Mantillas, Snoods, and "Other" Veils

K, so this post springs out of a comment that gave me a belly laugh from a reader, Sandra.  She gave me permission to repost, so I'm taking full advantage.

While commenting on this recent entry, she said:

The mantilla is too old-fashioned and the snoods make me feel like an amish woman.

Ha ha ha ha!  I am so glad that I wasn't drinking coffee or something when I read that, because I no doubt would've scalded myself snarfing.

Anyway, I own two beautiful mantillas (both from Veils by Lily).  I don't have any snoods because the first time I attempted to wear one, I came out a jumbled mess.  Plus, the style just isn't for me.  My neck is way too giraffe-like to not have some sort of hair to balance me out.

I use what I call "chapel veils."  Now I realize that mantillas and snoods are chapel veils, too, but I dunno if the particular style I utilize has a name all its own.  Thus, when I refer to "chapel veil" go ahead and picture something like this:

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Me about to ramble about renewal.

This type of veil is very plain (I think made of chiffon?) and what I guess would be considered mid-length.  I dunno - it's like 15 inches and ties in the back (which is extremely helpful considering Vincent is dedicated to toying with my veils at every Mass).  It keeps my hair covered and out of my face, but it doesn't completely hide the fact that I have hair, usually making me look like this from the front:

You can't really tell, but the above black veil is actually lace and not chiffon and it follows the same pattern (15 inches with a tie) that the white one does.  It's not too long and it's not too short.  It stays in place without pins or combs, and being very basic colors, they go with pretty much everything.  They don't stand out as anything special.

Being a very basic sorta person, these veils are right up my alley. 

For as much as I love the mantilla style (and I do!), I feel like they don't fit me... almost like they're too pretty or something.  I feel like others view me as "holier-than-thou" when I'm wearing them, and I'd much rather focus on the Mass than my self-consciousness on Sundays, so I typically leave the mantillas at home (except for special occasions because I can't help but want to wear those gorgeous veils at least once in a while!). 

Sandra's comment on the snoods, however, really made me giggle because I understand what she means.  For any of you lovely women who prefer snoods, please don't take offense.  I mean none, and I doubt very much that Sandra meant any.  As I said, the style just isn't for me, much in the same way as the mantilla (which really bugs me because I REALLY like some of the designs for both snoods and mantillas). 

When I modeled the snood for John, he grimaced and said something similar to Sandra.  The mantilla he kinda just rolled his eyes at, saying he preferred the "regular chapel veil" if I "had to wear something" because it was much more subtle.  He felt the mantilla was way too in-your-face, I guess.  Ha ha.

His reactions to the mantilla and snood are probably why I stick to the simple "regular" chapel veils.  I guess if he had that reaction, others would as well, so I tend to play it more on the safe side.

Garlands of Grace was my go-to shop.  Unfortunately, it looks like that can no longer be the case.  Luckily, these veils will probably last me through another summer, but I should really start looking into new ones. 

Michelle over at Liturgical Time has some really pretty ones (I think I actually salivated over this one).  Cam from A Snood for all Seasons also thinks she can wrangle up a custom order (which is awesome!).  So luckily, all is not lost for Sandra and I.  Ha ha.

So if any of you other ladies are feeling a bit bummed that GoG is no longer an option, we've got plenty of talented Catholics who are able to help us along with our desire to veil.  Yay for that!