Religion has fascinated all of us in many ways. We willingly or unwillingly get guided by it. There has always been an iconic moment in the fashion industry where religion was taken as an inspiration. Without any controversial side to it, religion has only been glorified in fashion. (mainly the inspirations are taken from catholic and Islamic forms of style and fashion).
Who wouldn’t want to look divine at least once in their fashion journey?
Many designers like Jean Paul Gaultier (Fall/Winter 1993), Chanel (Haute Couture Spring /Summer 1994), Atelier Versace (Fall/Winter 1997), Dolce and Gabbana (Fall 2013) have put forward a lot of garments on the ramp that showcases many different styles of Church fashion.
Nowadays the combination of religious complexities and fashion is been recognized more especially after the last year’s Met Gala. The Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the catholic imagination became a very sensational event in the Met Gala 2018. It was aimed to create a link between the top end works of religious art in the museum and fashion. Many celebrities took part in it where they showcased their styles from the catholic inspiration. Andrew Bolton was the brains behind this theme. I would like to mention few of my favorite picks from the 2018's Met gala.
Gigi Hadid wearing Versace.
Being in the third of my list, she shimmered down the red carpet with her Versace gown.
Source: www.vogue.co.uk
Ariana Grande wearing Vera Wang
For her very first Met Gala she chose to wear an imagery of Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel from Vera Wang.
Amal Clooney wearing Richard Quinn.
Topping the list is the Amal Clooney with her metallic corset and flowing floral gown.
Source: www.vogue.co.uk
Pop artists like Lady Gaga and Madonna have incorporated a few of the religious elements in their own styles as well.
In countries like India even though people are more sensitive to religion there has been many clothing styles and accessories that people wear as a fashion statement. The traditional style of dressing has a lot of religious influence with aesthetic and practical sense. Wearing something that is religious can become a really important individual identity of a person. Pagadi is one of the religious styles of headdress worn by the Sikhs as the symbol of honour. Some accessories like the crosses, crucifixes and prayer beads are often seen or worn around the neck or hands, maybe as religious belief or as a fashion statement. Using Om symbols is also seen on t-shirts as well as carvings on different accessories.
Even though religion is a very delicate area, throughout the fashion journey it has proved that fashion can gel in very-well with religion without posing the wrong side to it.
But then it all ends up how people perceive them.
Meenakshi V
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