In general, modesty rules dictate many clothing choices made by an Amish woman. Patterned fabrics are typically frowned upon for being too attention-grabbing, and some orders aren’t even all that keen on overly bright dress colors. Of course, there is no such thing as an Amish miniskirt, with those same modesty rules dictating that women wear dresses with full-length skirts, though mid-calf hems are sometimes considered acceptable.
All of that is hardly surprising to anyone who’s seen conservatively dressed Amish folks, but what may be unexpected is how even the seemingly all-purpose wear of Amish women can be altered for special occasions (especially in a culture where getting too fancy can be a serious sin). Though, yet again, things vary by community, it’s broadly considered important to wear one’s best to church. So, Amish women will typically don an extra cape over their bodice and an apron, both of which are often (but not always) white.
In some communities, it’s considered appropriate for women to wear a full black dress to special services such as communion or for funerals. Some Amish women may also mark their mourning for a departed loved one by continuing to wear black for a set period of time. The deceased, however, is set apart by being dressed all in white. For women, that could include the white cape and apron that they may have worn to their wedding, which will thereafter be buried with them.
