The month of Ramadan is a time for introspection and taking the mind away from worldly distractions to focus on spirituality and thoughtful conduct towards others.
In a multicultural country like the UAE, there are many who do not observe the fasting period. But in the true spirit of Ramadan, every resident and tourist needs to respect the local culture and traditions and show consideration for those who are observing the month with fasting and prayer.
tabloid! asked some Dubai-based fashion designers about how to dress respectfully this month.
Mix and match
"I have great respect for expatriates who are considerate towards those who are fasting this month," says Rabia Z, a young designer of Emirati and Afghani origin.
"And I want to assure women that it is not difficult and does not require them to go out of their way to dress appropriately. Dressing right does not mean that they have to wear an abaya or change their wardrobe. Women can easily mix and match or layer garments from their existing wardrobe to ensure that they are modestly dressed."
Rabia studied fashion design and business management in the US and is quite an expert on the subject of creative layering to cover up.
Right balance
"When I embraced the hijab seven years ago, it was difficult to find appropriate clothing in the US. The choice of garments that were long and loose enough and with full sleeves and high necklines was very limited. Thanks to my fashion background and creativity I was able to combine various garments to create a look that was fashionable yet modest. But I realised that there were many women like me who were struggling to find the right balance between being stylish and modest," says Rabia.
After researching the subject thoroughly, Rabia launched a line of long shirts and tunics that she sold online in the US and UK. "The demand from Muslim and non-Muslim women around the world convinced me that there was a great need for a brand that caters to the modern Muslim woman," says Rabia.
Alternative
The designer is now set to launch her own label, Rabia Z at the Dubai International Fashion Week (DIFW) spring/summer 2008 collections this month.
"My label caters to a new generation of Muslim women who want to dress fashionably but modestly and to Arab women who are looking for an alternative to the abaya when travelling abroad. By showing how easy it is to be covered yet trendy I also want to encourage non-practising Muslims and all women to dress modestly and discover how beautiful modesty really is," says Rabia.
Practical
"Having experienced the discomfort of layering during the summer here, my garments are designed to avoid the need for layers for the purpose of covering up. I have kept in mind the needs of modern working women, busy moms and fashion conscious students to create a complete look that is stylish, comfortable, and practical for all ages," says Rabia.
Sportswear
She will also introduce a line of fun and colourful sports wear comprising tracksuits and long polo shirt-dresses. "These are also inspired by my own need for modest gym and active wear. I have put an extra hood on the hooded tracksuits to cover the head just like a hijab," says Rabia. She has also experimented with new ways to cover the head using scarves and shaylas tied in different styles as well as her own innovative version of hats to create a chic and elegant look. "At the Rabia Z brand, modesty will always be in style," says Rabia.
Dubai based Indian designer Uma Ghosh Deshpande has also given a lot of thought to dressing right during Ramadan. "The UAE warmly welcomes people from all over the world and as residents we must return that hospitality by showing respect for local traditions during the holy month," she says.
Feminine
Uma's label, Pepper by Uma is known for its funky, trendy clothes. Her latest collection consists of tunics with long flowing sleeves, sherwanis, short and knee length dresses and tops in butterfly and animal prints. These are coordinated with jeans, skirts and leggings for a vibrant, feminine look.
Comfortable
Uma offers many creative suggestions for dressing right during Ramadan. "The idea is to wear attire that is comfortable and adequately covered, so avoid wearing shorts, short skirts, skirts with long slits or tight and revealing clothes. But if you do want to wear short dresses and skirts, couple them with smart, coloured leggings to create a look that is very much in vogue now," says Uma. "And if you like to wear body- hugging T-shirts with jeans, layer them with a loose top for a smart, stylish and modest look," she adds.
Accessorise
Uma also suggests wearing scarves, trendy crochet shrugs or chunky necklaces to cover up plunging necklines and bangles and chunky bracelets to cover bare arms. "Rather than wearing many layers of clothing or accessories I would recommend that this is the best time to take out the kaftans, ponchos, full sleeve kurtas, oversize tops and loose linen pants in your wardrobe," says Uma. "You can accessorise the tops with belts. And don't forget to wear your smile and confidence," she adds.
Do's and don'ts
These are Rabia's simple and creative suggestions for dressing right during Ramadan from Emirati designer Rabia Z:
DOs:
- Do wear a cotton jersey shrug or denim jacket over your sleeveless tops and dresses
- Do pair your dresses with jeans, pants or even capris (it is a trendy and popular look)
- Do wear tops and dresses with sleeves (the sleeves could be long or short).
- Do wear loose and comfortable clothing, which is advisable for the still warm weather anyway.
- Do invest in a pair of loose linen trousers.
- Do wear your low waist jeans and trousers with tunics and tops that cover the hips.
- Do experiment with layering tops, T-shirts and skirts with pants or jeans
- Do opt for longer shirts to wear with your jeans
- Do wear leggings under short dresses and skirts
- Do invest in a basic, flattering silhouette abaya. It is an elegant and handy over garment to be used over any ensemble.
- If you are a Muslim, do dress modestly and try to cover your hair this month with a scarf, wrap, shayla, hijab, hat or bandana.
DON'TS:
- Do not wear tank tops
- Do not wear shorts, short dresses or short skirts in public places
- Do not wear sleeveless garments
- Do not wear tops with a plunging neckline
- Do not wear body hugging clothes
- Do not wear see-through clothing
