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Fashion might not be the first word that comes to mind when thinking about the Catholic Church. In 2018, however, Catholicism took center stage at the Met Gala, the annual fund raising event of New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art. With the Vatican’s approval, the theme selected for the 2018 Met Gala was Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination. As a show of support, the Vatican sent fifty garments and accessories on loan for the display.
On May 7, 2018, celebrities walked the Met Gala’s red carpet in fashion with a Catholic theme. Ariana Grande’s gown was printed with images of the Sistine Chapel. Rhianna dressed as the pope. Zendaya remembered St. Joan of Arc by wearing armor. Was this a celebration of the church or a mockery?
Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York, viewed the religious themed fashions of the Met Gala in a positive light. He stated, “What is the cardinal archbishop of New York doing here? ….. It’s because the Church and the Catholic Imagination- the theme of this exhibit- are all about three things: truth, goodness, and beauty. That’s why we’re into things such as art, culture, music, literature, and yes, even fashion”. 1
In granting approval, Cardinal Dolan and other Catholic leaders recognized that there are many ways to express and honor Catholic views. Fashion can be one of them.
To learn more about Catholic fashion, read Catholicism Everywhere: From Hail Mary Passes to Cappuccinos: How the Catholic Faith Is Infused in Culture by Dr. Helen Hoffner. Chapter 6 focuses on Catholic fashion with discussions of school uniforms, nuns' habits, and the dresses purchased by St. Marianne Cope, the nun who brough fashion to women stricken with leprosy. Catholicism Everywhere: From Hail Mary Passes to Cappuccinos: How Catholic Faith Is Infused in Culture is published by Sophia Institute Press and is available on Barnes and Noble, Amazon, SophiaInstiture.com, and other book sellers.
1. M. Friedman, “People Are Offended by the Met Gala’s Catholicism Theme: Harper’s Bazaar, May 8, 2018, https://www.harpersbazaar.com/celebrity/red-carpet-dresses/a20427494/met-gala-2018-catholicism-theme-controversy/
Helen Hoffner, Ed.D. is a professor at Holy Family University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She is the author of four books for Catholic audiences: The Cross: A Universal Symbol ( Marian Press, 2024), Catholicism Everywhere ( Sophia Institute Press, 2024), Catholic Traditions and Treasures ( Sophia Institute Press, 2018), and The Rosary Collector's Guide ( Schiffer Publishing, 2013). She has also written four books for teachers: The Elementary Teacher's Digital Toolbox ( Prentice Hall, 2006), Literacy Lessons K-8 ( Corwin Press, 2010), Reading and Writing Mysteries in Grades 4-8 ( Teacher Created Materials, 2006), and A Look at Realistic Fiction ( Teacher Created Materials, 2003). Dr. Hoffner has been invited to discuss her books on television programs of EWTN and the Catholic Faith Network as well as on radio stations across the United States and Canada.
