A Heavenly Corset

Since antiquity, religious beliefs and practices have inspired many of the world’s greatest works of art. After visiting the “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination” exhibit at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City I have been extremely inspired how religion, Catholicism in particular, has really shaped the minds of the featured designers: including Valentino, Gaultier, Balenciaga, and Dolce & Gabbana, with a richness of imagery, a storytelling tradition, and seeing the world through metaphor. As a designer myself also raised in the Roman Catholic tradition I designed a corset that features Our Lady of Guadalupe and wore it while attending mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Whether you’re a practicing Catholic, or non-Catholic, this blog post is simply to acknowledge religion’s significant influence and how I conveyed it through my corset design and creative development. Amen to that!

Our Lady of Guadalupe holds a special place in the religious life of Mexico and is one of the most popular religious devotions. Her image fueled my imagination during my travels to the Mexican Riviera where I purchased a unique turquoise stone charm engraved with Our Lady of Guadalupe and sewed it at the center front of the neckline. The body of my corset is made in beautiful blue velvet, the color of Our Lady of Guadalupe’s mantle and the color worn by royalty.

This fabric exudes a level of deluxe quality through just one touch. Swarovski crystals were strategically placed in the center of the pink roses and the inside printed cotton-lining features the miraculous Spanish roses in vibrant colors of red, pink and yellow that are symbolic to the Aztec princess. My black shawl kept me warm and covered my bare shoulders while my tea length skirt kept my knees covered during the mass.