Torah Teacher Aesthetic
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Ok, deep breathes here as I marinate in shock that this is apparently a genuine new fashion trend. As in, there was an article in Vogue about it. As in, major designers and fashion connoisseurs are in agreement. It’s true, dear Friends, Torah teacher aesthetic is definitely a current thing. For those of us (like myself) who attended yeshivah/ religious Jewish day schools my whole life, we know exactly what this type of modest dressing looks like. Long skirts, bulky sweaters or perhaps a sweater set, blouses, blazers; all worn in the service of modest and religious dress. In a religiously observant environment, female Judaic studies teachers are indeed expected to uphold a modest, conservative wardrobe in keeping with the laws of “tzniut”. Unfortunately, as with many religions, modest clothing is often associated with piety and morality. This externally superficial approach to the outside/inside of an individual is dangerous and misleading. Some of the nastiest, most morally bankrupt women I know dress the most modestly, but that’s for a separate post.
Today we are exploring how dressing modestly can be extremely chic, and I think it’s wild that religious Judaic studies teachers are somehow the inspiration for this. Yes, dressing like this can be fabulous but the 20 years of Torah teachers I had were the antithesis of cool. It makes me laugh thinking of how so many of them would likely be confused and flabbergasted seeing their accidental genre lauded in Vogue. Having been a synagogue goer all my life, dressing appropriately in a religious setting is not news to me. Long skirts, blouses and blazers, and covering my knees and elbows are familiar concepts. True story: I once couldn’t take a high school final in the hellish nunnery I was forced to attend, because my ankle bones were scandalously exposed.
A well put together, tailored, Torah teacher vibe is super cool. It’s fantastic to make a statement without having to resort to revealing our bodies, and there are many women (religious and not) who aren’t comfortable with that for a myriad of reasons. It’s great that this style of dress is being acknowledged and appreciated.
Recently I went to my son’s Yeshiva high school for a college guidance meeting. Out of respect for the atmosphere I put on a midi length denim skirt, tights, mini cowboy boots, and an oversized turtleneck sweater. This is a very typical outfit in a Jewish school, and often the moms are expected to dress in accordance with the basic laws of modesty. I then went straight to NYC and did feel cool in my Torah teacher outfit, though it would never have occurred to me to take a picture. Lo and behold, later that day I came across the Vogue article and was floored. I had no idea this is now a trend but I’m here for it, as I have been since the 80’s. Here are some looks from the Blaga archives where I was inadvertently dressing like a badass Torah teacher.
Who knew???
