During the course of live in domestic service, many African American women had to wear specific uniforms for their duties. In the transition to live out domestic service, African American women began to dress very fashionably for Sunday church services. These fashions consisted of bright colors, double breasted suits, and fine fabrics. "Daily work styles were plain, but women dressed up themselves and their families specially for Sunday worship"(Lynch 82). Dressing up in high fashion was a source of pride for many African American women who had to wear uniforms for work 6 days a week. "After stripping off the stigma of the uniform, the migrant women triumphantly donned hats and dresses and presented themselves at Sunday day church to celebrate their arrival in the promised land of free society"(Clark-Lewis 169). The fashions African American women proudly wear are symbols of independence and freedom.
Clark-Lewis refers to fashion as one mode of expression among the liberated African American domestic workers. It is a visual representation of their culture. "Aesthetic expression through dress and appearance was a ready means for African Americans to reformulate cultural definitions of male and female gender on the American continent" (Lynch 82). Fashion was important to these women, not only as a display of freedom, but also as a cultural statement. "The church was a place where black women's moral character, beauty, style was openly recognized and appreciated. At church a black woman could walk down the aisle holding her head up high topped with a fancy and heavily decorated hat and wearing a style that reflected her African American heritage. White observers to the dress of black churchgoers continued to notice differences between their own dress choices and those worn by African Americans" (Lynch 85).
There is a Biblical reference to the importance of a woman covering her head in church for more than just style. Hats, commonly refered to as crowns, have not only set a style for African American women, but they also have continued as a religious tradition.
As stated in the Holy Bible: Corinthians (I.11.5):
"5. But any woman who prays or prophesies with her head unveiled brings shame upon her head, for it is one and the same thing as if she had had her head shaved. 6. For if a woman does not have her head veiled, she may as well have her hair cut off or her head shaved, then she should wear a veil."
Covering your head has turned into a fashion statement for African American women. Swayzyne Savage reveals that the confident and mature woman adorns the crown. Hats have served a purpose to cover the woman's head in church, but their styles and fashion have become their own statements. As many African American domestic workers began to experience the freedom of Sundays off from work, they began to embrace their individuality and cultural heritage. It was a way for the women to not only display their independence, but to also feel it. "Many women were proud to wear clothing they felt challenged the negative images people had of service workers" (Clark-Lewis 150). In this sense, fashion was not only a physical freedom, but also an emotional outlet for African American women's expression. As this Sunday culture was established for African American women, time has led Sunday styles through many areas of change, but ultimately they still continue to glorify God.
This is an excerpt from "Church Dress"
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