Religion and Fashion

Throughout the ages, the way people dress has been linked to their faith and its practice. An exhibit, “Veiled Meanings: Fashion of Jewish Dress,” at the Jewish Museum in New York until March 18, 2018 received attention in The Jewish Week of November 24, 2017.  See jewishweek.timesofisrael.com/fashion-as-revealing-and-concealing/.

Beginning on May 10, 2018 the Metropolitan Museum (in New York City) will consider Catholic influences on fashion under the title “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination.”  See The New York Times of November 9, 2017 (p D1)  at www.nytimes.com/2017/11/08/style/met-museum-costume-institute-catholicism.html.

2 thoughts on “Religion and Fashion

  1. Thank you for your comment! As you mention, the Bible gives us insight into various types of garments and jewelry worn by the ancient Hebrews that indicate social/prophetic/priestly status. Perhaps the most important lessons that we can glean from Scriptures regarding clothing are those that reflect on the mystery of God and human relationships to God. If you are interested in this subject, you may want to listen to the 30-minute podcast, “Sacred Garments in the Ancient Jewish Priesthood,” (click on #210) from The Kinship of Catholics & Jews. Here Rabbi Asher Finkel, Ph.D. and I discuss the biblical tradition of “God’s garments” as a way of gaining insights into the mystery of divine holiness.

  2. It is very interesting how fashion can shed light on the religion/status of an individual. While certain texts touch on the fashion of the Hebrews in Biblical times (e.g. Judah and Tamar, Song of Songs), it seems we lack foundational knowledge on that subject. What do you think we can learn from how the Biblical Hebrews dressed?

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