This week, we’re going to focus on silhouettes. I can’t talk about silhouettes without also talking about body types as they go hand and hand in many cases, however the main focus of the next few blog posts will keep silhouettes as the primary focus.
There are a vast number of ways dresses and abayas are cut, shaped and draped but some of the most popular ones are: A-line, empire, mermaid, sheath, and ballgown.
Contrary to the popular societal standard, the goal is not to accentuate…
Khadeejah Abdushakur
Sometimes, many times, while we are navigating the journey of covering more, or dressing in way we believe to be more religiously acceptable, we make a b-line for two things: abayas, or maxi dresses, if we don’t want to plunge headfirst into abayaland. Let me stop here for a second and say that regardless of how something fits, if it’s a step up, it’s a step up, alhamdulillah masha allah. We aren’t in the shame game over here. If you’ve made the transition from showing skin to a body-hugging maxi dress that shows no skin, ALHAMDULILLAH. Our journeys are so individualized to us, and it’s very hard to grow in the publicity of the social media spaces without judgement and critique. This is a shame free safe zone over here. We are here to learn and grow. And because this is a lifelong journey, know that we will slip and fall, stop, go backwards, you are human. We are human. Perfection is not the goal. Effort is. Intention is.
Contrary to the popular societal standard, the goal is not to accentuate our “best” assets with our clothing, which makes it VERY difficult to buy clothing from mainstream brands or Muslim brands who adhere to the mainstream standard. But it’s not impossible and there is hope, and I am here to help. In the image above I’m wearing a sleeveless, straight maxi dress from Boohoo with an open front butterfly abaya from The Abaya Company London. I took these photo’s in the house but if I want go out comfortably in this fit, I’d fasten the abaya closed with a clip because while the dress is not extremely fitted, it’s giving more than it needs to give.
Layers on layers
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but while it wont always be required, get comfortable with layering, it’s going to be your best friend while figuring out which silhouettes work best for your body to give you the coverage that you’re looking for. Depending on how a dress, or shirt for that matter is shaped, you may not need any layers to be fully covered, without your shape showing. I’ll share some of my favorite styles that don’t require layering later, insha allah. Layering allows you to wear the dress you love without compromise or looking sloppy because you sized way up hoping for a looser fit.
Did I mention that the mainstream “style for your body” guidelines will be of little to no hope for the modest aspiring gal because they focus accentuating body parts, making something look fuller, while making other parts appear slimmer. How do they phrase it? “to balance out the body” i.e, make everyone look like an hourglass because that is of course the only desirable body type (that last part is sarcasm btw).
Stick with me, i’ll show you a thing or two.
Until next post,
Love ya!
For the first look, I the dress with a coral toned cardigan, the belt that came woth the dress, a bright yellow scarf/hijab, and open toed heels. If you’re feeling especially colorful.
