One consequence of Islamic puritanism w.r.t. attire has been to render unfashionable any civilized debate on the appropriateness of different fashions and attires
Those debates are now deemed not to belong to civilized discourse
Those debates are now deemed not to belong to civilized discourse
"Fashion" today is regarded as an organic evolutionary process
There is no room for "moral judgments" on fashions.
One has to just move with the spirit of the times
There is no room for "moral judgments" on fashions.
One has to just move with the spirit of the times
E.g. Top hats were famous in 1920s, not today
So you cannot really make a "moral" argument in favor of Top hats. That's just silly.
Similarly no attire can be regarded as "indecent" or unbecoming. Anything goes as long as it fits the mood of our milieu
So you cannot really make a "moral" argument in favor of Top hats. That's just silly.
Similarly no attire can be regarded as "indecent" or unbecoming. Anything goes as long as it fits the mood of our milieu
Attire is one area where we have turned wholly "historicist" in our approach.
It is the "times" we live in that determines what's "decent" and what's not.
We cannot judge these things in a time invariant way
It is the "times" we live in that determines what's "decent" and what's not.
We cannot judge these things in a time invariant way
One point that came up in a discussion with @akshayalladi is that modernity regards the attributes / principles of "purity" and "modesty" as antiquated
So attire is never discussed using those prisms anymore
So attire is never discussed using those prisms anymore
People may still adhere to dress codes in formal settings out of convenience, and out of an urge not to "stand out".
But intellectually the principle of personal liberty overrides any concern with modesty
But intellectually the principle of personal liberty overrides any concern with modesty
Same thing extends to discussions on "etiquette"
Back in 19th century, there were entire books written on etiquette. Emily Post was a household name - the American guru on what's "proper"
Today, discussions on etiquette is regarded as an exercise in social exclusion / snobbery
Back in 19th century, there were entire books written on etiquette. Emily Post was a household name - the American guru on what's "proper"
Today, discussions on etiquette is regarded as an exercise in social exclusion / snobbery
As with attire, etiquette has become "dependent" on time and place. And even that is very flexible.
You are not supposed to raise your eyebrows if someone flouts the conventionally regarded rules of etiquette (even in your own region)
You are not supposed to raise your eyebrows if someone flouts the conventionally regarded rules of etiquette (even in your own region)
