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The Habit: A History of the Clothing of Catholic Nuns
Curiosity about nuns and their distinctive clothing is almost as old as Catholicism itself. The habit intrigues the religious and the nonreligious alike, from medieval maidens to contemporary schoolboys, to feminists and other social critics. The first book to explore the symbolism of this attire, The Habit presents a visual gallery of the diverse forms of religious clothing and explains the principles and traditions that inspired them. More than just an eye-opening study of the symbolic significance of starched wimples, dark dresses, and flowing veils, The Habit is an incisive, engaging portrait of the roles nuns have and do play in the Catholic Church and in ministering to the needs of society.
From the clothing seen in an eleventh-century monastery to the garb worn by nuns on picket lines during the 1960s, habits have always been designed to convey a specific image or ideal. The habits of the Benedictines and the Dominicans, for example, were specifically created to distinguish women who consecrated their lives to God; other habits reflected the sisters’ desire to blend in among the people they served. The brown Carmelite habit was rarely seen outside the monastery wall, while the Flying Nun turned the white winged cornette of the Daughters of Charity into a universally recognized icon. And when many religious abandoned habits in the 1960s and ’70s, it stirred a debate that continues today.
Drawing on archival research and personal interviews with nuns all over the United States, Elizabeth Kuhns examines some of the gender and identity issues behind the controversy and brings to light the paradoxes the habit represents. For some, it epitomizes oppression and obsolescence; for others, it embodies the ultimate beauty and dignity of the vocation.
Complete with extraordinary photographs, including images of the nineteenth century nuns’ silk bonnets to the simple gray dresses of the Sisters of Social Service, this evocative narrative explores the timeless symbolism of the habit and traces its evolution as a visual reflection of the changes in society.
From the clothing seen in an eleventh-century monastery to the garb worn by nuns on picket lines during the 1960s, habits have always been designed to convey a specific image or ideal. The habits of the Benedictines and the Dominicans, for example, were specifically created to distinguish women who consecrated their lives to God; other habits reflected the sisters’ desire to blend in among the people they served. The brown Carmelite habit was rarely seen outside the monastery wall, while the Flying Nun turned the white winged cornette of the Daughters of Charity into a universally recognized icon. And when many religious abandoned habits in the 1960s and ’70s, it stirred a debate that continues today.
Drawing on archival research and personal interviews with nuns all over the United States, Elizabeth Kuhns examines some of the gender and identity issues behind the controversy and brings to light the paradoxes the habit represents. For some, it epitomizes oppression and obsolescence; for others, it embodies the ultimate beauty and dignity of the vocation.
Complete with extraordinary photographs, including images of the nineteenth century nuns’ silk bonnets to the simple gray dresses of the Sisters of Social Service, this evocative narrative explores the timeless symbolism of the habit and traces its evolution as a visual reflection of the changes in society.
256 pages, Paperback
First published April 19, 2003
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
February 27, 2021
ironically... this is surprisingly approachable. Ironic, because at the heart of this historical perspective is a centuries old (and ongoing) discussion about whether the habit protects and empowers the wearer, or subjects her to prejudice and derision. Not as academic a tone as you might expect. The end chapters were the most interesting to me, as Vatican II shakes up everything. Still, some tidbits from medieval orders about how they came to be and how they elected to distinguish their particular habit also make for good stories.
May 10, 2014
This would be a good introduction for someone who knows nothing about women's religious orders and their histories. Otherwise, I would recommend "Sisters In Arms" by Jo Ann Kay McNamara.
June 19, 2009
Around the time I came across this book there had been a good deal of discussion in the news about a regulation passed in France which would prohibit Muslim girls from wearing headscarves in school. In fact, it prohibited the wearing of any identifying religious garb. Evidently, the regulation does not apply to parochial or other private schools, but it did bring to mind stories I'd hear about France's long history of intolerance with things religious despite the fact it is considered a "Christian" country in that over 51% of its population is Catholic.
This book was on the NEW BOOKS shelf at my local library at that time, so I gave it a read. While this is a scholarly book in an easy-to-read style, it does not focus on the religious life per se. Rather than inform the reader on the rule followed in convents of the world,it does give highlighted accounts of particular orders of nuns & sisters in religious communities, but with the aim to focus on common dress and the dominant rôle it plays/played in their history. In most cases, the habit originated as ordinary peasant dress at the time a religious order was founded, uniform among all the members of the community, but otherwise indistinct from other women's wear. To find out why the habit remained the same though fashion dictated change in other women's dress, you'll need to read the book for yourself. One of the parts I found most interesting was that nuns so identified with their habits as part of their order that, in many cases- be that from outside forces or within the convent community itself, would put up a fight to preserve the tradition. It was considered a link to their sisters who came before them; in certain orders, that may be as much as 800 years of history. When Pope John XXIII called for the Church to "open the windows", that mandated religious orders to re-consider and update their habit in order to maintain a lower profile in the community which is what the habit's original purpose was anyway.
This book was on the NEW BOOKS shelf at my local library at that time, so I gave it a read. While this is a scholarly book in an easy-to-read style, it does not focus on the religious life per se. Rather than inform the reader on the rule followed in convents of the world,it does give highlighted accounts of particular orders of nuns & sisters in religious communities, but with the aim to focus on common dress and the dominant rôle it plays/played in their history. In most cases, the habit originated as ordinary peasant dress at the time a religious order was founded, uniform among all the members of the community, but otherwise indistinct from other women's wear. To find out why the habit remained the same though fashion dictated change in other women's dress, you'll need to read the book for yourself. One of the parts I found most interesting was that nuns so identified with their habits as part of their order that, in many cases- be that from outside forces or within the convent community itself, would put up a fight to preserve the tradition. It was considered a link to their sisters who came before them; in certain orders, that may be as much as 800 years of history. When Pope John XXIII called for the Church to "open the windows", that mandated religious orders to re-consider and update their habit in order to maintain a lower profile in the community which is what the habit's original purpose was anyway.
February 3, 2016
After attending Vespers at my parish, where a group of Dominicans attended and spoke on Mercy led to a conversation with my mother about what kind of nuns had taught her in school because the habits were similar, I became interested in different styles. Being in my 30's, habits aren't something I see everyday to have a basis of comparison. Very interesting history. It is an older book so it is missing a decade or two of history, but really engaging nonetheless.
April 25, 2014
A fascinating and well-written history of nuns and the evolution (and de-evolution) of the habit, all the more notable because of the paucity of books written about religious vestments in general and women's religious vestments in particular and what they mean to their wearers. Highly recommended.
March 11, 2022
First things first, this is a meaty read. I attended Catholic School for 12 years as well as holding a degree in costume history and it was still challenging at times for me. I think it would have helped if the pictures were embedded in the text to help provide context to the incredibly vast and technical history. Secondly, it’s quite obvious to me the author wrote from a position of bias. She stated she converted to Catholicism as an adult and I feel that that formed her point of view. She indicated very early on in the book that being a nun is a feminist act as the first persecuted Catholics were women. She is very complimentary of nuns and clearly admires them. If you’re going to illustrate the feminism behind joining the convent I feel it’s important to include the centuries of misogyny in The Church and how that shaped not only what it meant to be a nun but also what they wore.
October 20, 2018
It's remarkable that as recently as 15 years ago someone wrote a book about Catholic nuns [mostly their clothing, but of course the book tells much more than that] without mentioning all the abuses they were involved in. The author did discuss the fear the habit inspires in some, but didn't specifically mention surivors of Indian residential and day schools, for example. That's quite a large blindspot.
But, it's obviously told from a certain perspective, and as a history of a particular type of clothing, which I read for specific research purposes, it was surprisingly fascinating. Kuhns's presentation of the stories, eras and context was really well done, making an enjoyable read about something that would have ordinarily been an esoteric subject. She also offered new insights [for me anyway] on what likely originally drew women to Christ, sparking Christianity's initial growth.
But, it's obviously told from a certain perspective, and as a history of a particular type of clothing, which I read for specific research purposes, it was surprisingly fascinating. Kuhns's presentation of the stories, eras and context was really well done, making an enjoyable read about something that would have ordinarily been an esoteric subject. She also offered new insights [for me anyway] on what likely originally drew women to Christ, sparking Christianity's initial growth.
July 9, 2017
Around the Year in 52 Books 2017 Reading Challenge. A non-fiction book.
A history of the Catholic Nuns' habit. This would have been much better IF there were more photos AND the photos were placed in the book with the descriptions. The descriptions were difficult to follow/imagine without photos or at least diagrams. Disappointing.
A history of the Catholic Nuns' habit. This would have been much better IF there were more photos AND the photos were placed in the book with the descriptions. The descriptions were difficult to follow/imagine without photos or at least diagrams. Disappointing.
May 21, 2025
A very interesting book; a fair history of Catholic nuns using the clothing as a focal point. The book was well written but not compelling reading. It has break points within the chapters which makes it good for short reading spurts.
The structure of the book is good; it has all the things you look for – notes, bibliography, glossary, and pictures, both a glossy insert and an appendix.
The structure of the book is good; it has all the things you look for – notes, bibliography, glossary, and pictures, both a glossy insert and an appendix.
July 14, 2018
Interesting subject
Very good read, but really could have used more illustrations for historical context. Particularly in the descriptions of early orders, there's a lot thrown at the reader, and more visuals would be helpful.
Very good read, but really could have used more illustrations for historical context. Particularly in the descriptions of early orders, there's a lot thrown at the reader, and more visuals would be helpful.
December 10, 2018
Interesting as far as it went. Many orders of nuns have been omitted here even though this book was published in 2003. I enjoyed reading about some of the early habits were based on peasant outfits and clothes for the lowly in society. On the ritzy end, Mademes of the Sacred Heart are omitted.
September 8, 2022
Hildegard of Bingen did not compile the Hortus Deliciarum. Also, the ebook formatting was atrocious.
January 10, 2013
Did you know that in many orders, every single item of the habit has meaning? From the color of a veil to the number of knots in a sash, everything has symbolic meaning, making dressing a kind of moving meditation and prayer.
This book explores how various groups of women religious developed their religious dress and how or if they stopped. In this post-Vatican-II world, many women religious have abandoned the habit as old-fashioned and an impediment to their interaction with the community they serve. Others never abandoned it, and some have even returned to some form of obvious religious dress as they seek for a more 'authentic' way of living.
On the way, we get glimpses inside the cloister, from the items that each 1940s-era novice was expected to bring, to the ways in which decisions are made and enforced in community and even to the ways in which male clergy hold authority over their lives.
The citations are a bit weak, and the text tends to wander within chapters, making this more of an introductory read than a scholarly analysis. But if you've ever wondered about the dress and lives of these highly committed women, this can serve as an interesting introduction.
This book explores how various groups of women religious developed their religious dress and how or if they stopped. In this post-Vatican-II world, many women religious have abandoned the habit as old-fashioned and an impediment to their interaction with the community they serve. Others never abandoned it, and some have even returned to some form of obvious religious dress as they seek for a more 'authentic' way of living.
On the way, we get glimpses inside the cloister, from the items that each 1940s-era novice was expected to bring, to the ways in which decisions are made and enforced in community and even to the ways in which male clergy hold authority over their lives.
The citations are a bit weak, and the text tends to wander within chapters, making this more of an introductory read than a scholarly analysis. But if you've ever wondered about the dress and lives of these highly committed women, this can serve as an interesting introduction.
May 3, 2009
Interesting. I'm not Catholic, but I definitely ended the book "pro-habit". Why wear boring old street clothes if you don't have to?
February 20, 2011
Her infrequent use of citation is a big bummer. Especially since, you know, it's a history book. Sigh.
May 28, 2015
I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/13206049
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/13206049
November 27, 2015
Can be a bit dry at times, but you won't find a more thorough history of the garments of women religious anywhere.
March 5, 2016
Really informative, but not the most riveting read. Did find what I wanted when I set out to read this book. Learned a lot about nuns and different orders and habits.
July 8, 2011
Informative and interesting. Can drag at times.
November 4, 2015
Very interesting, easy reading, great old photographs!
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews