When my 8th grade class took a field trip to St. Augustine (the oldest city in Florida), our school bus stopped at a historical graveyard that also featured a Catholic chapel with free rosaries. Being bumbling little 13-year-olds, we all excitedly threw the rosaries--pastel ones in yellow and baby pink--around our necks and scampered along with our
gratis jewelry. Until one Catholic classmate looked at us in horror.
"Take those off!" she yelled, "That's disrespectful! Those are for prayer, not for accessorizing!"
Ashamed, we took them off, not realizing we had committed such an offense. But it seems all too common today that
religious items are being appropriated for the style gods and worn by many in search of chicness, not ultimate truth.
It sometimes seem like people are confusing the chapel with their closets.
Celebrities are often photographed wearing cross necklaces and rosaries. Has a beaded cross become more of a trendy novelty than a deeply significant symbol?
Lord have mercy, it's David Beckham. :)
Rachel Ray was first attacked by the media when she wore a keffiyeh scarf (used to symbolize pro-Palestinian views) in a commercial for Dunkin Donuts. But since then, the keffiyeh--not necessarily a religious symbol, but has strong ties to the Arab community--has become the hottest hipster accessory, manufactured by huge chain stores and street vendors in NYC.
that's a loaded message, Urban!
90's flashback: remember when all the stars were sporting red Kabbalah bracelets? Madonna, Britney and Paris were fiercely devoted to their red strings, which purportedly showed their adherence to the mystical Jewish faith. But now that Kabbalah has become passe (at least for the celeb circuit), it's clear that the red bracelets were simply hot fashion accessories.
Perhaps the most recent spiritual style item is the Evil Eye, an Eastern symbol thought to ward off evil and sacred to many in Judaism, Islam and Hinduism. This motif has popped up on scarves and jewelry in Hollywood.
Rachel Ray, again with the controversial scarf! Maybe you should check out some simple Burberry plaid :)
Do you think it's offensive to wear religious items as accessories? Have you ever worn any of these items?
90's flashback: remember when all the stars were sporting red Kabbalah bracelets? Madonna, Britney and Paris were fiercely devoted to their red strings, which purportedly showed their adherence to the mystical Jewish faith. But now that Kabbalah has become passe (at least for the celeb circuit), it's clear that the red bracelets were simply hot fashion accessories.
