Saturday, August 4, 2007

Fashion and Faith





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Yes, indeed that is celebrity, Jennifer Lopez, known for her flaunting of her sexuality--yet in this picture...looking strangely like a "fashionista" of Muslim hijab! And I've seen some early haute couture fashion which had a woman all covered up, including a dark hood over her head, ears, and neck--it looked very sophisticated. Interesting. It makes me wonder...could popular fashion ever include the use of a headscarf? Well, just look at the other photographs of fully covered women in Islamic fashions!

I reluctantly admit, since starting the hijab, I've become more interested in looking stylish, fashionable, "with-it." I suppose it is because I have a more limited selection and also because I have a greater self-consciousness about my "image" as not only a Muslim, but also a mother of 2 kids in a suddenly 30 year old figure!

Still, the question is: Is mixing faith and fashion a slippery slope?

Here is an interesting clip from NBC's The Today Show, aired July 15th, 2007. It showcases the young Muslim female's desire to fit fashion into her faith.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=-iE0_rwvJAU&mode=related&search=

There is also a great support system in the social networking website, http://www.facebook.com for Muslim women who wear hijab. It offers many discussion groups which cover all of the topics associated with Muslim hijab, including one group called "Hijabi Fashionistas," whose members submit photos of their various styles of Islamic dress. It's not exactly "Muslim Vogue," but it has that touch of elegance, taste, and style.

And I find it amazing that this information and support is out there. It would have been a great comfort for me when I was in high school. But it seems that the generation under me is the one that is embracing and promoting the hijab with style and confidence! Some conservative Muslims would caution against these materialistic fashion trends--headcoverings or not! Hmm... Am I a conservative Muslim? Do labels really define the diversity?

Well, I'm still looking...and wanting to go shopping!

3 comments:

Huda said...

Salaams,

I just saw your comment (have been somewhat away from my blog over the last two months), and of course you can use it! I only ask that you link back to me as a credit in whatever post you use it. Thanks! :)

--huda

Scarf Ace said...

thanks so much, huda! of course i will give you your proper, well-deserved credit :-) inshaaAllah i will post your article soon, and look forward to hearing your comments abt this blog. i must credit that pic with the umbrella and flying hats to you as well...i believe it is from the pic on ur article?

Anonymous said...

Salaam Aleykum!
Here is a link for very modest swimsuits which only reveal the face, hands and feet:
- modestswimsuits.co.uk