Now...In my commitment to blog about Islam from time to time I decided to post about something most girls love talking about...clothing. I know there are a lot of misconceptions about what a Muslim woman can/can not wear. Even Muslims themselves have debates about what is "Islamic" and what is not. The fact of the matter is that a Muslim woman is free to wear many different styles. It depends on her taste. But, her dress should fall within certain guidelines. Islamically, a Muslim woman should dress modestly, covering most parts of her body when in mixed company (by this I mean men and women together at the same event, and the men are not close male relatives to her). She should also wear a head scarf. She should refrain from tight fitted clothing. However, if she is in the company of only women and/or close male relatives such as her sons, father, grandfather, nephews, uncles, or husband she does not have to dress as conservatively. In these situations she is free to wear sleeveless tops/dresses, knee-length bottoms, etc.
Because Muslims live all around the world, culture definitely affects fashion choices. I have collected pictures of some common Islamic fashion to share with you.
First, lets talk head scarf, also known as "hijab" by many Muslims. There are many, many types of hijabs. Different colors, patterns, fabrics, styles, etc. This hijab, is known as the "Amira Hijab"(Amira is an Arabic name which means princess). It is usually a two piece hijab. The smaller piece is worn underneath as shown in the 2nd image. I like this style for traveling. It stays put, no need to worry about it slipping.
There are also square shaped and oblong shaped scarves made of any kind of material you can image. The square ones are usually folded into a big triangle, worn over the head and pinned under the chin with a pin. The oblong style is simply wrapped around the end with or without a pin. The oblong style is my current favorite. Both of these can be worn with an under scarf to prevent slipping. Here are a couple of examples.
Onto the clothing...here are some examples of "Islamic" clothing.
An "abaya"...what women must wear here in Saudi when they go out. These come in many styles and designs.
A "jilbab"...this is basically like a really long coat, worn over clothing.
A "jilabiya" or "dishdash"...a long, covering garment usually decorated with embellishments. Some women prefer to wear simple versions around the house as they are quite comfy and easy to move in. Some women chose to wear very elaborate ones for formal occasions.
Prayer outfit...okay, this is not an everyday fashion piece, it's an everyday prayer piece. When a Muslim woman performs her five daily prayers she should cover everything except her hands and her face. A prayer garment is not mandatory, however it a nice way to ensure every thing's covered properly for prayer. I for one like to use prayer garments as I often wear things like capris and short sleeves. I can just slip my prayer garment over my outfit to pray, then slip it back off and fold it up when I'm finished.
When I converted to Islam, I slowly started to change my wardrobe to a more modest one. After a few years I found myself packing for my move to Saudi Arabia. Unknowingly, I gave away many of my favorite pieces thinking they were not modest enough. After all, I was moving to Saudi Arabia, the land where women must be dressed the most conservative of all, right? WRONG! Little did I know that because women wear abaya over their clothes to go out, and also because many social gatherings are segregated (men in one room/banquet hall, women in another), that women have the opportunity to really dress up. They are able to wear pieces such as these:
Short sleeves, even sleeveless tops and dresses, knee length skirts, even skinny jeans. And that's for a more laid back occasion. When there's a formal gathering such as a wedding, you will see some of the most amazing gowns, make-up, and hair. The women can dress all up, cover with their abaya for the ride there, and reveal their beautiful selves upon arrival. I have a joke with my friends that the Saudi women have fashion shows every time they get together. ;)
So what do I do? What do I wear? I've been Muslim for over 9 years and I've gone through a lot of stages, trying to find what I feel is right within Islam. I don't mind the whole modesty thing. And I do wear a head scarf. But as far as clothing goes, I love fashion. I don't want to be all frumpy looking. I want to look stylish and put together. Also, I'm American. So I have the right to be influenced by my own culture but within religious guidelines. Here in Saudi, I wear what I like (thanks to my trusty abaya). My fashion choices are wide open. But in America, I don't wear the abaya so I make sure my tops have 3/4 to full sleeves. I try not to wear tight clothing. I usually wear jeans, dress pants, or cargos with tops that are a bit longer in length. A typical outfit I may wear in America would be something like this:
A tunic with a long sleeved shirt underneath, some pants, and a matching scarf (on my head, of course).
Tunics are great for us Muslim gals. Short dresses can also work when paired with pants. The dress below could definitely work with some pants or jeans. And whenever my top is short sleeved I either wear a long sleeved top underneath or throw a light weight cardi over top. Cardigans are great because when I'm hanging out with my family at home I wear short sleeves, then I just throw on my cardi before going out. Easy.
Needless to say my winter visits in PA are easy. My head scarf is very helpful in keeping me extra warm. The challenge comes during summer visits when temps rise and clothes seem to disappear. But I think I've finally got the hang of it all.
The important thing about fashion no matter what your religion, is to have your own individual style. Find what works for you. ;)
All images found via hijabyonline.com, promod.eu, and yahoo image search
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