Halachaהלכה

Jewish Laws and Ethics of Dress

Sources explore the halakhic and ethical principles governing how one should dress, encompassing practical laws of modesty, dignity, and respectful conduct. The sources address dress as an expression of character, the importance of modest covering, and specific regulations regarding gender-appropriate clothing and public appearance.

מַלְבּוּשׁ תַּלְמִיד חָכָם מַלְבּוּשׁ נָאֶה וְנָקִי

11 sources · all verified

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What the sources say

The Torah itself lays down two foundational prohibitions regarding dress: Devarim 22:5 forbids a woman from wearing men's apparel and a man from wearing women's clothing, declaring all who do so an abhorrence to God, while Vayikra 19:19 prohibits wearing a garment made from a mixture of two kinds of material (sha'atnez).

Building on these foundations, the Rambam (Mishneh Torah, Human Dispositions 5:9–10) rules that a Torah scholar's clothing must be attractive and clean — free of stains or grease — neither the lavish garb of royalty that draws everyone's gaze nor the degrading dress of the poor, but respectable middle-range garments of appropriate length, a standard the Arukh HaShulchan (Orach Chaim 2) extends by adding that one must take care not to wear a garment inside-out so that its seams show, since that makes one unsightly in others' eyes.

The dimension of modesty (tzniut) runs through all these sources: the Mishnah Berurah (2:1) explains that even in the privacy of one's room at night one must dress with modesty and shame before God — whose glory fills the entire world — and must avoid uncovering any part of the body normally kept covered, while the Shenei Luchot HaBerit (Shaar HaOtiyot, Tzniut 1) describes tzniut in dress as a great virtue encompassing all of a person's ways.

On the practical mechanics of dressing, the Shulchan Arukh (Orach Chaim 2:1) instructs that one should slip one's undergarment on while still lying down so as to be covered upon rising, and should put on the right shoe first before the left, with the specific order of fastening following the principle of honoring the right side.

Source 1 · Tanach
Verified

Deuteronomy 22:5

דברים כ״ב:ה׳

Deuteronomy 22:5

The Torah prohibits cross-dressing, establishing that dress is not only personal appearance but can carry boundaries of gender distinction and communal norms.

לֹא־יִהְיֶ֤ה כְלִי־גֶ֙בֶר֙ עַל־אִשָּׁ֔ה וְלֹא־יִלְבַּ֥שׁ גֶּ֖בֶר שִׂמְלַ֣ת אִשָּׁ֑ה כִּ֧י תוֹעֲבַ֛ת יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ כׇּל־עֹ֥שֵׂה אֵֽלֶּה׃ {פ}

A woman must not put on man’s apparel, nor shall a man wear woman’s clothing; for whoever does these things is abhorrent to the ETERNAL your God.

Source 2 · Tanach
Verified

Leviticus 19:19

ויקרא י״ט:י״ט

Leviticus 19:19

The verse includes the prohibition of shatnez, showing that clothing is also governed by concrete halakhic limits and symbolic boundaries.

אֶֽת־חֻקֹּתַי֮ תִּשְׁמֹ֒רוּ֒ בְּהֶמְתְּךָ֙ לֹא־תַרְבִּ֣יעַ כִּלְאַ֔יִם שָׂדְךָ֖ לֹא־תִזְרַ֣ע כִּלְאָ֑יִם וּבֶ֤גֶד כִּלְאַ֙יִם֙ שַֽׁעַטְנֵ֔ז לֹ֥א יַעֲלֶ֖ה עָלֶֽיךָ׃

You shall observe My laws. You shall not let your cattle mate with a different kind; you shall not sow your field with two kinds of seed; you shall not put on cloth from a mixture of two kinds of material.

Source 3 · Chazal
Verified

Mishnah Shabbat 6:1

משנה שבת ו׳:א׳

Mishnah Shabbat 6:1

This mishnah discusses what women may go out with on Shabbat, including adornments and garments, reflecting the broader rabbinic concern with practical dress and public appearance.

בַּמֶּה אִשָּׁה יוֹצְאָה וּבַמָּה אֵינָהּ יוֹצְאָה. לֹא תֵצֵא אִשָּׁה לֹא בְחוּטֵי צֶמֶר וְלֹא בְחוּטֵי פִשְׁתָּן וְלֹא בִרְצוּעוֹת שֶׁבְּרֹאשָׁהּ. וְלֹא בְעִיר שֶׁל זָהָב, וְלֹא בְקַטְלָא, וְלֹא בִנְזָמִים, וְלֹא בְטַבַּעַת שֶׁאֵין עָלֶיהָ חוֹתָם, וְלֹא בְמַחַט שֶׁאֵינָהּ נְקוּבָה.

Source 4 · Chazal
Verified

Sotah 8a

סוטה ח׳ א — ד"ה וְהַכֹּהֵן אוֹחֵז בִּבְגָדֶיהָ

Sotah 8a:10

The passage discusses biblical rules governing the exposure or covering of a woman's body in the context of a sotah (suspected adulteress) trial, citing Numbers 5:18 to derive that a priest must uncover and unbraid her hair and expose her body, then contrasts this with a Tosefta teaching that a woman condemned to execution should be stoned while fully clothed (per the Rabbis) or covered minimally (per Rabbi Yehuda), reflecting different concerns about modesty and the gaze of onlookers.

וְהַכֹּהֵן אוֹחֵז בִּבְגָדֶיהָ. תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: ״וּפָרַע אֶת רֹאשׁ הָאִשָּׁה״, אֵין לִי אֶלָּא רֹאשָׁהּ. גּוּפָהּ מִנַּיִן — תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: ״הָאִשָּׁה״. אִם כֵּן מָה תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר ״וּפָרַע אֶת רֹאשָׁהּ״ — מְלַמֵּד שֶׁהַכֹּהֵן סוֹתֵר אֶת שְׂעָרָהּ. וְהָא אִיפְּכָא שָׁמְעִינַן לְהוּ, דְּתַנְיָא: הָאִישׁ, מְכַסִּין אוֹתוֹ פֶּרֶק אֶחָד מִלְּפָנָיו, וְהָאִשָּׁה, שְׁנֵי פְּרָקִים — אֶחָד מִלְּפָנֶיהָ וְאֶחָד מִלְּאַחֲרֶיהָ, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁכּוּלָּהּ עֶרְוָה, דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי יְהוּדָה. וַחֲכָמִים אוֹמְרִים: הָאִישׁ נִסְקָל עָרוֹם, וְאֵין הָאִשָּׁה נִסְקֶלֶת עֲרוּמָּה!

§ The mishna teaches: And the priest grabs hold of her clothing and pulls them until he reveals her heart, and he unbraids her hair. The Gemara cites the source for these acts. The Sages taught: The verse states: “And the priest shall stand the woman before the Lord and uncover the woman’s head” (Numbers 5:18). From this verse I have derived only that he uncovers her head; from where do I derive that he uncovers her body? The verse states: “The woman,” rather than just stating: And uncovers her head. This indicates that the woman’s body should be uncovered as well. If so, what is the meaning when the verse states specifically: “And uncover her head”? Once it has stated that he uncovers the woman, it is already apparent that she, including her hair, is uncovered. It teaches that the priest not only uncovers her hair but also unbraids her hair. But we have heard the opposite from them, as it is taught in the Tosefta (Sanhedrin 9:6): Although a man condemned to stoning is stoned unclothed, the court covers him with one small piece of material in front of him, to obscure his genitals, and they cover a woman with two small pieces of material, one in front of her and one behind her, because all of her loins are nakedness, as her genitals are visible both from the front and from the back. This is the statement of Rabbi Yehuda. And the Rabbis say: A man is stoned while naked, but a woman is not stoned while naked, but fully clothed. Apparently, Rabbi Yehuda is not concerned that the onlookers seeing the woman unclothed will lead to sexual thoughts, but the Rabbis are concerned about this.

Source 5 · Chazal
Verified

Shabbat 62a

שבת ס״ב א — ד"ה מַתְנִי׳ לֹא תֵּצֵא אִשָּׁה בַּמַּחַט הַנְּקוּבָה

Shabbat 62a:7

The Gemara discusses adornment, modesty, and what counts as permissible public dress on Shabbat, including concerns of vanity and carrying.

מַתְנִי׳ לֹא תֵּצֵא אִשָּׁה בַּמַּחַט הַנְּקוּבָה, וְלֹא בְּטַבַּעַת שֶׁיֵּשׁ עָלֶיהָ חוֹתָם, וְלֹא בְּכוֹלֵיאָר, וְלֹא בְּכוֹבֶלֶת, וְלֹא בִּצְלוֹחִית שֶׁל פִּלְיָיטוֹן. גְּמָ׳ אָמַר עוּלָּא וְחִילּוּפֵיהֶן בְּאִישׁ. אַלְמָא קָסָבַר עוּלָּא: כָּל מִידֵּי דַּחֲזֵי לְאִישׁ לָא חֲזֵי לְאִשָּׁה, וּמִידִּי דַּחֲזֵי לְאִשָּׁה לָא חֲזֵי לְאִישׁ.

MISHNA: A woman may neither go out to the public domain with a perforated needle, i.e., a standard needle with an eye, nor with a ring that has a seal on it, nor with a kulyar, nor with a kovelet, the identity of which will be discussed in the Gemara, nor with a flask of balsam oil. GEMARA: With regard to that which we learned in the mishna that a woman may not go out on Shabbat with a ring that has a seal, and by inference that she may go out with a ring without a seal, Ulla said: And the reverse of these halakhot is true with regard to a man. A man who wears a ring with a seal in the public domain is exempt. However, if he wears a ring without a seal, he is liable to bring a sin-offering as it is not considered an ornament for a man. Based on that statement, the Gemara concludes: Apparently, Ulla holds that every object that is suitable for a man is not suitable for a woman, and an object that is suitable for a woman is not suitable for a man.

Source 6 · Rishonim
Verified

Mishneh Torah, Human Dispositions 5:9-10

משנה תורה, הלכות דעות ה׳:ט׳-י׳

Mishneh Torah, Human Dispositions 5:9-10

Rambam writes about dress as part of a person's conduct in society, including avoiding flashy or shameful clothing and dressing in a dignified, moderate way.

מַלְבּוּשׁ תַּלְמִיד חָכָם מַלְבּוּשׁ נָאֶה וְנָקִי. וְאָסוּר לוֹ שֶׁיִּמָּצֵא בְּבִגְדוֹ כֶּתֶם אוֹ שַׁמְנוּנִית וְכַיּוֹצֵא בָּהֶן. וְלֹא יִלְבַּשׁ לֹא מַלְבּוּשׁ מְלָכִים כְּגוֹן בִּגְדֵי זָהָב וְאַרְגָּמָן שֶׁהַכּל מִסְתַּכְּלִין בָּהֶן. וְלֹא מַלְבּוּשׁ עֲנִיִּים שֶׁהוּא מְבַזֶּה אֶת לוֹבְשָׁיו אֶלָּא בְּגָדִים בֵּינוֹנִים נָאִים. וְלֹא יְהֵא בְּשָׂרוֹ נִרְאֶה מִתַּחַת מַדָּיו כְּמוֹ בִּגְדֵי הַפִּשְׁתָּן הַקַּלִּים בְּיוֹתֵר שֶׁעוֹשִׂים בְּמִצְרַיִם. וְלֹא יִהְיוּ בְּגָדָיו סְחוּבִין עַל הָאָרֶץ כְּמוֹ בִּגְדֵי גַּסֵּי הָרוּחַ אֶלָּא עַד עֲקֵבוֹ וּבֵית יָד שֶׁלּוֹ עַד רָאשֵׁי אֶצְבְּעוֹתָיו. וְלֹא יְשַׁלְשֵׁל טַלִּיתוֹ מִפְּנֵי שֶׁנִּרְאֶה כְּגַסּוּת הָרוּחַ אֶלָּא בְּשַׁבָּת בִּלְבַד אִם אֵין לוֹ לְהַחֲלִיף. וְלֹא יִנְעַל מִנְעָלִים מְטֻלָּאִים טְלַאי עַל גַּבֵּי טְלַאי בִּימוֹת הַחַמָּה. אֲבָל בִּימוֹת הַגְּשָׁמִים מֻתָּר אִם הָיָה עָנִי. לֹא יֵצֵא מְבֻשָּׂם לַשּׁוּק וְלֹא בִּבְגָדִים מְבֻשָּׂמִים וְלֹא יָשִׂים בּשֶֹׁם בִּשְׂעָרוֹ. אֲבָל אִם מָשַׁח בְּשָׂרוֹ בְּבשֶֹׁם כְּדֵי לְהַעֲבִיר אֶת הַזֻּהֲמָא מֻתָּר. וְכֵן לֹא יֵצֵא יְחִידִי בַּלַּיְלָה. אֶלָּא אִם כֵּן הָיָה לוֹ זְמַן קָבוּעַ לָצֵאת בּוֹ לְתַלְמוּדוֹ. כָּל אֵלּוּ מִפְּנֵי הַחֲשָׁד: תַּלְמִיד חָכָם מְכַלְכֵּל דְּבָרָיו בְּמִשְׁפָּט. אוֹכֵל וְשׁוֹתֶה וְזָן אֶת אַנְשֵׁי בֵּיתוֹ כְּפִי מָמוֹנוֹ וְהַצְלָחָתוֹ. וְלֹא יַטְרִיחַ עַל עַצְמוֹ יוֹתֵר מִדַּאי. צִוּוּ חֲכָמִים בְּדֶרֶךְ אֶרֶץ שֶׁלֹּא יֹאכַל אָדָם בָּשָׂר אֶלָּא לְתֵאָבוֹן. שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים יב כ) "כִּי תְאַוֶּה נַפְשְׁךָ לֶאֱכל בָּשָׂר". דַּיּוֹ לַבָּרִיא לֶאֱכל בָּשָׂר מֵעֶרֶב שַׁבָּת לְעֶרֶב שַׁבָּת. וְאִם הָיָה עָשִׁיר כְּדֵי לֶאֱכל בָּשָׂר בְּכָל יוֹם אוֹכֵל. צִוּוּ חֲכָמִים וְאָמְרוּ לְעוֹלָם יֹאכַל אָדָם פָּחוֹת מִן הָרָאוּי לוֹ לְפִי מָמוֹנוֹ וְיִלְבַּשׁ כָּרָאוּי לוֹ וִיכַבֵּד אִשְׁתּוֹ וּבָנָיו יוֹתֵר מִן הָרָאוּי לוֹ:

A Torah Sage's clothing should be attractive and clean. It is forbidden that [a] blood or fat [stain] or the like be found on his garment. He should not wear regal garb, e.g., clothes of gold and purple, which draw everyone's attention, nor the dress of the poor which shames its wearers, but attractive garments of the middle range. His flesh should not be visible under his clothing as [is the case when one wears] the exceptionally sheer linen garments produced in Egypt. His clothes should not drag on the ground like the dress of the haughty, but [should extend] to the heel and his sleeves [should extend] to his fingers. He should not let his cloak hang down, for that creates an impression of haughtiness, except on the Sabbath if he has no change [of cloak]. In the summer, he should not wear shoes that have often been mended and have many patches. He may do so in the rainy season, if he is poor. He should not go out in the marketplace perfumed, or with perfumed clothes, nor should he put perfume on his hair. However, he is permitted to rub perfume on his body if he does so in order to remove filth. Similarly, he should not go out alone at night, unless he has a set time to go out for his studies. All of these [restrictions are instituted] because of [possible] suspicion [of immorality]. A Torah Sage manages his financial affairs judiciously. He eats, drinks, and provides for his household in accordance with his funds and [degree of] success without overtaxing himself. The Sages have directed [us] regarding the ways of the world: A person should eat meat only with appetite as [Deuteronomy 12:20] states: "If your soul should crave to eat meat..." It is sufficient for the healthy to eat meat [once weekly,] from Sabbath eve to Sabbath eve. If he is wealthy enough to eat meat every day, he may. The Sages have [also] directed us, saying: One should always eat less than befits his income, dress as befits [his income], and provide for his wife and children beyond what befits [his income].

Source 7 · Acharonim
Verified

Shenei Luchot HaBerit, Shaar HaOtiyot, Tzniut:1

Shenei Luchot HaBerit, Shaar HaOtiyot, Tzniut:1

Modesty is a great virtue requiring a person to conduct themselves modestly in all their ways—eating, drinking, speech, walking, and clothing—including modesty with one's wife; a woman's eyes should be cast downward, her speech gentle, and no part of her body should be exposed even slightly, so as not to cause anyone to stumble through seeing her.

מעלה גדולה ונפלאה היא מדת הצניעות, שיהא אדם צנוע בכל דרכיו, במאכליו ומשתהו, בדיבורו ובהילוכו, במלבושיו, צנוע עם אשתו. ועיניה תמיד למטה, ודיבורה בנחת, ולא יראה ולא ימצא ולא יהיה מגולה מכל גופה אפילו במשהו, שלא תכשול שום אדם במראית עין.

Source 8 · Acharonim
Verified

Mishnah Berurah 2

משנה ברורה ב׳ — ד"ה (א) מיושב - דאז בהכרח יתגלה

Mishnah Berurah 2:1

The Mishnah Berurah elaborates on the laws and etiquette of dressing with modesty and dignity, including when and how to put on garments in a respectful order.

(א) מיושב - דאז בהכרח יתגלה גופו והאדם צריך להתנהג בצניעות ובושה לפני הקב"ה ואפילו כשהוא לילה ובחדרי חדרים הלא מלא כל הארץ כבודו וכחשיכה וכאורה לפניו יתברך. וכן צריך ליזהר תמיד מחמת טעם זה שלא במקום הכרח מלגלות מבשרו ואפילו מעט כל מה שדרכו להיות מכוסה בבגדים לעולם אבל רשאי לגלות ידו עד קוב"דו וצוארו עד החזה ע"כ האנפלאות יראה ללבשם או לפשטם ג"כ תחת הסדין שלא לגלות רגליו שדרכן להיות מכוסות לעולם במדינות אלו שאין הולכין יחף אפילו בקיץ וכן כל כיוצא בזה אם לא שאי אפשר בענין אחר וכן בבית המרחץ שדרכן של בני אדם לילך שם ערומים וא"א בענין אחר אין בזה משום פריצות וכן כשרוחץ בנהר הדין כן רק יזהר לפשוט וללבוש סמוך לנהר כל מה שאפשר בכדי שלא ילך בגילוי הגוף שלא לצורך ואפילו ערותו א"צ לכסות בירידתו לנהר ולא עוד אלא שהמכסה נראה כאלו בוש בדבר וכאלו כופר בבריתו של אברהם אבינו אך בעלייתו מן הנהר שפניו כלפי העם ישחה או ישים ידו כנגד ערותו לכסותה ובלבד שלא יגע בה כמו שיתבאר בס"ס ג'. איתא בש"ס חלוק של ת"ח כל שאין בשרו נראית מתחתיו. והאידנא אין נזהרין בזה משום שהולכין הכל בבתי שוקיים ואין הבשר נראית: (ד) לחוץ - ויראו תפירות המגונות ואמרי החלוק ויתגנה בעיני הבריות ואם לא נזהר והפך אם ת"ח הוא צריך לפושטו ולחזור ללבשו כדרכו שלא יהיה בכלל משניאי ח"ו ושאר כל אדם אין צריך ולתפלה אפילו כל אדם צריך לפשטו וללבשו כדרכו שראוי אז להדר בגדיו כמבואר בסימן צ"א. טוב שישים שני צדי המלבוש ביד ימינו וילבש הימין ואח"כ השמאל ויכוין כי הכל נכלל בימין ומן הימין בא לשמאל. כתב הרמב"ם מלבוש ת"ח יהיה מלבוש נאה ונקי ואסור לו שימצא בבגדו כתם או שמנונית וכיוצא בהם. ולא ילבש לא מלבוש שרים שהכל מסתכלים בהם ולא מלבוש עניים שהוא מבזה את לובשיו אלא בגדים בינונים נאים ע"ש עוד:

From a sitting position - For then he will certainly reveal his body, and a person must conduct himself with modesty and shame before the Holy One Blessed Be He; even when it is nighttime and he is in [the privacy of] his own room, behold, "the entire world is full of His Glory" (Isaiah 6:3), darkness and light are the same before Him. And one must always be careful, for this same reason, unless there is no other way, from revealing one's body, even a little, whatever is normally always covered with clothing; but it is permitted to reveal one's arm, up until his elbow, and one's neck, up until the breastbone; therefore, [regarding] socks, one should put them on and remove them under the sheets so as not to reveal his feet which are normally always covered in these countries, for no one walks barefoot, even in the summer. And so too anything similar, unless there's no other way [to get undressed/dressed without revealing parts of the body that are normally covered]. And so too in a bathhouse where it's normal for people to walk around naked, and there's no other way (ie. you can't wash yourself with your clothes on), there's is no issue of immodesty; and similarly when one is washing in the river, the law is the same (ie. you can't wash yourself with clothes on), except that one should be careful to remove and put on one's clothing as close to the river as possible so as not to walk uncovered unnecessarily, and one does not even need to cover their genitals when descending into the river, and not only that, but one that does cover them up appears as if he is embarrassed about it (ie. about his bris milah) and as if he denies the Covenant of Avraham Avinu; however, when ascending from the river, where one is [potentially] now facing others, he should hunch over or place his hands over his genitals to cover them, as long as he does not [actually] touch them as will be explained at the end of siman 3. It's brought in the Talmud - "The cloak of a Torah Scholar is one where no skin can be seen underneath" (ie. it covers the entire body). But [nowadays] we are not careful with this because everyone goes out with pants [and socks] and the skin is not seen [anyways]. Inside out - And people will see the ugly stitching and fasteners of the shirt and it will be disgraceful in the eyes of the people. And if one was not careful and did not reverse it - if he is a Torah scholar, he must remove it and put it back on the right way so that he will not be in the category of those who, Heaven forbid, cause others to hate Hashem; and for all other people, it is not necessary. But for prayers, even all other people must remove it and put it on the right way, for it is proper to wear honorable clothing, as is explained in siman 91. It is proper that one should hold both ends of the garment in his right hand and then put on the right side first and then the left side and he should have in mind that everything is included in the right [side] and from right it comes to the left. The Rambam wrote that the clothing of a Torah scholar must be pleasant and clean and it's forbidden for there to be a stain or oily residue or a similar thing [on it]; and he shouldn't wear clothing of royalty that [will cause] everyone will stare at him, and not poor man's clothing which is degrading for the one wearing it, rather he should wear regular clothing which are pleasant. See there (in the Rambam) further.

Source 9 · Acharonim
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Shulchan Arukh, Orach Chayim 2

שולחן ערוך, אורח חיים ב׳ — ד"ה דין לבישת בגדים

Shulchan Arukh, Orach Chayim 2:1

This siman addresses how a person should dress respectfully and modestly, especially regarding proper human dignity in rising and dressing.

דין לבישת בגדים. ובו ו סעיפים: לא ילבש חלוקו מיושב (טור) אלא יקח חלוקו ויכניס בו (ראשו) וזרועותיו בעודנו שוכב ונמצא כשיקום שהוא מכוסה: ינעול מנעל ימין תחלה ולא יקשרנו ואח"כ ינעול של שמאל ויקשרנו ויחזור ויקשור של ימין: הגה ובמנעלי' שלנו שאין להם קשירה ינעול של ימין תחל' (תוס' פ' במה אשה דס"א):

One should not put on his under-garment from a sitting position (Tur), but should rather take his under-garment and insert into it his (head and) arms while he is still lying down, with the result that when he gets up he is [already] covered. One should put on the right shoe first and not fasten it, then after that put on the left one and fasten it, and return and fasten the right one. Rem"a: And in the case of our shoes which do not have a fastening, one puts the right one on first. (Tosafot)

Source 10 · Acharonim
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Arukh HaShulchan, Orach Chaim 2

ערוך השולחן, אורח חיים ב׳

Arukh HaShulchan, Orach Chaim 2

Arukh HaShulchan discusses proper dress as part of yirat shamayim and human dignity, emphasizing cleanliness, modesty, and avoiding disgraceful behavior in clothing.

ידקדק בחלוקו ללובשו כדרכו, שלא יהפוך הפנימי לחוץ ויתראו התפירות ואמרי החלוק, ויתגנה על הבריות. וזהו אפילו בחלוק שאין הפרש כל כך בין צד פנימי לחיצון, וכל שכן בשארי בגדים. כי כשם שאדם צריך לצאת ידי הבריות שלא ידברו עליו סרה, כמו כן צריך שלא יתגנה בעיני הבריות. אלא יהיו בגדיו נקיים מלכלוכית. מלבוש תלמיד חכם הוא מלבוש נאה ונקי, ואסור לו שימצא בבגדו כתם או שמנונית וכיוצא בהן. ולא ילבש לא בגדי ארגמן שהכל מסתכלים בהם, ולא מלבוש עניים שמבזה את לובשיו, אלא בגדים בינונים נאים.

Source 11 · Hasidic
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Shem MiShmuel, Mishpatim 8:12

Shem MiShmuel, Mishpatim 8:12

When one arises from lowliness, one should clothe oneself with garments of splendor so that the soul can attach to its source; thought, speech, and action are called the garments of the soul, and through focused intention on welcoming Shabbat, accompanied by songs and praises, and by ceasing from work (as if all one's labor is complete), the soul merits to attach to its root and attain an additional soul.

שבשביל שאתה קם מעפר שהיא מדיוטא תחתונה, לבשי בגדי תפארתך עמי, היינו שאתה צריך ללבוש בכדי שהנפש תוכל להתדבק בשורשה, וידוע דמחשבה דיבור ומעשה הם נקראין לבושי הנפש, והמחשבה היא הרעותא דליבא שיש לכל איש ישראל בהכנסת שבת בצירוף הדיבור בשירות ותשבחות בקבלת שבת, ומעשה הוא סילוק המלאכה ושיהי' כאלו כל מלאכתך עשוי', בזה הנפש זוכה להתדבק בשורשה, ולהשיג נשמה יתירה, ועלמין דכסיפין