The Art of Layering
In the fashion industry, modesty can carry a negative connotation. Modest clothing is often viewed as prudish or boring. These associations are reflected in what is available for people who prefer to dress modestly. It can be difficult to find brands that make modest clothing look good, or brands that sell modest clothing in general. Recently, Muslim content creators have gained popularity for displaying how they interpret modesty. Bright colors, inventful layering, and a strong understanding of silhouettes are the defining marks of their looks. They show off their personality through their style, while keeping modesty central.
How do college students approach modesty and fashion? We sat down with 3 Northwestern recent graduates and talked about their relationship with clothing and how what they wear reflects who they are.
To start off, please introduce yourselves!
Sara: My name is Sarah. I'm a senior, so class of 2025, in Weinberg and I'm studying computer science.
Nora: Nora Bouftas. I'm a senior in Weinberg, and I'm studying neuroscience and global health.
Ritaj: My name is Ritaj Abdulquani, and I just graduated from Northwestern University’s Weinberg College, where I studied Biology and Global Health.
How would you define modesty in the context of your style?
Nora: I think modesty in my style specifically, focuses on like items are a bit baggier, as well as like full coverage.
Ritaj: For me, modesty isn’t just a personal fashion choice—it’s deeply connected to my faith and my commitment to properly representing the hijab. The hijab isn’t just a headscarf or a “look”—it’s a form of worship. It’s a reminder, a shield, and a way of telling the world, “I’m not here for your validation—I’m here for Allah.”
So modesty, style-wise, means covering in a way that aligns with the spirit of hijab: not just covering skin, but wearing clothes that are loose-fitting, dignified, and intentional. It's not about hiding beauty—it's about redefining beauty based on something deeper and more enduring. That’s where layering as an art comes in. It gives me the tools to bring my values into harmony with my self-expression, especially when finding modest-ready pieces isn’t always easy.
It’s definitely not always perfect—and I’ve had my fair share of trial-and-error moments—but the effort itself is meaningful. I try my best because I care about what the hijab represents, and I don’t want to misrepresent its purpose. When I do feel like I’ve gotten it right, it’s empowering in the truest sense.
What is your perspective when shopping for clothes? What factors do you consider?
Sara: I try to, first of all, look for clothes that are stylish, clothes that I vibe with, that are chill and I'm comfortable in, especially when moving around. But, I also try to dress a bit more modestly. I try to layer every now and then, just see what the vibe is.
Nora: I consider fit, like the cut and the way it falls on me, specifically because I'm a bit shorter. I also consider length and modesty in the sense of liking clothes a bit looser, as well as a bit more full coverage.
Ritaj: Shopping as a hijabi has always come with a bit of a strategy. Growing up, my family was very mall over online shopping, which made it hard because modest-friendly fashion isn’t exactly lining every store rack. And while online shopping eventually became less intimidating, modest options often came with a hefty price tag or looked too plain for my taste.
Pants have thankfully become easier in recent years. Now that looser fits are more common, I’ve found a lot more that align with what I feel comfortable in. But tops and dresses are another story. Long-sleeve tops feel like hidden treasure, so when I find a good one, it’s a win. If something is sleeveless or cropped, I’ll usually pair it with a long-sleeve bodysuit or layer over it with something that adds both coverage and style.
Dresses are probably the biggest challenge—most in-store options are either short with sleeves or long and sleeveless, and modest-friendly designs online are often basic or overpriced. Unless I’m dressing for a formal event, you probably won’t see me in a dress unless I’ve gotten creative with layering.
How do you express yourself through clothing while still sticking to your values?
Sara: This is gonna sound so basic, but just like, matching colors. I play around with different hijab styles. That's something fun that I play around with. I think my style is very just cutesy, day to day. It's very chill, nothing too crazy. But then I think I do like playing around with different hijab styles, different colors. You know, some days popping off with the boots. Whatever works.
Nora: For me, it's like putting my personality into my clothes. I kind of like things that have a bit of color while still being kind of elegant and classy, but still street style. So, maintaining that balance has been my style, and just mixing what I like and chill stuff, because I think people see a version of me through my clothes. If I wear chill clothes and I'm showing I'm also with it, like trendy or whatever, people would be like, “Oh, she's cool, she's chill.” Like, “I can approach her.” We can have a conversation, especially because of how Muslims are portrayed in the media.
Ritaj: I express myself through the art of layering, not just as a fashion technique but as a way of problem-solving. It’s how I bring my outfits in line with my values without losing the personality behind them. The key is making sure the colors, materials, patterns, and lengths work together seamlessly.
One of my go-to pairings is a sleeveless dress with a long-sleeve bodysuit underneath. The all-black version of this combo is almost invisible; it looks like one cohesive piece. And when I find other color combinations that actually work, which is rare but golden, it gives me that perfect spring/summer layered look without compromising coverage.
Another favorite is a printed or patterned dress with a black abaya layered on top. The black lets the dress stand out while adding elegance and modesty. And I always make sure the abaya is either slightly longer than or the same length as the dress. Proportions are everything.
These factors are also important when it comes to the hijab that I choose to wear. I typically will stay away from a patterned hijab if my clothes are very patterned and vice versa.
So yes—modesty requires creativity, but I actually enjoy that challenge. It pushes me to think more intentionally about how I present myself while staying true to what matters most to me.
What role do you think Muslim fashion plays in challenging stereotypes of modesty?
Sara: I think there's a certain vibe different people go for. I know for me, I love and I'm comfortable wearing pants. I love going for a vibe where someone looks at me and they're like, “Oh, she's chill”, “Oh, I like her style” or “Oh, that’s someone that's approachable.” I know that there are some people who have preconceived notions about me, especially as a hijabi, whether that's like people thinking I'm quieter or other things. So I try to have a sense of style where I am approachable, so that when people first look at me, maybe they'll think twice about the stereotype.
Nora: I think Muslim fashion now is a lot better than it was in the past. For example, when I was younger, I always used to wear long-sleeve shirts under my dresses because nothing was ever modest. But now there are brands, like Veiled and Vela, that create items that fit us nicely. With media [there is] definitely a better connotation because we have influencers now on Tiktok, we have influencers on Instagram, and we see them doing “normal” stuff that regular influencers do. When I was growing up, we didn't really have that, and so I think that's changing the narrative on Muslim women and showing we’re chill. We see Muslim women in sports, Ibtihaj Muhammad, and we see Muslim women having shows, stuff like that. It has really changed the narrative on Muslim women in general.
Ritaj: I think one of the biggest stereotypes about hijabi women is that we’re oppressed or forced into dressing the way we do. But modest fashion really pushes back against that narrative. If you see hijabi girls having fun with their outfits, being creative, and building their own sense of style—it doesn’t exactly scream oppression.
The reality is, choosing to dress modestly takes thought, intention, and honestly, a good dose of creativity. When we find ways to make our outfits reflect both our values and our personality, we’re showing that modesty isn’t about limitation—it’s about empowerment.
We’re often the most visible representations of Islam in public spaces, and that can come with a lot of pressure. But it’s also an opportunity. Through fashion, we’re not just expressing ourselves—we’re redefining what it means to be a Muslim woman in today’s world. We’re saying, yes, I dress this way because of my faith—but I also love how it makes me feel confident, expressive, and proud.
Modest fashion proves that we can be rooted in our beliefs and stylish. We’re not here to blend in or fit someone else’s idea of who we should be. We’re here to be true to ourselves—and that’s a message worth seeing.