IJMO: I am talking about during the week when people dress casually. Many regular members of the minyan are retired so they aren’t going to wear a suit and tie to come. Working people dress like they do when going to work – usually a suit. On Shabbat people are much more dressed up. In fact, about a year ago the Rabbi’s sermon touched upon the fact that one should wear their finest clothing for Shabbat. I usually get very nicely dressed up for shul on Shabbat but occasionally am a bit more casual – for example a skirt and sweater instead of a suit. I always dress up when I know that there is a Bar/Bat Mitzvah because I feel that if I am privileged to attend this family’s simcha, they deserve me taking the time to dress up. At my shul, women often wear slacks which I rarely do – sometimes at 40 below zero – but never if I know that I will be on the bimah. I feel that being on the bimah requires finer dressing – just my opinion – and just on Shabbat. Sometimes in the summer, men will come without a tie – nice shirt, sports jackets and slacks. I noticed that Israelis dress much more casually – even on Shabbat. During the week however, I do wear casual to the minyan – usually slacks. I know that I may hear a lot of criticism about the slacks, but I am Conservative and that is the way we do it. Incidentally, I would NEVER attend a service a frum shul in slacks. But, interestingly, I have been taking some classes at Chabad and most of the women attending (non Chabad people) wear slacks. The first few times that I went I made sure to wear a skirt but after awhile I also wore slacks as it was verrrrry cold outside.
