The Best Dresses And Matching Headscarves To Help You Master The Art Of Coordination

At one point in time, fashion was defined by leg-bearing mini skirts, and mid-riff-bearing crop tops so, now we ask: What's the industry's take on modest fashion, and what are the best dresses to achieve a modest look? Has society finally reached a point where less is more?

Modest fashion, also known as Hijabi fashion, refers to less skin-revealing silhouettes. Instead of opting for bodycon dresses and slip dresses, someone may choose to wear maxi silhouettes - but the degree of coverage is dependent on the individual. We saw Kim Kardashian attend the 2021 Met Gala in a black Balenciaga haute couture ensemble, covering every inch of her body - including her face - and Cardi B pose in front of the Eiffel Tower in a similarly conservative Richard Quinn look.

Halima Aden, the first Hijabi model on the cover of Vogue, has walked for everyone from Max Mara to Tommy Hilfiger, while other brands such as Uniqlo and Nike have since taken notice, selling headscarves and championing inclusivity while also catering to a highly lucrative market.

Hijabi influencers, particularly in the beauty sector, have dominated the narrative when it comes to modest fashion, breaking down negative stereotypes and paving the way for all women to unapologetically dress how they like. One such influencer is Hani Sidow (@hanihanss), also a columnist and author behind the make-up guide Insta-glam. We spoke to Sidow about her favourite places to shop for modest clothing, styling tips and what modest fashion means to her.

What are some of your favourite places to shop for modest clothing and headscarves?

'When it comes to headscarves, my favourite place to shop is Voile Chic, they have the best materials - both chiffon and Jersey - and such a wide range of colours that are long-lasting and easy to style with everything. When it comes to modest clothing, I’ve recently loved shopping from small businesses I’ve found through Instagram and TikTok, for instance, Ayanah collections, Shop Empress and Amayah collections.'

What are your top tips for styling headscarves with dresses?

'I always follow the three colours rule and make sure the colours complement each other. Nude and white hijab colours work well always with summer dresses with sleeves, but when it comes to a patterned dress, I’ll pick one colour from the dress and use that as my hijab colour, also, depending on the material of the dress I decide between jersey hijabs for more causal dresses and chiffon for the more glam stuff.'

Who do you look to for style inspiration?

'I love scrolling through TikTok for style inspiration, where there are so many amazing creators styling current and statement pieces. I always find that to be a great resource for style inspiration.'

What does dressing modestly mean to you?

'Dressing modestly for me is more than covering up, it’s how I carry myself, how I treat others and more importantly how I showcase my character and personality.'

The truth is, the industry still has a long way to go in making clothes suitable for Muslim women, or for women who simply desire to show less skin. Dresses with sleeves may seem modest, and most retailers sell them, however, they aren't specifically catered toward Muslim women. Nevertheless, we've done a deep dive into the best dresses and matching head scarves, because they do exist if you know where to look.

SHOP: The Best Dresses and Matching Headscarves