A lookonline.com editorial on March 4th calling Tom Ford’s use of crucifixes as fashion accessories in bad taste has found some unexpected support. At the time a number of people in our industry e-mailed us calling us the “fashion police” and saying we knew nothing about fashion. Here is our original item posted on our blog referencing a Vogue.co.uk review of the Gucci Show (dated March 4th) reporting on the wearing of crucifixes by the models at the show:
[3/4/2002 5:08:27 PM | Ernest Schmatolla] “From British Vogue online: “Tom Ford abandoned his recent foray into the realm of hippy chick to return to the path of the sexual predator for autumn/winter 2002. Black chokers an crucifixes hung where plunging necklines bared alabaster throats and voluminous capes tied across white chests, promoting a Gothic vision for next season.” Am I the only one to find the use of crucifixes as fashion accessories in bad taste? If nothing is sacred, does that mean we must necessarily profane everything?…
Comes the following report today on Vogue.co.uk website…
Crossing the Pope
“NAOMI CAMPBELL, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Jennifer Aniston have incurred the wrath of the Catholic church by vulgarising the cross. The Fides organisation, a charity group based at the Vatican which has been described by Pope John Paul II as his “right arm”, yesterday slammed celebrities who wore jewelled crucifixes as a symbol of their wealth, rather than choosing simple crosses which to Christians traditionally represent self-sacrifice. “There is a spreading fashion of wearing crosses decorated with diamonds and other precious stones,” the group said in a statement. “Personalities of the world of entertainment are making it the mania of the moment. Crosses glitter around the necks of soubrettes, TV personalities and leading models and actresses. Jennifer Aniston wears a cross of precious stones. Model Naomi Campbell has an enormous collection of jewel-studded crosses, while Catherine Zeta-Jones wears a gold and diamond one. Is it relevant to the gospel to spend thousands of pounds to buy a sacred symbol of Christianity and then, perhaps in an unchristian manner, forget those that suffer and die of hunger in the world?” Naomi was singled out for criticism, after giving evidence at a libel case against The Mirror in February wearing a large diamond crucifix.”
(May 23 2002, AM)
