a traditional church.
These are my favorite tights; they’re pricey, so I only own a few pair.
Not convinced?
Check out these fashion articles and decide for yourself:
- Is it OK to Wear Pantyhose?– The Wardrobe Consultant
- Why Pantyhose Sales Are Still Surprisingly Strong– Fortune
- The Great Pantyhose Debate– What Kate Wore
So these are my personal tips for feeling like a “put together” pastor’s wife on Sundays.
What would you add to this list?
Your list might look vastly different than mine and I’d love to hear about it!
If you enjoyed this post, will you please hit a “share” button to spread the love?
Here’s to living & loving well-
xoxo,
Kristy
