“But do you think the clothing industry would be what it is, if clothing were not so important in “making the man”
or woman – Of course it is, but look at how men dress stlishly in suits or not. They are not all wearing black suits and white shirts, but they look menschelch and put-together, and definitely Torahdig (yes, even the nochrim).
As to the idea that guys are running to Manhattan in the summer, well they might be in seriously air-conditioned buildings at the time. When someone is outdoors. however, in the park paying ball with his kids or in camp, and dressed that way – That IS a heat stroke waiting to happen, and no one will convince me otherwise. I wonder how many hatzalah calls occur from this, especially with kids.
I don’t see why the Yeshiva world objects to lightweight, lighter-colored suits, that are equally presentable, and definitely more comfortable to wear. it’s the idea of the black suit being the ONLY proper levush, when there is no real basis for that in Torah, that bothers me. When Hashem gave us the Torah, there was no such style of dress. It’s one thing to wear a uniform, it is another to believe that one’s uniform is THE one and only uniform.
Oh well.