Collared Clergywear Wants to Give Women Ministers Something to Feel Stylish In
You can spot a priest from a mile away. The black shirt and white clerical collar is the holiest uniform of them all and it’s one that, at least as far as Catholicism is concerned, is reserved only for men. Some other Christian religions, be they Lutheran, Methodist, or Presbyterian, do allow women to minister in their churches and lead their parishes, but what in heavens do they actually wear? Most female clergy members keep to the traditional black trousers, shirt, and clerical collar because of the simple fact that not many other options exist.
One small company in England is aiming to change this fact and shift our perceptions of what a woman priest looks like and how she is supposed to dress. Collared Clergywear was founded by Reverend Sandra Sykes and her daughter several years ago in an attempt to, in Sykes’s own words, “free women clergy to feel more like themselves at work.” While Sykes’s designs do feature the traditional clerical collar, there are options outside of the head-to-toe black iteration: rainbow-striped tees, long-sleeved day dresses, and even a sequined frock. “Each woman’s ministry is unique,” Sykes explains. “So her clothes, in addition to being practical and comfortable, can be stylish, colorful, and reflect who the wearer is, too.”
Sykes is a Christian and a leader within the Church of England, but she has opened her business to any woman in any Christian religion who has been ordained a priest and is in need of a clerical uniform. She has also had Roman Catholic women priests who have been excommunicated and started their own communities come to her, and some who have told her that they wish they could buy her clothes, but cannot follow their calling to be priests since it is not allowed by the Vatican. Though some Christian religions have indeed loosened their stance on allowing women to be ordained, there are still many traditionalists who are angrily opposed. “Because of Collared Clergywear, I have received some comments online calling me a child of Satan and dismissing my ministry as false,” she says. “But women are having a positive effect on the church and in my experience, most people truly appreciate what they bring.”
Sykes believes that giving women ministers more wardrobe choices is a key factor in empowering them and spreading the good word of their vocations. “It’s easy to dismiss clothing as an unimportant issue,” she notes. “But it obviously runs deeper than what is seen at first glance. It’s about appreciating women in ministry.” Sykes adds, “We want our customers to feel that women in ministry are a thing to be greatly celebrated.” Preach.
