Thursday, August 04, 2011

Russian Orthodox Church introduces the “orthodox” style

The orthodox dress code, which was at the center of heated debate in the mass media and public opinion a few months ago, was presented at a fashion show in Moscow a few days ago. 

According to correspondents from the press agencies present, the clothing and accessories shown were «a combination of elegance and modesty» 

Most of the clothing presented for public evaluation was contemporary in style, but the entire collection was in what Western fashion designers would term as “à la Russe” (in Russian style).

About a thousand spectators saw the parade of dresses, capes, ponchos and flared jackets decorated with lace, traditional patterns and fur, with colors ranging from lilac, green and pink, to blue and burgundy.   

The show was accompanied by Russian folk melodies, operatic arias, and other popular tunes.  
Behind the initiative was archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin, head of the Moscow Patriarchate Synod for Church and Society Affairs, who proposed the idea of a Russian “dress code”. 

 In January the prelate had won praise from the press by saying that Russian women dressed like striptease dancers, and wore makeup like clowns.   

«There is a problem....with people who confuse the street with striptease» wrote Vsevolod Chaplin in an open letter published by the Interfax Agency.

«A woman who is skimpily dressed or painted like a clown....will certainly not find a man to share her life, a man who has a modicum of intelligence and self-respect».

He proposed creating an all-Russian dress code, following the example already set in some schools and offices.   

This is not the first time that Chaplin has spoken out about the way Russian women dress.  

In December, he declared that women wearing miniskirts and who were drunk have only themselves to blame if they are raped.  

He called for women to dress more modestly and decently. 

Chaplin believes that there is an interrelationship between a person’s appearance and their inner being, and so they should take care of their heart and their appearance, and try to make sure they are a positive match.

A very popular anchorman in Russia, Dmitry Dibrov moderated the discussion that followed the fashion show, which was mainly based on the work of a very well-known Russian designer, Vyacheslav Zaytsev.   

Dibrov pointed out that this type of clothing is more national in nature than religiously orthodox and should also be acceptable to Jews, Muslims and Buddhists.  

The designer, however, thinks that it is too soon to launch this type of program on a large scale.   

«The public is not ready yet. People have just become free after a long period of personal violence during the Soviet regime and they want to express their individuality through the way they dress».  

Chaplin, on the other hand, hopes that “orthodox” dress will start making its appearance at fashion shows and he is receptive to the idea of opening orthodox boutiques to publicize the concept.