עברית
Women
Is it Permissible to Wear Denim?
Question
Hello, I would like to ask if there is any issue with a woman wearing a denim jacket or a skirt that is not tight-fitting, where the fabric is denim. Aside from the fact that it associates me with a certain group, is there a prohibition in wearing denim? Thank you.
Answer
Greetings, It cannot be said that there is a strict prohibition; however, skirts and jackets made of very bulky fabric or with prominent, thick seams simply do not befit the appearance of a bas Yisrael (Jewish woman). Similarly, faded denim fabric, whose worn appearance is particularly unseemly around the hem and seams, is not appropriate for men’s clothing, and all the more so for women’s and girls’ clothing. [In communities that are meticulous about modest dress, it is customary that women and girls do not wear denim garments of any kind—even though denim is a comfortable and durable fabric—because of the association between the fabric’s name and its generally bulky appearance.] Sources: Oz VeHadar LeVusha (p. 375), and see there (pp. 375-378) for several reasons why bulky clothing is not appropriate for a bas Yisrael.
With blessings, Hillel Meirs
