Two years ago, I was a dedicated, self-professed “jeans girl.” 90% of my wardrobe involved pants and tops, particularly jeans. I owned four pairs and I would even wear them in the summer! In the South, no less, humidity and all. I had a variety of cute tops (usually V-neck and sleeveless) in all jewel toned colors (I don’t look that good in pales except aqua) but my bottom staple was jeans.
After becoming a Muslim and having the talk with my husband about dressing modestly, it meant a revamping of my closet. No I didn’t chuck everything I owned and buy all new stuff – who can afford to do that anyway? I gradually filtered out my non-modest clothing in favor of pieces that were modest and versatile as well as flattering to my size 18 frame.
So that brings me to shopping. Where does a plus-size Muslimah find clothes that are fashionable, reasonably-priced, and modest? EVERYWHERE…but it does take a little effort and some mental outfit calculation. Here are some of my favorite places to find pieces that make a great outfit.
If you have any suggestions of stores for plus-sized Muslimahs, please let me know! I am always interested in finding new pieces.
East Essence
I am of the opinion that if you are in the US and you are Muslim and you DON’T know about East Essence, you are living under a rock. When I first became Muslim and was looking for abayas and prayer clothes, this was one of the few sites that I found that catered to all sizes because everything is customizable. Tall and need extra length? Plus-size? Need something formal? They have it! Plus, with their expanded platform, they offer everything from clothing to prayer rugs to books. I have spent a lot of money with them and have only had two items that were dissatisfying. If you get the express shipping, items come pretty quickly but it’s a minimum of a week to get anything (they make it as you order) so if you have a last minute need, it won’t fit the bill.
My favorite piece I own is this activewear t-shirt. My Eid dress was also awesome and I got a lot of compliments on it.
Old Navy
Old Navy for me is usually a staple of individual pieces – tank tops and t-shirts. However, I have been pleasantly surprised by some of my finds there over the last year. Like the long-sleeve striped swing dress that I bought for my sister that became the perfect tunic top. Or that gorgeous off-white, coral and ecru scarf I turned into a maxi hijab. Or this amazing jersey maxi dress:
Who cares if it is a maternity dress? It looks fabulous on me and makes me feel really pretty. With a lightweight cardigan in the summer and a sweater in the winter, it’s pretty versatile and prayer-friendly.
Ross Dress for Less
When I am feeling adventurous and I’m not quite sure what I am looking for, Ross is a great place to go for individual pieces. I have two maxi dresses and a short dress that I paid less than $50 for all three. With the maxis, I layered an inexpensive, lightweight cardigan over them to make them more modest. The short dress I wear with slacks for my own salwar kameez-like outfit. Shopping at Ross is hit or miss depending on their shipments so it’s not really the right fit if you’re looking for something specific.
Alsharifa.com
I needed a burkini in a hurry before a trip and I found Alsharifa after looking at Amazon and finding nothing big enough for me. I love, love, love, my Alsharifa burkini. It’s comfortable, breathable, and fits perfectly. They also had several color/size options to choose from so I was not limited. I get tons of compliments on my suit from Muslims and non-Muslims alike.
The best thing about this suit is the secure clips that attach the top to the bottom, unlike the burkini I bought from East Essence. That burkini, aside from the pants being too small for my frame, requires you to tie the top and bottom together so they don’t expose you. The clips work so much better! This suit is worth the investment and really isn’t that much more expensive than other burkinis.
The Hijab Store
A Muslimah can never have too many headcovers, right? This is the right site for just about any hijab need you may have. I am addicted to the criss-cross instant hijab. I have four of them and my sister had another four because they are so awesome. They also have a variety of underscarves and decorative hijabs. Turn-around time is quick and customer service is very responsive.
Zulily
If you want to find some really cool pieces but don’t care that it will take at least three weeks to receive them, Zulily is a fun place to shop. I have gotten three maxi dresses and a tunic that I adore relatively inexpensively. My orange Moroccan-inspired dress is one of my favorite wardrobe pieces and it was $20!
If you are fabric conscious, make sure you read the descriptions because most of their items are poly/spandex blend.
Rania on the Run 