THE RISE OF MODEST FASHION

The Rise of Modest Clothing

Many of our much-loved fashion brands are bringing a more inclusive offering to our wardrobes

By Emily Carter

Modest fashion refers to a style of purposeful dress where women wear less revealing clothes that align with their spiritual stance, religious beliefs or personal preferences. But the true definition of modest fashion is one that is often difficult to interpret as it represents different things in different cultures, countries and cities. It is no secret that it can often be a struggle for women to find the perfect modest clothing pieces, from anything loose and baggy to lengthy and oversized, in a society so openly obsessed with crop silhouettes, tight-fitting forms, low rise pants and cut out dresses. Whether religious or not, some women choose to wear modest and oversized clothing purely for aesthetic reasons, insecurities, or comfort but with this added stress of finding pieces that do not attract attention to size, shape and figure, women can find themselves having to rework items by adding extra fabrics or even covering up with layers which end up covering their outfits; something that they should never need to do. While modest pieces such as maxi dresses, oversized sweatshirts and relaxed fitted trousers can rise and fall with the current trends, this is not an option for women who have no choice about the prospect of modest dressing, particularly for Muslim women who wear hijabs and constantly struggle to embrace a sense of personal taste and expressive style whilst following their faith. With the significant rise of influencer culture and social media fashion, there was a rejection from the wave of mainstream fashion and lack of options available to them but thankfully Muslim women have begun to speak out on social media platforms causing many popular brands to change their ways, become more inclusive and celebrate a community of modest dressers who were once

completely overlooked. Take Nike’s modest collection for example, with their latest Victory for Swim instalment for women who often find themselves in a battle between modesty and mobility through the water. Born from a belief that women of all backgrounds, body types and abilities deserve the opportunity to feel both comfortable and confident whilst swimming, Nike produced an innovative line of swim leggings, full length costumes and mesh pocket hijabs that offer full coverage and hold the hair in place. This spans to Tommy Hilfiger’s 2020 launch of their first hijab crafted from a soft woven jacquard and gentle lurex thread available in a selection of muted neutral colourways. Sold online, in Europe and the Middle East, the hijab was the brand’s first step towards their journey of inclusive fashion which has now elevated them into 2022 for their 6th Ramadan Collection Edit entitled ‘The Oasis’. The sophisticated Spring fashion collection is home to pastel tones, maxi dress silhouettes and full-length garments that echo the tranquillity, purity, and beauty of the holy celebration; without compromising on a stylish finish. Alongside mainstream labels making efforts towards inclusivity, we cannot forget to appreciate the independent brands such as Daska and Louella to designers Haider Ackermann and Dian Pelangi who celebrate modesty at the heart of their innovative designs. Whilst we appreciate the long-standing efforts of independent brands and hope there is more to come from the mainstream brands, thankfully for many women, the fashion industry is shifting towards more inclusive, modest and all-encompassing designs and replacing the negative stigmas of so-called conservative and old-fashioned style for a more inclusive community that celebrates the beauty in covering up and the comfort in dressing down.