Dressing modestly could be very overwhelming, But you’ve made the first step of many steps and that is that your intention to dress modestly is only to please Allah.
You’re mentally ready to start your journey of representing Islam as a Muslim woman. Being recognised as a Muslim woman is your shield of honour and your crown remember that!
I’m going to be your guide and teach you how to dress modestly and still look amazing because when you look good you also feel good right?
Walk with me!
8 Essential Tips to dress modestly
Tip 1# Colour-coordination
My first tip to dress modestly is to know your colours because that could make or break your outfits.
Let’s touch on some colours:
Neutrals- brown, black, grey, beige, white…
Warm tones- Red, orange, yellow, green
Cool tones- pink, purple, blue, turquoise…
These are the colours that are usually mentioned when we say colours but it doesn’t mean it ends there. For example, just purple alone has its own shades and so does blue, yellow and the list goes on.
In the modest fashion world, you can find modest clothes in all sorts of shades sometimes you can’t even put a name on them.
Looking to your right is a range of pink tones and if you take one of these colours you can split them down into more tones.
It’s amazing, right?
So don’t just go for black, get uncomfortable try mixing and matching colours that complement each other.
Start off with neutrals because all neutrals match, then slowly build up to more tones, You’re really going to discover your unique style sister.
Trust me when I say this, the colour gives you personality without you uttering a single word. IT’S POWERFUL IF DONE RIGHT!
Click here to see ways to wear your colours right and look good in modest outfits!
Tip 2# Abayas
Once you know which colours go together you can now start to create your modest outfits. An abaya is like a dress very flowy and modest. They come in all different styles and colours and their perfect if you’re learning how to dress modestly.
Above are examples of me wearing some abayas. The purple abaya comes as a three-piece set and gives you that classy and Muslim princess aura. The blue abaya is a closed abaya I’ve just matched a hijab of a similar tone with it.
One fashion tip to help you dress modestly is to pick simple outfits and then add accessories that could be a bag or some jewellery. That gets your outfit from a standard 7 to a solid 10/10!
Tip 3# Undergarments
Let’s talk undergarments. No, I’m not talking about bras and undies girl, I’m talking about long-sleeved t-shirts, which can be a crew neck(no collar and not covering the neck) or a turtle neck(with a collar covering the neck).
They are perfect to wear with many modest outfits like a suit, a dress or a sweater vest and more as it gives you arm coverage and you still look cute.
Leggings are also another undergarment which is essential when dressing modestly. You can wear leggings under abayas, long skirts or a dress that’s long maybe it has a slit, it ensures when our friend the wind blows our modesty is still respected.
Tip 4# Wide-leg jeans
Another must-have piece you need to add to your wardrobe is wide-leg jeans. I definitely think they are cuter than skinny jeans. It’s modest, has more structure and is flowy, it also allows your legs to breathe as well!
Okay, but how do style wide-leg jeans?
I’ve got you sister! Here are two ways I’ve styled wide-leg jeans. For the first look, I’ve paired wide-leg jeans with a basic white shirt and for the second look, I’ve added a cable knit sweater vest to switch things up.
But don’t stop there! there are many ways to dress modestly in wide-leg jeans. For example, throw on an oversized knitted jumper or pair an oversized blazer and a basic white t-shirt with the jeans.
Tip 5# Cargo pants
If you don’t own cargo pants you’re missing out. They are super comfy and easy to style when dressing modestly as they’re baggy but stylish.
Just like always sister above I’ve got some modest outfit inspiration for you. Who says comfort and modesty can’t go together? You don’t even need to compromise on the look.
Want more cute and casual modest outfits click here!
I know as you start being more committed to dressing modestly there are a lot of doubts in your head like “I’m not going to look good in bright colours or I won’t suit that outfit”.
One piece of advice from a sister to a sister is don’t knock it till you try it, honestly experiment with colours and styles and your hijab as well. You will be surprised but grateful.
Tip 6# Accessorise
Adding accessories to any modest outfit elevates it, you can change the entire vibe of your outfit with just accessories alone. Accessories could be things like bags, jewellery, hats and more.
As you can see above I’ve just added a few rings and a chain to a REALLY simple hoodie and jogger set, I mean how simpler can you get than that? But that elevates the entire look, right?
Even just one accessory like an aesthetic watch also adds class and elevation. Moral of the story: DON’T UNDERESTIMATE ACCESSORIES!
Tip 7# Simple layering
Let’s be honest sometimes we just don’t want to wear abayas or dresses. This is where all the tips I’ve taught you so far come to play.
Don’t get overwhelmed by the term layering it has been overused. It can actually be very effortless when trying to dress modestly.
For example, if you just feel like wearing some wide-leg pants or cargo pants with a basic white t-shirt tucked in. There are many ways to layer that to create different outfits.
Just add a Plaid/ checkered shirt, oversized blazer or t-shirt or just a simple white shirt. Honestly, once you get the hang of it you won’t have to think about it.
Tip 8# Oversized Clothing
When I first started dressing modestly I was a bit scared to wear a really baggy t-shirt, I felt like I’m going to look like a bag without style or definition.
Honestly, that’s far from it, slowly you will learn oversized clothing is your best friend. Style it right and you’ll love it!
Above are some examples of the modest outfits I have styled- We’ve got an oversized shirt with cargo pants on the left and an oversized t-shirt with oversized white cargo jeans on the right. Both are baggy but look good!
Why do we dress modestly?
The main reason we wear hijab and dress modestly in Islam is that it’s an act of obedience to Allah, our All-loving Most merciful creator whose infinite love brought you into existence. It brings us closer to Him and makes us conscious of Him.
Wouldn’t you do anything to make someone you love happy and create a stronger bond with them?
Modesty is an honour and a gift Allah has given to you, He carved you into a precious untouchable pearl that no one deserves until they prove it to you. Once you internalise that your modesty journey will be more consistent.
Click here if you want to know how to be confident in modesty and hijab
Own and be confident in your modesty!
In this article, I have shared with you some valuable tips on how to dress modestly but still feel and look good and I have specifically made it beginner friendly so you’re not overwhelmed.
If you’re a revert sister or a born Muslim sister who struggles with modesty and hijab just know you are not alone many Muslim sisters have the same struggle, We all have our own journey but Allah sees your struggle and is proud of you and so am I!