From Malala to the Oscars to NYFW: Modest fashion is in

As one practice As a Muslim, I try to dress as modestly as possible. But growing up, it was clear that being stylish meant revealing a lot of skin – for example, dressing in short shorts, tank tops, crop tops and mini skirts. What I saw in magazines and on TV convinced me that dressing modestly was inherently fashionable.

But ultimately, status quo disruptors like Malala Yousafzai – who wore a stunning sequined gown with an attached hijab at the Oscars – are redefining high fashion. Between her modest glam and the Indonesia Now runway show I recently attended during New York Fashion Week, I’m starting to see that there’s plenty of room for modesty and folk self-expression. And I hope the rest of America catches on.

I I tend to dress modestly by conviction, but I’ve always felt stuck on the sidelines when it comes to style. When I moved to New York four years ago at age 17, I became more exposed to the trends of many different, non-Western communities, including other Muslim women. This reignited my interest in fashion.

And last February, I was invited to attend New York Fashion Week Indonesia now show, which was unlike any other show I had ever seen. The models who walked the runway were beautiful, confident and dressed in innovative ensembles — those that included hijab, burqa or niqab. I was in awe as this was the first time I had really seen myself in high fashion.

I had the opportunity to chat with the show’s designers, who were all Muslim, and we discussed their journey in the fashion industry as modest designers, their inspirations, the role of their faith in their work, and more. All these forces had a common philosophy: Make fashion accessible and empowering for Muslim women — and anyone else who doesn’t want to show too much skin.

Trisha Chas of Indonesian fashion house Zeta Prive said she finds drive in her quest to create modest clothing options for Muslim women that are luxurious, rather than basic or simple. Many of her designs feature intricacy and embellishment, reflecting the multi-layered spirit of the women they adorn. Chas’ faith is a big motivation for her. One of her biggest inspirations when starting her business and developing her style was businessman Abdul Rahman bin Auf, described in the Holy Quran as one of the companions of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, who worked tirelessly to benefit others and with perfection.

Linda Anggrea, the head designer and CEO of Buttonscarves, described her brand philosophy as empowering women to pursue their dreams through beauty and confidence. The ensembles from Buttonscarves lit up the runway, championing clean lines and a relaxed, flowy look for those craving an alternative to all the tights.

Istafiana Candarini, Nadya Karina and Afina Candarini, the founders and designers of Kami for HGLModest emphasized the beauty of individuality. This season, their designs were heavily influenced by Tapis Lampung, the traditional fabrics and textiles of Indonesia, to show the power of women of the past, to empower the future.

By making modest fashion more accessible through versatility, Nada Puspita, founder and designer of her eponymous brand, said she hopes to expand the modest fashion market with innovative dresses, jackets, skirts and scarves. Modest fashion is the future, she told me, pointing to her company’s growth and the growing excitement around the movement.

Part of the push forward is navigating the resistance to mediocre high fashion. Puspita described struggling to make her designs appeal to American consumers at New York Fashion Week without compromising her promise of modesty. She told me, however, that her faith is a constant reminder that her work is an expression of gratitude and servitude to God and her mission to serve women who want to dress modestly.

Talking to these women and seeing models grace the runway in long sleeves and scarves helped me realize that I could break free from the idea that high fashion equals showing a lot of skin.

Those who chose to cover their bodies—which is an act of self-expression in itself—deserve to wear art like Bella Hadid or any other Gucci-clad supermodel. Choosing to dress modestly is truly an act of independence and empowerment, as it is a decision to put your faith and comfort above societal trends or expectations.

Fashion is supposed to be an outward reflection of one’s inner inspirations, not a rigid structure dictated by an underlying rule about how much of one’s body you can see. Feeling confined and pressured by a false narrative isn’t what’s hot. eateel as your most authentic self.