Date of Completion

5-3-2024

Degree Type

Honors Thesis

Discipline

Art History (ARHS)

First Advisor

Leon Wiebers

Abstract

In Catholic tradition, the chasuble is a central garment worn by clergy members originating as far back as the 6th century, albeit under a different name. The chasuble is the outermost form of vestment for members of the clergy and takes the general shape of a cone, leaving room for the head to be placed in a circular opening. The changes in form of the chasuble will be something I exam within this paper, as although often relatively minor, still reflect changing attitudes towards fashion sensibilities within the Catholic church over time. I will be primarily examining these changes in relation to their representation on the modern runway through couture collections, specifically the first ever men’s runway show done by Balenciaga, the fashion house’s 2017 Spring/Summer collection. Numerous connections can be drawn through the material, form, and stylization of pieces from this runway to that of 13th to 19th century traditional chasubles existent in the Catholic church, and I will be furthering this connection by illustrating what a direct interpretation of a chasuble would look like, as designed by both current creative director Demna Gvasalia and original creator of the house Cristóbal Balenciaga.

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