Attire

Reading a very interesting new book called Yiddish Civilization by Paul Kriwaczek while he admits right at the beginning that he's neither "a learned Jew nor a professional historian," the book is very interesting thus far. I really enjoyed his insight on the Chassidic style of dress found in the quote below. Please note I've added bold for emphasis and reference.

Back in the 1950’s most London Jews dressed like everyone else. Not particularly to make themselves inconspicuous, but because they saw no reason to be different...Today’s orthodox take pride in singling themselves out by their apparel, asserting their right to look different. Moreover many Chassidim, particularly on Sabbaths and holidays, go further and wear what amounts to a historic costume: black caftan fastened with a sash round the middle, knee breaches over white stockings, together with a wheel-shaped brown fur hat – an ensemble apparently attuned to the fashion sense of seventh-century Polish noblemen. The new eagerness to stand out from the crowd isn’t simply a consequence of the rise in orthodoxy among part of the Jewish population…but rather a desire to present themselves publically as Jews. After all, being strictly religious has, in principle, little bearing on attire, which is more a symbol aimed at other people rather than a message to God… The renaissance of Polish court style among the Chassidim is, rather, just one aspect of a sudden and surprising rediscovery and reassertion of Jewry’s eastern European roots among every section of the community. Far from wishing to erase all recollection of the heym(homeland)as in the past, today’s generation is busily trying to revive its memory. p.18-19