Mamas who have a special gown for ritual work....

I am finally going to get one! (trading for one)

I can basically choose what style I want done and the ritual wear will be made like that style.

Care to share what yours is like and what you like about it?

What fabric? If you feel OK posting a pic of it (you don't have to be wearing it) I'd really like to see.

I thought I better stay away from long sleeves since I am not too coordinated and would likely light myself on fire if I had long sleeves.

I was basically thinking about a chemise style type of gown....tea length.

I know it is totally up to me, but I am looking to see what others have so it can spark my own imagination a bit.

Michelle

Mines pretty basic. It's basically just a chiton (style of dress worn by the ancient Greeks since Juno/hera is my patron) Its a large rectanglewith about a third folded down and then its tacked along the top to make a head hole and a short sleeve
It looks something like this
http://www.dl.ket.org/latin1/things/romanlife/greekdress.htm

Its made of cotton that I clay dyed with the red iron rich soil around here, and my husband and I made the brooches that pin the top. and its belted with a decorative braid that is made out of the first fiber I spun when I learned to spin. Id like to make another one of linen or wool that I spun and wove myself, but that's down the road a couple of years.
Sorry, I don't have any pictures.

When I actualy did rituals and dressed for them, I think I had about 5 different gowns.

Two had spaghetti straps and an empire waster made from rayon.

One was two pieces: a linen underdress with long bell sleeves, empire waist, scoop neck. The over dress had a deep shawl collar, sleeveless, buttoned to just under the bust, and was open down the center front. I wore this at Imbolc usually.

One was black velvet, v-neck, mid-calf lenth. 3/4 length sleeves with a flounce (think the sleeves from the Baroque period). This was for Samhain. Empire waist (i think all my dressed have an empire waist)

Another was peach linen, v neck, slightly off the shoulder, long sleeves with a ribbon running down the top so that you could pull the ribbon and tie it at the end, turning the long bell sleeves into gathered3/4 length sleeves. I *loved* that style of sleeve.

My last dress was red velvet with a gathered bodice, empire waist, short, cap sleeves. This was for Yule.

Oh yeah, one more. :) This was a reversible dress--it was really cool. Sleeveless, empire waist, a-line skirt. The tops of the straps had eyelet holes which I laced together with ribbon (so the straps come undone at the tops of the shoulders). This gown was lavender linen on one side, and a pale blue cotton on the other side, fully reversible. It was a little heavy, but it was way cool.

Thanks Hastings and Anise,

I need mine for yearly gathering with the women's order that I belong to. I really hope I can go this year...I've been saving my money to be able to fly to it. Every year, I have saved up and something has come up here at home so, We'll see....

Our sabbat celebrations have morphed into family low-key events which feels better for our family since I am more interfaith now than I use to be. So, I don't need anything special to wear for them. It must have been nice having special garments to wear for specific celebrations, Anise.

I use to be so much more regimented in what I did etc....(except for ritual wear since I've never had any of that) but it has been just me practicing since the order I belong to is distance for me since there are no members near where I live. But I do know when I attend yearly gathering that I need something special to wear. I've never been to a group event.

I really appreciate the answers. I'd like a sleeve that adjusts like you mentioned one of your dresses had Anise. I think I just need a simple style since I will belt it with my cords from the Order. But, then again, I LOVE how empire waist dresses flatter.


The biggest challenge about going to the gathering will be taking any ritual items.... I may just have to ship everything that has spiritual significance via UPS or FedEx so it is not touched or messed with by airport personnel searching my bags. OT, but just thinking outloud here............

Michelle

I have quite a few different outfits that I wear for ritual. However, within Pellorys, its not "hard-core" structured about what we must wear, its pretty simply stated. Mainly, it should be clean and comfortable. We don't get into a lot of fuss about color, or what you actually wear... the most important "tool" is ourselves, not what we are holding in our hands, or wearing on our flesh.

Grassaf,

Becca

Becca,

It is good to see you. :) What you said about the most important tool is exactly what the founder of the Order reminded me of. *lol*

Thanks,
Michelle