When growing up, dress code was unwritten but very strict. We had to wear our nicest 'smart casual' dress, preferably with a hat and gloves. Best shoes. Stockings or clean white socks (depending on age).
I remember when my friend wore tidy white trousers to evening church and people were scandalised.
Now - we go to an ecumenical, non-denominational church. Because it is right next to the beach, dress is very casual. For us, baptisms are casual almost as a requirement, because it's difficult to walk on the beach in high heels and stockings, and the sea is our baptismal font. (Pacific Ocean - biggest baptismal font in the world!) The person being baptised and all those standing with him/her wears standard swimsuit. Others on the shore stand at the ready with towels - it can be cold. Back inside the church there are hot showers for those who need them while the rest of us have coffee while we wait for them. There is always a bucket of water at the door for people to rinse the sand off their bare feet if they've been in the sea.
People come to our church in summer wearing almost anything. Swimsuits sometimes, although we do ask that people throw something on over the swimsuit, even if it's only a thin shirt. Footwear - I wear thongs (flip-flops) in summer, but I kick them off as soon as I arrive. On Easter Sunday I had to go out the front at church and talk for a few minutes during the service - I didn't worry that I had bare feet, nobody was concerned. But there were still people there who were dressed very neatly, smart casual with stockings and high heels. No hats, though.
But nobody is seen as out of place. We have one old bloke who lives alone and has revolting dress sense - fluorescent pink sandals, red shorts, pink shirt often badly buttoned. Not a problem - we all know it's his Sunday best he's wearing and we're just happy to see him.
After the service but while people are still milling around, a number of people change into swimsuits and go for a swim, then sit and talk on the veranda, or wander back inside (once they've rinsed their feet at the door!).
For us, the focus is far less on what people are wearing. Skimpy, provocative clothing - another matter. I can't remember the last time I saw a girl's bare midriff there, unless it was in a swimsuit (which doesn't count as a problem).
There have been times when people sat in a church meeting with some wearing just swimsuits, but usually only on the hottest days in summer.
Times have changed, clothing requirements in general in so many areas are now much more informal. Other churches around Australia - the dress code is more formal than ours, but still very forgiving.
Marg
