Just Stepped Out of a Band Box
Please welcome my friend Harriet Michael as today’s guest writer. Harriet and I met at Kentucky Christian Writers Conference. She is a multi-published author and freelance writer. Harriet currently has five books out with two more coming out this year and three more under contract for release over the next two years. She also has hundreds of articles, devotions, and stories published in numerous magazines and books. Follow her on her blog or on her Amazon author page.
Looking Good!
When I was a child, I often heard my mother say, “You look like you just stepped out of a band box!” She would say this to me when I was dressed up for church or some other nice occasion. I came to understand from the way she used this expression that she meant I looked nice:
- Clean
- Hair brushed
- Clothes washed and pressed
- Shoes shined
Where did the expression come from?
I actually did not know the answer to this question until I looked it up for this post. Here is what I found:
The bands in this expression are clerical bands—the white linen bands often worn around ministers’ necks. The bandbox then is the box that holds the ministers’ clothing which is always spotless and neatly pressed. So, if people look like they just stepped out of a bandbox, they look:
- Neat
- Clean
- Spotless
- In order
“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Colossians 3:17 NIV).
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10 thoughts on “Just Stepped Out of a Band Box”
Actually, the word “bandbox” does not necessarily have anything to do with the clergy. A bandbox is simply a round box that holds attire, mostly hats (and yes, occasionally clerical collars). The phrase “stepped out of a bandbox” refers to attire looking as fresh and crisp as when it arrived new on that box – and thus says that the person referred to looks just as neat & clean.
Thank you, Fred. This expression was totally new to me, so I appreciate your information.
I am 82 and I often heard that said as a young girl
How interesting, Patricia. I was not familiar with this expression until Harriet mentioned it. Thank you for sharing.
My deceased mother often referred to a cousin’s wife (she was always fashionable, refined and well put together — a Southern belle moved north) with this term. I imagined, but never knew the meaning..
I’m so happy this helps, Mary Alice. I have had similar experiences with other expressions. This one was new to me until Harriet mentioned it.
My Momma always said people that were beautiful or handsome or handsomely dressed were “pretty as a band box” so I finally know where that VERY old saying came from. I suppose my Momma changed that idiom a bit. Maybe taught to her by her Momma. God bless!
A new twist on an old saying, Ruth’s Daughter. How interesting. Thank you for sharing.
This sounds like good, common sense, Christian chat. I’d like to be a member of this group but don’t see a join or subscribe button!
Thank you, Manie. You can subscribe at http://ow.ly/XX0U50JTr3Z. Blessings.