Ok, stupid question maybe...BUT....what clothing should I be bringing?

I'm thinking a skirt for each day, for when we are in chapel, but other than that?

I'm a person who wears skirts all the time so I blinked a few times when I first read this

I would suggest in general that you follow two principles: the first is that you are a woman of God, the second is that you should be comfortable. So think loose but well-fitting, hems at least to your knee, and no underwear on display. Further make sure that it's stuff you can move about in, that's easy to pull on in the mornings, and that you feel comfortable in. I hesitate to propose anything narrower than that - even though I'm an ankle-length skirt person - because I really think this should be something you worry about once, and then you're free to concentrate on your retreat.

Prayers that it all goes well!

PP

I think it depends on you. And it depends on the community. Clearly you have the mindset and foresight to think of what is appropriate to pack for when you're in church. I personally, think dress pants are appropriate, or even khakis. Likewise, a community may ask for you not to bring jeans or jean skirts. If you know other women who've been on retreat, you could ask them. Otherwise, you could defer to the vocation director, as she would be able to tell you more specifics.

Oh! And bring tennis shoes/sneakers/runners/gym shoes (depending on what part of the country you're from ) for recreation!

I agree, some skirts, some nice pants. Probably not jeans. Nothing revealing. Your clothes do reflect the women you are, but you will have some down time too, so pants are appropriate. And a definite yes to comfortable walking shoes or sneakers

It is probably best just to ask. Some communities insist that you wear skirts, but most just ask that you dress in a respectful, modest manner. I pray you have a blessed and fruitful visit!

clothes.....




sorry, my sarcastic side won out when i read the title of the thread

ditto everyone else's more sincere answers

dont have shirts with sayings on them, it tends to be a sign of childish things. SKIRTS are good, no pants what so ever!!!!! Never wear a v-neck shirt. Just stick to dress up cloths and to regular t-shirts or ones with a crew cut neck. Don't wear make-up while on the retreat, it tends to get one introuble when visiting a community or even on retreat there.

Wear something simple. Pants are ok if they are dress pants.

Clean and modest... I know that in the winter time, I do not have many skirts for that time, so I bring pants then, but I do dress nicely for when I am there. I normally do not wear make-up at all, but I am sure a little wouldn't hurt any unless you are told to not bring any...

You know, I have been on many discernment retreats, and I felt it best to just be yourself. If you always wear make up, by all means wear it. Now I am not saying really paste it on, but if it is YOU, then wear it.. If you are comfortable in pants, then wear them. You want to be modest but geez, in this day and age if a community gets upset because you are wearing some lip gloss and blush, then show me the door because I want to run from that group. Discernment means just that, seeking answers. they should also want to know who the real you is also.

Haha, I'm not a skirt-y person. And I'm visiting a Cist. community in July, I dont own any skirts lol.

As can be seen here, everyone has their own opinoins. It really depends on the person, but there is one thing you know for sure to reguard and that's MODESTY. Keep it simple. Be as modest as you can without making yourself uncomfortable. Skirts are great, flowy comfortable skirts are great but make sure you don't have a real clingy or immodest fabric if you get a light skirt. Don't bother with make up, the sisters don't mind, and Jesus certainly doesn't need your face covered up. Just keep it: Modest, simple, comfortable. God Bless!

if you wear makeup while you are there, just put on foundation other wise if you put on anything else it will look as if you are going out for dinner, as the Sisters told me when they asked me to put on makeup, long story!!!!!!!

Really you should just be yourself.

I always wear makeup, I'm a huge girly girl......

+

Having just come back from two weeks at the convent...

I brought two ankle-length skirts and did laundry several times. Honestly, the sisters wear the same thing everyday. It's not necessary for you to be concerned about having something different for everyday -you're on retreat, keep it simple! Shirts, I brought 5 or 6, because I wouldn't re-wear those for cleanliness purposes.

Shirts SHOULD NOT be tight-fighting or "cap-sleeved" and should cover your mid-section with room to spare to allow for bowing and other movement. Tank-tops of course, are totally unacceptable. A word too about even knee-length skirts, while they are relatively modest, keep in mind that you will have to be more careful about keeping your knees covered etc... with an ankle length skirt, you don't have to worry and that is the beauty of it! Also, sandals are usually appropriate -they are comfortable and keep you cool with a long skirt on!

Personally, I find pants unacceptable. They are a reflection of the androgny of our culture -attempting to equate men and women in all ways, including dress. That being said, however, if you are going somewhere cool, bring a pair of loose cloth pants or long underwear, or even nylons to wear under a skirt to keep you warm!

Dress is another way that Christians need to be "counter-cultural" in order to be faithful to Our Lord. However, with a little effort you WILL look beautiful, classy, respectable, and feminine -who wouldn't want present themselves that way?

Have a blessed trip!

I was wondering about this too! I am off to visit OLAM for a week in July and I wasnt sure what to wear. They said that pants are ok but I thought that I should have a skirt for Sunday at least. Being from the great white north lol I dont think I am prepared for the heat in AL and I think that pants especially black dress pants would be seriously hot! So where the heck does one find modest clothing???? I went on a mall run and everything is tight, low cut, short and so on. It is sooooo frustrating!

If you are looking for modest clothes, you may need to look in the misses section... they have longer and looser cut clothes. Sometimes it just takes some real searching to find that one gem in the mess of crud that is called 'fashion'

that's funny because when I go to a retreat in Nashville, I will have to be prepared to BUNDLE up!! I'm sooo used to the heat of Texas, even if I make a retreat to Hanceville I'll have to prepare for the cold, or the cool. The main thing is be yourself and make sure its modest, if your not modest, then maybe you should try changing yourself or not going. lol.




omg, juniors today, it's so disgusting. It's impossible to find anything that covers you, and if you find it, then its skin tight. It's SO annoying, I hate it. Misses will be good for more modest clothing. Dont' they think teens want to dress respectfully sometimes too??

I only like looking for skirts in the juniors section... they can have some very decent and cute skirts as of recent...

I'd bring blouses, nice slacks or a skirt and a chapel veil.

I am over here laughing my head off about all the cautions regarding makeup and modesty! You can't know this about me, of course, but most days I don't wear a spot of makeup. When I do, it's usually just a light lip gloss. No makeup is the rule rather than the exception for me. I just can't be bothered with it, really.

As for modesty, I think I have stricter standards for myself than my Mom sets for my 13 year old sister! I own a grand total of two skirts shorter than calf length, and even those will pass the old "schoolgirl's kilt" test easily. (Kneel on the floor, they should touch it.) A while ago, got rid of three of my formerly favorite pairs of shorts because I felt they were immodest. (Decent, but not modest). My rule for pants that show underwear is that they must be worn with a shirt long enough to cover said underwear. Modesty is one of those things that, at this stage in my faith life and discernment process, it's simply a given. Sunday, I went to Mass covered from collarbone to shoe-tops and shoulders to wrists and I realized that I prefer to be dressed like that now!

As for what I should have worn for the retreat, the bottom line is to figure out you need to know this in time to ASK! I brought several ankle-length skirts, a few nice three-quarter sleeved tops, one pair of nice pants and sleepwear. When I arrived on Wednesday, all the other retreatants were in jeans and ratty tee shirts and were covered in dirt. They'd been gardening. I'm sort of glad I missed it. For the rest of the week, I was the only layperson who didn't change into pants/jeans after Holy Mass. My pants got filthy because I had to wear them every time I went outside in order to keep from being devoured by bugs. I didn't really mind any of this, but I'll know for next time I visit those sisters. I'd rather have been too dressed up than too dressed down, so I didn't get too excited.

*Head swiveling from side to side*....Wow, I never thought about this in detail before...No makeup...check! (except lip gloss) No jeans...check! Modest skirts & tops...maybe dress pants...I was wearing jeans & I had on make-up & a v-neck top when I visited one monastery...Whoops! I'm not saying it was a bad thing...but perhaps not the most appropriate thing I've done!