St. Bessarion's Fall 2011 Collection is Inspired by Orthodox Judaism

Photo credit: Getty Images

Meanwhile, at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Russia in Moscow, models line up backstage before the Saint Bessarion fall-winter fashion show in their Orthodox Jewish-inspired styling.

PS. Do you remember back in 1993, Jean Paul Gaultier created a controversial fall-winter collection inspired by Orthodox Jewish dress? The NY Times reported:

His show was a campy sendup: menorahs lined the runway; Maneschewitz wine was served; the invitations were lettered in Hebraic script (Hebraic-looking clothing labels, it was decided, were uncommercial and, so, removed), and models' heads were adorned with exaggerated curls and yarmulkes. Mr. Gaultier himself came out wearing a blue-and-white-striped one, to match his signature Breton fisherman's shirt.

At the time, the collection ruffled quite a few feathers in the religious community, many of whom felt that Gaultier had misappropriated elements of religion in a disrespectful, frivolous manner. Check out the video of the fall-winter 1993-1994 Gaultier show after the jump. Does it seem as controversial in retrospect?

· Saint Bessarion [Official Site]
· Patterns [NY Times]