Chic Islamic styles
The Ramadhan season- a Muslim fasting season- is underway and more than ever Muslim women are expected to cover up.
Jalia Kasaka Adam, who sells Muslim wear at The Arcade on Luwum Street in the city centre, says you can still look trendy and smart in Muslin wear.
For the office look, for instance, she recommends a long skirt complemented with a long-sleeved shirt, or a maxi dress completed with a blazer or belt.
To the mosque, Adam advises that attires be loose-fitting. Complete your attires with an appropriate headpiece, and some jewellery.
The rules
Sumayya Nanyanzi, a former student of Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU), says despite the trend, certain rules should be followed. These include;
• The dress has to cover the entire body, neck and arms, leaving only the hands and face out.
• It should not be body hugging or figure revealing.
• Round long big skirts are trendy but one should wear a big top that covers the arms and neck.
• It’s okay to add a belt over a big dress because this does not show the actual figure but a bit of shape.
• Trousers should be worn loose-fitting and covered up at least till the knees.
• Sheer or transparent clothes can only be worn if they are going to be covered up.
Making the most of a few items
Classy maxi outfits are generally expensive but especially so during the Ramadhan season when their demand is high. Good thing is you can make do with a few of these clothes.
Jalia Kasaka Adam who sells Muslim clothes says there are a few things you can do to switch them up. By simply adding or removing a shirt, and some accessories, you can easily take your maxi dress from the boardroom to a cocktail attire.
Changing the scarf
Take advantage of their different sizes, and colours with various decorations and shines. They can also be wrapped in different styles.
Add a blazer or jacket
Blazers are trendy. If the dress is multi-coloured choose a single coloured blazer for an appropriate office look. The next time you want to wear the same dress, just switch the blazer.
Add a belt
Whereas the dress should not be tight-fitting, a belt is a great way to add some shape to your maxi dress for office. For the Mosque, throw off the belt.
Wearing a shirt on top
You can make your maxi dress look like a shirt and skirt by wearing a shirt and wide belt over it. Go for a shorter top you can tuck into the belt.
Use accessories
Choose different heights of shoes and jewellery.
High-heeled shoes tend to give an outfit a formal, party look while flat ones make it more casual. So, depending on the occasion, choose the right shoes and add a fitting set of jewellery depending on the occasion.
The prices
Pink and green dress at Shs250,000.
Green flowered dress with blazer Shs70,000.
Blazer Shs150,000.
Black dress Shs180,000.
Skirt Shs50,000
Blouse- own
Head wraps: Shs20,000 to Shs30,000
All the items from shop G5 on first floor of The Arcade along Luwum street Kampala. photos by abubaker lubowa.
