Easter Dresses
Dress up for Easter
It has always been a sign of respect to wear one’s Sunday best to church, but on Easter Sunday in particular it is traditional to dress up. Fancy Easter dresses and Easter bonnets mark the importance of the holiday. For many people, especially in times past, Easter was also the first chance to dress up after denying oneself the vanity of fine clothing during Lent.
These days, it is less common for people to wear special clothes for Easter, just as church attire in general has become more casual. Take a cue from your church congregation. You may feel most comfortable in a smart, businesslike outfit. On the other hand, it is better to be overdressed than underdressed on this occasion, and if you like dressing up, this is your chance.
While an Easter dress can be fancy, it should also be modest and tasteful. Whether you are dressing for church or an Easter brunch with friends and family, avoid short skirts, low necklines or sleeveless styles. Young girls, in particular, enjoy dressing up for Easter. Girls Easter dresses are usually in white or pastel colors, reflecting the palette of spring. Lace, eyelets, frill, bows and floral prints are all appropriate for Easter.
Easter Dress Traditions
It has been traditional for hundreds of years to wear new clothes at Easter. In pre-Christian traditions, fresh new clothes symbolized the newness of spring. The superstition that wearing new clothes at Easter brought good luck for the coming year persisted into the 19th century. New clothes for Easter in Christian tradition similarly reflect the rebirth and Resurrection celebrated by the holiday, and they also serve as a sign of honor and respect for the most important day of the year.
During several periods of history, including the Great Depression, Easter might be the only time of year people could afford new clothes. This made a new Easter outfit all the more special and important. If a new outfit was out of one’s financial reach, an old one would be refurbished and accompanied by a new Easter hat. This helped to create the tradition of Easter bonnets.
Easter Bonnets
Wearing spring bonnets at Easter is less common these days, as hats are generally out of style. The tradition is still well known, however, thanks to Irving Berlin’s song “Easter Parade.” An Easter bonnet is still an entirely appropriate capstone to your Easter outfit, if you choose to wear one.
Once again, Easter hats for kids are more commonly seen, as young girls are more eager to dress up. Girls Easter bonnets are usually wide brimmed, in white, pastel or natural-colored straw. They are often trimmed with ribbon and springtime flowers.
An Easter bonnet can also make a fun Easter craft idea. Use an inverted paper bowl for a hat, and a paper plate with the center cut out to make the brim. Have the kids decorate their Easter hats with paint, ribbons or streamers and tissue-paper flowers.
