Men and tznius

learn Mishna Berurah Siman 2 and you will know everything

Short pants that go below the knee are not really problematic (they were standard until about 200 years ago, and are still common sport wear under American men such as baseball and football players). While some Hasidim still wear them, usually with high socks, they are generally unfashionable in the US.

Currently, if it is a common practice to dress like that, people become used to it. See the Aruch Hashulchan O’CH 75 and the MB who argues there by women but by men he might agree.

Actually, very long shorts with high socks will attract much more attention (aka
look wierd”) than a normal pair of men’s shorts just at or above the knee with a pair of sport socks and comfortable shoes. A prime objective of masculine tzinius is not to draw undue attention to yourself. A fire engine red Borselino would be as much of a concern (other than on Purim) as a socks that come up to the bottom of the shorts (in which case you might as well just ware a pair of lightweight summer pants). I’ve never seen anyone complain about short sleeve button up shirts (as distinct from sleeveless T-shirts which are not appropriate for a ben torah).

There is a different issues of “modesty” (covering up what should be covered up), not looking like a bum (wearing a gym clothes or sleeping clothes in public), and looking respectable so people won’t think Bnei Torah are slobs (wearing respectable but dull clothes). And fashions change over time (long pants only started become standard where streets were paved and sewers installed – previously one preferred short pants with high boots). The period of the early Achronim was very cold (relative to today and to the period of the Rishonim) which would have affected fashion.

What is sometimes lost on some younger guys was noted by some of the posters above. Its more than just wearing lvush than visually appears consistent with minhag h’makom or whatever group you follow. Its also important to be sure that the clothes you wear are properly fitting and clean. Even in a sea of black, its not appropriate for ben torah to show up in public in pants hanging below his behind two sizes two large or with pant legs a few inches above his shoes andthat look like they haven’t been pressed in decades and showing stains from last week’s shalosh seudos. Some would say this falls under the broad umbrella of tzinius.

Could you please recommend some books for men on this subject like frum women have oz vehadar and others so that we can see the contemporary approach of our leading poskim.Similarly, the YW allowed Rabbi Weiner’s sefer on beards even though Gedolei Olam like Harav Frank permitted shavers as did relatives of the Chofetz Chaim. Similarly in the alteh Mir ,Kamenetz, Novardok, etc.Chachmei Lublin .The Agudas Harabonim had many many clean shaven Rabonim.Why the nausea?

In all such middos, you only need books and lomdus if you want to skirt the line, such as (example from an old mussar sefer) “Q: the train ticket to my parent’s town is expensive, and halakha is that you don’t have to spend money on parents, am I exempt? A: yes, you don;t have to take the train, you should walk)

If you rather dress impeccably, be nice to everyone, don’t take OPM, you’ll rarely need a book to consult. I am not against learning about middos, of course, just saying lack of the books should not stop you from behaving properly.

Some posters have conflated the idea of tznius by women, which includes not drawing attention to oneself, and tznius by men. While men are also supposed to be humble and unassuming, lacking in this area relates to bad middos, not a violation of halacha. Women, however, are in violation of halacha if their clothing or actions draw attention to themselves, just as if they would be wearing inadequate clothing, as is evident from the amorah who tore off a woman’s coat because it was red (berachos 20).

Rav Eliezer Melamed says that it depends on what are considered honorable clothes in the place. On a kibbutz shorts and work clothes are considered honorable clothes. In other places, this is not so. Rav Soloveichik rebuked rabbanm in Florida for wearing shorts. Rav Tzvi Yehuda Kook told talmidim who became rabbanim to dress in a way that would cause the public to respect them. Rambam (Hilchot Deot ch. 5) says that a talmid chacham should wear average clothes (see Shabbat 145b that over-dressing could be a cover-up).

Regarding talmidim, part of the machloket between Slobodka and Novardok involved dress. In the former, the talmidim had to dress up so that they would feel that sin was beneath their honor. In the latter, they dressed poorly in order to break their pride.

Tznius is more than dress. It is about attracting attention to yourself. It is the car you drive the simchas you make the vacations you take etc. Spending $100k on a wedding and driving a tesla are not very tznius in my mind.

As Tip O’Neill was fond of say, “all tzinius is local” as is politics. Several posters above correctly noted that what might pass the test in one location would be totally inappropriate in others. While there are certain “universal” norms for a ben torah to dress (aka going shirtless is not OK anywhere but the beach) short sleeves, bermuda shorts, shirts other than white, etc are more likely governed by minhag h’makom.