Reply To: Mesorah and Levush

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akuperma
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Fashion change constantly. You can usually date photograph by looking at the clothing worn and how being groom themselves. Factors affecting Yidden include what the local goyim wear, what are rabbanim wear (the equivalent for for goyim are what their leading political figures and movie stars wear), and various halachic factors (modesty, looking better on Shabbos than the rest of the week). Fashions even among Yidden constantly change, and while it is interesting from a sociological perspective, from a halachic perspective “there is nothing to look at”).

Among fashion changes in the 20th century including the switch to manufactured fabrics (rather than linen, wool and cotton). Women switching to a “bra”. Most people giving up formal wearing of hats (a trend we ignored). Men switch to “short” dress coats (something rejected in part by many hareidim especially on Shabbos, the goyim switched when private cars became popular). Footwear has changed radically. People like President John Kennedy (who misplaced his top hat during his inauguration) and King/Emperor George V influence the world at large (when he stopped wearing a kapote as his standard normal daily work clothes), but Yidden not so much.