The Modest Fashion Takeover
Photo: Acielle/Style du Monde via Vogue
It is not news that the trend of modest fashion is, at this point, a worldwide phenomenon. Modest fashion is a term referring to clothing worn that reveals less skin in order to meet religious specifications or simply for personal comfort.
Oftentimes when we think of modest fashion, we think of hijabs and long dresses. While this is certainly a large part of it, modest fashion is much broader. Islam isn’t even the only religion that values modesty, and there are many contemporary Christian and Jewish people who are embracing their religion’s clothing guidelines.
Photo: Phil Oh via Vogue
Nor is modest clothing just about religion. It is about personal style and comfort, and feeling at home in your own body. By bringing modest fashion into the mainstream, it opens up opportunities for increased options, functionality, and visibility.
To be fair, secular Europe tends to dress more modestly than us here in the United States, so it might not seem like such a big jump to them (living in France, I pretty quickly learned that the easiest way to spot a tourist in the summer is to look at who is wearing shorts). That said, modesty and particular modest items have gained traction pretty much everywhere over the last few years.
Photo: Andrea Adriani via Vogue
Oversized and slouchy clothing, seen in blazers, pants and skirts has been popular for a while, and was seen especially often at Paris Fashion week this January. Headscarves, balaclavas, hoods, and traditional hijabs are all over the runway and in streetwear alike. Skintight layers, in the form of long sleeved bodysuits and tights, are seen frequently underneath other, looser or more revealing, clothing. Long dresses and maxi skirts are back in a big way. The list goes on and on.
Photo: Acielle/Style du Monde via Vogue
The ethos behind modesty is also gaining more visibility. Miriam Ezagui, an Orthodox Jewish nurse and TikToker with 1.2 million followers, brings awareness to the fact that in Judaism, it is believed that anything holy should be covered. And what is more holy than the human body?
Some have made the argument that turning modesty into a trend is offensive, or appropriation of some people’s culture. I personally don’t buy that argument, because modest clothing is versatile and welcoming for everyone. If a trend leads to an increase in visibility and respect, and allows for people to find comfort and discover their personal style, I am all for it. As long as non-muslim people aren’t slapping on hijabs just because they think they are cute, I don’t think there is any appropriation happening.
Photo: Alessandro Lucioni via Vogue
At the end of the day, modest fashion spreads the message that every person should be able to choose what they wear, whether that be for cultural, religious, or personal reasons. This applies to modesty, which is often misunderstood (France banned women from wearing burkas or hijabs in public spaces in 2010, and in the U.S. muslim women are often discriminated against for wearing head coverings). It also applies, however, to the choice not to wear modest clothing. In Iran, protesters are still fighting everyday, and often losing their lives, in the fight to end mandatory hijab.
Photo: SOPA Images via NPR