I think quite a lot about this issue and I struggled with myself whether I should write about it or not. It’s always risky when it comes to religion, so people watch their mouths or think twice before they say something. Therefore, it’s always an interesting issue too. Nonetheless, this blog entry isn’t about insulting any religion or criticizing people’s way of life. I can’t do it anyway because of the lack of background knowledge. Being raised as a Muslim girl and knowing many other girls, who wear Hijab, made me write about it.
Anyway, blogs in general and especially fashion blogs turned out to be a phenomenon in the internet society, which isn’t just a trend but a longer lasting thing. So I realized even Muslim girls have their “fashion blogs”, especially on Facebook.
It’s a fact that every girl wants to look good and attractive and it’s not morally objectionable that there are fashion advices out there for every group of people. Many designers are influenced by the islamic culture and the fashion. There are fashion designers for that group of Muslim women too. If you want to live a certain way, then do it. If you want to dress up a certain way, then do it. In my opinion that’s part of what makes freedom. One thing you shouldn’t do is to lie to yourself because everyone dresses up to be beautiful, recognized and self-fulfilled and that’s ok. The world is much more beautiful if there are beautiful things to see. Keep it fresh!
Street Style shoots
Fashion Magazine about Hijab Fashion
Style Tutotial
One of my very good friends is a white girl who converted and after a year of conversion, began wearing the hijab. Many of my friends were not at ease with her conversion, but I thought it was awesome and her choice. In fact, I remember when she first told me, I said, “Cool!” She told me later how taken aback by my laid back response. I think if she’s found a religion she loves and feels comfortable with, who am I to judge? Also, as for the hijabs, she has the largest assortment of pretty scarves, so I definitely like seeing that this culture of hijab-fashion. While I like my hair and not covering it, I admire the sentiment of wanting to own our sexuality by choosing who we show it to (at least that’s how my friend describes the hijab). Anyway, thanks for sharing!
Thank you for your comment Alice.:)
It’s funny to see how Muslim fashion has changed over even just the last couple of years. I guess I’m in love with what I call traditional Muslim dress: abayas/jilbab, salwar kameeze, lengha, etc. but that’s probably just down to the generation I belong to. Maybe it’s not even traditional at all and perhaps the previous generation looked at us funnily too, scratching their heads at this newfangled innovation in clothing and harking after their own traditions. I suppose every new generation innovates.
For my generation simply wearing the hijab at all was a big thing, something our mothers didn’t do, although our grandmothers wore a loose dupatta. So maybe our approach to hijab was quite conservative. The new generation, the second generation if you like seem much more flamboyant: luminous colours, leopard-skin prints, voluminous scarves. I guess that’s how they want to express themselves, whereas for my generation it was a much simpler affair.
On the other hand, there is a hijab industry now (online shops, fashion boutiques, magazines), whereas my first hijabs were just a large square cut from a roll of fabric and stitched round the edges. Which, by the way, I still think were beautiful.
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