The Muslim Woman

This is a difficult question to answer because there are so many misconceptions and misunderstandings about Islamic attire for women. Many people have this mental image of a woman draped in a shapeless black cloth with a slit for the eyes. In reality, because Islam is not a monolithic geographical bloc, dress practices themselves vary from country to country. Let us recall that the basic tenet for women’s clothing is that women should dress modestly and this tenet is exceedingly unlikely to change. In today’s world, fashion is a means to express your personality and project the kind of person that you are. Your choices of fabric, colors, style and so on are made keeping the personality in mind. There is now a wide range of Islamic dresses that are available, which let you project your personality while still respecting the tradition and the rules of religion. In other words, you can be fashionable while still being modestly dressed, and you can be trendy without breaking the rules. For instance, there are many designer Abayas that are available. The Abaya is the garment that is worn to cover the body from shoulders to foot and is traditionally black in color. It is traditionally worn with a headdress or a Hijab (headscarf) to cover the head. In keeping with the dictates of fashion, Abayas are now available in a variety of fabrics and designs. You can choose from many bright colors as well as sequins and hand embroidery to embellish these designer clothes. As for fabric, you have the choice of cotton, crepe, silk or chiffon. You can also buy a matching Hijab from a wide range of colors and fabric. Even the traditional black Abaya has received a complete makeover and is now available as a designer garment complete with fashionable cut, hand embroidery or patchwork. As never before, Islamic women now have the chance to display their personality while observing all the rules and traditions of their religion.