Modest fashion refers to the act of dressing for various degrees of coverage. Despite popular belief, it isnāt always connected to ethno-religious fulfilment. Once considered a somewhat niche section of the industry, brands are now taking more of an interest in it than ever before, with searches for āmodest fashionā and other related terms growing exponentially year on year.
Though there are no links between a particular religious group and modesty, it would be doing a disservice to the Muslim community to not mention its contribution to modest fashion consumption, especially luxury. The 2022 State of the Global Islamic Economy report confirmed that expenditure on modest fashion had increased to £240 billion that year and is expected to grow to £253 billion in 2023.
Both high-end and high-street brands are taking their piece of the modest fashion pie with their respective modest collections. These are strategically marketed around the month of Ramadan and subsequent Eid festival, with a portion of those participating also choosing to dress in varying levels of modesty throughout the month and often purchasing new clothes to wear during gatherings and events.
H&M and Mango annually release modest collections around this time, though they are only named āRamadanā collections in Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries. Youād be familiar with these being released as spring collections that feature bright colours and rich fabrics, accompanied by campaigns heavily featuring POC models.
A quick search of āRamadanā on the respective sites, though, will reveal a curated array of gowns and Eastern-inspired wear. On the flip side, Loro Piana, aka the peak of luxury fashion, also released a new capsule collection with Harrods this spring 2023, with literal abayas, a traditional clothing item worn by the Muslim community. The Italian brandās collection has a strong sense of familiarity with traditional Eastern silhouettes and embroidery, but again was not initially released as a Ramadan collection. Loro Piana later decided to name it a āRamadanā capsule collection.
Itās surprising that brands, particularly luxury brands, would initially shy away from dedicating these collections to those who observe Ramadan, considering the popularity of these brands in MENA countries. We can either assume the best, which is that they donāt want their customers to feel limited by the modest label. One can presume that some potential customers might feel less inclined to buy clothes from a line they believe is only for modest dressers, as opposed to a way of adding more options in core collections which cater to them.
On the other hand, naming a collection as modest opens up brands to a greater degree of accountability, in turn stopping them from pigeonholing or colourwashing its image. Colourwashing is an umbrella term which refers to brands marketing themselves a certain way in order to capitalise on peopleās personal ethics and values.
Akin to greenwashing, this strategy is used heavily by clothing brands who seek to make profit by making out as though theyāre big supporters of different marginalised communities.
We could go as far as to say that fashion brands are almost āmodest-washingā by displaying items and collections as modest. Still, they are not actually educating themselves on what modest wear is, and what people are looking for when it comes to modest clothing.
Upon speaking to young people who identify as āmodest dressersā, the overarching theme is that brands simply arenāt providing them with a variety of suitable options. These companies have a duty of care to their customers and, in the case of modest fashion, must ensure their due diligenceāeither by including more modest dressers in their design and buying teams, or through curated edits coming directly from modest influencers.
Though brands arenāt leading the way so to speak, social media certainty is. Modest fashion has found its people on TikTok, with #modestfashion currently sitting at 3.3 billion views. This is owed to the influx of young profiles who have individualistic style preferences and have found ways to mix and match traditional and modern pieces to suit their personal aesthetic without being forced into the abaya/kaftan box. It all comes down to influencers and upcoming content creators changing the narrative on what it means to be modest and calling attention to the fact that it doesnāt mean giving up oneās personal style.
Gen Z influencers like Zozoās Fits, who at first glance doesnāt look like what weāve been brainwashed to think a modest dresser looks like, represent everything that modest fashion is today. With the support of content creators like these, brands can tap into the modest wear market without the need to launch a āmodestā or āRamadanā collection. They can accurately cater to what their target audience is looking for.
While we impatiently await that urgent change, weāve curated our own top modest fashion-friendly pieces for any readers looking to dabble in the world of modesty:
Ballet has pirouetted back to the fashion worldās centre stage. Pale pink leg warmers, satin ballet slippers and dusty grey trousers are just a few staple pieces youāve probably seen so far this season, signalling the shift from grunge to graceful. With balletcore being the easy, breezy it girl style as of late, itās no surprise that Bella Hadid has been the poster girl for the trend.
Luckily, even if you arenāt a former dancer (or an off-duty model), you can embrace the trend too. Itās surprisingly more versatile and comfy than you might think. Ready to infuse your wardrobe with French girl flair, or maybe just want an outfit you can (attempt to) pliĆ© in? Weāve got you covered. Below, shop similar pieces from Miss Bellaās ballet-inspired wardrobe.
Canāt get enough of monochrome ensembles? Then youāll love this balletcore outfit sported by the youngest Hadid sister. Simply pair baggy workwear trousers (pro tip: size up so you can roll the waist) with a sweet lace-detailed tank top and a simple short-sleeve bolero. Oh, and donāt forget to complete your look with classic black loafers and a can of Kin Euphorics, of course.
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Balletcore doesnāt always have to mean leotards and tights Ć la the no-pants trend. Want to look chic while still feeling comfy? Take a note from Hadidās slouchy ensemble. She styles the simple Wardrobe.NYC X Hailey Bieber sweatsuit with a matching headband, and adds a touch of personality through her accessories (hello, bedazzled sunglasses and tie-dye Chanel messenger bag).
The true star of this ballet-inspired look though has to be the pink satin flats which peak out under her sweats. Donāt want to splash out on this exact co-ord? Opt for an equally minimalist set from Arket for a fraction of the cost.
Going for a more refined outfit, as opposed to the slightly rougher ballet grunge? This next ensemble from Miss Hadid hits all the right notes. The model pairs this striped boatneck dress (vintage Chanel, of course) with simple white leg warmers and a pair of blue Miu Miu kitten heels. Looking this cute doesnāt have to cost a small fortune though. Instead, shop our more affordable picks below to achieve the same āje ne sais quoiā without hurting your purse.
Next up, we have a quintessential balletsleaze look youāre sure to have heart eyes for. As Miss Bella demonstrates, this outfit is comfy enough to catch a flight in, but it could also easily double for your Sunday morning pilates class, or for simply lounging around at home. Get the look by throwing on a matching tank top and leggings set, your favourite oversized zip-up hoodie and a beanie. Then finish it off with leg warmers and ballet flats for a touch of off-duty ballerina flair.
And finally, want to add a pop of colour to your balletcore fit? Follow Hadidās lead. Here, the supermodel wears a cropped cardigan, a purple baby tee (with matching slouchy socks), a red corduroy midi skirt, all complemented by a stunning set of white satin ballet pumps. Make the look your own by incorporating your favourite textures and hues. And, then, to complete the ensemble, balance out the outfit with a neutral statement piece.