Traditional Amish Clothing
Amish clothing is made at home with plain fabrics that are most often darker colors. Lighter colors are used for the younger children and summer shirts and dresses for adults in certain groups. Belts, sweaters, and neckties are all forbidden. The typical men's and younger boys wardrobe consists of the following depending on the season. The only major difference between the fathers and sons wardrobes is the color. The boys will wear a lighter version of what their fathers wear.
Women in the Amish culture wear solid colored dresses with long sleeves and full length skirts covered with a cape or bodice. Occasionally less conservative groups allow their women to wear short sleeved dresses. All of the women's clothing is fastened with straight pins or snaps. Stockings are black cotton and their shoes are also black. Most Amish women make their own clothing. They purchase the fabric from local stores run by a woman from the local church community. Women's dresses are typically polyester for easy cleaning. The weight of the fabric is important as well. They will not use a heavy or a sheer fabric. They want the fabric to flow and hang nicely. In the summer, women may wear dresses made of broadcloth much like the men's shirts since they are lighter weight, breathe easier and still don't wrinkle too much. It also is dependent on the conservativeness of the group as to which colors are acceptable and which are not. Sunday dresses are almost always black with a white apron.
This page was created by Ken Highman on November 22, 2011.
This page was modified on December 3, 2011.
For comments or questions you can submit an email to:ken.highman@rasmussen.edu