Written By Dana Ford, Relate Contributing Writer

(Photo by Fashion Wire Daily – FWD201 model walks the runway at the Givenchy show during Men Fall 2010 Fashion Week in Paris on Friday, Jan. 22, in Paris.)

Many say politics and religion don’t mix. But what about religion and fashion? Well, according to the works of Givenchy’s designer Riccardo Tisci, it can lead to all sorts of witty and thought-provoking fashion, especially for men, as he showed January 22 in Paris.

Jesus was a popular inspiration, as many of Tisci’s looks this Fall 2010 featured a golden crown of thorns necklace worn in the latest collection. Tisci is a designer known for his religious and historical obsessions. What better way than to bring it to the runway?

He even sent out a model wearing a T-shirt that showed Christ’s suffering face, over which read in bold letters, “Jesus Is Lord.”

The invitation-only show was held at La Sorbonne University in an elaborate room with huge frescoes under very tight security.

Tisci told many fashion critics that it’s not his first time he incorporated religious motifs in his shows. But, last season, he mixed up North African garments with Renaissance Italy. This season focused on more of a priestly Christian aesthetic feel.

His collection was almost entirely black and white. It featured monkish sandals, sacristan’s leggings and curate’s gaiters. One emphasis was the medieval tradition because you’d see the models looking like figures from Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, even if they wore other clothes to accompany the different looks.

Tisci displayed beautifully cut coats and a series of white dress shirts but with a Monsignor’s bib, though made in micro ruffles. This way, the looks were wearable to a club rather than a church.

Tisci’s wardrobe of designs shows how much religion and fashion coincide. Various religions from across the globe have different and unique styles and garments they wear according to their beliefs and traditions. The fashion world devours this. Their belief is– if it’s “traditional meets unexpected” or unique in any way, they say,”Work it!”

So what do you think—fashion and religion a perfect pair? Well let me put it this way. You didn’t expect to see a depiction of Jesus strutting the fashion runway now, did you?

Tags: Fall Fashion Week, fashion and religion, fashion runway, Fashion Wire Daily, Givenchy, religious clothes, Riccardo Tisci