Israeli Fashions for Religious Women

My town has seen a proliferation of stores catering to religious women; I am sharing some highlights with my loyal readers.



For the first few years after I made aliyah, the only colors in women’s clothes were beige, brown, and gray. Then things improved, and for a season or two you could find kelly green and hot pink. What hasn’t changed is the way Israeli designers, especially those targeting the religious community, manage to combine such a bizarre assortment of colors, shapes and fabrics into one outfit.

Note: I am not making any statement about the “tzniut” standards of these items.

For more on local fashions, see:

Burkas: The New Fashion

A Clean City with Lots of Shoe Stores

Official Haredi Guide to Modest Necklines

Shoes and Fashions

Winter Fashion Retrospective

Comments

  1. I’ve found the most Israeli fashions, particularly for religious but not necessarily, more closely resemble costumes than standard clothing like we knew from the old country. (You’re just not going to find a Talbot’s or Liz Claiborne shop full of standard shirts and skirts like in the U.S.)
    When I lost a bunch of weight and went shopping, I was actually getting into the whole Israeli fashion thing. Then I got pregnant and that went out the window. πŸ˜€

  2. I’ve found the most Israeli fashions, particularly for religious but not necessarily, more closely resemble costumes than standard clothing like we knew from the old country. (You’re just not going to find a Talbot’s or Liz Claiborne shop full of standard shirts and skirts like in the U.S.)
    When I lost a bunch of weight and went shopping, I was actually getting into the whole Israeli fashion thing. Then I got pregnant and that went out the window. πŸ˜€

  3. I’ve found the most Israeli fashions, particularly for religious but not necessarily, more closely resemble costumes than standard clothing like we knew from the old country. (You’re just not going to find a Talbot’s or Liz Claiborne shop full of standard shirts and skirts like in the U.S.)
    When I lost a bunch of weight and went shopping, I was actually getting into the whole Israeli fashion thing. Then I got pregnant and that went out the window. πŸ˜€

  4. I’ve found the most Israeli fashions, particularly for religious but not necessarily, more closely resemble costumes than standard clothing like we knew from the old country. (You’re just not going to find a Talbot’s or Liz Claiborne shop full of standard shirts and skirts like in the U.S.)
    When I lost a bunch of weight and went shopping, I was actually getting into the whole Israeli fashion thing. Then I got pregnant and that went out the window. πŸ˜€

  5. I can see this blog being put in cherem like that wig store in Brooklyn!!

  6. I can see this blog being put in cherem like that wig store in Brooklyn!!

  7. I can see this blog being put in cherem like that wig store in Brooklyn!!

  8. I can see this blog being put in cherem like that wig store in Brooklyn!!

  9. These fashions are just bizarre. πŸ™‚

  10. These fashions are just bizarre. πŸ™‚

  11. These fashions are just bizarre. πŸ™‚

  12. These fashions are just bizarre. πŸ™‚

  13. mominisrael says

    Abbi, I have some books for you to read.
    Rafi, I think it’s too late for this blog.
    SL, I was really hesitant about posting the pix–I was beginning to wonder whether it was me and not the fashions.

  14. mominisrael says

    Abbi, I have some books for you to read.
    Rafi, I think it’s too late for this blog.
    SL, I was really hesitant about posting the pix–I was beginning to wonder whether it was me and not the fashions.

  15. mominisrael says

    Abbi, I have some books for you to read.
    Rafi, I think it’s too late for this blog.
    SL, I was really hesitant about posting the pix–I was beginning to wonder whether it was me and not the fashions.

  16. mominisrael says

    Abbi, I have some books for you to read.
    Rafi, I think it’s too late for this blog.
    SL, I was really hesitant about posting the pix–I was beginning to wonder whether it was me and not the fashions.

  17. I’ve seen some of these styles – they are tricky to pull off. The multi-layer, multi-texture can merge into a frumpy-homeless-chic look, or into a matronly look, or into a too-funky-teen look. Someone in my age range would have a tough time with a lot of these fashions.

  18. I’ve seen some of these styles – they are tricky to pull off. The multi-layer, multi-texture can merge into a frumpy-homeless-chic look, or into a matronly look, or into a too-funky-teen look. Someone in my age range would have a tough time with a lot of these fashions.

  19. I’ve seen some of these styles – they are tricky to pull off. The multi-layer, multi-texture can merge into a frumpy-homeless-chic look, or into a matronly look, or into a too-funky-teen look. Someone in my age range would have a tough time with a lot of these fashions.

  20. I’ve seen some of these styles – they are tricky to pull off. The multi-layer, multi-texture can merge into a frumpy-homeless-chic look, or into a matronly look, or into a too-funky-teen look. Someone in my age range would have a tough time with a lot of these fashions.

  21. “…manage to combine such a bizarre assortment of colors, shapes and fabrics into one outfit.”
    I know! So many clothes you see for sale here are just way too funky (and not in a good way) for me. It takes a bit of searching to find some “normal” stuff.
    Abbi- I was in H&O (in Kfar Saba, right across the tzomet in that big shopping center on the right) a few months ago and was surprised to see a lot of really nice Liz clothing- but very expensive, as you can imagine.

  22. “…manage to combine such a bizarre assortment of colors, shapes and fabrics into one outfit.”
    I know! So many clothes you see for sale here are just way too funky (and not in a good way) for me. It takes a bit of searching to find some “normal” stuff.
    Abbi- I was in H&O (in Kfar Saba, right across the tzomet in that big shopping center on the right) a few months ago and was surprised to see a lot of really nice Liz clothing- but very expensive, as you can imagine.

  23. “…manage to combine such a bizarre assortment of colors, shapes and fabrics into one outfit.”
    I know! So many clothes you see for sale here are just way too funky (and not in a good way) for me. It takes a bit of searching to find some “normal” stuff.
    Abbi- I was in H&O (in Kfar Saba, right across the tzomet in that big shopping center on the right) a few months ago and was surprised to see a lot of really nice Liz clothing- but very expensive, as you can imagine.

  24. “…manage to combine such a bizarre assortment of colors, shapes and fabrics into one outfit.”
    I know! So many clothes you see for sale here are just way too funky (and not in a good way) for me. It takes a bit of searching to find some “normal” stuff.
    Abbi- I was in H&O (in Kfar Saba, right across the tzomet in that big shopping center on the right) a few months ago and was surprised to see a lot of really nice Liz clothing- but very expensive, as you can imagine.

  25. I’m not religious, but I like these fashions. I couldn’t pull them off, but I like them. I walk by the shops and say to my daughter, “If I was young and skinny and… um, different… I’d dress just like that!” She laughs at me and says she likes me in jeans and geek t-shirts just fine. πŸ™‚

  26. I’m not religious, but I like these fashions. I couldn’t pull them off, but I like them. I walk by the shops and say to my daughter, “If I was young and skinny and… um, different… I’d dress just like that!” She laughs at me and says she likes me in jeans and geek t-shirts just fine. πŸ™‚

  27. I’m not religious, but I like these fashions. I couldn’t pull them off, but I like them. I walk by the shops and say to my daughter, “If I was young and skinny and… um, different… I’d dress just like that!” She laughs at me and says she likes me in jeans and geek t-shirts just fine. πŸ™‚

  28. I’m not religious, but I like these fashions. I couldn’t pull them off, but I like them. I walk by the shops and say to my daughter, “If I was young and skinny and… um, different… I’d dress just like that!” She laughs at me and says she likes me in jeans and geek t-shirts just fine. πŸ™‚

  29. I really like the way the Israeli women dress in Chicago. Scarves and flowy skirts and blouses in a patchwork of materials. Very bohemian.
    It’s not often I get to go window shopping in Israeli stores here in Chicago. Thanks for the tour!

  30. I really like the way the Israeli women dress in Chicago. Scarves and flowy skirts and blouses in a patchwork of materials. Very bohemian.
    It’s not often I get to go window shopping in Israeli stores here in Chicago. Thanks for the tour!

  31. I really like the way the Israeli women dress in Chicago. Scarves and flowy skirts and blouses in a patchwork of materials. Very bohemian.
    It’s not often I get to go window shopping in Israeli stores here in Chicago. Thanks for the tour!

  32. I really like the way the Israeli women dress in Chicago. Scarves and flowy skirts and blouses in a patchwork of materials. Very bohemian.
    It’s not often I get to go window shopping in Israeli stores here in Chicago. Thanks for the tour!

  33. mominisrael says

    Since I’m older than you, I guess I fit the matronly category?
    RR–I am still not used to clothes shopping here.It’s partly the overbearing salespeople.
    Lisha, why not take a chance?
    FH, you’re welcome.

  34. mominisrael says

    Since I’m older than you, I guess I fit the matronly category?
    RR–I am still not used to clothes shopping here.It’s partly the overbearing salespeople.
    Lisha, why not take a chance?
    FH, you’re welcome.

  35. mominisrael says

    Since I’m older than you, I guess I fit the matronly category?
    RR–I am still not used to clothes shopping here.It’s partly the overbearing salespeople.
    Lisha, why not take a chance?
    FH, you’re welcome.

  36. mominisrael says

    Since I’m older than you, I guess I fit the matronly category?
    RR–I am still not used to clothes shopping here.It’s partly the overbearing salespeople.
    Lisha, why not take a chance?
    FH, you’re welcome.

  37. I did not intend to insinuate that at all! πŸ™‚ Matronly is more of a state of mind than an age. You definitely don’t fit the bill.

  38. I did not intend to insinuate that at all! πŸ™‚ Matronly is more of a state of mind than an age. You definitely don’t fit the bill.

  39. I did not intend to insinuate that at all! πŸ™‚ Matronly is more of a state of mind than an age. You definitely don’t fit the bill.

  40. I did not intend to insinuate that at all! πŸ™‚ Matronly is more of a state of mind than an age. You definitely don’t fit the bill.