It quite amazing how fashion, particularly woman's fashion. can conjure numerous discussions that fuel even further discussions and debates! From the catwalks of Paris and New York to the paved deserts of Arabia, the clothes donned by men and women have been viewed negatively and positively, either way.
Who dictates what is fashionable and what is not depends on where in the world you came from. If you are from West Africa, for instance, bright colors, long dresses, and fancy headgear usually dominate the fashion scene. If you are from Pakistan, it may be the beautiful salwar karneez that defines a keen fashion sense. And if you subscribe to some extreme Western fashion trends, the norm is to pay often-exorbitant prices to wear as little as possible and leave almost nothing to the imagination!
Over the past few years, however, we have seen an increasing number of young Muslim women donning the headscarf and dressing more modestly than before. While this may more than irk supporters of "liberal" fashion, the trend seems to be growing. While men's fashion practically never dominates the headlines, women's fashion is deeply entrenched in social and economic spheres.
Different Reasons
Have you ever consciously asked yourself, "Why do I dress the way I do?" Is it for the religious reason, cultural reasons, or social reasons? Is your sense of dress influenced by your faith, your nationality, or your society/community? Are you influenced by local or international fashion trends?
Who dictates what is fashionable and what is not depends on where in the world you came from. If you are from West Africa, for instance, bright colors, long dresses, and fancy headgear usually dominate the fashion scene. If you are from Pakistan, it may be the beautiful salwar karneez that defines a keen fashion sense. And if you subscribe to some extreme Western fashion trends, the norm is to pay often-exorbitant prices to wear as little as possible and leave almost nothing to the imagination!
Over the past few years, however, we have seen an increasing number of young Muslim women donning the headscarf and dressing more modestly than before. While this may more than irk supporters of "liberal" fashion, the trend seems to be growing. While men's fashion practically never dominates the headlines, women's fashion is deeply entrenched in social and economic spheres.
Different Reasons
Have you ever consciously asked yourself, "Why do I dress the way I do?" Is it for the religious reason, cultural reasons, or social reasons? Is your sense of dress influenced by your faith, your nationality, or your society/community? Are you influenced by local or international fashion trends?
Over the past few years, however, staggering debate has surrounded the issue of Muslim women's dress, and what is quite fascinating is that much of the debate is dominated mostly by non-Muslims, some of who consider the complete covering of a woman's body as oppressive, others seem to understand the logic behind it, and others remain indifferent, accepting that dressing in such a way is an individual's decision.
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