Covered Up
Emirates Woman|May 2019

Has modest dressing branched out beyond its religious roots?

Natalie Westernoff
Covered Up

Halima Aden is one of the most public faces of modest dressing and arguably, one of the pioneers that helped put the concept into global focus. It was in 2011, at the very beginning of her career, that she entered a MISS USA pageant wearing a hijab and burqini. This was a time in America when modest dressing had only ever been associated with being Muslim. Her outfit opened the conversation; not just for Americans, but for people all over the world.

Another seismic shift came in 2018, when the Young Museum of Fine Art hosted an exhibit in San Francisco titled Contemporary Muslim Fashions. The exhibit strived to change the preconceptions about Muslim women in fashion; director of the museum, Max Hollein, said: “There are those who believe that there is no fashion at all among Muslim women, but the opposite is true, with modern, vibrant, and extraordinary fashion scenes, particularly in many Muslim-majority countries.”

Since her headline-making entrance, Halima has been both criticised and celebrated for wearing the hijab and has spoken out often about her “personal choice” to wear the religious scarf. The model, who has walked for the likes of Max Mara and Kanye West’s Yeezy label, has also been vocal on her Instagram about particular trends that she could not necessarily adopt because of her hijab. Like Rihanna’s red hair, for one. “When Rihanna dyed her hair red in 2010 and all the girls followed suit but I had to just buy a red hijab. I was fuuuuuming,” she wrote, creating an open and humorous international narrative about women who choose to wear a headscarf.

Denne historien er fra May 2019-utgaven av Emirates Woman.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra May 2019-utgaven av Emirates Woman.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA EMIRATES WOMANSe alt
Ride the Wave
Emirates Woman

Ride the Wave

Hanalei Reponty-Gudauska could surf before she could walk. Embodying her love for the beach and water, she founded sustainable swimwear brand Abysse with her mother, Raphaele. At the heart of the brand is the aim to: “Produce less, produce well.”

time-read
6 mins  |
July/August 2021
The Vacation Uniform
Emirates Woman

The Vacation Uniform

Totême and MATCHESFASHION conjure the perfect summer capsule collection

time-read
1 min  |
July/August 2021
Summer Skin
Emirates Woman

Summer Skin

The best in beauty to give you a make-up free, fresh summer glow

time-read
1 min  |
July/August 2021
Style & Substance
Emirates Woman

Style & Substance

With a focus on slowing fashion down, Dear Frances is the footwear brand delivering along with sleek and sophisticated styles

time-read
5 mins  |
July/August 2021
The SUMMER Escape
Emirates Woman

The SUMMER Escape

Channel effortless ease with Isabel Marant’s new eyewear collection for SS21

time-read
1 min  |
July/August 2021
The Body Glow
Emirates Woman

The Body Glow

An edit of superlative products to let you shine inside and out this summer

time-read
2 mins  |
July/August 2021
Impactful Skincare
Emirates Woman

Impactful Skincare

Sunday Riley is all about making an impact. The cruelty-free skincare brand “powered by science, balanced by botanicals” is dedicated to delivering measurable results

time-read
3 mins  |
July/August 2021
Making Waves
Emirates Woman

Making Waves

Guia Cleps, Founder of Italian swimwear brand Reina Olga, on what inspired her to create form-fitting designs that champion every body shape

time-read
3 mins  |
July/August 2021
Heat Proof
Emirates Woman

Heat Proof

The best SPFs to protect your skin

time-read
1 min  |
July/August 2021
A Greek Odyssey
Emirates Woman

A Greek Odyssey

A temple of relaxation, Amanzoe

time-read
1 min  |
July/August 2021