cantoresq, i was about to question shelo shinu… on another facet, and that is if moshe rabbeinu led out klal yisroel because we didnt change our names, why is he called by his egyptian name? it clearly means alot more then we had our own dress and clothing. besides, there are many who actually believe that es malbusham is not in the original text of the rashi! (yes, some were maskilim, but not all.)
as for kotzker, i never knew they also dressed like paupers to be belittled. i thought chassidus was about being happy?
postsemgirl: there is nothing wrong essentially with dressing in style, expensive clothing does not mean in style. it means your spending money. there are many ways to dress stylish while spending minimal bank for your clothing. wearing white tube socks with black dress pant s and shoes, which many boys in yeshivos do, is not befitting a ben torah. wearing pants rubbed at teh seat of the pants till they are almost see through, or wrinkled like it came out of the washing machine is also not befitting a ben torah. that you understand, which is good, but realize, in essence a ben torah is a melech, and should dress more then just having dress socks and pressed pants. he hsould dress dignified, and also walk dignified. slouched shoulders should never bee seen in the streets. hats crooked (if worn) should have their brims down, and they should be their original color (not sun bleached greenish-gray), and be clean, not have dust since last pesach on them.