Islamic Clothing

Muslim Clothing For Women - Merging Timeless Tradition And Global Modernity

Just like all kinds of garments across various cultures and religions, Muslim clothes can be traced back to a long and fascinating history. For centuries, Islamic clothing been used to symbolize purity and respect and the concept of modesty (haya) is at the base of Islamic clothing. The recommendations of islamic clothing are interpreted per the teachings of Islam. Loose-fitting clothing is generally regarded as conforming to Islamic teachings to hide body areas which are sexual in nature from public view. The clothes also protect the body against the harsh conditions of the desert or stifling hot climate. The rules of modesty apply to both men and women but here we will focus on Muslim women clothes.

Traditional islamic dresses for women aim to cover the hair and the body from the neck to the ankles. Over time hijab, abaya and burqa became part of Islamic dresses for women. Various factors have always influenced the teachings, namely practicality, culture, geographical location, climate, politics, social settings and contemporary times. Because of these many aspects, Islamic fashion is always evolving while keeping modesty, respect and traditions at its core.

Today modest Islamic clothing has been reimagined by designers all over the world, merging cultural heritage and modern style. This has led to the rise of modest fashion not only among Muslims but also non-Muslims. Now modest Islamic clothing is a strong symbol of identity and faith while trending in global fashion markets for its innovative designs. Owing to its fashion journey, Islamic clothing is here to stay as it provides personal and cultural expression to women worldwide.

Essential Muslim Clothing For Women

• Abaya: It is a traditional, loose-fitting cloak worn by Muslim women. It covers the body from shoulder to ankle and comes in various styles such as batwing, kimono, open, close, hooded and maxi and loved due to its mix of comfort and elegance. They can be made of fabrics such as georgette, silk, chiffon or Nida. This Muslim dress for women can come in solid colors such as black, white, olive green, dusty rose pink and dark blue that can be worn for everyday errands and office days. The decorated ones with embroideries, stones, beads or handcrafted lace appliqué are great for more festive events.
• Abaya Coats: These are the modern version of abayas that shows the adaptation of traditional Muslim clothing. While the abayas sport the classic round neck and decorations such as colorful thread embroidery with feminine motifs, the abaya coats feature more contemporary elements. You can see sleek collars such as peter pan and cloverleaf instead of a round neck. Many designs also have fabric belts for a more polished look. Often in front, you will see a button placket in single-breasted or double-breasted fashion. Meant to be fashionable as well as highly functional, this kind of Muslim clothing can come in fabrics such as polyester, georgette, silk and wool. These abaya coats are perfect to protect yourself in cold weather as well as look more professional at your workplace.
• Kaftan: This Muslim dress might look similar to an abaya given it has long sleeves and it is a loose-fitting garment in a silhouette that mirrors the abayas. But while kaftan is more popular as everyday wear, kaftan is preferred more for festive occasions. This is because kaftans come in vibrant colors such as red, yellow, forest green and indigo blue and detailed embroideries in metal, sequins, beads and stones. They are made of rich fabrics such as satin, brocade and crepe. In this kind of Muslim women clothing, the Moroccan kaftan variety is hugely popular. Made from silk or velvet, they are flowy and are adorned with motifs such as floral, geometric, Zellij, Arabesque and paisley.
• Hijab: In ancient usage, the term ‘hijab’ meant a veil or curtain worn to separate the two genders. However, in modern times, hijabs refer to the various kinds of headscarves worn by women along with their modest Muslim dresses. The hijabs are often made of comfortable fabrics such as cotton, jersey, chiffon and silk. Like many Muslim dresses for women, hijabs can either be solid-colored and plain or have decorations such as hand or digital prints or embellishments like pearls and rhinestones. The hijabs differ based on how much upper body area they cover along with the head, which can include shoulders, bust or full upper body. Some of the popular hijabs include shayla, al-amira, chador, khimar and turban-style. These come in various fabrics and can be either plain or embellished.
• Khimar: This headscarf is characterized by long cape that covers the head, neck and shoulders of the wearer. The long khimar extends to the waist, making it perfect if you want to cover the upper body along with the head in a quick and effective manner. But if you want to cover your head and bust area, a short khimar is more appropriate. For a more dressier look, you can go for a multi-layered or cowl-design khimar.
• Niqab: While we mentioned Muslim clothing that is used to cover the head and the body in various ways, the niqab is a type of veil that covers the face and only the wearer’s eyes are visible. There are two kinds of niqabs - half and full. While they both might look similar, there is a slight difference. In the half niqab, the nose and the mouth are covered but the forehead is not while the full one covers the face fully with a mesh screen to see through and has ties to cover the forehead and can extend beyond the chin as well. The solid-colored niqabs are generally quite preferred since they can be matched with any hijab or burqa easily. The niqabs generally have minimal embroidery with dainty floral or geometric designs. If you want a bit of decoration, you can pick a niqab with fringes or tassels at its hemline.
• Burqa/Burka: One of the most popular and recognizable Muslim dresses, this islamic dress for women also has a long and loose fitting. But others cover different parts of either face or body, burqas cover the entire face and body. This is because the burqas comprise Muslim clothes - a headscarf, a niqab and an abaya. They mostly come in muted colors such as white, black, beige, cream, navy blue and dusty rose. They can come in various cuts such as pleats, ruffles and asymmetrical for a distinct look. These Muslim women clothes can have statement embroidery patches in sequins, zari, zardozi or colorful threads. Based on cuts and decorations, burqas can be worn for everyday or festive occasions. For a warm climate, breathable and lightweight fabrics such as cotton, Nida, chiffon or georgette are preferred. In case the wearer lives in a cooler climate then fabrics such as wool, wool blends, crepe and thick polyester blends are preferred as they provide better insulation.

Muslim Clothes For Women From Different Parts Of The World

While we understood the well-known and universally popular kinds of Islamic clothing, there are of course regional variations given the Muslim diaspora and population across various countries and continents. So here we will expand on these differences.

In the Middle East, flowing abayas and kaftans dominate, often featuring intricate embroidery and more experiments in fabrics and cuts, especially on fashion runways. In North Africa, Moroccan kaftans and jilbabs are celebrated for their luxurious fabrics, bold designs and metallic accents while Sub-Saharan Africa integrates modern vibrant wax prints such as Ankara, Kente and Bogolan into modest attire.

South Asia showcases vibrant salwar kameez and embellished burqas while Southeast Asia emphasizes colorful baju kurung (a combination of a long blouse and skirt) and lightweight hijabs often adorned with batik patterns. Meanwhile, Central Asia highlights traditional chapans, velvet robes and intricately embroidered scarves, showcasing a revival of heritage craftsmanship. Across all regions, a fantastic mix of innovation and cultural identity shapes the evolving trends in Islamic clothing. In Western countries, Islamic fashion merges modesty with contemporary trends, offering sports hijabs, burkinis, layered outfits and chic modest dresses. The hijab is even worn with Western clothes such as sweatshirts, full-sleeve tops and baggy trousers that are termed ‘hijab-friendly’ as they adequately cover the body.

Shop The Trendiest Muslim Dresses From Mirraw

Now that you know so much about the different kinds of Muslim women clothing, it is time you shop the latest modest fashion trends. If you are searching for everyday Muslim dresses as well as the luxurious ones that you can afford, you need to browse our amazing collection of Islamic dresses for women. With an easy-to-navigate website, safe payment options and an excellent customer service team, Mirraw makes sure that your online shopping time is enjoyable.