Is My Style Too Different for a Hijabi?
As-salamu alaykum! I haven’t shared photos since I’m a bit lazy, so I’ll just describe how I dress. I live in a bohemian part of a Western country and have always liked that style. I don’t wear tie-dye or anything too wild because I’m in my early 30s and want to dress appropriately for my age. My wardrobe mostly includes linen, cotton, rayon, and flowy dresses. I also love wearing harem pants, like the Afghani style, since they’re comfortable. I usually pick pants over skirts, like Afghani pants, wide-leg pants, or oversized cargo pants, mostly made from natural fabrics. I iron what needs ironing. I don’t wear an abaya. People often compliment my style. Some clothes are loose since I recently lost 11kg. I hit the gym almost daily and usually wear cargo or similar pants with sneakers. It keeps me motivated because I can just take off my hijab at the gym (which is women-only) and have a singlet under my outer clothes, so I don’t need to carry extra shoes or change much. Even though I don’t wear hijab at the gym, I prefer long pants for modesty since you never know. I have cute sneakers that match most outfits. After my workout, I put on a jilbab so I don’t have to change into nicer clothes while sweaty. Around the house or for quick errands, I wear my jilbab for coverage. There’s a lady who mostly sees me in my jilbab when I’m at home or out briefly, and she often makes negative remarks about my dressing. I’ve tried telling her that the jilbab isn’t my usual style and asked how she thinks I should dress. She suggests tight clothes, but I’m not comfortable in those. I believe loose clothes can be modest too. I live in a place where many women don’t wear hijab. When I meet women dressing more modestly than me, sometimes they or their husbands give me judgmental looks because I don’t wear an abaya. I always wear loose clothes and cover my backside, but that’s as modest as I want to be. It feels like there’s a lot of judgment about how hijabis dress. Based on what I shared, do you think my style is inappropriate? Honestly, I don’t want to buy a whole new wardrobe but want to look nice while staying modest. Also, since I’m always at the gym, it seems silly to buy nicer clothes I’d hardly wear. JazakAllahu khair for any advice!