Sisters
Dress
he
clothing of a woman religious has historically identified her religious
vocation and her association with a particular order, or religious
group under similar direction. The dress of the Sisters of Saint
Ann was once an elaborate layering of black fabric garments and
white head coverings. This added to the mystique of the Sisters,
both for their students and for people on the city streets of Victoria.
For these women who had chosen convent life, it was simply part
of their role in a religious community, and they managed to go about
their chores, meditations and even sporting activities without giving
any consideration to the cumbersome clothing. Former student Aileen
Kirby remembers one nun who demonstrated high jump in her
habit. She didnt care! And the same with long jump -I remember
them doing everything in their habits. The parts of the Sisters
clothing included:
WHITE COIF
The pieces framing the face and covering the head were known as
the coif. A white cotton cap was worn under a thin headband, called
a bandeau. A wimple, a head-dress made of starched linen which covered
the neck and the sides of the face, covered these first two layers.
A black crepe covered the white wimple, and was attached to a black
capeline.
BLACK VEIL
The veil was worn pinned over the coif head coverings.
HOLY HABIT
This was the main piece of clothing. It was a dress made of black
serge fabric, which was sewn with four pleats at the neck so that
the habit fell softly from the neck to the floor. When working,
the Sister pinned up the front and back.
WOOLEN BELT
A belt woven from wool was worn around the waist. The rosary hung
from this belt by hooks.
ROSARY
Rosary beads shaped from brown wood were hung from a belt. The beads
are divided into sets to help the memory in counting the recital
of devotional prayers in Roman Catholicism. A medal of St. Ann teaching
her daughter, the Virgin Mary, was placed with the beads, where
a cross would traditionally be found.
SLEEVES
The Holy Habit had two sets of sleeves. The larger set was folded
up for work and unfolded for formal occasions and when in chapel.
PELERINE
The shawl-like pelerine was cut to leave the sleeves free. It was
made of black serge and worn over the dress.
CROSS
A large silver cross is worn hanging from a black cord. The cross
is received when the first or temporary vows are taken by the Sister
and remains a part of the dress of the Sisters of Saint Ann.
SILVER
RING
The simple silver ring symbolizes that the final or perpetual vows
have been taken by the Sister.
UNDERSKIRTS
Two skirts were worn under the habit dress. The top skirt was sewn
from black serge, trimmed with a cord along the edge. A black cotton
skirt was worn underneath the serge skirt.
BLACK SHOES
Simple black shoes were worn with the habit of the Sisters of Saint
Ann.
STOCKINGS
Black stockings were the traditional leg coverings.
CARD
When the Sisters would travel outside the convent and school, a
stiff black covering called a card would be worn over the coif.
The card was reinforced, to prevent the white linen from becoming
wet or dirty.
CAPE
A long black cape and black gloves were worn over the habit on trips.
SUITCASE
A small black suitcase was used to carry a few items for travel.
APRONS
Aprons of different types were worn over the habit, depending on
the occasion, to help keep the other clothing from becoming dirty.
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