Muslim Women's Fashion: Dispelling Another Myth

     Another widespread misconception about Islam centers on the wardrobe: namely, that a Muslim woman's choice to dress conservatively precludes her ability to be fashionable, to be expressive in her attire. Quite to the contrary, modesty as a fashion choice is a booming industry in the Muslim world, stretching from the fledgling runways of Kabul to the aisles of Egypt, the undisputed trend-setter in both clothing and the arts.
     A recent article in the Lifestyle section of the Washington Post snapshots the latest trends in conservative summer attire for Muslim women, focusing on an Egyptian-American couple and the warehouse they own and operate in Falls Church, Virginia.
     Says a quoted fashionista, speaking to the one of the garment combos featured at the store,  "On a typical summer day, I choose a skirt and a cute tunic with a lightweight scarf that coordinates . . . A popular staple in the Muslim lady’s wardrobe right now is the maxi dress with a body shirt underneath or a lightweight cardigan over the top."
     The starring role of the article goes to the burqina, a "two-piece like a bikini and smaller than a burqa," which allows even the most conservative Muslim woman to take respite from the heat without compromising their modesty. Designed by Lebanese-born Aheda Zanetti, "the burqina and other 'Islamic' swimsuits resemble wetsuits used for surfing or scuba diving, except they are available in various colors and styles."
    If any of the above strikes the reader as surprising, it likely stems from the pigeonholing parameters in which the West frames feminine beauty, parameters in which the attractiveness of a woman's clothing is so often proportional to the degree to which her body is revealed.
    Muslim women's fashion - or, at least, the fashion discussed above - by definition conceals the body and de-emphasizes sexuality, but nothing in this philosophy countermands the capacity for clothing to be expressive, evocative, or aesthetically pleasing.
    I'm not about to express a preference between philosophies, or put forward an opinion on which of the two is more empowering to women. I wish only to offer this up as another reminder that a planet of universally divergent belief yields plenty of room for all.
    Says another interviewee for the article, “As a Muslim woman, I wear clothes that are flattering, yet don’t show the details of my figure . . . I do this because I believe that God has called upon Muslim women to conserve their beauty to those closest to her. So, one does not have to wear a miniskirt to look beautiful.”