Clothed in grace and couture: faith, beauty, and the legacy of Valentino

Writer Hope Bonarcher considers beauty and fashion through the lens of Christian faith, dignity, and calling, while honouring the enduring influence of Valentino. With reverence for couture and Scripture alike, she explores how dressing well can reflect both God’s love of beauty and the worth of women made in his image.

From as far back as I can remember, I’ve loved fashion. Maybe it’s being born in one of the world’s most fashionable cities (NYC), or being the only child of an aspiring executive mother whose workwear boasted sleek tailoring and lush fabrics. Having been blessed with a tall, athletic physique, I could envision myself in the editorials of the fashion rags I devoured, like Seventeen, Elle, and the grande dame of them all, Vogue. As a teenager, I’d sit on my bed, above which, my entire ceiling was papered with magazine layouts featuring models like Giselle, Naomi Campbell, Kate Moss, Shalom Harlow (what a name!), Yasmeen Ghauri, Stella Tenant and my personal favorite, Liya Kebede. I lived fashion, as much as it could be lived by a middle American, east coast, suburban teenager.