Their hats are the wrong shape and the crown is too high. If the crown weren't so high, you might be able to say they were aspiring to be Lubavitch. But on the "Street," it's more likely they were aspiring to Satmer, Vizhnitz, Bobov, etc. These goniffs are dressed completely wrong for that type of Chassid. First of all, that type would be wearing what we call a "Biber Hut," (Yiddish, not sure of the etymology), which is round and has a round flat brim. It's also quite possible they may not wear a hat at all, and just opt for a yarmulka, if the meeting they're going to is very casual and will include only well-known acquaintances.

Second, the length of the pants. Can't see the first one clearly but the second one is wearing pants that are too long, and the style is too slim. A real Chassid would wear straight leg pants at a shorter length. They would not break over his shoe, which is, in the rest of the world, actually the way to determine that a pant is at the correct length. Chassidim don't care about clothing etiquette, they just wouldn't be wearing pants this length.

Thirdly, the style of glasses on the first guy is too contemporary, especially the tortoiseshell rims. A Chassid would be wearing wire-rimmed glasses so untrendy that they can't even be called nostalgic. I don't think I've ever seen a Chassid in a pair of tortoiseshell glasses. Incidentally, I'm pretty sure that among the more worldly Chassidim, there are men who wear contact lenses, and just don't talk about it. It's not a sin and it's not immoral.

This is one of those things that will only fool people who have a passing knowledge of what to expect, but it wouldn't fool someone who lives inside that culture.

 Reply

Who took the jam out of your donut, Hamilton?

 Reply

All that matters to them is money.

 Reply