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!
So today(wrote this yesterday, today is day 3) was Day 2 of being a stay at home aunt. Since Im trying to have a more healthy and active lifestyle, I decided I’d take the girls (8 mos, 2 yr and 5 year) for a walk a couple times a week after dropping the boys to school. Today we went to the #GreenfieldVillage in #dearborn. Yall I was feeling so proud; got them dressed fed and out the door and to our destination on time…. then struggled in the parking lot for 10 minutes trying to open the dang stroller. I literally tried calling my sister for help😭😂 Some of yall might remember when I used to say that if I didnt have kids and was unmarried by 30 I’d adopt… it’s not exactly the same but it sure as heck is close enough!
I remember when I finally started working and was beginning the slow, arduous journey of living my life on my own terms I thought “I don’t think I could ever be a stay at home parent”. Ah, look at God always humbling, teaching and growing me😅 I feel like I now need to read mom blogs cuz I surely dont know what to do to entertain these girls all day (while trying to be a entrepreneur). Help! Im used to doing it a couple times a week but now that it’s all week and I’m kind of officially the stay at home caregiver until summer, I feel like I need a plan🤔
Btw, as I walking around today pushing that darn stroller I had a thought, “I’m walking around with 3 blocks of kryptonite… aint no way Im ever going to attract my superman”😂 Yall get ready for my show because it sure will be interesting.. and if nothing else, entertaining 😉
