Writer Hope Bonarcher Valentino considers beauty and fashion through the lens of Christian faith, dignity, and calling, while honoring 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.
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All that’s to say, this last year I’ve been saddened to see fashion greats like Georgio Armani, Rosita Missoni and just this past weekend, Valentino Garavani, pass on.
All that’s to say, this last year I’ve been saddened to see fashion greats like Georgio Armani, Rosita Missoni and just this past weekend, Valentino Garavani, pass on. As a sidenote, I worked regularly as a showroom model for Missoni when I first became a Christian in the 00s and across the hall was the showroom for Red Valentino. All three of these Italian designers knew how to make a woman look and feel gorgeous, classy, and sophisticated, and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that, even as a Christian.
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Of course we know the Apostle Peter’s teaching in his 1st epistle, that wives’ beauty shouldn’t merely be fixated on external things like fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry and beautiful clothes (3:3). I agree with this. Today’s women have enough on our plates, given mental distractions alone. We have careers to work, husbands to love, children to serve, churches to encourage. We would never want these high callings to be sidelined by the superficial. That being said, I do believe dressing well, carrying yourself with thought and care put into what impression you’d like to give, not only of yourself, but of God, as his ambassador, matters. I don’t say this to put pressure on women. I say it to give confidence and encouragement. Remember that you matter to God, you are fearfully and wonderfully made, worth far more than rubies and your Maker delights in every detail of your life. He made you beautiful, and it’s not a bad thing to dress like it. The detailed design and instruction of the priestly garments in Exodus 28 and 39 show, God gave attention and consideration to how those who ministered dressed, and we can too.
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Looking and dressing well don’t have to be expensive.
Looking and dressing well don’t have to be expensive. Vintage shops, charity shops, clothing swaps and TKMaxx abound with cost effective options; and dressing the part doesn’t only have to be to make a good first impression. It honestly can help you feel better. On Sundays when I serve in Kids Ministry, I always wear a dress. I want to look feminine and pretty, to be someone little girls look up to. Someone who makes being a woman of God look exciting, and one way to do that is by carrying myself that way. When I first moved to Scotland, I thought I’d rather die than wear a tracksuit. Now I have a jogger drawer! Sometimes comfy-cozy, really does win out; there’s nothing wrong with that. But more often than not, dressing up, expressing my own personal style, and looking beautiful, fits my identity as precious, holy, chosen and treasured, more than a tracksuit ever could. I know it’s about the heart; I’m happy it’s about the heart, but I’d be lying if I didn’t say, if Valentino’s Catholic faith was genuine and he made it to heaven, one day I’ll be excitedly in line for one of his masterfully designed couture creations. May he rest in peace.
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