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A little girl walks through the middle of the mall holding her aunt’s hand. Two women gawk at her, first in small glances and short whispers before they halt the maneuvering of shopping bags to steady their gaze. She turns abruptly, releasing her aunt’s hold. She looks both women squarely in the eyes and shouts emphatically, “Don’t you know you’re not supposed to stare!”

John Cassian surprisingly begins his Institutes, which describes the life of the desert Fathers in Egypt, with clothing. The monks must dress to fit their vocation, for the monk will be known like the Prophet Elijah, “by the description of the character of his clothing.”