The rise of the Hijabista
Tips that can add an instant zing to your hijabi look:
1. Put a huge blinged-out hairpin to secure your scarf. You can get your hands on pins in the shape of dragons, owls, and flowers.
2. Make a bun on top of your head to hold up your scarf. If you like it voluminous, place a big flower clip on your bun and then drape your scarf over it, to pull off the Arabian hijab look.
3. Layering is all the rage these days which is a god send for the covered-up fashionista. Not only does it make an ensemble interesting, it makes staying covered up while looking stylish that much easier. When you wrap your hijab, hold your scarf near the forehead between two fingers of both your hand and twist and turn it to make pleats. Repeat to add more layers.
4. Mix and match: do not stick to one style of scarf. Try different patterns, colours and prints. Matching a hijab can be a real hassle, so try pairing your plain kameezes or tees with a patterned scarf and vice versa. Colour blocking is a good trend to follow when carrying the hijab.
5. Wear contrasting colours and challenge your aesthetics. Pair neutrals with bright-coloured hijabs and you will be surprised how perfectly everything falls in place.
6. Shawl we or shawl we not? With winter round the corner, dig out those pashmina stoles to keep you warm and cover you up.
7. Accessorise: what would a cake be without a cherry on top? An ensemble is always incomplete without accessories. Bracelets, watches and rings are the way to go when wearing a hijab, but carrying necklaces and pendants can be tricky. You can place your pendant over your scarf’s layers. Long necklaces can also look very elegant with a scarf.
8. Brooches add bling to your look, and also prove to be great when it comes to tucking your hijab. So when you spread your scarf to cover your chest, pin a brooch right below your shoulder to keep it in place.
9. Colourise: The market is brimming with what are known as ‘underscarves’ — those caps worn under your scarf which ensure that the hair stays inside the hijab. So pair your hijabs with a different coloured underscarf and play around with colours.
10. Don’t stop yourself from picking up that pretty looking sleeveless or backless dress/tee from the rack because you can always cover up with undershirts or capes.
Hijab don’ts:
1. When accessorising, be wary of how you wear those dangly earrings. Don’t pull out your ears completely out of your hijab or else you will end up looking like Mickey Mouse or Dumbo the Elephant!
2. Discard those net scarves, they look nothing but downright disgusting. You don’t want to end up looking tacky with that!
3. Avoid pinning your scarves with nappy pins. They’re just not right. Avoid pinning it with hair slides, too, however they can be useful in holding together your scarf while layering your hijab.
4. Wearing half sleeves with hijab is like wearing a dress jacket with shorts! Please keep the disparity from spoiling the purpose of your hijab.
5. Keep it minimal: don’t overdo your makeup when you don a hijab, keep it simple.
Published in The Express Tribune, Ms T, November 18th, 2012.
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COMMENTS (50)
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@Saima Bilal: You have the right to have issues, especially as they are the right issues. Many feel that you are wrong but then how does one know that they are right. Common sense tells me that the key factor here is modesty for the female sadly because the male in Pakistan is exempt from the ' teachings ' as he is unable to ' lower his gaze ' - its a sickness.
@Jehadi: Not so much angry as very very passionate. An issue close to my heart, as often I am ostracised by people who claim Im not a good enough Muslim and by those who think I'm backward. I'm kind of hanging in the balance and I'm trying hard to fit in and trying hard to be true to my God. I want what everyone does, to be allowed to be me and be accepted.
I wasn't intentionally trying to be aggressive, apologies if I hurt any sentiments. :)
@Threatened much?: LOL. so angree to label, "" boring threatened men". I take my words back. I agree the face is woman's identity, and fair for fashion is her personality.
@Jehadi: Do me a favour. Nowhere in Islam does it say that women must remain in houses. The stone-ages called, and even they don't want your out dated thoughts anymore. And face covering isn't hijab or islamic. The face is a woman's identity and a flair for fashion is her personality. These hijabis are doing women everywhere a complete justice. I dress like this and proudly so. I love my style, it's how I express myself without using words. I'm covered, so there's nothing to see, that's what modesty is in islam. But I also look freakin awesome and bang on trend! So, for want of some better words, kindly DO ONE!
I wear the scarf in all styles, loose dupatta style when I'm relaxing (and when its so hot i might cry) and pinned up so that my hands are free when I'm working, so I'm not constantly putting it in place (clarity for all those "OMG it's like totally Arabian, man!!" types out here)
Gone are the days where a hijab was boring and tent-like. Power to the Sisters out there!! Hijabistas or otherwise....Don't let boring threatened men try to tell you your place.
End rant.
i wish i could wear shorts here.
I think the comments made about all the bling defeating the objective of the hijab really do not understand the purpose of the hijab, to add a pin to secure a scarf or to wear a flower clip to make the scarf sit well so you don't constantly mess around with it, will not neccesarily attract the opposite sex but an unveiled head will surely attract SOMEONE.
@Ali- if the dupatta is see through then no it is not good enough, if the dupatta is too heavy and may slip then no it is not good enough but a dupatta can be worn as a headscarf. However a dupatta and headscarf can be worn at the same time.
And the comment about wearing the hijab according to your surrounding that is how it should be, Islam teaches us to move with time but not go against the original teachings, HIJAB IS OBLIGATORY how you wear it is a personal thing. In a Western society wearing a hijab is difficult enough with all the pressure you have to endure let alone having to wear it looking like your draped in a curtain!!
Pakistan and the hypocritical Pakistani people should rethink their islamic values, if your going to put on a show of religiousness then do it properly and make the hijab obligatory and observe it like they do in Iran if not then let people wear it how they are.
@Saima Bilal: Are you for real?
hijab and khimar is the real islamic dress when outside in society(not home) code. should be wearing for islamic rule reason not for fashion reason. The inferiority problem is for women who think that: how will people think of me if i wear the islamic dress when outside my home. Thats the real inferiority. The sisters who wear the islamic dress are the one who do not care what other peoples think abt them but the care abt to get Allah`s pleasure.
I don't know about other guys but whenever i see some girl wearing a Hijab, i'm like "Mashallah, so sweet".. :)
*I say that in my heart obviously..* :P
And being a guy, though a 20 year old, but let me tell you that girls who wear Hijab, loOks way more pretty, cute and beautiful than those who don't.. :)
why is our duppatta not good enough? our libaas as well as us are good enough... people need to get out of this inferiority complex!
@S:
@saima Bilal it’s actually quite the opposite. When I see a girl working with me in hijab, I simply have respect for her. Mini skirts reduce women to only sex objects!
You have actually proven Saima's comment to be true. This is what hijab does to men. You end up reducing any woman who isn't wearing a hijab to a sex object. Yours is the mentality that hijab creates, and we want it to end so we can stop living in permanent shells all our lives.
@ioii: @Blah: I had made a similar comment which was reduced to a single word :). This is my experience as well - in the country where I live, most young women wear the same kind of clothes, and so you rarely notice unless there is something out of the ordinary. So the incongruity of a girl in a hijab wearing tight clothes and skinny jeans somehow always grabs the eye - and most of the girls in hijabs here (there seem to be quite a few) are dressed in this manner. I am always amazed at how much the headscarf defeats the actual purpose.
@Faraz: You are trying to drift away from the concept. There is world outside Pakistan and Islam didn't come for Pakistan only.
@Faraz: There is world outside Pakistan & Islam did not come for Pakistan only!
@Saima Bilal: go and read quran...soora noor and then learn its meanings....then come back here
@Eshal: Kudos Eshal, some sense here
If u h ave time to read history of arabs and Islam, there was no hijab or was never recommended. To \jehadi.....if islam wants women to be at home, then did the obility angels flew from heaven to look after injured during wars in the period of islamic wars. Did all the women were wearing hijabs? Modesty, nobility and character are the most important things. \i think muslims should start \rakhi \\\\\\\bandhna in \pakistan?
@Hina Jafri. Sister, you are on the right path. We are all sinful people but it is good when people try to make conscious efforts to keep improving their lives. Hijab is not just about covering your hair but it is very important to cover your hair in Islam. I am also a Shia and I see many many girls in Hijab in our community and also younger guys in a trimmed beard. Submission is the name of our religion. Can't come up with excuses to not do what Allah wants us to do.
@Lubna:
LOL, a very inappropriate word to use!
Just exhibitionist religiosity is propagated in this article. Pathetic indeed. Islam wants women to be in the house and while occasionally going outdoor, they should cover completely EXCEPT the eyes, hands and feet. Preferably wear gloves and socks ( loose one and not tight) and black goggles, to cover up completely to please Allah. What is fun of covering hairs if face is naked. No sexuality lies in hairs.
Do you mean to make a lady putting on a scarf, look more attractive; then what's the purpose of HIJAAB.
Here are some tips to add spunk to your hijabi look. Do you even know what that means????
S
What about a normal girl wearing a shalwar kameez and a duppatta on her head? Do you have respect for her, or only hijabis?
The whole idea of hijab in the abrahamic faiths is to observe modesty and give women more value e.g. in education, commerce etc and not just looked upon as mere sex symbols. Men also have a hijab which includes not looking at girls above the skirt, I wonder how many pass in that respect??.
honestly most of these hijabis are confused about their identity and their religion. The so called Hijabs they wear are mere stylish scarfs and their clothing is often more immodest and revealing that the simple salwar kameez or trousers & shirt wearing ladies.
@ Blah Totally agree! Living abroad you notice people wearing hijab in public places, etc are stared at more. They usually stand out from a crowd. Defeats the purpose of hijab in the first place!
Be MODERATE and that's it!
There's no purpose of covering your head ONLY while wearing all those blingy accessories/tight clothes that beats the very purpose of Hijab from Islamic point of view.
I would like to commend the effort of the writer. Reading halfway through the article, I was sure how much criticism she is inviting but I am one of those who wear such hijab and propagate it as well. I admit, it may not be exactly how Islam teaches us to, but I atleast try to follow as much as I can. I may be one of those who lack will-power to shun the modern world and practice hijab as directed, may be. But my defence, however, is that I am a working individual in a majority of non-muslims, where I feel its almost mandatory to look presentable. I can't just walk around with a bold display of my body, so I 'humblize' my appearance by wearing hijab or a headscarf to be precise, I accessorize, I apply makeup, I wear modern clothes (loose and full sleeves) and I am comfortable.I feel I am in moderation and balancing both ends. I concur the writers ideas as they will just help those who are trying to convince themselves of starting hijab but fear that they may look very conservative or be at a disadvantage. If this is not hijab, this may be the first step towards it!
hijab should be made a compulsion...................
@Saima Bilal: u have issues..!!
@S: And who wears mini-skirts in Pakistan? No one. Don't go to such an extreme like the other person has gone. Wearing skirt is a cultural thing, not necessarily a sexual thing, it may mean something to you (because you are not used to it) but to others it is just a way of dressing. Don't judge. Not everything is black and white, those who wear Hijab, fine, those who don't, does not mean they are sluts.
@saima Bilal it's actually quite the opposite. When I see a girl working with me in hijab, I simply have respect for her.
Mini skirts reduce women to only sex objects!
Bling up your hijab!!!! WTF you going to ask them to do next??
and please someone hit me with a chair...!!
PATHETIC...!!
So It seems Islam is a second name of Arabic culture otherwise there is a difference in Arabic culture and Islam. I am a Muslim but i am not Arab and kindly dont tell me that Hijab makes me a Good Muslim or it is an Obligation as it is not at all. We are so stupid that we think everything Arabic is Islamic that is not true at all. I am afraid the way Pakistanis are trying to shun their culture next time they will abandon their Shalwar Kameez for a Thawb and Izaar and without Olive oil and Dates we will not consider our Food Halal at all. I have come to the conclusion that we are in Dearth of Dignity and we are in inferiority Complex just like the author wrote in her second comment that how to have an Arabian Hijabi look. Kindly try to understand that there is a Difference in Culture and Religion and Religion cannot define your culture or overwrite your way of life at all whatever you do.
Ironically the basic concept behind hijab is to cover oneself and to avoid unnecessary gazes of na-mehrams. But all the above ideas make hijab more provocative and eye catching which is the exact opposite of its actual purpose.
Hijab is a fashion symbol rather than any other thing. In Islam there is no word of Hijab at all but everywhere it is written that go for the modest dressing but in Pakistan recently the trend have been emerged like Hijab is a Part of Islam that is utterly wrong. Secondly I can see many women in Hijab with Skin tight jeans and Shirts with a one ton make up on their face and i could not really understand that what does this really mean!!!
Hijabs are definitely a rage nowadays! MashaAllah it is good to see that girls are doing it mostly for religious reasons And balancing style with modesty pretty well. A lot of girls have also gone for the complete hijab solution - the abaya.
In fact, seeing this growing trend, I started an abaya couture boutique called The Muslim Closet on Facebook.