Sunday, October 29, 2006

Islamic Fashion Glossary

In an Independent puff piece on the glory and advantages of Islamic fashion styles

(here, try this one:
Having spent a lot of her youth in Saudi Arabia, where her father has an office, Elbagir has witnessed, first hand, the Middle Eastern Muslim's woman's passion for fashion; and the irony - that it's the more conservative female Muslims who really go to town when it comes to style - is not lost on her. "The girls I know from Saudi have an incredible love of fashion," she says. "It's precisely because they wear abayas that they can be so outlandish underneath. Because it all goes on beneath the veil and behind closed doors, they don't feel inhibited. Sequins, miniskirts, pink hot pants - the more garish the better.")


I found this glossary which you might fight useful, that is if you live in Paris or London.

Niqab
Square of black material with adjustable straps that goes around the face with slit for eyes. The full robe cover-up comes together with this piece, so it wouldn't be worn in isolation.

Jilbab
A kind of one-piece that covers the head and body in one black full-length robe that normally zips up the front.

Hijab
Long rectangular piece of black material that wraps around the head - can be worn on its own and replaced with any kind of scarf/material as long as it covers the head.

Abaya
Another name for full-length robe - a more common term in countries such as Somalia and Pakistan.

Juba
Another name for a veil around the head - normally Pharaoh-shape and lies much closer to neck.

Full purdah
Everything is covered including hands and feet; all that's seen is the eyes through a slit in the material.

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