Dress Code 26: Vanity as Cultural Paradox
Bianca Terracciano and Anita Romanello explore the cultural history of vanity in 'Dress code 26. Vanità delle vanità' on doppiozero. The article traces the etymology of vanity from the biblical phrase 'vanitas vanitatum et omnia vanitas' in Ecclesiastes, where it signifies the futility of earthly pleasures rather than self-admiration. It questions why Western culture dedicates so much time to body, clothing, perfumes, hair, teeth, and mirror-gazing if all is vanity. The piece asks whether spending half a day on aesthetic preparations for a ceremony belongs to emptiness or civilization, and why we continue to invest energy and money in such pursuits.
Key facts
- Article published on doppiozero on June 27, 2026
- Authors: Bianca Terracciano and Anita Romanello
- Title: 'Dress code 26. Vanità delle vanità'
- Vanity etymologically linked to emptiness and the ephemeral
- Derives from biblical 'vanitas vanitatum et omnia vanitas' from Ecclesiastes
- Originally meant futility of earthly pleasures, not self-admiration
- Questions cultural investment in body, clothing, perfumes, hair, teeth, mirror-gazing
- Asks if aesthetic preparations for ceremonies are empty or civilizing
Entities
Institutions
- doppiozero