What kind of clothing was normal for the Hebrew men and women before the Torah was given? After the Torah, what kind of clothing was generally worn (by men and women)? Why should such regulations apply for all times and generations, especially when cultural factors change?
I am not aware of any traditional sources that discuss the specific mode of dress used by the ancient Hebrews, nor of any change in dress that occurred following the Sinai revelation. However it seems reasonable to assume that the Hebrews dressed in the style of other desert dwelling peoples, donning long flowing robes and some type of head covering. The Talmud does state that when the Jews dwelled in Egypt they continued to dress in their traditional clothing, distancing themselves from the foreign dress of the Egyptians.
The basic guidelines of modesty are discussed in the Jewish Oral Tradition. Jewish law requires women to cover themselves past their elbows, and below their knees. The areas below these points are permitted to be uncovered unless the general custom of the city that any given women lives in is to cover these areas (Mishna Berura 74:2). In addition, a woman’s shirt should cover her collar bone. Jewish law also requires married women to cover their hair. The standards of dress for men are less clear, generally following the modern trends of decency in dress.
Besides the basic concept of modesty, that we try to avoid causing others to think improper thoughts, Judaism sees modesty as one of the keys to unlocking one’s spiritual potential. By clothing ourselves in accordance with proper standards of modesty we are sending a message to ourselves and to others that we view our physical body as secondary to our soul, our true essence. Since a person often acts according to the way that he dresses (for example, an immodestly dressed woman on the beach is bound to act in a more physical manner than a royally dressed woman at a ball), modesty tends to bring out a person’s inner refinement and nobility of soul. Understandably, the sages of the Talmud referred to their clothes as “Mechubdasi”, “my honor”. It is the natural recognition of our holy essence that tells us to cover our physicality, thereby allowing our souls the ability to shine through. It should be obvious, then, why we are never shocked to see a naked dog roaming the streets. Since we recognize that animals are basically physical beings, acting out of instinct, we do not expect them to be covered with clothing.
As we have seen, some basic standards of modesty are viewed as subjectively proper, breeding a fundamental refinement of character, while further stringincies in modesty may be required based on the trends of the time. I hope this aids you in your search for attaining greater modesty in your life.
Yochai Robkin
Project Genesis