Heavenly Bodies Descend Upon The Metropolitan Museum Of Art

B 643x1024 1 — Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana
for Dolce & Gabbana. Ensemble,
autumn/winter 2013–14.

C 678x1024 1 — Reliquary cross, 14th century. Italian.

D 709x1024 1 — Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana for Dolce & Gabbana. Wedding ensemble, spring/summer 2013 alta moda.

E 709x1024 1 — Christian Lacroix. “Gold-Gotha” ensemble, autumn/winter 1988–89 haute couture.

F 643x1024 1 — Jeanne Lanvin for House of Lanvin. Evening dress, 1939.

G 709x1024 1 — Chasuble (back) of Pius XI
(r. 1922–39), 1926.

I 709x1024 1 — Tiara of Pius IX (r. 1846–78), 1854.

H 709x1024 1 — Dalmatic (front) of Pius IX (r. 1846–78), 1845–61.

J 709x1024 1 — Mitre of Pius XI (r. 1922–39), 1929.

K 709x1024 1 — Loredano Apolloni. Shoes of John Paul II (r. 1978–2005), ca. 2000–5.

The exhibit called Heavenly Bodies, unveiled at the Met in May, unravels the connection between fashion and Catholicism, with lush liturgical vestments, gilded processional crosses and religious-inspired evening wear taking center stage.

Designed by Diller Scofidio and Renfro, the exhibition—the largest The Costume Institute has ever staged—features papal robes and accessories from the Sistine Chapel sacristy, many of which have never been seen outside the Vatican.

Haute couture garments, including evening gowns and wedding dresses inspired by religious pieces in the Met’s collections, will also be on display. Other pieces found inspiration in the seven sacraments of the faith or monastic orders, while some works focus on designers who have been inspired by the interior of Byzantine churches.

Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination is on exhibition at the Met Fifth Avenue and The Met Cloisters through Oct. 8. For more information, visit www.metmuseum.org.