Islamic Fashion: Changes and Developments

Having been steadily accepted for several years and getting consistent support from some of the most popular fashion icons, Islamic clothing tradition today has a significant place in the world of fashion. Several top international institutes have established the fact that Arabic and Islamic fashion greatly influence the global fashion industry today.

According to recent studies, worth of international Islamic fashion industry is estimated to be about USD 96 billion, based on the assumption that at least USD120 is spent on modest clothing every year by over 1.6 billion Muslims across the world. Today people explore Islamic fashion online as well.

Owing to its expansion and growth in recent past, Muslim middle class has stepped into Western society. People from this class have become fashion-conscious and thus are more particular about their dressing sense. Muslim men and women today get educated and choose professions. Some of them even set up their own businesses. To complement their contemporary lifestyle, these people have adopted modernism and have added a touch of Islamic tradition to it.

Some Popular Outfits in Islamic Fashion

Kurtis and Kurtas

Kurtis and kurtas are evergreen outfits worn by Muslims on countless occasions. These normally extend till the knee of wearer. While kurtis are worn by women, men wear kurtas. These can be teamed with a pair of loose trousers or jeans.

Abayas

Abayas are popular outfits worn by Muslim women. These are ankle-length dresses which suit almost any look. Abayas are available in several different styles. Most popular among these styles is the kaftan abaya with front knot. Kaftan refers to loose sleeves resembling wings of a butterfly. Second most popular style of abayas is the one having long sleeves and multiple layers. Some women also wear abayas with multiple folds. These loose-fitting outfits are normally paired hijabs of matching color.

Jilbabs

Jilbabs are ankle-length dresses similar to abayas. The only difference is that these garments have buttons on the front. Hence these can be worn like coats.

Hijabs

Hijab is a scarf that covers the head and neck of wear. Sometimes it extends till the waist. There are many types of hijab such as niqab, shayla and al amira.

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Fashion Tips on Wearing Islamic Tunics

Islamic clothing always includes simple and modest dresses that completely cover the body of wearer. Outfits for Muslim women today include tunics as well. Islamic tunics are slightly different from usual tunics. Following are the major differences between the two:

• Tunics worn by Muslim women are considerably long. Long Islamic tunics extend at least till the knees of wearer.
• These Tunics are designed from a thick fabric that hides the skin tone of wearer.
• Islamic tunics mostly have a dark color such as black or brown.
• These tunics do not have any fancy patterns or flashy designs on them.

Following are some fashion tips on wearing long Islamic tunics:

Wear tunics for Formal Look

Regardless of others' opinion, Muslim women can definitely wear tunics at work. Versatility of tunics extends across a variety of looks. However, there are some points one should remember while wearing tunics on a formal occasion. Following are some of those:

• Choose a simple print. When you are wearing a tunic for office, its print should not attract attention.
• Pick a dark color. Islamic outfits are usually bold in color, It is better to follow the same with tunics. Moreover, dark tunics look better on formal occasions.
• Pair your tunic with a smart pair of loose trousers. Trousers should not extend beyond the ankle.
• A trendy clutch or handbag makes a classy combination with tunics.
• Avoid wearing flashy jewelry particularly golden jewelry as it is forbidden according to Islamic tradition. Wear some understated pieces instead.

Make sure that Fitting is Loose Enough

Style and modesty go together in Islamic clothing. Any outfit worn by Muslim women needs to be loose and comfortable. Tunics are not an exception to that. A good option is to choose at least one size longer.

Consider Your Height While Choosing Tunic

Your height is an important factor while choosing Islamic tunics. Following are some important considerations:

• Tunic should be long enough to extend at least till the knee of wearer.
• Avoid wearing tunics if you are too short. If you still want to wear those, make sure you team them with the right dress.
•  If you are tall, choose smaller prints on tunics. On the other hand, if you are short, go for bigger prints.

Above mentioned fashion tips will be very useful for you. Following these tips, you can flaunt a classy look wearing Islamic tunics.

Be Stylish and Comfortable in Cool Maternity Kurtis

In today's modern times when fashion is a very important aspect of day-to-day life, mom's-to-be are also not left behind. Pregnant women no longer wear over sized and loose fitting clothes like before. On the other hand, most women like to flaunt their pregnancy and celebrate motherhood in style.

It's always tricky for pregnant women to dress up fashionably and look good in maternity clothing. But you don't have to become a fashion disaster during pregnancy. It is important that you dress well and take care of your clothing style as well as accessories. There are a number of Western and Indian outfits that you can choose from, and maternity kurtis are one of the best and most comfortable options during this wonderful period of every woman's life.

Maternity kurtis look elegant as well as stylish, and they go well as an Indian or indo-western attire. These kurtis are loose and comfortable and can be teamed with jeans, skirts, trousers or leggings. Conservative women can also dress stylishly in these kurtis, along with being comfortable. With these kurtis, you look confident, dress comfortably and feel less self-conscious.

Not only is kurti a beautiful piece of garment, it also mirrors our cultural heritage. They reflect the wonderful colors of our country. Maternity kurtis are an impressive combination of traditional designs and contemporary styles...

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How to Choose a Modest Swimwear?

The advent of modest swimsuits has given all the Muslim women a chance to participate in various water sports. Earlier, the unavailability of modest swimsuits was the only reason why these women were hesitant to participate in water sports. Today, one can find a wide variety of swimsuits in traditional shops or on Islamic shopping sites. However, some women get a little confused while choosing a swimwear as they are not confident whether it will be prefect according to the Islamic rules and regulations.

The online shopping sites list the description of every product they sell. One of the best things to do is to read the details carefully before making the final choice. Here are some factors that must be kept in mind before buying women's modest swimwear:

• Sun Protection: The fabric of the swimwear must have a SPF (sun protection factor) of 50 or more. This will keep the wearer protected from the harmful ultra violet rays of the sun.

• Chlorine-Resistant: The swimsuit you plan to buy must be chlorine-resistant. This will keep the swimsuit protected from the chemical. Furthermore, this will help in keeping the swimwear like new for years to come.

• Non-Clinging Fabric: Before buying the swimsuit, make sure you pay attention to the fabric of which it is made. The fabric must not cling to the body of the wearer as the shape of the body must not be visible to anyone.

• Quick-Drying Fabric: It is always advisable to choose a swimsuit made of a fabric that dries quickly. This will keep the wearer less uncomfortable...

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How to Look Stylish in Islamic Shirts

When it comes to shirts, men have a wide variety of colors, patterns and designs to choose from. The style of shirts worn by Muslim men are slightly different from others. The shirts they wear are often referred to as kameez.

Islamic shirts have particular features that are not common in all shirts. Following are some of those features:

• Kameez is longer than other shirts. It normally extends till the thigh of the wearer.
• The fabric of Islamic shirts is quite thick. Muslim men are not allowed to expose their skin tone to others. Hence Islamic shirts are designed from a thick fabric.
• The colors of Islamic shirts are never too bright.
• These shirts do not have any flashy designs or fancy patterns.
• The fitting of these shirts is considerably loose so that the body figure of wearer stays hidden.

With some smart tips, one can look trendy wearing Islamic shirts.

Looking Stylish in Formal Shirts

Following are some points to keep in mind while wearing formal Islamic shirts:

• Formal shirts look best when paired with tailored jackets or suits and trousers.
• With Islamic shirts you can go for classy colors like black, blue and white. These colors add an edge to your appearance when you wear the shirt. However make sure that you don't choose colors that are too bright or flashy. Such colors attract unwanted attention and thus should be avoided.....

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How to Buy a Jilbab Online?

One of the biggest concern of an online shopper is, “I have bought an outfit, now will it fit me or not?” One needs to be extremely careful while choosing clothes online, so that you don't have to get the clothes replaced. Today, most Muslim women prefer shopping from online Islamic sites as one can find a huge variety of clothing options in various designs, patterns and colors. A jilbab is one of the popular Islamic outfits for Muslim women and one can find numerous stylish jilbabs online. The only trick you must know is how to select a jilbab of the right measurement. The following guide will help you make the right choice:

What to Measure

Before we tell you how to measure, it is important to know what you need to measure. There are a few measurements that you must certainly have with you, before you start shopping. Those measurements are:

• Height: Measure your complete height.
• The Length of the Jilbab: For this, you must take the measurement from the middle of the back shoulder till the heel. The jilbab you select must drop till your heels, as covering the entire body is one of the major dressing rules of Islam.
• Shoulder Width: The width of the shoulders must be sized by taking the measurement between the shoulder edges. Muslims should not wear clothes that cling to the body thus, it is important to take the correct measurements.
• The Sleeves of the Jilbab: This length should be from the edge of the shoulders till the wrist. Make sure you carefully take this measurement as keeping the hands covered is an important Islam dressing rule.
• Bust Measurement: Always make sure that the Jilbab is loose and does not cling to your body. Take the measurements from under the arms and measure the entire bust area.
• Hip Measurement: Measure the area around the hips.

How to Measure: Tips and Tricks

• Length: To measure the length, make sure you add 1 inch to the measurement from the mid shoulder to the heels. If you take the exact measurements till the heels, the Jilbab might appear short if you wear sandals having heels.
• Bust: While taking the bust measurement, add around 4 and a half inches to your bust size. This will ensure that the Jilbab will not cling to the body.
• Hip: Once you have taken your hip measurement, add around 5 inches to the original measurement.

Once you have noted all the above mentioned measurements, go to the size chart that the online shopping stores provide alongside the garments they offer. See what suits you the best, and make a selection.

Choosing Maternity Clothes at Reasonable Prices

Choosing clothes during pregnancy is one of the toughest decisions for a woman as maternity clothes need to be chosen carefully. Most women do not prefer investing too much money into maternity clothes as most of the clothes cannot be used after pregnancy. It is always a wise decision to choose clothes that are priced reasonably, so that you do not regret spending money, if you cannot use those clothes later.

While choosing maternity clothes, one needs to be careful as the wearer must remain comfortable in the garment and must also expand as and when the belly grows. However, this does not mean that you have to opt for loose clothes. Opting for cheap maternity clothes online is a great choice. One can find a plethora of options and can choose according to their individual choice and requirement. Choosing maternity clothes online is not at all a difficult task. Here is what you need to do:

• Decide a budget: Deciding a budget is of utmost importance and it is always a great choice to keep the budget low as most women do not like wearing baggy clothes post pregnancy. Next, browse through the Islamic online shopping sites and look for the maternity clothes section. These clothes are priced reasonably and are designed according to the dressing rules of Islam. Fashionable, trendy and modest maternity clothing options is what one can expect.

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