The “H” in Jesus H. Christ now stands for “haute.”
That’s according to Vanity Fair, the power-playing glossy that released its fearsome annual Best Dressed list on August 5 with a new leading man: Pope Leo XIV.
Heralded for his love of bespoke papal vestments and cool-dad streetwear, the American-born Pope Leo — aka Robert Francis Prevost and fondly called “Father Bob” — shares the honor with red carpet royalty like eternal starlet Nicole Kidman, pop queen Rihanna and Oscar nominee Coleman Domingo.
VF’s editors are particularly impressed with the Holy Father’s mix of imperious Italian robes and all-American kicks, with style correspondent José Criales Unzueta telling The Post, “The reality is that everyone has a personal style, and this list celebrates people whose style we find most compelling, inspiring, idiosyncratic or a combination of those traits.”
“In the case of Pope Leo, we are drawn to his innate Americanness—the way he will pair a baseball cap or a pair of Nikes with his vestments, which speaks to the great tradition of American sportswear.” (The Pope was also included in Vogue’s 2025 best-dressed roundup alongside “The Bear” breakout star Ayo Edebiri.)
The Pope has been a source of fashion fascination for over two millennia, starting with Saint Peter and his brilliant sky-blue robes. As the head of the Catholic church, he often wears opulent outfits that stir awe in many — and some questions about how those committed to pious poverty can wear the finest bespoke Italian linens.
High fashion designers remain obsessed with the Vatican’s famously luxe and severe style. Before Wales Bonner became Hermes’s menswear designer, she created a modern pope ‘fit for her 2017 runway.
In 2018, the Costume Institute created a Catholic-themed exhibit featuring church-y riffs on ballgowns and suits by Dolce & Gabbana and Christian Dior. Etsy is jammed with Pope Leo tees.
By 2023, there was even an AI scandal where then-Pope Francis was “pictured” wearing a white Balenciaga puffer jacket. It turned out the pic was a deepfake — although it proved the Pope is capable of the same style headlines as rappers and athletes.
But those wanting to walk in the same shoes as His Holiness might need to start their own collection plate. His most visible kicks are a pair of vintage Nike Low Rise Plus sneakers from the 1980s that are so rare, they often sell for hundreds — and sometimes thousands — on platforms like Graild.
Fortunately, Nike sells similar trainers today, with its Dunk Low Retro sneaker ringing up at $120 and looking, frankly, divine.
Miraculously, they are still in stock.
