3.01.2008
Must Be the Season of the Witch
It looks like "Pagan chic" within the fashion industry isn't going anywhere. British designer Luella, following in the footsteps of Alexander McQueen, has introduced a Pagan/Witch themed motif for her Fall 2008 line.
"And now here's Luella Bartley, talking about "Britt Ekland in The Wicker Man and the witch museum in Boscastle, Cornwall, where we live," before adding, "I wanted something a bit raw and pagan." What's this? Generalized cultural anxiety seeping to the surface in the form of fashion?"
Style.com may kid about "cultural anxiety", but if you look at the news lately, you'll see witchcraft is very much on the world's mind. You have Scottish Parliment looking into pardoning the last woman (Helen Duncan) convicted under the Witchcraft Act of 1735, Middle-Eastern countries lining up to start executing women for crimes of "witchcraft", and the particularly unsubtle criticisms of Hillary Clinton, just to name a few examples.
Yet, I can't quite see anyone outside of Salem regularly wearing a conical "witches" hat any time soon. Aside from that, the collection is quite sensible. Check out this runway video:
Perhaps this just proves that Paganism never really goes out of fashion. Thanks to Sexy Witch and The White Witch for bringing this fashion story to my attention.
Labels: fashion, Luella, Paganism, UK, Witchcraft
9.26.2007
More Pagan (and Satanic) Fashion
The fashion/celebrity blog Jezebel takes a look at the latest issue of French "Vogue", and a fashion photo shoot "realized" by editor in chief Carine Roitfeld that focuses on the occult.
"...inside, we found the "Sacrement Inspiree" fashion shoot photographed by Terry Richardson and "realized" by editor in chief Carine Roitfeld. The theme? Voodoo/wicca/satanism!"
Fashion design by Alexander McQueen, photo by Terry Richardson.
Among the designers highlighted in the shoot is Alexander McQueen, who recently unveiled a witch-themed fashion line.
"McQueen, the greatest theatric in fashion, didn't just focus on witches, but ruminated visually on the occult, paganism and Egyptian devils. The only surprise is that the Vatican daily L'Osservatore Romano has not since penned an editorial condemning the show."
As for the shoot itself, Roitfeld seems to be a fan of left-hand fashions and has inserted serveral "Satanic" symbols to spice up the mix, prompting Jezebel to exclaim that "Devil worship is the new black!"
Satanic fashion?
Will occult and Pagan themes continue to influence high fashion? Will any of the more sensible designs be co-opted by the masses? Will Satanism find new life in Haute couture? Does this predict a future in which Pagan festivals set the tone for fashionistas everywhere? These questions, and many more, remain to be answered.
Labels: Alexander McQueen, fashion, France, Jezebel, Paganism, Satanism, Vogue, Witchcraft
7.11.2007
Pagan Fashions For Peace
Lately it seems that everything old is new again in the world of high fashion. Earlier this year you had the witch-themed fashion line by British designer Alexander McQueen, then last month their was reporting on "antler chic", now one of the world's most famous fashion designers is making an explicitly pagan statement ... for peace.
High fashion and high ideals merge for Valentino's 45th anniversary.
"As bombs fell during the first Gulf War, Valentino designed a simple, white column dress with the word 'Peace' embroidered on it in 14 languages. That 'Peace' dress is now the centerpiece of Valentino's 45th anniversary fashion exhibition, surrounded by 300 more of his most glamorous evening gowns at Rome's Ara Pacis monument commissioned by Emperor Augustus. 'This monument is so amazing that we decided if you can't beat it, join it,' Giancarlo Giammetti, Valentino's business partner, said to reporters before the opening. 'We decided to create a pagan procession of women honoring the Ara Pacis.'"
The Ara Pacis Augustae (altar of majestic peace) personifies peace as a Roman goddess, and celebrated the Pax Romana, an era of relative tranquility after a number of wars (both civil and foreign). According to the organizers of the event, the show is mean to be a "spiritual journey" with the gowns embodying "floating ideas", and unlike the hostilities to pagan displays in Greece, Italy seems to have no compunction at such an "unChristian" display of extravagance.
"Among the visitors to the exhibit was Italian Premier Romano Prodi. On hand to congratulate the designer at the opening was Rome's Mayor Walter Veltroni, who announced the opening of a museum dedicated to Valentino and his fashion in a former city garage near the Roman Forums. 'Rome is making an effort to keep up with the beauty of Valentino's work,' he said."
Also attending the gala event were Sienna Miller, Sarah Jessica Parker, Joan Collins, Mick Jagger and Annie Lennox. Proving that while the UK and America may have jump-started the modern Paganism movement, the Italians remember that ancient paganism walked hand-in-hand with pomp, glitz, and high ideals, just like in the (very) old days.
Labels: Ara Pacis Augustae, fashion, Italy, Paganism, Rome, Valentino
3.07.2007
Pagan Fashions
Recently, two of my posts that touched on fashion within the modern Pagan sub-culture have drawn a surprising response. So it seems like a good time to report on the recent Witch-themed fashion line by British designer Alexander McQueen.
Alexander McQueen autumn/winter 2007/2008 collection
"The macabre British designer, Alexander McQueen, dedicated his dramatic presentation at the Paris pret-a-porter season last night to a distant relative, Elizabeth How, one of the Salem witches. The models emerged like members of a coven, walking on a pentagram painted on a bed of coals, beneath an inverted pyramid on which were projected images of flames, naked women and locusts. The collection was one of the designer's sexiest and appeared to have been conceived with a little help from the magic arts. It featured burnished metal bodysuits, extreme tailoring in denim and fur, carapace-like capes in plated leather and "sorceress" gowns in chiffon and velvet, emblazoned with gleaming metallic flames or in see-through stretch tulle, embroidered with enchanting symbols."
Alexander McQueen autumn/winter 2007/2008 collection
According to Fashion Wire Daily, the show was pagan through and through (and perhaps a bit demonic as well).
"McQueen, the greatest theatric in fashion, didn't just focus on witches, but ruminated visually on the occult, paganism and Egyptian devils. The only surprise is that the Vatican daily L'Osservatore Romano has not since penned an editorial condemning the show."
This is certainly a far cry from ordering some Renaissance gear off the Internet, slapping on a pair of horns, and hitting the local Witches' ball. Drama! Majesty! Metal chest-plates! Could this be the start of a new "Pagan chic" within the glamorous world of fashion? It would certainly add a new twist on the debate over how modern Pagans should dress.
Labels: Alexander McQueen, fashion, Paganism, Witchcraft
