The Rise of Convent Dressing in Celebrity Culture
Celebrity fashion has taken an unexpected turn towards religious inspiration, with Lily Allen becoming the latest star to embrace what Spanish newspaper El Pais has dubbed 'nun-mania'. The 40-year-old singer recently appeared in a nun's habit while smoking a cigarette in the music video for her song P***y Palace, the seventh track on her new album West End Girl.
Allen's provocative take on Catholic attire sees her dressed in the traditional black-and-white garb complemented by sheer tights as she recounts alleged indiscretions by her ex-husband, Stranger Things star David Harbour. This ironic interpretation of religious clothing represents just the latest example of celebrities embracing convent-inspired fashion.
From Madonna to Modern Day: A Historical Perspective
Catholic iconography has long been embedded within popular culture, from Madonna's controversial Like a Prayer video featuring stigmata and a kiss with a saint to Lady Gaga's portrayal of Mary Magdalene going clubbing with Jesus in her song Judas. The trend has gained significant momentum recently, with actress Sydney Sweeney starring as a secretly pregnant nun in last year's film Immaculate.
Fashion runways have increasingly featured wimples, tunics and veils, as demonstrated in Max Mara's autumn/winter fashion show. Supermodel Bella Hadid wore headgear reminiscent of a nun's habit at the Coperni Fall-Winter show in 2022, further cementing the trend's place in high fashion.
The Fashion Expert's Perspective
According to fashion expert Lisa Talbot, the appeal lies in the tension between innocence and provocation that designers and celebrities find compelling. 'A traditionally sacred silhouette worn in a secular, high-fashion or even edgy way creates instant drama,' Talbot told the Daily Mail.
She elaborated: 'It makes people stop scrolling. You've only got to look at Rihanna's nun-inspired cover shoot, or the runway moments from brands like Coperni and even older references like Jean Paul Gaultier, to see how striking that contrast can be.'
Talbot also identified nostalgia as a driving factor, noting that 'pop culture has always been obsessed with the mysterious nun archetype, part spiritual, part rebellious. Fashion is simply tapping into that again.'
Mixed Reactions from Religious Communities
Not everyone welcomes this fashion trend. Sister Karen Marguerite d'Artois of Rosary Priory Convent in Bushey told the Telegraph that the trend 'demeans' the habit 'and those who wear it'. She expressed concern that 'the religious habit is a rich symbol of a life consecrated to God in the Church and to the service of God's people. Too often it is stripped of this symbolism and reduced to a costume.'
However, Reverend Emily Kolltveit at St Jude on the Hill in north London offered a different perspective, saying she had 'enjoyed' seeing the trend. 'I'd prefer people to engage with the ideas and imagery of God's Kingdom rather than ignore them,' she commented. 'As children learn through play, I think the same is true for adults. If we never see it, how can we ever explore it?'
Celebrity Controversies and Convent Fashion
The trend has sparked several controversies within celebrity circles. Rihanna faced criticism in 2024 after wearing a wimple for her cover shoot with Interview Magazine. The Fenty make-up founder appeared in a black and white habit with a small cross tattoo drawn on her face and an unbuttoned Dior blouse, which many viewers found 'provocative' and bordering on 'religious mockery'.
Other celebrities who have embraced the trend include Halsey, who dressed as a 'sexy nun' for Halloween in 2020, and rapper Cardi B, who combined Poison Ivy elements with nun-inspired attire in 2019. Spanish singer Rosalía recently featured nun-like imagery on the cover of her new album Lux, while Gen Z star Sabrina Carpenter caused a furore by filming her video for hit single Feather in a Catholic church.
The Kardashian Convent Connection
Even the Kardashian family has contributed to the trend, with Kim, Kourtney and their mother Kris Jenner all showcasing their interpretations of convent dressing. The fashion choice sparked a family feud when Kim collaborated with Dolce & Gabbana for Milan Fashion Week, four months after Kourtney famously wore a matronly veil for her wedding to Travis Barker in 2022.
In an emotional episode of their reality show, Kourtney tearfully admitted: 'There's an abundance of opportunities. It's not about business and there's so much, it takes precedence over hurting your sister. It's legit copying my wedding.'
The Spiritual Revival Among Gen Z
Interestingly, this fashion trend coincides with a broader spiritual awakening among younger generations. A January poll found that teenagers and those in their early twenties are half as likely to identify as atheists than their parents. Those aged 18-24 emerged as the most spiritual age group in the UK, with just 13 percent identifying as atheists and 62 percent describing themselves as 'very' or 'fairly' spiritual.
This spiritual revival is visible on social media platforms like TikTok, where 'Catholic core' content has gained significant traction. Maya, a 22-year-old from Czechia who goes by 'the veiled convert', has built a following of over 40,000 by sharing Bible passages and religious imagery. She explains that she converted after struggling with mental health during the pandemic and meeting a scientist who was also a convert.
Delphine Chui, who attends St Bede's in Clapham, told the Evening Standard she's noticed more Gen Zers attending her church. 'I think what draws Gen Z to Catholicism is how radically different it is to our modern secular culture,' she observed. 'Where the secular culture pushes us toward infidelity, Catholicism encourages monogamous, loving relationships.'
The Future of Convent Dressing
As Lisa Talbot summarised for the Mail: 'We're seeing a real rise in what I'd call convent dressing, those clean, structured silhouettes, high necklines, veils, and the almost monastic simplicity that feels very nun-inspired. And while on the surface it might look like just another aesthetic, there's definitely more going on underneath.'
She suggested that the trend represents a reaction to contemporary fashion's noise and chaos, offering 'a palate cleanser' through 'calm, controlled and quietly powerful' aesthetics that return to 'modesty, minimalism and shape.'
Whether this trend continues to grow or proves to be a passing phase, it clearly resonates with both fashion insiders and younger generations seeking meaning and simplicity in an increasingly complex world.
