Letter from Israel

Tel Aviv's Fashion Paradox

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By Meredith Price

 

Clothing in Tel Aviv runs the gamut from conservative ultra-Orthodox to trendy high fashion.

One of the defining elements of Tel Aviv is its overabundance of opposites - from the shrimp-frying, pork-roasting cafes to the strict kosher restaurants that meticulously serve either milk or meat; from the ultra-Orthodox to the flamboyantly secular. Even the geography in Israel has elements of polar opposition - from the lowest point on earth in the Dead Sea to the snow-capped peaks of Mount Hermon. And fashion - from the tight, short and fitted to the modest, long and black - is no exception.

An ultra-Orthodox man with a thick beard, curling sideburns, a heavy fur-lined top hat and a black coat and trousers over a white button-down shirt, practically melting in the heat, is patiently waiting for the bus beside some young, well-endowed fake blonde in flip-flops with her chest popping out of her tank top and a skirt so tiny that it should be classified as underwear.

It's a strange sight but a common one in Tel Aviv.

Yet, despite ultra-Orthodox minorities who dress like it's the middle of Siberia year-round, high fashion is alive and well in Tel Aviv. Trendy to trashy, Dizengoff and Shenkin streets are home to upscale designer boutiques and expensive, brand-name labels. A blend of European haute-couture and American sass is taken to the extreme with the provocative, sexy threads sold all over the city.

But why do Israeli women and teens in Tel Aviv feel free to walk around in such tiny hot pants and barely there tops despite the Mediterranean male chauvinists who roam the streets hooting and honking? There are a few explanations.

According to GO magazine (the Israeli version of Seventeen) Editor in Chief Liat Levi-Kopelman, Israeli teens are much less concerned about the threat of internal violence than American teens, and this frees them to wear more provocative clothing without feeling at risk.

"In America, the country is so huge that people don't feel like one big family the way they do here, and the threats they face are often from their fellow countrymen," Levi-Kopelman says. "It's not that they have more crazy or violent people; they just have more of them because the population is so much larger." The relaxed beach mentality might be another explanation. Despite Atlanta's hot, humid summers, for example, it is not on the waterfront, and hopping into the Atlantic for a quick swim or surf is not an option the way it is for Tel Aviv residents.

Levi-Kopelman adds that in Israel, specifically Tel Aviv, women wear much sexier, lower-cut, tighter and more daring clothing than in the United States. "This is partially due to the hot beach climate and partially due to the more mature mentality," she explains.

But although many Americans dress more conservatively, for the fashion-mongers on vacation here, some fantastic designer clothing markets offer beautiful, original clothing at low prices.

The best designer clothing market in Tel Aviv is held every Thursday afternoon and most of the day Friday in a large, basement room of Dizengoff Center Shopping Mall. Rack after rack, young designers showcase their newest collections in one large arena, and the prices are about the same as you find at Castro, one of the largest Israeli clothing companies. A few steps above the showroom, a row of hand-made jewelry, accessories and handbags is a great place to buy original gifts at low prices.

If it's retro or secondhand you're after, Yaffo's flea market is a perfect place to browse for bargains. In the winter, they have a fabulous selection of nice coats, and, of course, all the hippie wear from India and Thailand can be bought for a few shekels. For upscale boutique shopping, head to Kikar Masaryk at the end of King George Street.

In addition to the secular Israeli trends, a number of designer stores selling Modern Orthodox fashions, such as high-end wigs, hats and long skirts, can be found on Allenby Street near the Carmel market.

For incredibly original footwear, try Gazith. They have stores all over the country, but in Tel Aviv there are locations on Dizingoff and Sheinkin streets. At the end of the day, extreme opposites in fashion turn out to be a good thing. Shopping for clothing in Israel offers something for every taste - from the most modest to the most provocative. And you can be sure of two things: You won't find anyone in Atlanta wearing the Israeli designer articles of clothing you buy here, and you won't pay nearly as much for brand names as you would at home.

Meredith Price grew up in Marietta and bought a ticket to Tel Aviv on Sept. 10, 2001. She writes a column on Israeli innovations and cultural features for The Jerusalem Post. You can reach her at meredithmprice@yahoo.com.

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