The Seven Deadly Sins: A Style Guide

Creative Direction and Writing by Riley Talbert (@rileyroo_o)

Photography by Liz Eike (@lizzyeike) and Luke Chipley (@luke_chip)

Styling by Anna Berkheimer (@annaberkheimer) and Blu Campbell (@blulikethebird)

Modeled by Anna Berkenheimer (@annaberkheimer), Amelie Carter (@_.peaches.n.cr3am._), Camila Fuentes (@camilafuentes666), Sarah Jeon (@sjeon1145), Kaitlyn Patton (@k888elise), Riley Talbert (@rileyroo_o), and Kait Hernandez (@the.kait.hernandez)

Pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath, and sloth. You know them well as the seven deadly sins, or the capital vices of Catholicism. Committing such sins is said to further one from God and biblicality. They are to be resisted through adopting the contrasting seven heavenly virtues, strengthening one’s character and relationship with the divine. The constant race for perfection and sinlessness, while largely seen as ideal, is undeniably impossible to win. It can be exhausting to live in a culture of shame that asks you to bury your blemishes beneath layers of performativity. In actuality, most of these “sins” simply reflect emotions and experiences common to every single person on the planet. When we refuse to acknowledge the raw humanity residing in such sins, we suppress our path to self-actualization. However, through acknowledging all aspects of your being–from the sinful to the righteous–you build your identity on a foundation of truth and transparency. Furthermore, when you clothe yourself in the colors, textures, and materials that seem to embody such traits, you allow your vices and virtues to be seen by the world, expressing yourself unabashedly. 

Pride, you are all-consumed by your own sense of glory and worth. You know exactly who you are and aren’t afraid to show it. You have worked for and are entitled to every accomplishment, every success. In control, affluent, and bright, you alone are the scribe of your own destiny. Adorned in sparkling golds, silvers, expensive furs, and all that is large, loud, and regal, confidence exudes from your embellished form. You take up the space you know you deserve, expecting eyes to be on you, as it is only natural. You might as well make yourself a sight worth seeing. Is this arrogance? Maybe. But you would rather exude arrogance than cowardice. This is how you make your way in the world; success is fleeting for those who reserve themselves to stasis. Never stagnating, never looking back, you forge your own path unapologetically. And now, you get to luxuriate in the satisfaction of knowing how far you have come.

Wrath, your rage is severe and sharp. You have been deceived, betrayed, abandoned, insulted, hurt. You can’t help this pain. You have tried to forgive, to move forward. But you simply can’t. You didn’t deserve this; while others live happily and guiltlessly, you cling to your fury. The presence of the rage is almost comforting. To you, it means that what happened was real, that you’re real. You don’t know how else to exist. How are you supposed to feel content with the state of things? With yourself? With this broken world and its broken people? Dark colors show the sheer depth of your anger, while red embodies its ferocity. Leather is special, constructed with such passion and intention. It is lasting and can survive your wardrobe for years or potentially lifetimes. Your anger, too, has a controlled nature, a permanence. You consider it a staple of your being that informs who you are. It may not be all-consuming, but it is certainly ever-present. The thin materials that lie underneath such seemingly fortified garments are ripped and distressed, practically falling apart at the seams. Maybe this rage is all- consuming. Maybe it unravels the very fibers of your being. Maybe there are times when you lose yourself in the anger, and you find yourself undone. This makes your life a constant cycle of self-invention, always tarnished by destruction. But this is the nature of wrath, and you have resolved to ride its wave.

Greed, you are a rapacious customer of the material world, a collector. You seek to accumulate objects for your ever-growing horde of treasures. Your collection is vast and expensive, and you flaunt it with pride. This is how you express yourself; your values, interests, and passions are forged into the physical matter of every piece you acquire. It is all simply an extension of yourself, and as such, you seek to carry it with you. Bags and accessories galore, layered necklaces and assortments of rings for each finger, you flaunt and flounce your way through the world. A deep, emerald green covers your body, the color of wealth and wanting, showing you still desire more. You will always desire more, because what is life to those who aren’t constantly chasing something? 

Sloth, your spark seems to have dwindled. The desire to adventure and aspire is fleeting. All you want is rest, imagining yourself melting into the cushions of your softest chair. You can’t be bothered to pursue your passions. The motivation seems to have dissipated, and your heart is detached. Maybe you will pick yourself up later, but for now, you can’t imagine a world away from the tranquility and safety of nothingness. You are not simply “lazy,” you are tired. And it is normal to have these moments, to be drained. We are all drained at one point or another. It is through periods of stagnation and uncertainty that many discover their potential. You snuggle into open, drooping knits, the most comfortable and loose components of your wardrobe. They are soft and inviting and all-encompassing. You are unraveled, your sense of self ephemeral, but these gaps in your identity leave room for reinvention. You will put yourself back together, entirely unashamed of this period of slowness.

Lust, you yearn for intimacy and closeness so heavily that it is almost intoxicating, torturous. The world tells you that you must be quiet about such feelings, subtle and reserved–but you’re sick of subtle. It’s exhausting, tiptoeing around the reality of what you want, of what everyone seems to want but will never admit. You can see their restraint, how they hold themselves back, coerced into silent shame. But you, you refuse to hide any longer. You cover your body with dark silks and satins, lace playfully decorating the hems. It is sleek and refined, yet alluring. The garments may be loose, but they also suggest more…a slight curve of the hip, a lengthened leg, skin visible but just out of reach. This artful, satirical modesty allows for fantasy and desire to make their home in the sheer folds of fabric. You accept this yearning with an honest, open heart, no longer encumbered by expectation or guilt. 

Envy, you are plagued with a craving for what you cannot have, for what everyone seems to have…except you. It is infuriating; you know what you deserve, and the others are all so ungrateful. They don’t know how good they have it. It should have been you. Why can’t it just be you? On the surface, you project an air of confidence, of worthiness. You subtly cling to those who embody what you wish to be, secretly desperate for some of their essence to find its way to you. You are a human mirror. The soft drapings of pearlescent fabric over your body, adorned with sparkling, gem-encrusted jewelry, reflect their light with a dazzling sheen. You tarry among them, capturing their rays to make yourself appear brighter. However, there is a subtle transparency to your ensemble, the whisper of your blemished skin underneath. You are reflective, yes…but others can see through you if they look closely enough. Everyone can. This is why you must walk among the brightest of sparks, to ensure your light is almost blinding.

Gluttony, your insatiable desire to consume reflects a deep-rooted human need for sustenance. You gorge yourself on food and drink, as it is right there…and you want it. Is that such a crime? It is all at your disposal, and you take great satisfaction in exercising your right to sustenance. Eating is not simply a necessity of survival, but a beautiful form of entertainment, community, and pleasure. It plays a much more substantial role in our lives than most would be comfortable admitting. We are often told to withstand hunger and craving, to control and confine ourselves. But such expectations often feel restrictive and impossible to meet. Sometimes such behavior can be excessive and potentially harmful, however, pretending there is no enjoyment in consumption is disingenuous to human nature. Icing yourself to perfection with ruffles and flounces and pastels, you are a human cupcake. The pinnacle of desserts, one that suggests affluence, celebration, and indulgence. Hair piled atop your head and blush caressing your cheeks, you are beautiful and regal, but also uncontained. You will be the judge of your limits, no one else

While excessive behaviors such as these are not to be encouraged—as they can destroy the self or others—their presence within every human heart must be acknowledged. To have feelings of pride, greed, envy, lust, wrath, sloth, or gluttony does not make you evil. It does not make you twisted or broken. It simply reaffirms that you are human. You must unapologetically embody exactly who you are. Stay true to your values and morals, of course, but never to the point of drowning yourself in shame over imperfections. Doing so will only suspend your potential to grow. This is why we, as creatives, indulge in fashion. We express ourselves and experiment with textures, colors, materials, and silhouettes to invent who we are. We seek to identify and express every thought, belief, vice, virtue, blemish, and strength that resides within us. We literally wear our innermost selves atop our skin, and through doing so accept ourselves completely…rather than waiting for the world to.