Fashionably From
You can dress modestly
while still appearing stylish.
LYNNE MEREDITH COHN
Scene Editor
n traditional Judaism, the con-
cept of modesty requires both
men and women to pay extra
attention to the clothes they wear.
The laws apply for both sexes, but
it's more apparent with women - men
wear pants and button-down Oxfords
just like their non-religious counter-
parts. Women, however, stand out in
religious Jewish communities — you'll
see long skirts and long sleeves on the
hottest days of summer.
In contemporary society, modesty is
synonymous with repression. Not in
Judaism. "Judaism considers modesty
to be a prerequisite for true religious
observance for Jews of both sexes," says
Lisa Aiken, psychologist and author of
To Be a Jewish Woman.
Tzneut is the Hebrew word for mod-
esty; its literal M- eaning is "hidden in its
proper place." It has been suggested
that the laws of modesty and Judaism's.
emphasis on them were enacted . so_that
people would allow their internal ..
essences to emerge, rather than being
focused on physical coverings, Aiken
explained.
Another suggested reason has to do
with accentuating that which is pre-
cious, she wrote. As with the Torah
scroll that remains covered and put
away when not in use, or tefillin,
nicked into a cloth bag when not used,
so too a person's body, which houses
their soul, must be covered appropri-
ately, she said.
A woman's "nakedness" includes any
parts of her body.that are normally
covered - specifically, upper arms,
thighs and torso. One rabbi explained
that since it is not specified how much
of the upper arms or thighs should be
covered, people generally tend to cover
all of it, just to be safe.
Traditional Jewish women wear
clothing that covers their arms to the
elbows, necklines not much lower than
the collarbone and hems that reach the
middle of the knee or lower. These
parts must remain covered even when
sitting.
A requirement that some observant
women follow is to cover their hair
when they are married - either by a hat,
scarf or wig (sheitel). Observant women
in some communities do wear modest-
ly tailored women's pants, but it is not
a common practice in Detroit.
"Women project less dignity and
self-respect and develop less awareness
Of their inner presence when they wear
fewer clothes," Aiken wrote.
But you don't have to wear
frumpy, mismatched out-of-date
clothes to be modest. Here's a taste of
\mhat's offered in the fall 1998 line of
fashions that also holds up to stan-
dards of modest-y. 71_]
Monochromatic
is the key with
this burgundy
Eileen Fisher
outfit. Sweater,
$180; top, -
$170; skirt,-
$168. 111
State matching
• pumps, $66
Hat by August
Accessories,
$30. Suede
purse by
Indeed $49.
L
Jones New York
makes a
camel/mustard-
toned outfit
that's perfect or the High Holidays. The horizontal three-tonal cardigan sweater is
S160; mate nrig shell, $110; long, slim camel skirt, $140. Enzo shoe, $78; camel
hat by .Eric Javits, S 236
Popular looks for shoes this fall include soft points, elongated, pointy toes, high-shine
leather and a chunky heel, high or low. Shown here: St. John "Torey" with a gold
metal heel ($275), Nickels "Nimble" ($118), Enzo Angiolini Talman black patent
ankle-strap high heel ($79), Via Spiga boot in black, with pointy toes and high-shine
leather ($198), and BCBG Orsay high-shine black boot, hip, with big, chunky,
block heels and square toes ($189).
Left: St. John "Torey" with a gold
metal heel ($275), Enzo Angiolini
Talman black patent ankle-strap high
heel, with a soft, elongated, pointy toe -
($79), and Nickels "Nimble" ($118).
Right: Anne Klein Circle Shoe, Via
Spiga boot in black, withpointy toes
and high-shine leather ($198), and
Enzo Angiolini Talman black patent
ankle-strap high heel, with a soft,
elongated, pointy toe ($79).
For the men - Kenneth Cole Reaction "Wish- in Welt," Bucco Bucci black "Piper,"
and a brown buck laceup Oxford by Ecco. The London look adds- metal accents to a
high-shine leather shoe.
8/14
1998
Detroit Jewish News
61