What to Wear?

Make sacred garments for your brother, Aharon, for honor and splendor.

Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age; and he made him a coat of many colors.

The disciple of the wise should wear becoming and clean clothes, and it is forbidden to have a spot or grease or anything of a like unclean nature, found upon his garment. He should not wear clothes fit for a king such as trimmed with gold or purple which attract everybody's gaze, nor the clothes of a pauper which put the wearer to shame, but average garments of becoming style. He should not wear transparent garments as, for example, garments made of very fine linen which are made in Egypt; nor should they be too long, trailing upon the ground, like the garments of the arrogant, but it may reach to the heel, and the sleeves to his finger-tips. He should not permit to trail his fringed garment, as it appears arrogant, save only on the Sabbath, if he has no other to change. He should not wear patched-up shoes, patch upon a patch, in summer time; but in winter time it is permitted if he be poor. He should not go out on the street perfumed, nor with perfumed garments, nor put perfume in his hair; but if he puts perfume upon his skin to remove perspiration there is no rule forbidding it. Likewise should he not go out alone at night, unless he had set a specified time to go out to his studies. All these ethical rules are so as not to cast any suspicion upon the disciples of the wise.