Theology of Style: Embracing the Unique and Unrepeatable You

Karen Estep reviews Theology of Style, a newly released book by Lillian Fallon, published by Ascension Press.  

Lillian Fallon took on a book project that combines a love of fashion and a deep love for Jesus. In Theology of Style: Embracing the Unique and Unrepeatable You, Fallon beautifully uses Saint John Paul II’s Theology of the Body and his Letter to Artists to create a book that encompasses our faith in a way that is also fashion forward. Fallon admits that growing up she was worried that her love of fashion would be seen as prideful or vain, however after taking a Theology of the Body course in college, Fallon learned that our fashion can be an extension of our love for the Lord.  

When I became Catholic a couple of years ago, the first thing I noticed about myself was my wardrobe was changing. I became drawn towards more colorful pieces. I suddenly had bright pinks, oranges, and purples all over my closet. I started wanting to be more choosy about the clothes I wore to Mass, making sure that I looked and felt great coming before the Eucharist. I was literally changing from the inside out; the brighter I felt God’s love and joy on the inside, the more I wanted my clothes to reflect that idea as well. Fallon touches on this very topic a number of times. Our clothes are just an outward reflection on how we feel on the inside. It is OK to have all of this joy come out in our clothes because fashion can also be art and bring people into our joy as well.  

This book is also a gem of quotes that can speak to girls in their preteen years to women in various stages of life. One of my favorite quotes is:

That the Creator of life itself—the same God who made the stars and galaxies, the seas and oceans teeming with life, the mountains that pierce the clouds, watercolor sunsets, unrepeatable snowflakes, fiery landscapes of foliage in autumn, the God who breathes life into every living thing—wants you to exist. In all of the endlessly beautiful creations the eye can behold, you are far more beautiful and important in his eyes. He thought of you from the beginning, thought of you as he died on the cross, and thinks of you at every moment.

That quote brought me to tears because I think of all the times as a young girl, as a college-aged gal, and now even as a 38-year-old mom, I have felt less than and desperately unseeable. However, that could not be farther from the truth in God’s eyes. This message is one of the truest ideas that we should be continually pouring into each other, man or women, young and old. We should all feel so full of God’s consistent, undeniable, aching love for us that we should want to spill it out into the world.   

Another topic that Fallon discusses is the fact that femininity and masculinity are wonderful gifts. Fallon also addresses the topic of modesty, which she refers to as "reverence for oneself" instead of "modesty." Modesty can be seen as something negative in our culture. Fallon prefers the term reverence to modesty because we can all hold reverence of our bodies. To revere something means to have ultimate respect for that thing. Men and women, in their practice of discovering their femininity and masculinity, can practice modesty or reverence.  

The other topic that Fallon discusses that has been on my own heart, is fast fashion. Fallon challenges readers to buy well-built fashion items from thrift stores instead of just buying from “box, fast fashion stores.” This not only helps a person really hone in on their own unique style, it helps with recycling already made pieces, and it is also a fun treasure hunt!  

I really enjoyed reading this book. It is a quick read but also packed with a lot of great information.Theology of Style is a book that would make a great gift for the women in your life that aspire to create their own unique style that also reflects their love of God and our Catholic faith.  

Copyright 2023 Karen Estep
Images: copyright 2023 Ascension Press, all rights reserved.