How Modest Fashion is Triumphing In The Fashion Industry

“I want people to see the dress. But focus on the women”. -Vera Wang

            These iconic words were said by none other than legendary fashion slash wedding dress designer Vera Wang, and they could not be any more true. In an industry that is constantly trying to figure out what the next hot item is, oftentimes it can forget that clothing is meant to place focus on the women itself, rather than what’s hanging on the rack. However, there are still certain forms of dressing in which fashion and self-representation are still strongly melded together; a style we refer to as “Modest Fashion”.

Modest Fashion can take on several definitions, the American definition often meaning anything that covers more than your average crop-top or mini-skirt. However, there are more enduring, not to mention stylish, takes on the concept of Modest Fashion; such as the concept of Tzniut.

Tzniut is a major concept in Judaism that centers around the importance of modesty, both in character and in wardrobe, of men and women alike. For Orthodox Jewish women these means following certain wardrobe guidelines such as finding clothing items that do not reveal the knees, elbows, or collarbones. However, it isn’t just Orthodox Jewish women who have to adjust their wardrobes to align with their religious beliefs; Muslim women also make up for a large part of the modest fashion market worldwide. In fact, according to the “State of the Global Islamic Economy Report” produced by Reuters in collab with DinarStandard, Muslim fashion consumers spent an approximated $243 billion on clothing in 2015.

For the majority of women who dress with religious guidelines in mind, today, these parameters place little to no restrictions on their ability to enjoy fashion and personal style to the fullest extent. Oftentimes the only difficulty Modern Orthodox Jewish, Muslim, and other women have with creating stylish looks is to simply find pieces in mainstream companies that fit in with their religious guidelines, which is actually becoming easier by the day.

American Eagle. Featuring Muslim Model Halima Aden, modest fashion

Modest Fashion, Banana Leaf Dolce Gabbana Hijab

Modest Fashion, Dolce & Gabbana

Modest Fashion, Dolce & Gabbana

Modest Fashion, Dolce & Gabbana

While there are many companies out there founded primarily in mind for creating couture for women with religious guidelines on their wardrobes, many Western companies are starting to provide more modest clothing lines and species. For example, companies like Dolce & Gabbana and American Eagle alike have both released hijabs in the last year, and clothing companies are beginning to release that religious and non-religious consumers alike love having options regarding how much of their body is revealed by their wardrobe pieces.

Singer & Songwriter Yuna, Modest Fashion

With as much controversy and shock as we have become accustomed to in the fashion industry, especially with the rise of social media, it can almost seem a dress in a fashion that is viewed as conservative. Still, let us never confuse conservative with boring, and never, ever confuse it with being frumpy. From fashion brands like The Frock, created by two extremely stylish, Orthodox Jewish women Simi Polonsky and Chaya Chanin, to Malaysian musician Yuna, evidence has shown us time and time again that Modest Fashion is still one of the most stylish and daring ways for a woman to dress today.

-NK