Need some outfit ideas for attending church in the summer? We’ve got your back. Have a look at our 20 summer church outfits below!
The church outfit ideas we’ve prepared for you range from casual to formal. So, you’ll have an idea of what to wear to church in summer, whatever occasions there may be.
3 Guidelines To Follow
We talked about what to wear to church from a broader perspective in a previous post. It can be helpful to check that out first, especially if you’re interested in the debate on whether what we wear to church matters or not.
In that post, we discussed three helpful guidelines to follow when putting together great church outfits. Above any fashion rules, these guidelines will best help you create church-appropriate outfits every Sunday morning. Below, we’ll discuss those three guidelines in the context of summer.
1. Avoid immodesty.
Modesty matters to all Christians. Even if church rules or their dress code may not iterate this, it’s almost always an unspoken rule throughout churches.
In the summer, the boiling heat can make it very tempting to wear as little as possible. But keep in mind that the heat is no excuse to attend church in an immodest outfit.
2. Keep it simple.
Summer is usually the time to break out all the bright colors and statement accessories. Is the same true when attending church? Well, if we’ll consult 1 Peter 3:3, the answer is no.
Keeping it simple (i.e. avoiding flashy clothes and accessories) is integral to creating church outfits. This is for us to maintain being the humble and gentle spirit God desires us to be.
This doesn’t mean you’ll be forced to strip away any semblance of your personality from your outfits. It’s all about balancing the loud, statement pieces with your simple, neutral, “boring” pieces. (E.g. cream pants/skirt plus a white blouse/long sleeve button down with statement earrings, a colorful belt, shoe, or bag)
3. Focus on God.
Worship service is a time to focus on God and His teachings and not on what you or anybody else is wearing. Remember, God won’t be looking at your summer haute couture when you attend church. He’ll be looking into your heart.
Be sure to place God at the center of all you do and you will never go wrong.
Summer Church Outfits
With the three guidelines in mind, let’s look at outfit ideas for attending church in the summer.
While browsing these church outfit ideas, if your church has a dress code, keep it in mind. These outfits can easily be modified to abide by church rules.
Bring out the summer prints
A bright, sunny, Sunday morning in the summer can put anyone in the mood to bring out the summer prints. Here are just some of the many prints you can incorporate into your church outfit.
Remember to tone down crazy prints by combining them with neutral colors and simple pieces.
Fit Idea #1
Maxi dress or midi dresses with a summer print (e.g. floral dress) toned down with nude heels (optional: denim jacket for cold summer nights)
Fit Idea #2
Plain pleated skirt (opt for a knee-length or a maxi or midi skirt) or pleated trousers and a summer print blouse with ankle boots
Fit Idea #3
Stripe or gingham short sleeves with tailored trousers and oxfords
Fit Idea #4
Paisley shirt in a neutral color scheme with dark wash jeans and mules
Add a pop of color
Who doesn’t love colorful outfits in summer? This is the perfect time to wear bright summery colors without garnering too much attention.
To make it church-appropriate, opt for a pop of color than a whole tapestry of colors in your church outfit.
Fit Idea #5
Strappy white dress (or a black dress if it’s not too hot out) plus a colorful kimono to cover your shoulders plus espadrille neutral wedges
Fit Idea #6
Neutral tonal look with a pop of color kitten heels
Fit Idea #7
White short-sleeved button-down, cream pants, and oxford blood shoes
Fit Idea #8
Navy long-sleeved light-knit sweater (for cooler summer days) worn with navy pants, navy espadrilles, and a colorful belt
Elevated khaki
Is it really summer without khaki? Khaki shorts are everywhere in the summer as its the perfect casual laid-back piece to wear under the heat.
For Sunday worship service, you can incorporate khaki into your outfit by opting for khaki pants or skirts.
Fit Idea #9
A khaki pencil skirt or fitted khaki pants worn with a puff sleeve, patterned blouse, and a cream slip-on
Fit Idea #10
A khaki a-line pleated skirt or wide-leg khaki pants with a fitted 3/4 sleeve top and pointed toe heels
Fit Idea #11
Khaki pants and a polo shirt with black oxfords
Fit Idea #12
Khaki chinos and a dark short-sleeved button-down with brown ankle boots
Jeans but make it dressy
Whatever your style may be, you likely have a trusty pair of jeans in your closet. Building an outfit around a pair is the easiest for most people, especially those that have a simple closet. But can you wear jeans to church?
Now, not everyone will agree that casual wear (like wearing jeans and flip-flops) is okay for Sunday service. For us, it’s completely fine as long as we’re going by the three guidelines (especially no. 3!).
While jeans are most often associated with casual wear, they can easily be dressed up for smart-casual-appropriate occasions.
Fit Idea #13
Printed blouse and fancy heeled boots (optional: a light oversized blazer)
Fit Idea #14
Silk long-sleeved button-down, strappy open toe with a block heel
Fit Idea #15
A t-shirt, printed blazer, and mules
Fit Idea #16
Striped shirt and black Chelsea boots
Summer Semi-Formal to Formal Wear
A humid, hot day in the summer in a mildly air-conditioned room is the last place you’ll want to wear suits. However, some events will call for men to dress in suits and women in formal dresses.
The key for you to dress appropriately for semi-formal to formal church events in the summer is to pay close attention to the material of your clothes. Most items of clothing will have a fabric tag or clothing tag where the materials are indicated.
If an item of clothing doesn’t have this info available (e.g. cut/ripped tag; no tag in the first place), you can try to wear it on a hot day and have a feel for its breathability. Light and breathable materials will help cool your body and wick or absorb moisture. The complete opposite of these materials will have you cooking underneath your clothes, making you feel sticky and uncomfortable throughout the day.
The best fabrics for hot weather include cotton, linen, silk, rayon (especially lyocell/Tencel or modal), and denim/chambray (100% Cotton). The worst fabrics would be polyester, nylon, vinyl, acrylic, fleece, and other acetates. Also, it’s better to opt for 100% natural contents in your clothing (e.g. a blend between cotton and linen) than a blend of natural and synthetic (e.g. cotton and polyester).
Fit Idea #17
Silk black dress, red strappy sandals with a block heel, and a dainty cardigan
Fit Idea #18
Dressy sets (matching blazer and skirt sets; blazer and pants sets)
Fit Idea #19
All black outfit (black long-sleeve button-down, black pants, black accessories (shoes, belt, necktie or bowtie), black blazer [optional])
Fit Idea #20
Classy navy and red (navy suit and a red necktie) with brown shoes
Conclusion
Summer is all about the easy, breezy, stylish outfits that will make you feel comfortable despite the scorching weather. To make a summer outfit church-appropriate, keep in mind the three guidelines we talked bout in this post. With that and the numerous church outfit ideas we have on here, you’ll be ready for summer Sunday service in no time!
While you’re here, have a look at our previous post.
