clearly I need to put on some music. launch.com to the rescue.

One very important difference between a haredi girl and, say, me, is the connection to the western culture and the, in the lack of a better phrase, "outside world". Part of this lack of connection shows itself in clothes.

I think the general US term for these folks is ultra-orthodox. And, yes, on a sweltering July day in New York, I always feel sorry for the men wearing furry hats. I think it would be only fair if they were allowed to swap to nice cotton hats during the summer, to avoid heatstroke.

So, as orthodox but not THAT orthodox, you sort of fall between the cracks of specialty stores? Is no fair. Then again, who wants to fall right down the middle of a trend/demographic group? That way lies not getting the individual attention/style you deserve.

And I want sleeves to cover my flabby arms, but if I can't find a dress I like, I will have a bolero jacket made to cover the flaws.

MFN, a good bridal shop will be able to add sleeves.

I knew the risks when I did it.

Gotta blame it on something.

Everything is my fault.

on a sweltering July day in New York, I always feel sorry for the men wearing furry hats.

Each hat means something - if the man wears a slightly different hat, it means that he's from a different "hasidic" group, of a different rabbi. Also, the clothes themselves may sometimes be different. Oh, and USA-Orthodox is quite different from Israel-Orthodox (as if there weren't enough definitions for groups as it is).

So, as orthodox but not THAT orthodox, you sort of fall between the cracks of specialty stores?

Yup. And that's in everyday clothes, as well. As if it weren't a problem enough to find something that fits.

And with that, I'm off home. Good night, thread. Good natter. Sleep well. I'll most likely whine in you in the morning.

Whatever you do, don't put the blame on you.

Everything is my fault.

I can't say I've ever blamed anything on Nilly. In fact, whenever I lose my car keys, I never say "Darn that Nilly and her mathiness!"

Everything is my fault.

What's TOTALLY your fault is the incredibly enjoyable trip I had to SF last year. You big meanie, making me take a trip to see people I like so much!

In fact, whenever I lose my car keys, I never say "Darn that Nilly and her mathiness!"

Well, I never did before, but you can bet I'm going to now.

Maria, if this link works it should take you to a shitload of long-sleeved dresses, many really rather gorgeous, on theknot.com (for unknown reasons, but probably just motiveless malice, theknot does have a search function for dresses by sleeve length, but it's a sooper-seekrit-advanced search function that is irritatingly hidden):

Thank you! JZ, you need to come back to the east coast and go dress-shopping with me.

The Knot aggravates me more often than not. I don't have the patience to go on a treasure hunt; I have a wedding to plan.

eta: But skip page 2 of the dresses, which contains 9 rather cheesy fake-Renaissance gowns that any period costumer could make you a much, much better-looking custom-fit version of for about half the price.

You can say that again.

MFN, a good bridal shop would be able to add sleeves.

It all depends on what dress I decide I can't live without. I know some of them would look terrible with sleeves.