Who said you can’t dress modestly in the summer and still be fashionable? Well, now you can, because Orthodox Jewish designers Chaya Chanin and Simi Polonsky have some tips for you to stay cool and stylish. Originally from Australia, they know a thing or two about the heat.
The duo are the style queens behind The Frock NYC and know quite a bit about how hard it can be staying cool in the summer months, telling Vogue:
“Naturally, we are big shvitzers—we start sweating at the mere sight of the weather app’s digits rising above 75 degrees—so staying cool in the summer is vital. Because it’s hot, and we need to cover a lot of ground—as in skin—we’ve become professional ‘summer-innovators’ when it comes to dressing cooly.”
Chanin and Polonsky both abide by tznius, the Jewish law that requires that most of the body be covered, especially the knees, elbows, and collarbone. So, how do they do it?
They began customizing their own clothes when they were younger, such as adding crochet ribbon to hemlines and sleeves for coverage while also keeping cool. This is why they eventually started their label–as a way to provide chic yet modest basics for the observant girl who’s tired of the same old boring items.
The team, who refer to themselves as “layering queens,” currently live in Brooklyn’s Crown Heights neighborhood. To combat the hot NYC summers, they opt for “natural, breathable fabrics” and suggest that “billowy and oversize pieces allow for a cross breeze.”
One of their priceless tips, however, is something we can all easily get: XXL Hanes tees. As Polonsky points out, they are very versatile:
“Today, I took a size 6XL Hanes men’s T-shirt, cut it down the middle, and tied the ends together to make a cool layer on top of the Frock Fluid dress. The Hanes T-shirt is also good to have in the closet to fix any sleeveless situation.”
Doesn’t this just make you want to go home and do some fashion crafting now? Below are some of my favorite outfits of theirs, via their Instagram:
A photo posted by Chaya & Simi (@thefrocknyc) on
A photo posted by Chaya & Simi (@thefrocknyc) on
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