Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Muslim fashion style for the dignity of women

The common misconception is that Islamic clothes for women are based on 'old-fashioned' principles. The truth is that Islamic clothing, while being necessarily 'modest,' does not need to sacrifice elegance, dignity and style. While traditional approaches to such clothing might have actually added to this perception, there are a host of new styles and designs that actually combine contemporary benefits with traditional values. Muslim women today have a range of never-before options, where they can get traditional apparel within easy reach.
Islamic Clothes for Women: Who, What, Where?
Thanks to the Internet, there are a host of online stores that have sprung up catering to niche categories of customers, and Islamic clothes for women are no exception. Take EastEssence.com for example. This online store offers a range of traditional wear that includes:
Abayas,Jilbabs,Hijabs,Scarves,Shawls,Jackets,Skirts,Sets (combined sets of upper and lower clothing and head scarf),Marriage and bridal wear (such as sherwanis and lehengas),Shoes,Accessories.
Furthermore, the range is not just limited to women's clothes. You will also find clothing for men and children, school uniforms for girls and boys, and even options such as custom sizes that are tailored to your specifications, such as length.
Islamic Clothes for Women: Advantage Online
Online stores can also prove to be a money saving option. Such outlets do not require the maintenance of a physical presence in the market, in terms of an actual shop. This enables them to avoid a number of costs and overheads. Such cost savings are usually channelled back to the customers in terms of discounts and special offers.
Niche websites, such as those who offer Islamic clothes for women, need to constantly increase their customer base in order to sustain themselves. To attract and increase customer reach, almost all websites have some form of discount or special offer ongoing


Look Graceful With Hijab



As more and more Muslim women are beginning to understand the importance of wearing hijabs, they are coming up with ways of making their selves look distinguished and graceful with their headgear. Although hijabs have been in use for a very long time, it is only recently that people have started to pay attention to detail regarding them. Most Middle Eastern women have been utilizing their aesthetic sense to present a more confident and refined appearance while wearing hijabs. With the popularity increasing in the Western world as well, more creative and attractive hijabs are being seen all over the world.

It is not a matter of just wearing hijabs for religious reasons, but also to present yourself as a polished and stylish person while at the same time being modest with your attire. So how can we achieve all this with just a single clothing article? The answer lies within each of us, and by understanding our own motives and reasons; we can portray the essence of a Muslim woman to the entire world.

For many wearing hijabs is not an option, but a mandatory thing imposed by either the societal norms or the religious ones. However, when you choose to wear them yourself, that is when you begin to understand the reasons behind it. Although Islam has mandated modest clothing for women and men, the emphasis is normally just on women by our societies. Being a Muslim woman myself, I felt necessary to gain knowledge and then practice. So after numerous hours spent researching the topic of suitable Muslim attire, I reached the conclusion that covering my head indeed does represent a more modest and decent persona to others. When I feel confident wearing hijabs, I present an image of grace and elegance that impresses others to follow suit.

When dressing to go out in public, it is of utmost importance to check yourself and select clothing items that best compliment your personality along with being appropriate for the occasion that you are dressing for. Hijabs when worn in simple colors and cotton blends; present a down-to-earth and plain image, which is most apt for work surroundings. On the contrary, vibrant colors in silken fabrics create a fancy and extravagant look that is suitable for formal occasions. However, no matter what color or fabric you select, the most important part of creating a distinguished look is finding the most accentuating colors, fabrics and styles to fill your wardrobe. This makes it easier to create the perfect look at any time and for any event!

Ways to Wear Muslim Fashion




Are you looking for muslim fashion which is trendy yet modest? With fashion do you know where to draw the line? What are the do's and don'ts for muslim clothing? This article will discuss some ways on how to dress modestly.

First of all, always remind yourself of the Islamic dress code. Your clothes should be long, loose fitted and not transparent. Muslim women should also cover their heads with a head scarf (hijab).

If you prefer to wear traditional muslim clothing then you can chose to wear long abayas (long kaftan like dresses), which originate from the arab countries. There are so many designs to choose from. From the classic black and trendy urban styles to more western styles. You can even get designer ones; or you might like to wear the traditional shalwar kameez (loose tunic and trouser), which originates from India/Pakistan. You are spoilt for choice. So much to choose from!

One thing to remember is to keep the glitter and glitz to a minimum for everyday wear. Go for a casual and simple look for everyday wear, and leave the glitter and glitz for special occasions or evening wear.

If you live in the west and want to wear modest western muslim fashion clothes, there is still a lot to choose from. You could go for long full length dresses or long full length skirts with lose and full sleeved tops or long sleeved blouses. You could also wear shorter length dresses with loose trouser or jeans - This is a trend that has been very popular recently amongst the western fashion world. You could also wear long sleeved, knee length, tunic style tops with loose trouser or jeans. Again you are spoilt with choice. The key is to be creative and mix and match clothing items to give you a modest look.

Traditional and western designs can be brought from many shops; or nowadays there is so much available online. Just spend some time planning your outfits and soon you will be making your own trends in muslim fashion.

About Islamic Clothing

Islam is one of the most influential religions of the world. Its followers are spread all across the world. Though people's clothes are influenced by their culture and tradition, there are other factors that can motivate them. Some of these factors include availability of resources and materials, climate, social status and group identity. Islamic clothing also follows the same pattern. The Muslim attires usually vary from place to place.

Islamic clothing usually reflects their belief and values. Their garments must be modest and decent in appearance. Though they are simple, the outfits worn by Muslim men and women are quite attractive. Most of these clothes are made from cotton and are very much suitable for hot and humid conditions. Thereby, this type of Islamic clothing is in high demands in Asian and Middle East countries.

Generally Islamic clothing is differentiated into two main groups - the Islamic urban wear and the rural wear. The former are usually highly fashionable cloths and are costly. They include shirt and paint with suit as well as the traditional jubbah and pajamas. On the other hand, the rural wears include cotton pajamas and jubbah for men. The rural women wear simple salwar-kurta along with black Burkha over their face.

These garments are also very loose to ensure that they do not distinguish or outline the shape of body underneath. Apart from covering their body in public, the apparels worn by Muslim men and women should also be thick enough to cover the real color of the skin. Usually shiny and flashy clothes are forbidden by Islam as they can overpower their overall modesty. In addition, it is a taboo for Islam men to wear the feminine accessories like gold and silk.

These clothes are also available in various different ranges. They are ideal to bring a change in your personality and look. Men can conveniently opt for the fashionable jubbahs and pajamas. Women looking for such apparels can buy burka that covers your body completely and hijabs, which are modest and loose garments and come with a scarf. This scarf goes over your head and then under your chin. Other types of Muslim attires for women include abayas and jilbab.

You can buy Islamic clothing at the wholesale market as well as from online stores. There are many good shops that sell quality and exclusive Islamic clothing. However, buying them from online shopping site is always beneficial as such sites offer high discount rates




Good Shopping Muslim Fashions



In many countries around the world, it is common practice even today for fashion-conscious young women to build colorful scrapbooks which feature attractively dressed women in a variety of outfits attending major events, participating in family gatherings, and modeling brand name consumer products of one sort or another. These pictures are mostly cut out of magazines and newspapers and offer a unique perspective on the social fabric of the day. Peak into one of these scrapbooks belonging to a Muslim family from a generation ago and you will notice the highly conservative trend these fashions depict. Abayas, hijabs and jilbabs worn in yester years were mostly single color, utilitarian and devoid of any embellishments or fancy awnings. Flip the digital dial to the 21st century and you have Nike offering an exclusive line of athletic hijabs for young Muslim women active on the sports field. We have come a long way indeed.

The Million Dollar Question about Muslim Fashions

"Where are the fancy abayas, hijabs and jilbabs available for purchase," you ask. Before we tell you, let us engage in a minor course correction. Today's Muslim fashions may be fancy, colorful and creative but they are not immodest. They continue to conform to the Muslim directive which essentially says that Muslim women should dress conservatively. Conservatism doesn't imply an absence of honest creativity as you will soon find out.

With the festival and gift-giving season round the corner, there is no better reason to purchase the favorite abaya or hijab of your choice both for yourself as well as for family and friends. The mighty Internet now offers a proven and tested option for you to purchase your favorite outfit online owing to the numerous Islamic fashion clothing stores on the Internet today one of which happens to be ours. The power of high resolution graphics, animation, and the ability to customize your purchases has set the Internet buzzing with shopping possibilities which you can now leverage easily without risk. Google the name of the outfit you would like to purchase such as "abayas," "jilbabs" or "hijabs" and a whole slew of e-commerce websites will surface instantly. Review the designs, patterns and color combinations. Be sure to read the garment specifications for the type of fabric used. It might be a good idea to check the return policy and warranty as well while you are at it. If you believe that a little alteration just might be in the works, use the sizing chart on the website to determine the ideal length for your purchase. Complete the order with your credit card or Paypal and you are done. A package will arrive in the mail before you know it.

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Muslim Fashion Is Undergoing A Revolution?




A brief internet search highlights articles on a number of Islamic fashion festivals and shows and numerous websites selling Muslim clothing and providing fashion tips. I was particularly impressed by the stunning outfits showcased at the Islamic Fashion Festival 2009, which took place in Jakarta.

Muslim women often wear designer labels underneath their outer garments and increasingly they want to wear fashionable outerwear too. Devout need not mean drab. Fashion designers are waking up to this need for trendy Muslim clothing, and specialised stores, websites and fashion shows are springing up across the UK.

European fashion labels are beginning to embrace Muslim fashion. In June 2009 at The Saks Fifth Avenue Riyadh and Jeddah fashion show held at the George V hotel in Paris, top European fashion labels including John Galliano and Blumarine showcased models wearing couture abayas.

Designers have realised that many Muslim women are wearing designer brands, but that these garments are usually covered by a black abaya. This has led them to consider the idea of producing designer abayas, will this mark the beginning of a new fashion trend for both Muslim and non Muslim women?

The designers and retailers seem suddenly to have woken up to the fact that Muslim women are as interested in fashion as any other women, and whilst a cynic might put this down to the recognition of a very lucrative and as yet virtually uptapped market, a wider availability of fashionable Muslim clothes must surely be good for Muslim women everywhere.

It may be that Muslim women themselves, however well versed in the nuances and requirements of their religion, will be best equipped to introduce traditional garments to the world of high fashion.

The Contemporary Attire for Muslim Women







Jilbabs are among the most famous clothing items for the Muslim women of today. Jilbabs can be defined as long and loose garments that cover the entire body from tip to toe. Islamic tradition demands that women should be concealed when they come out in public. Although a lot of women don't follow these rules, some have still retained the age-old values of the religion of Islam.

Jilbab can be easily worn over everyday clothing. The basic idea behind this is to keep the whole body covered when women are out in a public place. Times have changed, so have the tastes of women all over the world. That is why jilbabs are now being designed along contemporary and elegant lines so that they look stylish and achieve their purpose too.

Jilbabs were originally manufactured in black but now they are sold in colors such as blue, lavender, mauve, plum, light grey, and chocolate. Laces and sequins are also used to give it a more modern look. Jilbabs can be sported at almost all occasions such as weddings, birthday parties, and even to work. Beaded clothing also works quite well.

Jilbabs in earlier days were of a more conservative nature with mandarin type collars. But these days, Peter Pan collars and V necks are used to make the outfit look attractive. The garment is also provided with an A-line shape to give a slim look. Zipped pockets are another addition to the traditional jilbab. Swarovski stones on a jilbab will certainly make you stand out in a crowd. Gone are the days when these garments were considered to be plain and conservative; you can easily look hip and fashionable wearing it now.