Fashion’s Moment With the Cross

Fashion’s Moment With the Cross

The cross is a religious icon of universal potency—everyone who sees it knows what it means, and until recently, only those who practiced the Christian faith wore them around their necks. But culture has a way of evolving symbols to a new place, and the cross has certainly experienced popularity outside of religious contexts.

Cross necklaces have been seen in the fashion world since time immemorial. As an important part of culture, it’s only appropriate that fashion utilize and reinterpret this eternal iconography—here’s how to emulate some of fashion’s cross moments.

Dolce & Gabbana’s Italian Donna

Italy is home to millions of Catholics, with the religious center of the Catholic world nestled within Rome in Vatican City. The cross, and more specifically the cross necklace, is so much a part of the Italian culture that it has become iconic. Dolce & Gabbana often use motifs of traditional Italian style in their runway presentations, amplified to luxurious new heights, and the cross is no exception. Get the look in a form-fitting floral dress, deep red lips and an ornate gold cross necklace worn front and center.

Versace’s Goth Beauty

Crosses have made their way into goth fashion, and they’re not going anywhere anytime soon. Victorian influences, hard-edged music and irreverent fashion choices all contribute to the goth aesthetic, and crosses are a part of that vision. To get the goth look the luxe way, a la Versace’s interpretation, choose high-end materials in inky black and pure white. Black velvet leggings, a ruffled shirt, a black waistcoat and a delicate cascade of golden cross necklaces make a dark statement.

Tom Ford’s Subversive Cross

While many uses of crosses in fashion don’t do anything to detract from their religious connotations, some designers do use the symbol as an opportunity to subvert tradition and proclaim a rebellious attitude. Tom Ford, fashion’s resident bad boy, is no stranger to this practice. In 2014, he issued the release of a cross-like gold pendant that mimicked male genitalia, causing outrage the world over. Tom’s insouciant approach to the pendant might not be for everyone, but a little rebellion never hurt anybody—don’t be afraid to try controversial pieces, but we advise keeping the materials luxe and the design minimal to avoid ruffling too many feathers.

The runway is something of a litmus test for the issues, opinions and trends of the day. The cross may be a loaded symbol, but its place in fashion is undeniable.

Controversial? Sometimes. Fabulous? Often.

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