Amish Dress

Anyone familiar with the Amish Life knows that they have very simple, yet distinctive dress. The men, for example, always wear black hats. The interesting thing is that the height and shape of the hat help identify the wearer in both age and status. "A wide brim, low crown, and narrow hat band denotes the oldest and most traditional style." In the warmer weather, the men prefer straw hats that are a bit friendlier in the summer heat.

Amish women dress in the following way:

• The Amish women and girls wear dresses that are solid in color with long sleeves and a full skirt.
• The skirt cannot be any shorter than mid-calf.
• Like our pilgrim ancestors, the Amish women cover their dresses with an apron and a cape, which are snapped or pinned to the dresses.
• They do not wear any jewelry.

The women never cut their hair and must wear it in a bun. They wear black prayer coverings if they are single and white ones if they are married. The brides wear a very simple, blue or purple dress. This dress is not only worn for the wedding day, but also it becomes her Sunday attire as well as her burial gown. Though some look on this as old-fashioned, "The Amish feel these distinctive clothes encourage humility and separation from the world. Their clothing is not a costume; it is an expression of their faith."

This very conservative Christian based group of people have chosen to live simply and full of faith. Though one may chide them for their backwardness, the Amish continue to maintain their simplicity and sincerity in an ever-evolving world. Their value of value of family and God, as evidenced in their differences in technology, life style, education and dress, demonstrate this.