Is dressing according to the surroundings we are in considered being respectful or is it considered not having an opinion of our own?
If the minhag in a community is to dress in a NON-modest fashion then to I comply to that?
I think minhag hamakom has more to do with respect of the traditions of a certain community, rather than your personal beliefs. If you go to a conservative shul, wear something that is respectful to them, and the same for boro park. However I believe there is a difference between going to a place and going into an institution there. In boro park there are people who walk around immodestly dressed, so if you were merely walking the streets there would be less of a respect issue. But, if you were going into a shul there, or a person’s home (who keeps a higher standard of modesty), it would be proper to dress respectfully. In the residential section of Meah Shearim in israel one would have to be respectful even outside as no one walks around there immodestly dressed. It would not be infringing on your “right” to dress however you wish; it is a question of respect for a system. To give an extreme example, no one shows up to a funeral in a clown suit because he has the right to wear what he likes. (21)
If the minhag in a community is to dress in a NON-modest fashion then to I comply to that?
I think minhag hamakom has more to do with respect of the traditions of a certain community, rather than your personal beliefs. If you go to a conservative shul, wear something that is respectful to them, and the same for boro park. However I believe there is a difference between going to a place and going into an institution there. In boro park there are people who walk around immodestly dressed, so if you were merely walking the streets there would be less of a respect issue. But, if you were going into a shul there, or a person’s home (who keeps a higher standard of modesty), it would be proper to dress respectfully. In the residential section of Meah Shearim in israel one would have to be respectful even outside as no one walks around there immodestly dressed. It would not be infringing on your “right” to dress however you wish; it is a question of respect for a system. To give an extreme example, no one shows up to a funeral in a clown suit because he has the right to wear what he likes. (21)