Dolce and Gabbana Fall/Winter 2014

Massimo Di Felice (February 24, 2013) Available at: http://www.swide.com/photo-gallery/dolce-and-gabbana-womenswear-collection-fw-2014-fashion-show-backstage-photogallery/2013/02/24/1-27 (Last accessed: 28/9/14)

Anna Wintours first Vogue

In 1988 Anna Wintours first volume of Vogue edited by her was released. The front cover included an image of an Isreali model, Michaela Bercu, wearing a Christian Lacroix jacket with a giant bejeweled cross embellished upon it. Anna Wintour declared this as the end of Vogue's old hieratic formalism.

This is a major moment in the history of fashion and in the use of religious symbolism in fashion. 

I have decided to narrow my research down to focusing on the christian cross as a religious symbol this allows me to look more in depth at the origin or this being used and how it has been effected by its exposure.
Things to look at:
Young Madonna
The 80s
Punk
Lady Gaga Judas
Vivienne Westwood
Tattooing

Vivienne Westwood

Vivienne Westwood is an English fashion designer who's linked with punk fashion. Her logo is an orb with the christian cross on the top (as seen below). 

Burqa Swag

Mahdawi, A.(2013)Rihanna, Lady Gaga and what's really behind burqa swag. Available at:http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/oct/24/rihanna-lady-gaga-burqa-swag Last accessed(24/9/14)

Rihannas controversial stunt which involved wearing her interpretation of a Burqa to a mosque in Abu Dhabi is another example of religious iconography being exploited this time by a celebrity. This obviously got a lot of attention, good and bad. It obviously brought the burqa into the public eye allowing it to be seen in a different light to the usual headlines of its controversy in school. However due to the sexualisation of the burqa this is going massively against the whole religion causing the religious icon to be watered down stripping it of its true meaning. A younger generation who look to celebrities such as Rihanna as a role model will see this and view the burqa as more of a fashion symbol than vital item in the Islamic religion. Celebrities play a big role in fashion being translated to the high street, if someones sees their favourite celebrity wearing something, they want to wear this too. Most fashion pieces have a history, they will have started as a major piece at a fashion show and eventualy be watered down for the everyday person on the highstreet, most of the time the every day person would have no idea of this. This again links in with the theme of religious symbols being used in fashion, most people will look beyond the symbol and buy the item simply because it looks nice, they have seen it in a magazine or they have seen a celebrity wearing it.