Religious symbols in fashion.

Religious symbols such as crosses have been worn as sacred adornment for centuries. If you were lucky enough to see the Heavenly Bodies show at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute in 2018, the entire exhibit was about the influence of the Catholic Church on fashion throughout the ages.

Crosses became more mainstream in fashion and glamorized in the 1930s with Verdura’s famous cuff designs for Coco Chanel, who put brightly colored gems on their bespoke cross bracelets. For the years that followed, Chanel carried on this tradition, swapping out the gems for glass. In the 1980s, Madonna made crosses more mainstream again, with crosses popping up on clothing, necklaces, and earrings.

Regardless of a wearer’s beliefs, many of these amazingly designed pieces can be appreciated for their aesthetic sensibilities and beauty.