Muslim Women of the World: Hijab in Iran

Oman was my first experience of Islamic-inspired fashion. In these sets, "Muslim Women of World" I hope to document how women the world over adopt hijab, and adapt it to their lives. I will start with the two most popularized so-called Islamic countries the West seems to associate hijab with (particularily since it is enforced in these places). The Islamic (LOL) Republic of Iran, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia [neither are Islamic governements]. This set will be about Iran.Often when we think of Iranian hijab we have one of two iamges, that of the stereotypical stylish young Persian woman in Tehran who only wears hijab because it is enforced upon her... This girl, if we are lucky, has styled her beautiful headcsarf more like a headband to display her preened blonde highlights, and a tight fitted coat or button up blouse that she calls a "manteau", likely with quarter length sleeves and capris. Sometimes she even has a "stylish" banadage on her nose to indicate a nose job. Is she a hijabi? Not really, so I am not blaming her for creating a bad example for possibly confused new Muslims. Girls, I warning you now don't wear the hijab styles pictured below. It is the look of a non-muslim woman forced to wear hijab, it is not Islamic whatsoever.
...Our other image is of the Iranian modesty police woman shrouded in her black encompassing chador, policing these "wayward girls"... She is a symbol of totalitarian government to some, and of conformity. Iranian hijab cannot be expressed in this cookie cutter fashion.Let's begin with the chador---it is not traditionally black but can look lovely in black. It is often in bright traditonal printz or whites... It was always a cultural sign of a woman's beauty.I personally love alot of the Iranian fashion pieces I have seen in the media. Let me just post and comment on a whole heck of a load of photos for you. Bear with me, I am not gonna organize them in any kind of specific order...
The government in Iran put on a fashion show (which most of the Wetsern media thought drolly ironic) but I quite enjoyed it. I like this chador. I wouldn't wear it. But I think it looks modest and nice.
Bright traditional prints, a little bit of traditional silver work... Too folksy for me, but pretty. I'd like to see some of the Aunties at the Masjid wearing things like these:D
Okay, this style is totally something most non-abaya girls would look so good in. Modest but elegant. It is "almost" Turkish.Iranian "jumper". I.e the sleeveless jilbab. If that hijab were draped around the neck, it'd be very Islamic and practically pretty. Trouser and jilbab set with a floral print scarf. I'd wear this. Now, I have uploaded so many photos I am too lazy to comment, so just sit back and enjoy...

Okay, I LOVE this one above.

The Dreaded SwimSuit Season-----Ahhhhhhhhhh: Islamic Swim Suits

She wore an itsy bitsy teeny weenie, yellow polka dot bikini....

Um yeah right. Even in my non-muslim days I didn't feel like showing off my body in front of men in anything stringy and "teeny weenie" "itsy bitsy". I know very very very few non-muslim women (I can count ONLY ONE on my pinkie) who are confident enough in their bodies to feel comfrotable enough wearing a string binkin in public without excercising or dieting frantically in an attempt to "earn" the love and affection of men through sexual attraction. Most of the women we do see confidently flaunting themselves are actually flaunting a product, flogging a beer, a calendar, a car, a music video...

Muslim women in general (if they come from a very Islamic household [or are married to such a good practicing brother] where a woman's mind and piety and natural beauty are more stressed than a public-held impossible ideal) do not suffer from the same body images. In fact, muslim men are often attracted to all body types, IF they haven't been bombarded by media screwing with their mental image of what a woman should look like. That's why hijab makes swim suit shopping so easy for us (inshaAllah I WILL explain how easy very soon) and why a man's hijab (lowering his gaze) is so beneficial for his health. In the United States and Europe (where sexuality is highly publicized and skin actually hard to avoid in public interactions) men's potency [their ability to egage in sexual relations] is actually decreasing at a younger age than it had in the fifties. Men are losing their ability to have sex, as they are bombarded more and more by images of it, and are not just leaving it in the halal role of marriage. The good practicing Muslim brother consequently, isn't going to have to use viagra as much as his non-muslim counter-part, and he is more likely to be satisfied sexually in his marriage than a man who does not lower his gaze. And a woman who wear hijab and has a gaze lowering husband, is MORE likely to feel sexual empowerment within the marriage, than a woman who doesn't cover.

As a Muslim woman, I will not be wearing any bikini in front of anyone but my husband. I don't want any man BUT HIM leering at me in the disgusting manner of this young tool, pictured below. But of course, with my husband, it is not disgusting:D cuz I love him!

So what does a gal that believes khimar should cover the chest and an overgarment is fard do to go swimming? Does she buy one of these pretty but sketchy way too tight Islamic swim suits?
Nope. These TOTALLY fall into the category of clothed but naked, especially if one is lounging around the pool in them. This is as bad as skin tight jeans and a skin tight long sleeved thermal t-shirt and no hijab coverage (the khimar has GOTTA cover the chest if it to Islamic hijab). At least IN the water these babies would be modest, so I guess if someone hands you an abaya to slip into WHEN you get out it'd be okay...but not ideal. This bathing suit is too tight that it is too risky for even a split second. Your mermaid moment leaves you one big spandex body sculpture, and lounging in this baby would be haraam for myself. If someone can make out my cup size and see my thigh fat..... IT AIN'T HIJAB.
So what is a girl who is as active as I am to do? Buy a looser fitting "Islamic" swim suit" like this one from http://www.jelbab.com/Product.asp?prdID=400419 for $84.99 USD? It is modest enough to wear in one's home, LOL (though who'd be doing that?), I mean, one could preform salat in it since it is loose, non-see through, and covers the necessary parts, but it isn't a jilbab (which is necessary for a muslim woman when she leaves her home) and the hijab part doesn't cover the chest. I own a swim suit like this is one, and this is what I do. I wear a big comfy (and better than a towel) terry cloth bathrobe over top of it as my jilbab, and I wear a loose light shayla hijab. As I wade into the water, I lift the robe, and when I am fully and modestly immearsed (meaning none of my body is visible over the top of the water but my head) I toss the robe on the side of river bank, pool, or beach. If I am with any children, I have them carry it to the side for me. I do the same with my shayla, lifting it till my chest is covered. Once it is covered, I through the shayla to the side of the beach/pool ect. And I enjoy my swim. If I am only staying in the shallows, I just wear an old abaya, but if one has some serrious swimming, I go the bathrobe (plus loose Islamic swimsuit) route. When getting out of the water, have someone available to bring the robe and khimar wrap for you. Kids often do, or husbands, or non-swimming sisters. Once out I am swaddled in my towel of a robe, wrap my dry khimar for neck coverage, pile on a big floppy hat, and let myself dry in the sun. If I am at a friend's beach cottage, I am enjoying sipping pink lemonade and drinking cream soda Jones soda. Mmmmm. Yum. This works for a strictly jilbab and khimar girl like me. Someday inshaAllah, I might also wear niqab. Um Travis, from Tea Break Thoughts, did a post on how to go swimming with niqab here http://teabreakthoughts.blogspot.com/2008/10/my-thoughts-on-swimming_06.html

Suitcase Stylings: Atlantic City

A jilbab styled with a keen urban edge for Atlantic city. I have lost the link so if any of you fellow hijabi fashionista sisters can post it, jazzakallah kheiran.

Niqab+Hijab wearing Women of the World doing things prejudiced people dont think we do

Graduating. I know more fully veiled women from the Gulf that are doctors, engineers, fashion designers, politicions, diplomats, and teachers, than I do know of unveiled non-muslim women here in Canada. Think about it.