Cape Dresses - Where's the Cape?

[Sudsy]

I'm also puzzled by how dressing exactly like every other women in your entire church from the top of your head to the tips of your toes can be considered "non-conformity". It seems to be the exact opposite of that. Non-conformity seems to be the antithesis of much of CA life where the prevailing message seems to be that the "nail that stands out get hammered down"

The "non-conformity" aspect is about "not being conformed to the world", but being conformed to Christ and the church.

Many Conservative Anabaptist view their dress code as a "uniform" identifying them as Christians. There are many factions in society where a dress code is an identifying factor. I see little children and teens walking to school in Lancaster. If the children are wearing beige trousers, and white or light blue collared shirts, I know they are attending the Lancaster District Schools. If we see men or women in military uniforms, we can identify if they are in the Army, Navy, etc. Walking through an airport we always know who the pilots are, according to their dress. When your daughter wears her modest baggy clothes, no one will identify her as a Christian, because that is common with what everyone else wears, Christian and non-Christian. Although I am not 100% in agreement with some of the stringent dress codes within the Conservative Anabaptist realm, having a "uniform" dress code within a Christian community does identify people with being a Christian and Anabaptist.

I don't have any survey material to prove this thought but I would be surprised to find that non-believers see cape dresses as an identification of being a Christian. Where I live, heavily Mennonite of sorts, the cape dress is regarded as some kind of Mennonite. In my experience the Salvation Army uniforms are more regarded as a Christian identifier.

1 Timothy 2:9-10 says -

Likewise, I want the women to adorn themselves with respectable apparel, with modesty, and with self-control, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, as is proper for women who profess to worship God.

It would seem to me that the emphasis here is what women should be most known for - good deeds. What is it that should stand out and is 'proper for women who profess to worship God' ? I read this as saying to not attract attention to your body but rather to your good deeds. So, whatever a woman wears, modest dress will not detract from her good deeds. And good deeds, I believe, will include what is done to unbelievers.

The Salvation Army uniform came about as being a quick identifier for those they mingled with in the world where they could get help through their good deeds they did while sharing the Gospel. And imo, it has been modest dress.

In my experience, I don't see many Mennonites who wear cape dresses out mingling with the world as Jesus did. Rather they often are quite 'offish'. Those most involved in good deeds in our community would likely be labelled as 'liberal' Mennonites.

These are my observations that may not be what others see and I am open to read contrary observations of others.

I think if I were ever to wear a uniform for identification as a Christian, I would favor the Salvation Army one that really does speak to the world of those involved in good deeds.