It’s 30 minutes after the time you promised your friend you’d show up, but there’s only one problem…you have nothing to wear! Your mom reminds you that your closet is filled with clothes, but nothing seems to be “just right”. Too tight, too short, too dull, too…funky? Everything just seems wrong. You feel that there’s no way to balance being hijabi and fashionable at the same time. You eye the plain black abaya on your chair and wonder if fashion stops once you wrap your hijab around your head. You begin to view hijab as a chain around your neck instead of recognizing its beauty. This scenario might seem oddly specific, but the reality is that this is the case for many Muslim women. To address this issue, we interviewed some of BHA’s most fashionable, yet modest, teachers.
Ms. Susan Almasri, an English teacher at BHA, is known for her simple, yet classy, modest outfits. When asked about her go-to shops, Ms. Almasri described her preference towards online Muslim stores like Fares and Vela. She reassures that in her experience, the only issue she’s had with online shopping is late shipping, addressing the widespread fear of online scams. Ms. Almasri also believes that simplicity in one’s clothes is far superior to overstated outfits. “Simple is better…sometimes when you try to do too much, it gets kind of frustrating as you’re not able to put things together.”
Additionally, Ms. Almasri provides valuable advice concerning the issue of outfit repetition. Many Muslim girls face the maddening problem of having too many clothes, yet hardly any outfits. She mentions that while there’s “nothing wrong with repeating outfits”, she recommends searching for specific characteristics of clothing items when shopping. Specifically, Ms. Almasri emphasizes the importance of buying “multi-use” items since mixing and matching provides more creative freedom and allows each garment to reach its full potential. Ms. Almasri concludes by advising girls to “keep shopping” and not to wait for an occasion; if you like something and feel that you can style it, buy it! At the same time, keep the balance by donating (or selling) clothes you don’t wear/need anymore.
Known for her great taste in shoes and her stylish attire, Ms. Nora, BHA’s computer science teacher, expresses her thoughts on what makes an outfit not just a piece of clothing, through a statement. “The real power is in the accessories…shoes or a hijab can make an outfit,” she says when asked about what makes an outfit stand out. She adds, “In fashion, there’s no definitive right or wrong: you make it up as you go.” Fashion is ever-changing, and what’s considered “in” or “trending” is never the same as a couple of months ago. By wearing something that highlights your personality while reflecting your faith, such as the hijab, you can transform clothing from temporary trends into a timeless expression. Mrs. Nora stresses this idea further, stating, “Nowadays, showing too much skin isn’t cute anymore; modesty is more beautiful.” We can see this apply to social media trends that dictate and influence our views on beauty. While society constantly shifts its standard of beauty, like Mrs. Nora said, modesty remains eternally beautiful. For Muslims, dressing with dignity and according to what Allah has ordered for us has always been a sign of respect and beauty that transcends even online trends. Ms. Nora also offers some advice for hijabis struggling to balance modesty with fashion: “Be creative. Mix and match different colors and see what works out for you.” She also provides insight on what hijabs work best, sharing, “I prefer the modals since they stay in place. The chiffon hijabs slide too easily.”
Hijab serves to redefine beauty by emphasizing the fact that being beautiful to your Creator is far superior to conforming to modern beauty standards. One’s hijab is meant to be a connection to Allah SWT, and a way to maintain dignity in a world where society encourages immodesty and the objectification of women. However, it is in no way a barrier to dressing in a way that makes you confident and comfortable. Modesty and elegance can go hand-in-hand; just because you have one doesn’t mean you can’t have the other.
As Ms. Bana, a history teacher at BHA, said, “Fashion doesn’t stop once you become hijabi, it only changes.” Ultimately, there are countless ways to remain fashionable and modest, including accessorizing elegantly and maintaining a staple closet of timeless pieces you can mix and match. At the end of the day, Islamic fashion is a way to express yourself while following the commands of Allah. As the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “Shyness does not bring anything except good.”
