--- description: A look back at 15 iconic moments in fashion inspired by Catholicism and its aesthetics, from Madonna to Lady Gaga. title: 15 Iconic Fashion Moments Inspired by Catholicism image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt86886a0912073572/69892f8f4ee262f2cb311b42/catholic-inspired-fashion-moments.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Newsfeed](/tag/time-section-newsfeed/) ## Newsfeed Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # 15 Times Catholicism Inspired Iconic Fashion Moments  by [Cady Lang](/author/cady-lang/)  ## Cady Lang Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close May 4, 2018 3:05 PM CUT  Matt Sayles—Invision/AP; Dave Hogan—Getty Images; Tim Mosenfelder—Getty Images  by [Cady Lang](/author/cady-lang/)  ## Cady Lang Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close May 4, 2018 3:05 PM CUT The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s annual [Costume Institute Benefit](http://time.com/4756953/outrageous-met-gala-fashion/ "undefined"), widely known as [fashion’s biggest night](http://time.com/4762629/rihanna-queen-met-gala-2017/ "undefined") looked to religion this year as its source of sartorial inspiration. The 2018 Met Gala theme, [_Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination_](http://time.com/5256466/met-gala-2018-details-theme-date/ "undefined") was a rumination on the influence that Catholicism has had on fashion as we know it. While some may consider the Met Gala’s theme to be daring or controversial, fashion has never shied away from holding anything as too sacred. From Madonna’s affinity for crucifixes as accessories to Lady Gaga’s avant-garde take on a nun’s habit for her 2011 _Monster Ball_ tour, here’s a look back on 15 iconic fashion moments that were inspired by Catholicism and its aesthetics. ## Madonna In pop culture and the red carpet, there are few figures more closely associated with religion — and controversy — than Madonna. From her moniker to her love of a good crucifix accessory, Madge’s fixation on Catholicism (the religion she was raised in) has been a big part of her brand. Many point to her infamous 1989 music video for “Like a Prayer” (which featured stigmata, burning crosses, and a kiss between a saint and a very _La Dolce Vita_\-esque Madonna in a black lace slip dress) as being Madonna’s most polarizing allusion to Catholicism and for good reason — the American Family Association [boycotted it and led to ](http://entertainment.time.com/2011/06/07/top-10-controversial-music-videos/slide/madonna-like-a-prayer/ "undefined")[ Pepsi being cancelled. ](https://www.nytimes.com/1989/04/05/business/pepsi-cancels-madonna-ad.html "undefined") However, Madonna’s “Like a Prayer” controversy was nothing compared to the backlash that she received during her 2006 _Confessions_ [a spokesperson for the Vatican called her concert “an act of open hostility” and suggested that she be excommunicated.](http://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2026525%5F2026524%5F2026526,00.html "undefined")[a bohemian ensemble by Jean Paul Gaultier](https://www.bustle.com/articles/67391-madonnas-16-most-iconic-tour-outfits-proves-shes-a-true-fashion-chameleon "undefined") tour, where she wore (the designer responsible for her infamous cone bra) while hanging from a mirrored cross and sporting a fake crown of thorns. After she extended an invite to her concert in Rome to the Pope, a spokesperson from the Vatican denounced the concert as [“an act of open hostility” and suggested that she should be excommunicated.](http://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2026525%5F2026524%5F2026526,00.html "undefined")  LONDON - AUGUST 01: Madonna performs onstage at the first London concert of her "Confessions" World Tour at Wembley Arena August 1, 2006 in London, England. (Photo by Dave Hogan/Getty Images) Dave Hogan—Getty Images ## Lady Gaga When Lady Gaga, who was raised Catholic, debuted the music video for her song “Alejandro” in 2010, she was criticized for her use of Catholic images and iconography, most specifically, eating a rosary while dressed as a nun. The [Catholic League released a press release](https://thinkprogress.org/catholic-league-on-lady-gagas-alejandro-video-gaga-should-treat-christians-like-muslims-e03a5e38b98d/ "undefined") about the video, admonishing Gaga for “abusing Catholic symbols.” The critiques, however, didn’t deter Gaga from sporting a modified nun habit during her _Monster Ball_ tour in 2011; the habit, which featured a structured wimple, was short and made of translucent latex — all the better with which to see Gaga’s fishnet tights and electric tape cross pasties.  OAKLAND, CA - MARCH 22: Lady Gaga performs part of her Monster Ball Tour at the Oracle Arena on March 22, 2011 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images) Tim Mosenfelder—Getty Images ## Nicki Minaj Nicki Minaj raised more than a few eyebrows when she showed up to the 2012 Grammys in a red Versace ensemble with a pope impersonator on her arm. The rapper performed during the awards show ceremony, where she mimed going into a confessional booth and then experiencing an exorcism; both earned her [an angry letter from the Catholic League](https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/celebritology/post/nicki-minajs-grammy-performance-has-angered-the-catholic-league/2012/02/13/gIQAfVVfBR%5Fblog.html?utm%5Fterm=.73d8209b2882 "undefined"), which publicly denounced her performance and the Recording Academy for allowing it.  LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 12: Nicki Minaj arrives at The 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on February 12, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage) Kevin Mazur—WireImage ## Katy Perry When it came to this year’s Met Gala theme, Katy Perry was way ahead of the curve; the pop princess wore a full look from Dolce & Gabbana’s Fall/Winter ’13 collection that [was inspired by the mosaics in Sicily’s Cathedral of Monreale](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2320545/Katy-Perry-wears-cathedral-inspired-embellished-dress-bejewelled-crown-2013-Met-Ball.html "undefined") to the 2013 gala, riffing off the theme, _Punk: Chaos to Couture_. A crown with crosses and crucifix earrings completed the edgy look.  NEW YORK, NY - MAY 06: Katy Perry attends the Costume Institute Gala for the "PUNK: Chaos to Couture" exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 6, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images) Dimitrios Kambouris—Getty Images ## Beyoncé While Beyoncé drew on multiple religions as inspiration for her 2017 Grammys performance that celebrated motherhood and the divine feminine, the Catholic influence was clear with the diadem elements of her headpiece, which resembled the aesthetics of [the Black Madonna, an icon in Catholic art.](https://www.refinery29.com/2017/02/140654/beyonce-grammys-inspiration-religious-symbols-meaning#slide-4 "undefined")  LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 12: Singer Beyonce performs during The 59th GRAMMY Awards at STAPLES Center on February 12, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images for NARAS) Larry Busacca—Getty Images for NARAS Likewise, the veil she swapped in for the headpiece to give her acceptance speech for _Best Urban Contemporary Album_ was [reminiscent of the veil worn by the Virgin Mary in the Catholic tradition.](https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/lifestyle/7693161/beyonce-grammy-performance-references-exclusive "undefined")  LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 12: Recording artist Beyonce accepts the award for Best Urban Contemporary Album for 'Lemonade,' onstage during The 59th GRAMMY Awards at STAPLES Center on February 12, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images for NARAS) Kevork Djansezian—Getty Images ## **Britney Spears** Is there anything that defined the early-aughts more than Britney Spears’ sexy Catholic school girl in the “…Baby One More Time” music video? While the actual spiritual aspects of Catholicism wasn’t present, the video’s homage to Catholic school and its uniforms cemented the Catholic school girl stereotype in pop culture. ## John Galliano for Dior For John Galliano’s Fall/Winter ’00 show while he was at Christian Dior, the controversial designer debuted [a “Freud or Fetish” collection](http://www.dazeddigital.com/fashion/article/36995/1/lets-get-spiritual-five-times-religion-inspired-the-runway "undefined"), which opened with a sadistic priest wearing a complex ensemble (complete with a swinging thurible) that spoke to not only Galliano’s attention to detail, but also to his sense of humor.  FRANCE - SEPTEMBER 01: Christian Dior Fall 2000 Couture runway show. (Photo by Guy Marineau/Conde Nast via Getty Images) Guy Marineau—Conde Nast via Getty Images ## Jean Paul Gaultier Jean Paul Gaultier, he of the hyper-sexed sailors and cone-bra corsets, proved that even Catholicism could be alluring in its own way. Riffing off the gradiose iconography of the religion, his [Spring/Summer ’07 collection was an homage to Madonnas, saints, angels, and cherubs](https://www.vogue.com/fashion-shows/spring-2007-couture/jean-paul-gaultier "undefined"). Models walked down the runways in headpieces resembling halos and diadems, while dresses and bodices were adorned with chalices, Sacred Hearts, and images of the Virgin Mary and angels.  PARIS - JANUARY 24: (UK OUT) A model walks down the catwalk during the Jean-Paul Gaultier fashion show as part of Spring / Summer 2007 Haute Couture on January 24, 2007 in Paris, France. (Photo by Chris Moore/Catwalking/Getty Images) Chris Moore/Catwalking—Getty Images  PARIS - JANUARY 24: (UK OUT) A model walks down the catwalk during the Jean-Paul Gaultier fashion show as part of Spring / Summer 2007 Haute Couture on January 24, 2007 in Paris, France. (Photo by Chris Moore/Catwalking/Getty Images) Chris Moore/Catwalking—Getty Images ## Christian Lacroix Following the tradition of closing haute couture shows with a bridal look, Christian Lacroix gave his final model in his couture 2009-2010 collection the Madonna treatment. Clad in an ivory gown embellished with ruffles, gold embroidery, and a crucifix, she also wore [a headdress that alluded to an aureole.](http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/fashion/french-designer-christian-lacroix-bids-adieu-haute-couture-article-1.428234 "undefined")  PARIS - JULY 07: PARIS - JULY 07 (UK OUT) A model walks the runway at the Christian Lacroix fashion show during Paris Fashion Week Haute Couture Autumn/Winter 2009/2010 on July 7, 2009 in Paris, France. (Photo by Chris Moore/Catwalking/Getty Images) Chris Moore/Catwalking—Getty Images ## Givenchy Riccardo Tisci’s gothic design leanings came out in full force with his Fall/Winter ’10 menswear collection for Givenchy, an explicit homage to his Catholic upbringing. In a show staged at the Sorbonne, Tisci sent models dressed in ensembles heavily influenced by Catholic faith — perhaps most emphatically with shirts with the image of Christ that had the words “Jesus Is Lord” emblazoned across the front. In an interview with the [_Associated Press_, ](http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-givenchy-delivers-menswear-steeped-in-catholicism-2010jan22-story.html "undefined") Tisci dedicated the collection to his faith. “Religion is a big part of my DNA and this collection was about my Catholic(ism) and every other religion in a way,” he said.  PARIS - JANUARY 22: (UK OUT) A model walks the runway at the Givenchy fashion show during Paris Menswear Fashion Week Autumn/Winter 2010 on January 22, 2010 in Paris, France. (Photo by Chris Moore/Catwalking/Getty Images) Chris Moore/Catwalking—Getty Images ## Dolce & Gabbana Catholicism served as the romantic and brooding inspiration for Dolce & Gabbana’s Fall/Winter ’13 collection, [drawing specifically from Sicily’s Cathedral of Monreale’s Byzantine and Venetian mosaics](https://www.vogue.com/fashion-shows/fall-2013-ready-to-wear/dolce-gabbana "undefined"). More cheeky than their heavily detailed looks, however, may have been the liberally embellished, Cardinal red looks that they sent down in the models’ final strut down the runway.  MILAN, ITALY - FEBRUARY 24: Models walk the runway at the Dolce & Gabbana Autumn Winter 2013 fashion show during Milan Fashion Week on February 24, 2013 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Catwalking/Getty Images) Catwalking—Getty Images ## **Guo Pei** Guo Pei, the Chinese designer responsible for Rihanna’s showstopping, iconic yellow robe for the 2015 Met Gala, showed off her flair for the dramatic with her [Spring 2017 couture collection](https://www.vogue.com/fashion-shows/spring-2017-couture/guo-pei "undefined"), that drew inspiration from cathedrals and specifically, reliquaries. Crucifixes, candelabra, and headpieces fit for a pope took over the runway.  PARIS, FRANCE - JANUARY 25: A model walks the runway during the Guo Pei Spring Summer 2017 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on January 25, 2017 in Paris, France. (Photo by Kay-Paris Fernandes/Getty Images) Kay-Paris Fernandes—Getty Images ## Thierry Mugler Thierry Mugler’s Fall/Winter ’84 show closed with legendary supermodel, [three months pregnant, Pat Cleveland being lowered down from the ceiling of Paris’s Le Zenith](https://www.nytimes.com/1984/03/28/garden/in-fashion-the-show-s-the-thing.html "undefined") like a heavenly body or some kind of saint descending from the sky. ## Sorelle Fontana Sorelle Fontana, an Italian fashion line created by three Italian sisters, unintentionally brewed a what [_Vogue_](https://www.vogue.com/article/met-gala-heavenly-bodies-ava-gardner-sorelle-fontana-pretino-dress "undefined")called a “miniscandal” when they created a black coat dress that resembled a priest’s clothing — further emphasized by accessories like a monsignor hat and a cross necklace that strongly resembled a crucifix. The dress, which was appropriately dubbed, “pretino” or “little priest,” was in the clear, however, when it came to getting the Catholic church’s approval. [According to designer Micol Fontana](https://www.vogue.com/article/met-gala-heavenly-bodies-ava-gardner-sorelle-fontana-pretino-dress "undefined"), she and her sisters went straight to the source to clear the design: “My sisters and I—all faithful practicing Catholics—asked the authorities the permission to design the dress and the Vatican approved it.”  ROME, ITALY - NOVEMBER 8: Cassock style coat dress in black wool-silk with red trimming and small buttons. A Monsignor hat, with cord and tassel, a necklace-chain with cross complete the effect, Sorelle Fontana creation for actress Ava Gardner, dress exposed for the birthday celebration for Micol Fontana, who is 100 years old, the last of the three sisters Fontana of the historic fashion house. Celebrated in the exedra of Marcus Aurelius in the Capitoline Museums, by the Mayor of Rome, Ignazio Marino on November 8, 2013, in Rome,Italy. (Photo by Stefano Montesi/Corbis via Getty Images) Stefano Montesi - Corbis—Corbis via Getty Images ## Balenciaga One of Cristobal Balenciaga’s signature looks, a structural, nun-like hood of a hat, has appeared in multiple iterations for the designer’s fashion line. [First introduced in 1967, as a part of a futuristic bride ensemble](https://fashionista.com/2014/01/the-origins-of-that-darth-vader-looking-balenciaga-hat-explained "undefined"), the hat looked both like something out of a nunnery and a science fiction movie. Since then, the nun-vibes have continued as later designers have revived the original designs for new collections. ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/5263190/catholicism-and-fashion-moments/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/5263190/catholicism-and-fashion-moments/"},"headline":"15 Times Catholicism Inspired Iconic Fashion Moments","datePublished":"2018-05-04T15:05:44.000Z","dateModified":"2026-05-11T04:46:19.273Z","description":"A look back at 15 iconic moments in fashion inspired by Catholicism and its aesthetics, from Madonna to Lady Gaga.","url":"https://time.com/5263190/catholicism-and-fashion-moments/","keywords":["Newsfeed","fashion","Met Gala 2018"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt86886a0912073572/69892f8f4ee262f2cb311b42/catholic-inspired-fashion-moments.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Cady Lang","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/cady-lang/"}],"articleSection":"","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt86886a0912073572/69892f8f4ee262f2cb311b42/catholic-inspired-fashion-moments.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"catholic-inspired-fashion-moments","caption":"Catholic inspired fashion moments","creditText":"Matt Sayles—Invision/AP; Dave Hogan—Getty Images; Tim Mosenfelder—Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/tag/time-section-newsfeed/","name":"Newsfeed"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/5263190/catholicism-and-fashion-moments/","name":"15 Times Catholicism Inspired Iconic Fashion Moments"}}]}] ```