Hijabi Fashion 101: Simplicty is Key! by Seyma

Hi, my name is Seyma, and I am a 30-year-old blogger from Melbourne, Australia. My blog Hijab Revival is basically a photo diary of the clothes I like to wear, the places I love to go, and the things I like to eat.

Rule #1:  When it comes to Hijabi style there are no rules other than modesty. You can wear whatever you want as long as it adheres to the guidelines set for both the men and women in Islam. Both sexes must preserve their modesty, but must do so in a presentable and clean way. We are encouraged to present ourselves in a pleasing manner and look, on the whole, well put together.

Women must cover their hair (with a Hijab), arms, legs, and wear non-see-through, loose clothing. As you can imagine, this can get a little tough when shopping in a western country. I have often been asked on my blog and in real life about where I purchase my clothing from. My usual answer is everywhere and anywhere! I cannot limit myself to one brand, one shop, or one look as it is already a challenge to find modest clothing to begin with.

My personal style changes all the time. Sometimes I love to look bright and flowy; other times I prefer the chic black colors favored by Melbournian women. One thing I have noticed as I got older is that I want my clothing to be less fussy and easy to wear. When I was younger, I used to love layering and accessorising with jewelry, color, and belts. Now my ideal look involves a long-sleeve maxi dress and a gorgeous scarf and bag - done.

I think that the key to a fabulous hijabi look is simplicity. Nobody wants to look over-the-top (OTT) or like they're trying too hard so it’s best to keep everything simple. This can be a little hard for covered girls due to the added look a hijab brings to the ensemble. As a hijab-wearer myself, I always struggle with matching my hijab to the whole ensemble, finding the right color, texture, and style can be a right pain in the butt, especially when in a rush! Imagine this:  you throw on a pair of jeans. Sounds simple right? Well, as a hijabi, you must find a top that is long enough to cover your bottom and most of your legs in order to make it modest enough to suit our guidelines. Then, to top it off, you must then choose a hijab that not only matches your top but also suits the whole look! Arrghhh, not so simple anymore, is it?

This is why I say 'keep your clothing choices simple!' Now, when I go shopping, I try to steer clear of major trends, major prints or OTT looks. I like to stock my wardrobe with classic styles such as a neutral trenchcoat or a chic pair of black pumps. That way, when I need to get dressed, I can easily throw something on that looks good and accessories depending on the mood or occasion.

If I do dabble in a bit of majorly trendy looks, I make sure the rest of my look is as simple as possible. For example, tribal print top? Plain non-print hijab and plain non-print bottoms is required. Leopard print platform heels? Match my hijab to my shoes but keep the rest of my outfit mono-colored.

Another simple quirk I like to add is the way I wear my hijab. I like to change the style by pining it on in different ways to mix things up a little bit but still making sure my neck or chest are not showing. I love the way it adds some interest to my look without compromising on style or modesty.