Chic.In.Sunnah

By Mecca Donna

Everywhere you turn somebody's telling you what's “hot.”  Designers tell you what you “should”  be wearing this season and what is “in.”Have you noticed? Designers are defining for you what “suits your body type”. They make clothes that selectively celebrate thin  and covertly discriminate against real sized women. Because, let's have a “keep it real moment,” the average woman is not a size two. Their clothes are made specifically to “flatter your figure,”“enhance your curves” and play down your “problem areas.” That's a fancy way of saying, “If you have hips --it's a problem. If your tummy isn't flat --thats a problem too.” I ask myself often, “Does anyone besides me notice that to 'minimize a problem area' translates into a tighter fit just in a slightly longer version?” (Oh, I do mean slight!) 

Denim jeans are made to hug the figure from the waist to the knee. This is probably why the majority of women secretly undo that button before or after a meal. Those darted dresses are made to hug your waist and is why we clamor to fasten girdles so tight we can hardly inhale. This is how designers make them from conception to inception. With little to no exception. Forget about it. They entertain women up to single digits only. If you're a size 8 “you're straight,” size 9 “Get in line.” But a size 10? You had better “think again.” As for sizes 12, 14, 16, 20  you must be kidding, right? It's almost as if they have taken it upon themselves to decide who can look appealing and who can not. As if everyone's money doesn't spend the same. As if a sized 18 woman doesn't deserve to be beautiful. As if a size 20 woman could never look beautiful in anything. They deceive you into thinking that if you layer clothing you're adding “bulk”. They are scaring you into thinking you're increasing your chances of looking fat. Oh, and if you decide NOT to reveal your hair, the curve of your hips,shape of your derrière, the dip of your cleavage, bare neck and arms, then something MUST be wrong with YOU. Because why would any woman NOT want to display herself? Why wouldn't a woman want to be seen in these Frankie B jeans? Why wouldn't a woman want to wear this $200.00 mini skirt and halter top? If anything, this is proof that Allah is the All Knowing, because He commanded hijab. Without it, I would've probably been duped like the rest. Wearing dreadful garments no human should be caught dead in. I love my designers like the rest of them but  Allah HAD to have known that in 2009 I wouldn't be so easily persuaded. So, He gave us a 'get out of weird and ugly fashion' free card. Permanently. 

I love Michael Kors. But a turtle neck in the summertime? Punk leather 80's inspired jacket in 90 plus degree heat? REALLY?? No, thank you. I noticed a fashion endorsement a week ago that was glorifying this dress a well known actress wore. In print the caption, in bold letters, read “Do not even ATTEMPT to wear this dress if you are not skinny.” I read it twice because surely no one could be so dim witted. My mind wandered from the subject at hand on to the millions of women and girls, age 15 and up, who would read that and vomit up their dinner that night just to buy and fit in that dress. I wondered how many females would starve themselves or cry themselves to sleep feeling less beautiful than these standards, across the world. I wondered how big the rise in eating disorder statistics would be after this and how low the self esteem of millions would decrease to. Don't you? 

….And then there was hijab. Muslimahs everywhere struggle with the debate of how to hijab. We all are following our own paths in terms of modesty and covering and this is fully acknowledged. However, let's also acknowledge the basics. Hijab is a basic principle set forth in the Quran and implemented in the Sunnah. The hijab ruling is set for both men and women. And while Allah created us with free will, there are parameters that we are instructed to govern ourselves by as Muslims.. Hijab is actually an age old tradition that traverses gender, nationality and religion. Examples can be found in every religion and every group of people as long as history reaches. There is a famous quote, “If you wish to know the condition of a people look at their women.” On a sub surface level, this speaks to the high standard of women. We are the primary care takers, teachers and examples for our children. However, in the apparent meaning of the phrase, I dare say, if the public eye is upon us (and oh yes is) then let us be a reflection of the beauty that hijab exudes—an example--by deeds AND fashion!

Fashion is a celebration of personality, beauty and vitality. Allah loves beauty. And to every Muslim who chooses hijab it is also a celebration of obedience to Allah and dignity. Break free. Hijab is freedom. Freedom to be brilliant and beautiful without revealing the physical aspect. It forces people to respect your intelligence as opposed to your derrière It forces the world to look you in the eye and not at the size of your bosom spilling out of the top of a demi bra. Free yourself. Hijab demands that the world expand its narrow European standard of beauty to include those of us who dare to redefine what beauty is. Make your own standards. Create your own style. Dare not to look like every female walking down a street.

Exercise your freedom to choose other than what society says is trendy, hot and in demand. Every day when you walk outside on the way to school, work, run errands, or enjoy the day, picture the world as your runway.

Launch yourself into the diverse realm of modest apparel. Indulge yourself from Avant-garde to Bohemian. From Couture to Zebra Print; satisfy your inner chic. Be chic in Sunnah. You only have Allah's pleasure and the respect of the world to gain. After all..Allah and the world is watching. Wrap it up.