Ethical and Dignified Fashion
Interview Series
Photo by Alyssa Strohmann
Series Introduction
As human persons, we are not merely a body, nor are we a soul “trapped” inside of a body. Our Catholic faith teaches us that we are body and soul composites, that both body and soul are integral, beautiful and capable of becoming divine. The body is not bad! It is a personal gift given to us by God, to be His body on earth and to glorify Him though our actions and interactions so that we might one day be glorified with Him, body and soul, in Heaven.
In a contemporary culture of feminine empowerment, there are many perspectives about what women should and should not do with their bodies, and, within that vein, what women should and should not wear.
How should each of us then respond? If we believe our bodies reflect our souls, our very person, is the way we dress ourselves not an extension of that? And if we maintain the dignity of ourselves, should we not also maintain the dignity of the workers who make the clothes we wear? In this series we will explore the different ways Catholic women are embracing fashion and how we can make more intentional choices that take into account the whole person and the whole process of manufacturing.
We asked three Catholic women about their love for fashion, their journey to cultivate a wardrobe that expresses their person and upholds their beliefs, and how so much of it comes back to their faith.
We pray that these interviews help you to navigate the conversations surrounding fashion and the choices you make in daily dress, that you might feel confident in who you are and let your style speak to your particular feminine person.
Series compiled and edited by Amelia Arth
Part I:
Ethical Fashion in Light of Theology of the Body
Interview with Lillian Fallon
This is the first in our three part series in which we explore the relationship between style and the person. Lillian brings her studies and love for Theology of the Body into the conversation about personal style and living a consistent life.
“I’ll admit that for years, I didn’t really know how my faith and lifelong interest in fashion coincided. Fashion was my superficial, materialistic, worldly passion, contradicting my traditional Catholic beliefs that encourage detachment from material goods. It wasn’t until I took a Theology of The Body course that my entire perspective on the human person changed, transforming the way I view fashion and personal style as well.” -Lillian Fallon
Part II
A Designer’s Search for God’s Beauty
Interview with Sequoia Sierra
This is the second of our three part series in which we explore the relationship between style and the person. Sequoia shares how she has seen the fruits of finding one’s personal style and how she designs to accentuate each specific woman’s beauty. The following interview was transcribed from audio.
“For me, a big thing for design is beauty, and I think authentic beauty always points back to God. It’s a beauty based on human dignity, not the beauty that people use to describe things that might not necessarily be beautiful.” -Sequoia Sierra
Part III
Personal Style: A Unique Expression of God's Heart
Interview with Veronica Marrinan
This is the third in our three part series in which we explore the relationship between style and the person. Veronica shares her own experience finding her personal style and how her sacramental vision influenced her design choices and view of the world.
“Modesty isn’t the end goal - the person is. And the person reveals a very specific aspect of the Heart of God that only that one person encapsulates in that unique way. Fashion is a way to express that in the most intimate way- by what we wrap our bodies in.” -Veronica Marrinan