Fashion gets religion?

The Christian faith has always provoked fervor and sometimes furor (lots of persecutions going unreported right now around the world).

But it hasn’t often inspired haute couture. For some reason, it is now.

“It’s not everyday that “Ave Maria” is played at a fashion show, but then again La Sorbonne is not an ordinary venue. The music was fitting given that Givenchy decided to wax religious: the 25 male models wore clothes and accessories that were a showcase of Christian symbols. All but one were inoffensive.”

Now that’s remarkable.

“Catholicism was obviously on the mind of designer Riccardo Tisci when he crafted his “JESUS IS LORD” T-Shirts, monastic hoods, clerical shirts, patent leather sandals and the like. While they were a little cheeky, they were still done in good taste. What crossed the line, however, were his gold-colored crown of thorns necklaces. It was disturbing enough to see pictures of men wearing this item over a shirt, but to feature a bare-chested model donning it was contemptible.

“There is a difference between being edgy and being obnoxious: the Crown of Thorns that Jesus wore is a very serious statement in Christianity, and it is not fair game to trivialize its meaning.”

The Catholic League is asking Givenchy to pull the necklaces. How about leaving the clerical shirts out, too? They’re not edgy or obnoxious, they’re just out place on men who haven’t gone through seminary. Fine if they want to make ordained ministry ‘cool’, but there are other ways. I recall a billboard near Chicago’s O’Hare airport that was a black shirt with clerical collar, and the message read: ‘If you’re waiting for a sign, this is it.’