Clothes you already own and feel comfortable inThirteen of 14 congregations’ visitor pages say come as you are or wear what is comfortable.
Polo and khakisWhat most people wear at a Chicago Lutheran church, between the suits and the T-shirts.
Jeans with a nice topThe usual outfit at one Church of God congregation, where a suit and tie would be overdressed.
Suit or dress, if you like to dress upEight of 14 congregations’ visitor pages name suits, each time alongside jeans.
Covered shoulders and knees, at a traditional parishAsked of women by a Serbian Orthodox parish, and of everyone in an Illinois bishop’s column.
Dressier clothes for a main morning serviceAt a Florida Episcopal church mornings lean business casual; its 5 p.m. service is casual.
Shoulders and thighs covered in a famous cathedralA Paris cathedral asks visitors to cover shoulders and thighs, and the torso and stomach too.
All 63 things to wear
The short answer 7
Clothes you already own and feel comfortable inThirteen of 14 congregations’ visitor pages say come as you are or wear what is comfortable.
Covered shoulders and knees, at a traditional parishAsked of women by a Serbian Orthodox parish, and of everyone in an Illinois bishop’s column.
Dressier clothes for a main morning serviceAt a Florida Episcopal church mornings lean business casual; its 5 p.m. service is casual.
Jeans with a nice topThe usual outfit at one Church of God congregation, where a suit and tie would be overdressed.
Polo and khakisWhat most people wear at a Chicago Lutheran church, between the suits and the T-shirts.
Shoulders and thighs covered in a famous cathedralA Paris cathedral asks visitors to cover shoulders and thighs, and the torso and stomach too.
Suit or dress, if you like to dress upEight of 14 congregations’ visitor pages name suits, each time alongside jeans.
Where the church says come as you are 7
The best clothes you have, whatever they areAn Alabama Episcopal church greets Sunday best and off-the-street clothes the same.
Collared golf shirt and Bermuda shorts, in summerPresentable at Mass, a priest wrote in an archdiocese’s newspaper column in 2012.
Jeans and a plain T-shirtJeans and T-shirt are welcome by name at a British Baptist church that says it has no dress code.
Jeans and a sweater in winterWhat a New York Lutheran church says you will see in its pews in the cold months.
Modest outfit that does not distractA British Baptist church’s one caution: dress modestly, without drawing attention to yourself.
Running gearSeen at one Episcopal church beside Sunday best. It has no dress code.
Shorts and a golf shirt in the warm monthsPlenty of both at a New York Lutheran church that calls itself casual.
Where most people dress smart casual 5
Business casual, more common than suitsMany more people wear it than dresses or suits at an Episcopal church in Port Washington.
Jacket without a tieMany men wear a jacket, with or without a tie, at a Florida Episcopal church’s morning services.
Nice casual clothesThe most common attire at two Episcopal churches that share a parish, between jeans and suits.
Smart-casual clothes for a Saturday serviceMost attendees at a Queensland Adventist church choose smart-casual or formal. It has no dress code.
Sweater and dress slacksOne of two in-between outfits a Chicago Lutheran church names as what most people wear.
Where people wear Sunday best 6
Dress with a hatSome women wear both at a Baptist church whose pastor says you will see all styles of dress.
Finer clothes on a great feastAn Ohio Orthodox parish asks for extra care at Pascha, Christmas and other great feasts.
Green on Pentecost, blue on a feast of MaryA custom one Ohio Orthodox parish describes: matching the colors you wear to the feast.
Jacket and tieWorn by some at a New York Lutheran church, though most people there dress casually.
Suit with a tieA great sign of respect at Mass, an Illinois bishop writes. He calls it a voluntary choice.
Your Sunday bestPutting on your nicest clothes for church, as an Ohio Orthodox parish explains the phrase.
At an Orthodox or traditional Catholic parish 16
Casual outfit to change into at coffee hourFor plans after the service: an Ohio Orthodox parish suggests bringing a change of clothing.
Clean shoes or sandalsAn Ohio Orthodox parish asks that they be clean and tied.
Cooler clothing that is still modestAn Illinois bishop’s answer to summer heat. Most of his churches are air-conditioned, he adds.
Dress khakisAll right for men at an Ohio Orthodox parish, which rules out cargo pants.
Dress pants, if a woman wears pantsAn Ohio Orthodox parish accepts them in place of a dress, but not jeans or leggings.
Dress shorts, on a child under fiveThe only shorts an Ohio Orthodox parish permits at its services.
Dress, the first choice for womenAn Ohio Orthodox parish calls dresses far and away the most fitting for women at its services.
Headscarf, traditional but optional for a visitorA Serbian Orthodox parish says so of women who visit. An Alabama parish invites them to wear one.
Long-sleeved shirt and long pantsAn Alabama Orthodox parish’s rule for its men and boys, with closed-toe shoes.
Mantilla or veilWelcomed at one Catholic parish. An Illinois bishop calls it a traditional custom some women choose.
Quarter-length sleevesOne Catholic parish’s dress code asks women for covered shoulders and sleeves of that length.
Skirt or dress at or below the kneeTraditional for women at a Serbian Orthodox parish, which says modest dress is appreciated.
Skirt that covers the knee when you sitThe test in one Catholic parish’s dress code, which also bars a slit above the knee.
Slacks and a collared shirt, for menAppropriate at a Serbian Orthodox parish in Pennsylvania: a dress shirt or a collared casual one.
Tie, and a suit coat in cool weatherOne Catholic parish’s dress code asks men to consider both.
White dress shirt and dark pantsWhat an Indiana Greek Orthodox priest asked of men in a 2015 letter. The tie is optional.
Visiting a famous cathedral or basilica 4
Head covering kept on for faith or healthExempt from the hat rules of a London cathedral and of a Barcelona basilica.
Modest clothing suited to a place of worshipWhat a Paris cathedral asks its pilgrims and visitors to wear.
Shoes of some kindA Barcelona basilica does not let visitors enter barefoot.
Trousers or a skirt down to mid-thigh at leastThe length a Barcelona basilica’s own rules set for every visitor.
Leave at home 18
No athletic shoes at a traditional parishNever appropriate at an Ohio Orthodox parish; one Catholic parish lists them as too casual.
No backless dressAn Alabama Orthodox parish and an Ohio one both ask that a dress have a back.
No cargo pants, at one Orthodox parishAn Ohio parish accepts dress khakis but not cargo pants, and calls blue jeans usually too casual.
No hat indoors, for menAsked by a Paris cathedral, a London cathedral and a Serbian Orthodox parish.
No hat of any kind, in one Barcelona basilicaFor safety, its rules say, in the nave and the museum. Religious and health reasons are exempt.
No lipstick, if you will kiss an iconTwo Orthodox parishes ask women to go without it, so that the icons are not smudged or damaged.
No miniskirt at an Orthodox liturgyNamed by three Orthodox parishes, in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana.
No offensive words or images on your clothesA London cathedral may make covering them up a condition of entry.
No party costumeA Barcelona basilica refuses visitors in special clothing worn to celebrate festivities.
No plunging necklineOne Catholic parish’s dress code rules out low-cut, plunging and deep-scoop necklines.
No see-through or tight-fitting clothingA Paris cathedral asks visitors to avoid both. A Barcelona basilica bars see-through clothing.
No sheer or lace layer with nothing under itOne Catholic parish’s dress code, which makes an exception for head coverings.
No shorts at an Orthodox liturgyThree Orthodox parishes say no to shorts; a fourth, in Alabama, has its men and boys wear long pants.
No sleeveless or strapped top at MassOn the list an Illinois bishop’s column offers his diocese as minimum standards.
No suit and tie, at one casual churchA Church of God congregation tells visitors that in a suit and tie they will be overdressed.
No swimwear in a basilicaA Barcelona basilica’s rules say visitors may not enter in it.
No T-shirt with writing or a character on itNever, for anyone of any age, at an Ohio Orthodox parish’s services.
No tank top or halter topNot proper attire at an Ohio Orthodox parish. A Serbian Orthodox one tells men to avoid tank tops.
How it works
What should I wear to church? Often, clothes you already own: 13 of the 14 congregations counted here say come as you are or wear what is comfortable. The 63 rows add parishes’ dress codes and three famous churches’ rules.
Read the full guide
Which churches were counted
The fourteen congregations are seven Episcopal, three Baptist, two Lutheran, one Adventist and one Church of God, in the US, Ontario, Britain and Queensland; each answers the question on its own page. Four state that they have no dress code. The four Orthodox parishes and the one Catholic parish with a posted code ask for more.
Questions and answers
What should I wear to church today?
Something you already own and feel comfortable in. A New York Lutheran church sees jeans and sweaters in winter and shorts in the warm months; an Ohio Orthodox parish asks for finer clothes on great feasts such as Pascha and Christmas.
What should I wear to church for the first time?
Look for the church’s visitor page: many answer the question. Where it is silent, three congregations describe a middle ground their people favor: business casual, nice casual, or a polo and khakis.
Can you wear jeans to church?
At many churches, yes: nine of the 14 congregations counted here name jeans among what people wear. An Ohio Orthodox parish calls blue jeans usually too casual, and an Indiana Greek Orthodox priest objected in 2015 to women coming in pants or jeans.
Is there a dress code for Catholic Mass?
A priest wrote in an archdiocese’s newspaper in 2012 that he knew of no universal church rule. The Catechism asks that clothing convey respect, solemnity and joy (no. 1387). An Illinois bishop offers covered shoulders and knees as a minimum.