Garment Analysis
1700 Claddagh Ring
You may be familiar with the Claddagh ring from a friend who wears one or from taking a trip to Ireland, but do you know its history and meaning? More than a souvenir, this seemingly simple ring highlights the enduring power of symbolism in Irish history and in contemporary life.
Categories: Christianity, 1700s, Ring
Tags: Catholicism, Everyday, Ireland, Richard Joyce, Thomas Dillon
1840s Temple Garments of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
The story of Mormon temple garments is one of both spiritual continuity and practical adaptation, where sacred symbols meet everyday life. These garments highlight how personal faith intersects with institutional change, allowing members to express their devotion while navigating contemporary challenges.
Categories: Christianity, 1840s, Undergarments
Tags: Ceremonial, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Everyday, Mormons, Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, Temple Garments, United States
1890s Biblical Pinback Buttons by Whitehead & Hoag Co.
Before memes and social media posts, tiny religious buttons served as America’s first wearable messaging system. Discover how Whitehead & Hoag’s dime-sized biblical scenes turned children’s clothing accessories into portable platforms for scripture, merging fashion with faith in the Sunday School movement of the 1890s.
Categories: Christianity, 1890s, Pinback Button
Tags: Children, Evangelical Protestantism, Evangelism, Everyday, Jesus, Nicodemus, pinback button, Sunday School, United States, Whitehead & Hoag
1961 Buddha Brooches by Joseph J. Mazer Co.
When spirituality meets fashion, even Buddha becomes a fashion statement. Discover how Joseph J. Mazer’s jade-colored Buddha brooches captured America’s growing fascination with Eastern spirituality at a pivotal moment when the nation was shifting from religious dwelling to spiritual seeking.
Categories: Buddhism, 1960s, Brooch
Tags: brooch, Buddha, costume jewelry, Everyday, Mazer, spirituality, United States
1969-1973 Sackcloth Robes Worn by the Children of God
The Bible inspired the Children of God’s sackcloth vigil attire, a form of oppositional fashion that enlivened their theology and garnered extensive media coverage.
Categories: Christianity, NRMs, 1960s, 1970s, Robe
Tags: Bible, Ceremonial, Handmade, United States
1979 First Communion Dress
While personal memories of First Communion may fade with time, the special form of dress worn by young girls for this significant rite of passage often stands out. Some remember going with their mom to purchase a dress, while others wore a family heirloom, and in this case the dress was handmade by a loving aunt for her niece. In this simple First Communion dress faith, family, and fashion are woven together.
Categories: Christianity, 1970s, Dress
Tags: Catholicism, Ceremonial, Children, First Communion, Handmade, United States
1984 Madonna’s MTV Awards Look
Madonna’s 1984 MTV Awards performance of “Like a Virgin” became an iconic and polarizing moment in pop culture, marking her as a superstar. Wearing a provocative wedding dress with religious symbols, she challenged traditional Christian ideals around purity, femininity, and sexuality.
Categories: Christianity, 1980s, Dress
Tags: Catholicism, Ceremonial, Culture Wars, Madonna, United States, Wedding Dress
2013 Queen Mosaic Dress by Dolce & Gabbana
What happens when twelve-century Byzantine mosaics inspire twenty-first century haute couture? Dolce & Gabbana’s transformation of Monreale Cathedral’s sacred art into fashion statements raises fascinating questions about how we consume religious imagery in the 21st century.
Categories: Christianity, 2010s, Dress
Tags: Bible, Cathedral of Monreale, Dolce & Gabbanna, High Fashion, Italy, Mosaic, Rebekah
2013 Sleeveless Crop Top Featuring Jesus the Good Shepherd
In 2013 a “Holy Spirit” infused the fashion industry as numerous designers, including Dolce & Gabbana, Vivienne Westwood, and Sarah Burton, embraced Christian imagery. Amidst this proliferation of Christian inspiration, Croatian-born designer Karla Špetić’s “Faith” Collection stands out for its bold colors and provocative inclusion of Jesus.
Categories: Christianity, 2010s, Top
Tags: Australia, High Fashion, Jesus, Karla Špetić, Lamb, Stained Glass
2014 Annunciation Bathing Suit
When a 19th-century stained glass Annunciation scene migrates from cathedral windows to swimwear, it creates more than just a fashion statement. This $15.99 Amazon find represents the complex intersection where fast fashion, religious art, and consumer culture collide—leaving us to wonder what happens when sacred moments become beach attire.
Categories: Christianity, 2010s, Bathing Suit
Tags: Annunciation, Bathing Suit, Claudius Lavergne, Everyday, Fast Fashion, Gabriel, Mary, Stained Glass, United States
2014 I Heart Church Boys T-Shirt by JCLU Forever
How does a simple gray T-shirt become a powerful vehicle for evangelical theology, teenage socialization, and religious identity? The “I Heart Church Boys” shirt exemplifies Christianity’s complicated relationship with fashion—simultaneously reinforcing traditional values while allowing young women to style their faith in ways that are anything but boring.
Categories: Christianity, 2010s, T-Shirt
Tags: Evangelical Christianity, Evangelical Youth, Evangelism, Everyday, Religious Identity, T-Shirts, United States
2017 Guo Pei Gown from the “Legend” Collection
Known for her spellbinding designs, Guo Pei turns couture into a form of historical storytelling. Her fashion pieces, including those inspired by the Abbey of St. Gall, offer audiences a visual journey through faith, tradition, and artistic innovation.
Categories: Christianity, 2010s, Dress
Tags: Abbey of St. Gall, China, Guo Pei, High Fashion, Thurible
2018 Rihanna’s Papal Look at the Met Gala
Rihanna’s 2018 Met Gala outfit drew on Catholic imagery to challenge and reclaim traditional symbols of authority, making her a powerful figure in the conversation between fashion and religion. Her choice prompted deeper questions about the intersections of identity, power, and spiritual symbolism in modern culture.
Categories: Christianity, 2010s, Dress, Headpiece, Robe
Tags: Catholicism, Cross, France, High Fashion, John Galliano, Maison Margiela, Met Gala 2018, Rihanna, United States
2019 MSCHF X INRI Jesus Shoes
MSCHF’s Jesus Shoe featuring a crucifix, holy water, and a Bible verse, Matthew 14:25, became the most “googled shoe” of 2019. These shoes that enable wearers to “walk on water,” like Jesus, raise interesting questions about the relationship between religion, fashion, and art, as well as the power of parody and humor in contemporary popular culture.
Categories: Christianity, 2010s, Shoes
Tags: Cross, Everyday, Holy Water, Parody, Sneakers, United States
2022 Crown of Thorns by Kendrick Lamar and Tiffany & Co.
In the history of Christianity, the crown of thorns is an object associated with Jesus and his crucifixion. In 2022, though, rapper Kendrick Lamar and jewelers Tiffany & Co. teamed up to create their version of this spiritual symbol, which was worn by Lamar on the cover of his album Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers and during his performance at the Glastonbury Music Festival in 2022. What does it mean? Read this entry to find out.
Categories: Christianity, 2020s, Headpiece
Tags: Crown of Thorns, High Fashion, Hip Hop, Jesus, Tiffany & Co, United States