Easter is about more than egg hunts, candy-filled baskets, and sugary treats—for many, church is at the center of the holiday. Though I don’t remember the sermons, I can still picture my outfits: the frilly white socks peeking out from shiny patent-leather shoes, the struggle to keep them clean, and the all-white dress, puffed with tulle like a delicate cupcake.
For Baptists, Easter Sunday service isn’t just tradition—it’s a homecoming. It’s a celebration of community and faith, honoring what many call Christ’s resurrection. People arrive in fresh spring looks, often wearing something new to symbolize rebirth. By the time the service ends, spilling congregants into the streets, the fashion spills out too.
Here, you’ll see a distinctly Southern-inspired style: wide-brimmed hats with tulle, pastel suits, floral dresses, and, for the kids, those same frilly white socks.
In Harlem, the historic Abyssinian Baptist Church—a Gothic landmark—has been a cornerstone of the community since 1808. It’s hosted figures like André Leon Talley, civil rights activists, and influential pastors. For the church’s 218th Easter, we captured the essence of Southern Baptist style, its East African roots, and how generations reinterpret tradition.
Rondel Davis
“This wasn’t my first choice, but it’s festive yet conservative. Everything is Ralph Lauren, head to toe—even the shoes. I’ve been coming here for 50 years. My fashionable friend André Leon Talley, who attended this church, used to visit my restaurant. We had his photo on the wall.”
David Alston, Fatima Logan-Alston, and David Alston II
David: “We wore all white for purity, a fresh start, and the new season. With the resurrection, it feels like a new era. It’s about family—we shop and get ready together, making it a ritual to look our best.”
Fatima: “We’re from North Carolina, where getting new suits—usually bright colors like this white—is tradition. It reminds us of home. Our outfits are from Macy’s.”
Jose, Mark, Dwayne, Luisenrique
Luisenrique: “We plan our looks together every year. I was inspired by the Met Gala’s ‘Superfine’ event and being part of Harlem’s well-dressed Easter crowd. Tradition says you should wear something gifted—like this ladybug brooch from my best friend.”
Jose: “I bought this silk scarf at The Met yesterday—a pop of color. My suit’s from Men’s Wearhouse, and the triton pin is vintage.”
Mark: “I pulled this from my closet. We decide last-minute, inspired by spring and the energy of this church.”
Dwayne: “My family’s been coming here since 1938, when they moved from Georgia. Easter means bold, light colors—I’ve worn little white suits since I was four.”
Jamillaah, Andrew, Carmichael, and Torrence
Torrence: “I loved my mom’s dress and wanted to match—yellow’s our color. My favorite Easter memory was during COVID, when we baked and decorated a cake to match our outfits.”The girls love the holidays, especially Easter and Christmas. They have fun picking out outfits together and deciding on their inspiration. This time, my dress was the focus—my oldest daughter, Torrence, took the lead in choosing it.
Nefertiti, Jasmine Iman, and Rudolph
Photographed by Rasaan Wyzard
Rudolph: When I heard the Met Gala theme was Black dandy, I knew that’s what I wanted for myself and my niece. I told my sister that was the inspiration behind our outfits. Mine is a mix of McQueen, Vivienne Westwood, and Yves Saint Laurent.
Nefertiti: I wanted to contrast with my brother since we have different styles, so I went with a different color palette. My dress is Dolce & Gabbana, and my daughter’s is Prada.
Joycelyn McGeachy-Kuls
Photographed by Rasaan Wyzard
I love this color, but I also love this church. Coming here for Easter reminds me of my grandmother. It’s a Southern Baptist tradition—looking our best, praising the Lord, and giving God our finest. Right now, there’s a sense that our culture is being erased, but many of us are embracing it even more, finding strength in it. Dressing up for church, lifting up our community—that’s what connects us as Black women, as Southern Baptist women. We don’t want to lose that identity, what makes us strong and beautiful.
My favorite Easter memory is getting a new pair of black patent-leather shoes and a floral dress every year—sometimes handmade by my grandmother.
Camillya Lima-Peterson, Michael Peterson, and Camellia Peterson
Camillya Lima-Peterson: I went for an all-white look with pops of color. We wanted to look modern but keep tradition with the hat and a scarf to cover the shoulders. My dress is from the Gap, the scarf is repurposed by Larry Jay (a designer from Ghana who works with recycled materials), my hat is vintage from France, and my shoes are Vince Camuto.
Michael Peterson: I wore red today to represent Resurrection Day—red and white with some fun details. Something light that we can wear from church to brunch, especially with this nice weather. My hat is Aimé Leon Dore, shoes are Gucci, suit and pants are Denim Tears, and the shirt is vintage. The bag is Yeezy, and this ladybug pin is my wife’s.
Camellia Peterson: I like the pink.
Lenora Taitt-Magubane
Photographed by Rasaan Wyzard
I’ve been with this church for years, coming in and out since I was a child. My dress is from Benin, where I’ve spent a lot of time, and my cane is from Kenya. I always take fashion inspiration from Africa. My family picked out this outfit for me.
Catherine and her granddaughter
Photographed by Rasaan Wyzard
Catherine’s granddaughter: She’s a dresser—old-school Baptist. That’s where the hat and dress come from. It’s Easter, so she had to step out.
Catherine: My sister made this hat and gave it to me as a gift. My favorite Easter outfit was a peach one I wore with my three sons for a big dinner.
Gary Grant, Valerie Grant, and Gary Grant Jr.
Photographed by Rasaan Wyzard
Valerie: I picked this out last night—it’s not something I already had. I like to find something new for Easter since it’s a celebration of Christ’s resurrection. The colors and vibrancy stood out to me. The hat was a last-minute choice, but it’s one of my favorites.
I love hats—they feel like a celebration. It’s a family thing. My mother wasn’t into hats, but my aunts and grandmothers were, so I got it from them.Here’s the rewritten text in clear, natural English:
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Gary Grant:
“It’s kind of a last-minute decision based on what my son was wearing, so I decided to put on my jacket too. We got these suits from an online menswear store. We also ordered him a seersucker jacket and new shoes online to keep up the tradition of buying something new.”
Gary Grant Jr.:
“I feel good in my outfit. My parents bought it for me, and I like it. It’s awesome.”
Sandra Allen-Lesibu (Photographed by Rasaan Wyzard)
“I’m 77 years old, and this has been my church since 1960. I was married here in 1967 when Adam Clayton Powell was the pastor. I’ve been singing in the choir since then, and I sang today too.
I chose this outfit because it’s perfect for Easter—He has risen, and the flowers are blooming. My hat is from Harlem’s Heaven, and you always have to wear a hat. They came to the church, put this one on me, and I loved it.”
Afrika Owes (Photographed by Rasaan Wyzard)
“I got the dress from Amazon, and at first, I wasn’t going to wear it. I was looking for something else, but I wanted to match my son. I’ve always loved Easter blue, and I wanted to wear a hat. My mom was really into hats—she passed away and was also a church member. I wanted to try something different, feel like a princess, but still keep it classy and true to my personality.”
Robin Bristow and Adrienne Jones (Photographed by Rasaan Wyzard)
Robin: “We’re traveling, so this wasn’t a last-minute outfit. We packed ahead of time, checked the weather, and that helped us decide what to wear. We went for spring colors and made sure we’d be comfortable since we planned to walk around and get brunch afterward. We picked this church because of its history—Adam Clayton Powell Sr. was the pastor here in the ’60s, so we wanted to experience the culture.”
Adrienne: “My favorite Easter fashion memory is the ruffled socks. And of course, when we were little, we’d sometimes wear hats and gloves. I also loved seeing the elders in their white gloves, hats, pastels, and bright colors.”
Susann Miles-Westbrook (Photographed by Rasaan Wyzard)
“As deacons, we have to wear black, so I wanted something I really liked—a bit more upscale. This was my favorite Easter outfit. André Leon Talley used to tell me, ‘Susann, I love that on you.’ I actually wore it to his funeral. The dress is Issey Miyake, and I made the hat out of feathers.”
Patti Lois (Photographed by Rasaan Wyzard)
“I’m the church photographer and have been a member for 25 years. For my Easter look, I wanted to wear pearls since I’m in AKA, and pearls are part of our beading. I didn’t want too many, but I made sure they matched the polka dots on my dress.”
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The text is now more fluid and natural while keeping the original meaning and tone. Let me know if you’d like any further refinements!