Modesty is in — and Orthodox women have never been so stylish.
From left: a maxi dress from Shopbop, midi skirt from Forever 21, and a maxi dress from Zara.
Jewish Orthodox women follow three core rules of modesty, or tznius: a garment’s neckline should extend to the collarbone; shirt sleeves should cover the elbows; and skirts must cover the knees. Pants are strictly forbidden, and married women must also cover their heads with a wig, scarf or hat.
While many Orthodox women shop in specialty stores that cater specifically to these guidelines, over the past couple of seasons, they’ve found it much easier to shop for appropriately conservative looks in mainstream chains like Zara and H&M. That’s because tznius is now hip — and Jewish Orthodox women are becoming more fashionable than ever.
"It's amazing how much fashion is shifting,” says Adi Heyman, an Orthodox stylist living in Manhattan, who is starting a blog about conservative fashion. "These days it's easy to dress modestly and be on-trend." Button-up blouses, long-sleeved denim shirts, flowy vintage dresses and pleated maxi skirts are among the items you’ll find in any Zara or Forever 21 right now that Orthodox women are stocking up on this season, she says.
Also popular are airy pastels and vibrant prints, along with bold accessories. “Things like belts and necklaces can change an outfit from being 'blah' to being something really special," notes Sharon Langert, who writes for Orthodox style blog Fashion Isha (isha means woman in Hebrew), which compiles Orthodox-appropriate looks as seen on the runways, in magazines, and on non-Orthodox fashion blogs. “Jewish Orthodox women are fashion savvy — they want to look up-to-date."
Although not all Orthodox women allow fashion magazines in their homes, many do follow runway trends and hunt for style tips on the growing number of Orthodox fashion blogs like Fashion Isha. “If they can afford it, Orthodox women like to get Burberry accessories,” says Langert. “They like that style a lot. In fact, this season of Burberry — almost every single look is modest and it's all so chic.”
The spring 2012 Burberry show.
Orthodox-appropriate looks are also proliferating on red carpets. Socialite and star of MTV’s The City Olivia Palermo has become one of the most influential red-carpet celebrities for Orthodox Jewish women right now. "She really knows how to put herself together," says Langert. While “not everything Olivia Palermo wears is modest", says Heyman, "she does wear a lot of long, flowy skirts and blouses. It's very classy how she dresses." Heyman also praises celebrity stylist Rachel Zoe, who “wears a lot of vintage and layers” and is “covered up in [a way] that works for the Orthodox girls."
But the hottest style icon among the Orthodox right now might be the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, who both Heyman and Langert praised for her “ladylike” clothes. Wardrobe aside, Kate’s royal status makes her an especially worthy icon for the Orthodox community. "The Torah says that every Jewish woman is a Bat Melech, a daughter of a king, of God, and that she should present herself as such," explains Reuvena Leah Grodnitzky, who organized the Inner Expressions fashion show in Philadelphia last year that featured clothes designed by fashion students in compliance with Jewish modesty rules.
