'I'm a Muslim fashion lover - you don't have to lose identity with modest wear'
Muslims across the globe are currently observing Ramadan, and while the month is widely associated with fasting, it also celebrates bringing communities together.
In a bid to support Muslim friends throughout Ramadan, you may be observing a fast yourself or celebrating Iftah with them, but another way you can show appreciation and care for Muslims throughout the month is by educating yourself on their culture.
One woman spotlighting modest fashion to younger audiences is 31-year-old TikTok content creator Ameena Roshae (@ameenaroshae).
Ameena proudly celebrates her Muslim culture through fun fashion inspo videos, showcasing modest fashion looks that are bang on trend. Her 171,000 followers lap up the sartorial advice - but it's not just Muslim women who praise her outfits.
Ameena displays her stunning outfits on her social media platforms... (Ameena Roshae)
...she is so stylish, yet remains modest as she is Muslim (Ameena Roshae)Ameena sees herself as a "trailblazer" for the next generation of Muslim women, enlightening them on how to be modest and stylish all at once. She loves showing fashion lovers that you can let your personality shine through, while also being covered up.
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The TikTok star, from Slough, told The Mirror that as she got older, she became more religious, but knew that she didn't want her style to suffer because of this.
According to the Ramadan dress code, Muslim women are expected to wear garments that cover the shoulders, torso, and knees, and they should avoid tight, short, low-cut, and revealing clothing.
"I was eccentric in the way I used to dress when I was a lot younger, so I was trying to find a way to still be myself, but also as I became more religious, find ways to incorporate things that imitate how I should be dressing religiously", she explained.
"I was trying to merge the two by staying true to who I am as a person, but also reflecting that I am very much Muslim. I could never see anyone who dressed like I used to, or how I wanted to dress, so for me, I wanted to create that space because I knew growing up, I never actually had that."
Ameena said her "style changes with the seasons", saying she can dress "sophisticated and smart", but also "quirky and colourful", but she'll always stay true to her religion.
"I want to dress like me, in whatever personality I feel like that day, but also I want to wear things that are not too figure-hugging, just to give an example, but I thought 'there isn't anyone I can see as inspiration' who was giving that balance.
"I couldn't really see the outfits I had in my head on someone else as a confirmation of 'oh yeah that's a nice combination!' So I thought I would be the person who created that style.
"I have so many ways of dressing - people who aren't Muslim but might not be into 'modest fashion' can find something they like on my page and take it as inspiration. Equally, you can be the most practicing Muslim woman and still find something that will work for you.
Ameena believes that everyone can incorporate modest fashion into their wardrobes if they want to (Ameena Roshae)
One of her top tips is wearing loose-fitting maxi dresses (Ameena Roshae)"If you wear Islamic clothing, but still want to be able to wear your favourite jackets, and shirts, you can get everything from my platform."
Ameena believes Muslim women gaining more representation has had a "positive influence" on the fashion industry, with more people opting to wear long dresses and maxi skirts.
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"Women who are more covered can also be fashionistas and very stylish, and because many Muslim women were not necessarily in that space years ago, it was just that people didn't see them. But social media has had a positive effect on showcasing Muslim women in fashion, and I feel like the times have changed."
And if you're looking to build a modest wardrobe of your own, Ameena said she would start with clothes that imitate Islamic clothing, like long sleeve maxi dresses.
She said: "Focus on things like kimonos that are not sheer, and you can wear those in replacement of an Abaya, an Islamic dress. Kimonos and maxi dresses are great, as long as they're quite loose-fitting.
"You can build your modest wardrobe in Ramadan by incorporating these items, and you can wear them outside of Ramadan and it helps you transition slowly into building your modest wardrobe. But you don't have to actually change your identity in any way, or make yourself feel uncomfortable in any space, because you're still wearing your regular high-street fashion clothing.
"Also, invest in co-ords, as two pieces are easy to style and can be worn all year round. Play with fabrics - wear linen in summer, and knitwear in winter. Wide-leg trousers and a matching blouse can be all year round.
"They don't necessarily have any religious attachments, but they're still modest, so they can be worn as Ramadan staple pieces, but you can wear them outside of Ramadan too."
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