Keeping the pope in stitches
Slabbinck keeps the Pope in stitches. And exquisite stitches they are, too.
Slabbinck's is a fine old family firm from Bruges in Belgium. For generations, they have supplied popes and other Church dignitaries with robes and vestments. The fact that they are favoured by popes is their main claim to fame and most valued selling point. Like a secular label having Kate Moss on their roster.
Benedict will arrive for his tour of Britain next week with a following "trousseau" of just-so mitres, chic chasubles and albs to die for. Slabbinck's have provided most of the outfits.
Slabbinck's joy will be matched by the chagrin of rival tailors, Gammarelli of Rome, which had hoped to become top couturier for theological threads.
Slabbinck's doesn't do shoes, though. So Benedict will bring footwear to match each outfit. He surprised long-time Vatican watchers recently by sporting a red leather pair by Prada. And I'll swear those were mirrored Guccis he was wearing in a picture from Castle Gandolfo a couple of weeks ago.
I blame Bono. The Vatican hasn't been the same since the over-rated Dublin crooner perched his shades on a chuffed John Paul's nose during a chin-wag about world affairs back in 1999. I wonder is it a coincidence that - as is obvious to everyone apart from embedded hacks - every album put out by U2 since has been rubbish.
Mind you, the Pope is on public display every time he steps out the door and there would be talk if he didn't look resplendent. And it can't be denied that he's a lot better turned out than the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rabbi Lionel Blue or the Ayatollah Khomemni.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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