There
was a time –maybe about 20 years ago—when appropriate hijab fashion was much
harder to find. Now-a-days, hijab fashion is easily accessible to us through
the internet and various boutiques, especially in and around the city of
Dearborn. But, make no mistake about it; while we (hijabis) are lucky enough to
have these options available, the struggle is still real at some of our favorite
world popular retail clothing stores. The H&M’s, the Zara’s, the Banana
Republics, all of which are my favorites, but it’s not easy finding a blouse
that doesn’t require some sort layering.
Yesterday night I
couldn’t sleep —mainly because my stomach is getting bigger and it’s much harder
to get comfortable. So I laid in bed and started randomly surfing through the
ASOS store app on my phone. ASOS has become another one of my favorite online
shops, and it has such a wide variety of clothes. As I directed towards the 70
percent off sale link, I found a number of clothing items that just made me
want to cry. Why? Because they could have been, should have been, and would have
been so great if they aligned with my Islamic dress code. So, I decided to take
some screenshots and share with you what it’s really like to be shopping as a
hijabi and some of the agony that one endures during the task.
The dreaded split:
You find a dress, and it’s got the most perfect, subtle
print.
Ahh, yes…you’re already imagining to what event you will be
wearing this lovely number to.
Then you scroll to the final angle image. Here you experience the jab to your rib cage. Sorry, not sorry
ASOS says. You may have found the perfect dress, except for it has a slit that, even if sewed closed, might be too tight around the legs to walk in. You’re
saddened.
Don’t Turn Around:
OR…you find this perfect dress for an occasion (i.e- a
family wedding, an engagement party). You think it’s complete as it is long sleeve,
floor length, and the color isn’t so obnoxious.
Then, the model turns around, and you realize the open back
that is as wide as when Moses split the sea. You start to wonder how you can
make it work. You realize you can’t, you accept defeat and move on to the next.
The “I-will-probably-never-find
–the-perfect-color-to-go-underneath-this-so-that-it-is-all-lined” long sleeved
lace dress:
Speaks for itself.
There are many things in life we hoped were longer--like vacations, the money in our bank accounts, Obama's presidency, and for hijabis: dresses, skirts, pants and sleeves:
I cannot tell you how many times I’ve come across dresses
like this. Perfect colors, long sleeve, and then it just abruptly stops me
mid-mind sentence as I notice it’s tea-length. WHYYYYYY?? And, I’m sure I’m not
the only one who looks at the price and wonders if it’s reasonable enough to
buy two of the same, and have a seamstress make it longer before realizing it’s
not worth it and reluctantly moving on.
Culottes (about knee length or
longer trousers) are super in right now. But, they also give me some anxiety because
like this pair… it would have made me so much happier if they were longer.
No silver lining here...
While there are several ways to make these items work as a
hijabi, for example, wearing a matching slip underneath, or having a seamstress
sew a new lining for you; truth be told it’s just an added inconvenience. You
find a pretty skirt or dress and realize you can see through it like looking through the windows to your now crushed soul. It’s half-lined, and you sigh and start to argue with yourself “could
I find this exact fabric at the fabric store? Is the print of the skirt really
worth it? Can I not find anything like it?”
The ¾ sleeve:
This one is one I particularly hate. For example, look at
this perfectly long lined tunic. It’s not too fitted and perfectly appropriate
for modest dress. Except you look at the sleeves and you instantly hate the
maker of this piece for not making them longer. Would it look nice with a
long-sleeve shirt under? Likely No. Move on.
Look at this lace top that would match up elegantly with a
long flowing skirt, or wide leg pants. But, noooooo … to make this work, we
would have to wear a longer sleeve underneath and ruin the entire illusion of
the lace. My head hurts.
Can’t I just find a
long white blouse that doesn’t require me to wear a long sleeve shirt
underneath so that it’s not see-through?
Nope.
And, lastly, this annoying number:
I’ll let you figure out
what’s wrong with it.
Tell me some of your experiences when shopping at retail
stores that aren’t particularly aimed at the hijabi dress code. I look forward
to reading your feedback.