Everything You Want to Know About: Amish Clothing
Say hello to Erik Wesner, author of Success Made Simple: An Inside Look at Why Amish Businesses Thrive. He will join us again to explain a facet of Amish life that most English folk find curious: Amish Clothing.
Welcome back & take it away, Erik!
Table of Contents
Plain Amish Clothing
Why do the Amish dress the way they do?
Amish clothing reflects their belief in modesty, simplicity, and humility. They avoid flashy or revealing styles, with women wearing loose, non-form-fitting dresses and men sticking to long pants year-round. This plain style shows their commitment to focusing on inner values rather than outward appearance.
What is the Biblical reason for Amish clothing?
While the Bible doesn’t dictate exact styles, Amish Plain clothing is inspired by scripture that emphasizes modesty and simplicity. They often refer to verses like 1 Peter 3:3-4 and 1 Timothy 2:2 to support their tradition of avoiding elaborate or showy dress.
1 Peter 3:3-4: “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. 4 Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.”
Is Amish clothing part of their identity?
Yes, clothing is a key marker of Amish identity. Their distinctive style—like head coverings, beards, and plain dresses—sets them apart from mainstream society. It not only reflects their values but also signals which Amish community they belong to, as small variations in dress can indicate different groups.
Where do Amish get their clothing?
Amish get their clothing from various sources. Some apparel is store-bought (for example, from a large chain store such as Wal-Mart)—underwear, socks, and shirts in some cases. Amish-run variety and dry goods stores often carry plain clothing items like socks and hats. Amish females also make clothing in other cases, such as dresses or broad fall trousers. Some Amish businesses specialize in making clothing like the formal suits Amish wear to church (matza suits).
Male Clothing
What do Amish men typically wear?
Amish men usually wear broadfall trousers, named for the fact that they contain a broad flap which unfastens, in lieu of a zipper fly. They wear plain shirts in solid colors, suspenders, and simple jackets. For church, they may wear a collarless mutza suit.
Why do Amish men grow beards but not mustaches?
Amish men grow beards as a religious tradition based on Bible verses like Leviticus 19:27. Mustaches are avoided due to their historical association with the military and authority.
Leviticus 19:27: “neither shalt thou mar the corners of the beard.”
What kind of hats do Amish men wear?
Amish men wear hats typically made of straw or felt. Men in more traditional communities tend to wear hats with broader brims, as do older males and members of the ministry.
What type of hairstyles do Amish men have?
Hair styles can vary among the Amish, though more conservative communities typically have longer hair while the more progressive, such as New Order Amish, often trim it fairly short.
What kind of Shoes do Amish men wear?
Footwear also varies among Amish men, ranging from work boots to formal shoes to more comfortable walking shoes.
Female Clothing
How do Amish women dress?
Amish women typically make their dresses, buying material from fabric stores in their communities, often Amish-run. Colors range from dark blue and brown to lighter shades such as turquoise and pink (following a relative’s death, an Amish woman will wear a black dress for a specific customary period). Some use buttons while others use straight pins to fasten their dresses (this can depend on custom in the community). Amish women’s dresses are generally made from generous amounts of fabric so that they don’t emphasize the woman’s figure, and fully or nearly fully cover the legs.
What is the head covering that Amish women wear?
The white or black head covering that Amish females wear is known as a kapp or prayer covering. This is different from the larger black bonnet that women may wear over the kapp.
Do Amish women cut their hair?
Amish women generally do not cut their hair, pinning it up in a bun under the prayer covering (citing, for example, passages from 1 Corinthians). Women in some communities wear an apron to church. A large black cape may also be worn when out.
Clothing Differences
Do different Amish communities dress differently?
Yes, clothing styles vary by community. For example, men in northern Indiana may wear knit caps, and kapp styles differ between Lancaster and Midwestern groups.
Another good example is found in the three main Amish groups found in Kishacoquillas Valley in Pennsylvania, who have three different ways of using suspenders—one group wears two, one a single suspender, and another, none at all. The woman’s kapp will vary across settlements as well—from the Lancaster heart-shaped covering to the straight sided, multiple pleat covering found in many Midwestern settlements.
Why is Plain clothing important to the Amish?
Plain clothing marks the Amish as a people apart. It emphasizes modesty, and Amish believe there is a Biblical basis for wearing it. Plain clothing has substantial symbolic and religious value for the Amish, and is one of the key visual markers of the culture. Clothing is a marker that not only identifies the Amish as different from the rest of the world, but also marks Amish communities as different from one another.
By Erik Wesner, author of Success Made Simple: An Inside Look at Why Amish Businesses Thrive, and editor of the Amish America website.
Learn More About the Amish
- Amish Beliefs
- 6 Things You Might Not Know About the Amish and Money
- Amish Families
- The Types of Amish
- Amish Transportation
- Amish Church
- Amish Businesses
- Amish History
- Amish Children
- Amish in Pinecraft
- Amish Misconceptions
- Pennsylvania Dutch – the Amish Language
- What the Amish Read
- The Amish and Technology
- Amish Wedding Traditions
- Places You Didn’t Expect to See Amish People
- 10 Ways Amish People Travel
- Amish Games and Entertainment
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Seth Carter has been with DutchCrafters since 2020. Seth has won multiple awards for his work in Amish furniture while with DutchCrafters. He has advised and partnered with more than 150 Amish wood shops on furniture presentation, design, industry trends, product options, and the development of exclusive products. He is originally from Indiana and even lived in Amish country (LaGrange, Indiana) for an extended period of time while working with DutchCrafters. Seth was previously in charge of DutchCrafters' Amish bedroom furniture category. He was eventually promoted to lead the team that managed every product in DutchCrafters' world's largest online collection of Amish furniture.
Do Amish men wear their hats in church?
Hi Dave,
Thank you for your question. According to a 2014 article in Ohio’s “The Daily Record,” “Amish men wear hats most of the time; a hat would never be worn in church, and most of the time they would remove it when going indoors as well. Inside doorways at public places like hospitals, one will often see a rack hung with varying sizes of yellow straw hats (whose owners are most likely visiting an Amish patient).” It’s an interesting article about the various headwear worn by Amish men and women that you can read here: https://www.the-daily-record.com/news/20141002/of-brims-and-bonnets.
Thanks again for your question and for reading Timber to Table.
I love reading fiction books about the Amish. I’ve read several lately. My question is, do Amish women wear bras?
Hi Teresa,
Thank you for your question. The answer is, it depends on how conservative the community. The most conservative do not, while Amish women in less conservative communities may wear a plain hand sewn garment. I refer you to this post from Erik Wesner’s AmishAmerica.com https://amishamerica.com/amish-questions-answered-part-2/
Is it true that Amish men start growing their beards when they marry. ie instead of a wedding ring for example, they wear their beard?
Hi Ken,
Thank you for your question. Yes that is true. Amish men will start growing a beard when they marry. They do not wear wedding rings.
I’m curious about this concept that neither the men nor the women cut their hair. I would think that after a few decades, their hair might be quite long but I’m not seeing any photos where this appears to be the case.
Can you please explain and clarify this for me?
Hi Don,
Thank you for your question. It is my understanding that Amish men do cut their hair and wear it in simple styles. The more conservative groups of Amish men often wear their hair longer. The women do not cut their hair, you are correct. It is pinned up and kept covered. Here are some helpful links to more information on this topic. I hope these are helpful in answering your question.
https://amishamerica.com/how-do-amish-women-put-up-hair/
https://www.the-daily-record.com/article/20141002/news/310029416
Do Amish girls ever date or interact with English boys?
Hi Ki,
Thanks for your question. From what I’ve found, it’s not unheard of, but it would be a rare occurrence. In order for a marriage to occur within Amish guidelines, both parties must be baptized within the Amish church.
what fabric is a amish dress made of?
Hello Barbara,
Thank you for your question.
From the information I’ve found, it looks like young Amish girls wear dresses made of cotton. For Amish women, the type of fabric used can depend on what group they belong to. Some groups allow only cotton, while others allow polyester that’s easier to clean and requires less ironing.
Thanks for visiting Timber to Table.
Do Amish women and girls wear colored socks or socks that are colored with a pattern?
Hello Mac and thank you for your question.
I didn’t find much information that specifically addressed socks for Amish women and girls. My best guess is that there would not be a pattern on their socks. They most often select plain, durable fabric in nice colors. They generally avoid anything too decorative for their clothing which is why I would assume their socks would not have patterns on them.
I am not sure what color socks they wear. The men most often wear dark colored socks, but I’m not sure about the women. Here is a helpful link that talks more about Amish clothing. https://classroom.synonym.com/what-is-the-amish-dress-code-12084845.html
Thank you for visiting Timber to Table.
can i become amish
Hello, and thank you for your question.
It is possible for non-Amish people to join the Amish, but to join an Amish community requires converting to the Amish way of life which can be difficult. This link is a good resource for more information. https://amishamerica.com/becoming-amish/
Thank you for joining us on Timber to Table.
What to Amish women sleep in?
Hi Sherie,
Many Amish women wear handmade nightgowns.
Thank you for your question and for visiting us on Timber to Table.
do Amish women wear corsets
Hi Jade,
Thanks for your question. No, Amish women do not wear corsets.
Thanks for visiting us on Timber to Table.
I visited 4 Amish families in April with a friend. My friend and I are going back Mid-May to pick up items she needed work done on and I would love to take a few things back to them as gifts. The 4 families had 5 – 6 – 8 – 2 children and I want to give them a little something when I see them all again. Such beautiful families. Love being with them. Any suggestions. Children age from newborn to 13 yrs. old. Alot of girls. I have a few things but your suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Hello Kim,
Thank you for your question. This link to amishamerica.com offers good gift ideas for Amish men, women and children. https://amishamerica.com/whats-a-good-gift-for-an-amish-person/ I hope you find it helpful.
Thank you for visiting Timber to Table.
Hi! What would an Amish boy or man wear to sleep in?
Hi Wendy,
Thank you for your question. There is little information available regarding what Amish boys and men wear to sleep.
Hi.
I’m writing a school assignment, analysing Amish clothing.
I’m having a hard time to find out what materials Amish people use to make their clothes.
Everywhere it says plain materials, but what is plain. Is plain only natural fabrics as cotton and linen.
And do they use the same fabric for all their clothes both womens dresses, mens shirts and especially their broadfall trousers.
And do you know anything about the “birth” of broadfall trousers? in books it seems that broadfall, from hip to hip appeared from mid 1700. before that it was only trousers with narrow fall. But Amish culture began in 1693. Since the founder Jakob Amman was a tailor, is it possible that he “invented” the broadfall trousers for the amish people?
Hope to hear from you soon, since my assignment has to be finnished may 14th at 9 am. (CEST – danish time)
Best regards
Kit
Hi Kit,
Thank you for your questions. Our post on Amish clothing was written by a guest blogger, Erik Wesner, and he’s the founder of amishamerica.com Here’s a link to information on his site about Amish clothing. https://amishamerica.com/clothing/#plain-dress
He would be a good resource to reach out to for more details.
Here’s a link to an article that goes in to more detail about the types of fabrics used to make Amish clothing, including double-knit polyester, gabardines, Triblend denim, cotton, cotton/poly blends, polyester and polyester/rayon blends. https://ohiosamishcountry.com/articles/amish-dress
I hope this helps. Good luck with your assignment and thank you for visiting Timber to Table.
Why can’t amish women talk to other american men or even except them opening doors for them
Rules and regulations differ between Amish communities, with some being stricter than others. But, I am not familiar with Amish women being prohibited from speaking to non-Amish men. A helpful site for information on the Amish way of life is Amish America.com
https://amishamerica.com/do-amish-women-have-rights/
You might find the answer to your question there.
Thank you for visiting us on Timber to Table.
Where can I get a pattern for the dresses amish women wear?
Hello there,
Here’s the link to a site that offers Amish Women’s Clothing Patterns.
https://www.friendspatterns.net/
I hope that’s helpful.
Thank you for visiting us on Timber to Table.
I visited Sarasota, Florida and was surprised by the color of their clothes (men and women).
Indiana have only black and white clothing that I recall. What is this difference?
Hi Sandy,
Hi Sandy. Differences in clothing colors can vary depending on the order, or group of Amish. Some orders have stricter rules regarding clothing colors than others. Brighter colors actually are not unusual. Here’s a great article on the topic from Amish America.
https://amishamerica.com/amish-womens-clothing-what-differences-do-you-notice/
Thank you for your question and for visiting us on Timber to Table.
I am wondering about the hats the Amish men wear, some wear different colored than other Amish men? What does this mean and what is the difference
Hello Carla,
Amish men change their hats in relation to the season or occasion. Hats made of straw are worn during warm months, and during the cold months, hats made of wool are usually worn. Amish men might also have a black hat they wear for Sunday gatherings. Hat styles can vary between Amish communities. This blog post is from guest blogger Erik Wesner of amishamerica.com https://www.dutchcrafters.com/blog/everything-you-want-to-know-about-amish-clothing/
Thank you for your question and for visiting us on Timber to Table.
Do Amish make their own sheets and pillow cases?
Hello Richard,
Though much information is available about the beautiful quilts and blankets that the Amish make, there is little information on whether they make their own sheets and pillow cases. It is not a question that we have asked the Amish that we work with so don’t have a sure answer to your question.
Thank you for your interest and for visiting us on Timber to Table.
I’m going to be visiting the Amish country with my family very soon, but am confused on what clothing to bring. Am I allowed to wear shorts, short sleeves, dresses, sneakers, etc? Does it really matter what I wear if I am just visiting?
Hello,
You don’t need to wear certain clothing or restrict your selections when visiting Amish country. If you’re concerned about showing respect for them, then it’s recommended to dress conservatively. Thankyou for your question and for visiting us on Timber to Table.