A surprising number of people want to look up Amish style or Amish fashion. So, if you are seeking information, this post is for you! A lot of people, when they think of Amish fashion, think of monochromatic "church clothes" in a somber and dour style. But that really is an oversimplification. We have a post about Amish clothing colors that sheds more like on the hues they choose.
👗 The Elements of Amish Style and Amish Fashion
The main thing to keep in mind for dressing Amish: keep it simple. Amish women tend towards solid colors, homemade dresses, and head-coverings. When it comes to shoes, Crocs (or off-brand copycat Crocs) are king.
Most Amish women wear long, full dresses with solid colors, long sleeves, and capes over their shoulders. They also wear bonnets or prayer caps, shawls, and black shoes and stockings.
Amish men wear dark-colored suits with hook and eye closures, broad-brimmed hats, suspenders, and solid-colored shirts. Straw hats are popular, so are collared golf type shirts or just loose button-down shirts.
The above photo of an Amish bishop who agreed to be photographed, is seen wearing very typical conservative Amish clothes: work boots, dark denim pants, shirt that buttons half way, and suspenders. Note the colors are all navy or dark, but that isn't a universal rule among the Amish.
The pants Amish men wear differ the most from an “English” men’s suit. Like all Amish men’s pants, they are a turn-of-the-century style called “broadfall pants”—which is to say, they are not closed by a fly, but rather by four buttons across the top of a large panel. Suspenders are worn with the pants, not a belt. .
And notice in the above photo the hand-sewn, plain dresses, white kerchief on the head (more casual than a Sunday bonnet), and the men with a comfortable button down shirt and casual trousers. Very classic Amish style.
👔 Misunderstandings and Misconceptions About Amish Style
Many people think the following about the Amish:
- They only wear dark clothing
- They don't wear buttons
- They don't wear sweatshirts or casual clothes
- Amish men never wear ties
If you have thought these things, you are not alone. While it is true that some Amish don't use buttons, that is not true about many Amish. Their relationship with buttons is more complicated than meets the idea. Many Amish men do wear a neck tie on their wedding days. And Amish clothing colors can vary greatly, from bright yellow mustard colors or dark hues.
👠 Borrowing From the Amish for the Runways in Paris
I found a trendy looking Spanish lifestyle magazine called Nosotras which is suggesting that elements of Amish style are going to become the latest trend. I'm a little skeptical that these clothes will catch on, but maybe. Probably a splash of Amish modesty brought into the ever shrinking clothing found at retailers might not be a bad thing. I don't know. What do you think? Would you wear this?
🌙 Amish Pajamas
Do Amish wear pajamas? This is going to difference and diverge greatly from person to person and community to community. But, as a general rule, most Amish women would sleep in a dress of some sort, a simple nightgown or dress that doesn't a whole lot different from their daytime clothing.
Amish men have a little more latitude, but long underwear is common during the winter, as are sweatshirts. Sleeping shirtless and wearing a shorts-type underwear would not be unheard of during warmer months.
🛒 Where You Can Buy Amish Clothing?
If you want to dress more modestly, like the Amish, there are places you can go either in-person or online to buy.
Friends Patterns: If you want to MAKE the clothing yourself, Friends Patterns has a wide variety of patterns to choose from, all geared towards Amish style.
Lehman's: World-famous Amish country store Lehman's does sell a variety of clothing online.
The Amish Clothesline: If you want a more personalized online Amish shopping experience, The Amish Clothesline, run by Brenda Miller, is probably your best bet!
You can also visit any sizable Amish community and find plenty of clothing for sale in Amish variety and sundry stores.
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