Modest dressing is complex, and it's definitely not just about extra fabric to cover the skin.
It's about the opacity of the material, putting lining on eyelet fabrics so you don't see skin peeking thorough the eyelets, loose cutting to hide a woman's figure and dresses in maxi length with long sleeves.
There is always the option to layer, of course, but for Muslim women who wear the tudung, layering adds bulk and requires additional time to get ready in the morning.
In a country like Malaysia, modest women's wear is a huge pie of the retail apparel market. Muslim women who wear the tudung almost always, dress modestly. Others, irrespective of religion, choose modest wear because they don't like to show too much skin.
Pull & Bear, the Spanish fashion brand that's part of Inditex (parent company of Zara and Massimo Dutti, among others) has just unveiled its local online store, www.pullbear.com/my.
And while the brand is meant for the young-- think cropped top and cardigan, colourful t-shirts and bikini tops-- with poster images along that same line, surprisingly, there are quite a number of modest-friendly options available.
DRESSING IT UP
Pull&Bear-- which means pull from the shelf and bear (as in wear) it-- has a number of midi dresses that is maxi for someone who is 158cm like me. The sleeves are 3/4 on the model, but it's full-length on me, which is great.
Some of these rayon dresses are button down (you might need some safety pins so the bottom doesn't flare open) but others are just like printed long dresses. Like your typical summer dress, the cut is loose and it's both modest-friendly and weather-appropriate, which is a big bonus.
Sizes range from XS to XL but the difference between one size to the next is significant. At 59kg, I can fit S but M is too big. XS is the most popular size for dresses. Most of the midi dresses have sold out in this size.
I don't wear dresses, but I like the laid back feel of the midi dress and the comfort it delivers on a hot, tropical afternoon. It's casual and light and you can move easily in it.
There are long spaghetti-strap dresses too, which you can wear with cardigan or long-sleeved t-shirt, but I prefer a one-piece.
THE PANTS
The drawback of being short is that the pants don't work on me. The side pocket of its cargo pants go too low, while the white jeans look great in size US2-- only too fitted on the waist-- but when I go one size up, the cutting just seems off.
Thankfully, some pants, like the easy linen pants are shorter. On the model, it looks cropped. On me, it's full-length. There are a few colour options like white and camel. The camel one is completely opaque but the white is somewhat see-through.
The brand also has a wide range of denim to choose from, with different lengths, waist and finish. From straight cut to Mom's jeans, choices are aplenty. if you have time to try different cutting, you might just find something that flatters your fit.
BLOUSES AND SHIRTS
There are long-sleeved blouses too. Eyelet tops don't have lining, so you need an inner. The poplin shirts, with two front pockets, are great. They are cut loose and covers the bottom which makes it modest-dressing friendly.
The white shirt is opaque too, so no lining is necessary. Plus, poplin shirts are casual and versatile so they are a great buy. There are also long-sleeved t-shirts and hoodies, although I don't like the latter since I live in a tropical country.
Unlike Zara, which is known for its blouses and shirts, Pull&Bear --at least in my knowledge-- isn't skewed towards the modest dresser, but after spending an hour browsing its online store and checking out the clothes physically to feel their materials and fabrics, I can say that there are options for those who don't dress they way its posters show.
Pull&Bear is having its spring/summer season sales with items up to 50 per cent off, so if you are looking for new clothes, it's worth checking out.
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