Black Women Church Dress | Black Women Sunday Suits

Renay Fowler got a call from one of her customers who said she needed five white suits of different styles to wear on first Sundays.

"She is on the Mother's Board, so she wears white every first Sunday and she wanted a different suit for those Sundays," Renay Fowler said.

Fowler, co-owner of Fashions By Fowler, often gets these types of requests from her customers and outfits many African-American women who want to be exceptionally fashionable for church on Sunday.

Historically, African-Americans have dressed their best on Sundays. This tradition has a deep and rich history that dates back to slavery when African-Americans could only dress up on Sundays.

Fashions by Fowler, which carries women's clothing and shoes, has dressed African-American church-going women who want to be uniquely dressed for many years.

"We will get a customer who we may not put in a traditional church suit," she said. "Instead, we may put her in a fur headband and a suit with fur trim or rhinestones, but we make sure it is not too provocative. We make sure it is respectable."

Renay and her sister, Tracey Fowler, own the Cleveland Heights boutique and they attend buying shows several times a year to make sure that they stay abreast of fashion trends.

"We have our finger on the pulse of what looks good for our clientele," Renay Fowler said. "We do suits and hats, but we have those customers who come in for unique accessories, fur coats and boots, so we kinda mix it up."

Tracey added that Fashions By Fowler offers personalized service that is no longer customary in retail.

"We have customers who come in and say, 'I need your help. I don't know what looks good on me,' " Tracey Fowler said, adding consultations allow them insight into what looks good on their customers.

After growing up in a home with a mother as a seamstress and being in business for 18 years, the sisters are confident that they make wise decisions for their customers.

While many African-American women continue to wear dresses and suits, the Fowler sisters said they have noticed a slight shift in the way some church-goers dress. For those customers, they make sure they carry stylish pant suits, blouses, skirts and other attire.

"The church home dictates how the fellowship dresses," Renay Fowler said.

Catering To Church-Going Demographic

Burlington Coat Factory in North Randall found it necessary to cater to the "Sunday Suit Customer."

Susan Krivonick, Burlington's district manager, said after several customer requests the store started carrying suit-hat-gloves-shoe-purse assembles.

"We provide the items for women to dress their best on Sundays," Krivonick said. "The suits are mostly embellished with beads. They are very fancy -- very stylish."

Krivonick said the business strategy of catering to church-attending customers, who wear plus size and misses, has been profitable.

"The more we buy, the more we sell," she said.

She, like Tracey and Renay Fowler, understand there are certain requests made at church to wear a particular color to service because of an event, such as women's day and church anniversaries.

Krivonick also knows well the importance of putting the finishing touches on an outfit with a hat. She said Burlington also carries a variety of hats that are appealing to the church-attending customer.

"It (a hat) really does a lot to complete the outfit," she said.