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The hijab fashion in Egypt has been changing rapidly over the last ten
years. Although the Spanish style veil has emerged five years ago, a
newer and faster “Spanish” is getting simpler and looser now. Some argue
that the traditional hijab, despite the new florescent colours, will
soon fade out in Egypt.
Whether you prefer it in the very classical way or favour the quicker
so-called “Spanish” style, the hijab fashion for Egyptian women is
changing rapidly. Although veiled females in Egypt generally coordinate
the colours of their veils with long tunics, maxi-skirts or pants -the
average standard of Muslim women’s wear in urban Egypt- many choose
their hijabs depending on the colours of their outfits, rather than the
style that best fits their faces. Different social class levels are also
reflected in various hijab styles. But, regardless of whether females
wear hijab as obligatory attire or a social tradition, it is generally
common in Egypt to tell which social level a girl belongs to based on
the style of her hijab. The colours, the style and the number of scarves
can all be signals of an Egyptian girl’s background and general taste.
The simple Spanish hijab: faster and lighter?
The majority of women and girls in Egypt wear hijab. The colours and
styles are diverse. But, to begin with, the most widespread hijab styles
nowadays are a more advanced style of the so-called “Spanish” hijab. It
involves simply tying the two ends of the triangular-shaped scarf
behind the neck, without attempting to move around the ends, or make a
flower-shaped end pinned at the back of the head. “This style has become
very popular. It is easy, quick and simple,” said Dina Ahmed, a veiled
woman in her mid-thirties with a loose Spanish veil. Having the first
five centimetres of her hairline visible before the scarf, Dina prefers
to usually wear large round earrings with this style of hijab. “The
accessories are very much important to me… I think this new Spanish
hijab is more or less the simplest and most classy look for a veiled
lady in Egypt… It is very light in the summer as well,” she says. Dina
explains that this style allows the woman to show the design of the
collar of her blouse or the shape of her cardigan, better than a
traditional hijab style does. Especially for working women, she says,
the Spanish hijab turns out best so far. With this Spanish hijab, a
woman does not need to wear a bonnet, which is a tight piece of
cotton/synthetic cloth that is dressed under the external scarf to
prevent it from wobbling. Dina, who considers herself a woman from the
upper middle class, believes that females of lower social segments use
the “Spanish” style differently.
Turkish veil
(AFP Photo)
Three colours for one hijab
Nora Mohamed, a child minder who works in a nursery in the
Mohandessin neighbourhood in Cairo, agrees. As she sits to talk, Nora is
wearing tight light blue jeans and a green, skin-tight shirt with long
sleeves. On her head, one could notice that there are almost three
different colours of veils tied around her head. Nora explains that she
is used to wearing more than one scarf at a time to be able to make her
own style of the “Spanish” hijab. Putting two scarves over each other
allows Nora to make a combination of colours at the end of the wrap.
This style, which usually ends up with two tails, is used to make a
special shape at the back of the head or at one of the shoulders. “I use
the new fluorescent colours that are going trendy these days. I may use
a black one with a yellow phosphoric to pair the ends of the scarves
together,” Nora says. She adds that she and her friends usually sit
together to try new ideas with the “Spanish” styles of hijab to appear
“more attractive and beautiful.” “There are different designs of this
Spanish style, but I believe the best [way] is to use more than one
colour to be able to match with your clothes,” she says. As for her
opinion with regards to the newer Spanish style, Nora says she is not
used to simply tying the two ends of the scarves without creating a
shape. “It looks pale. I love to make flower shapes with the four ends…
It looks lovely.” The name of the “Spanish” hijab comes from the hairdo
of Spanish flamenco dancers. It doesn’t cover the neck, as the
traditional hijab does. Therefore, some women do not consider it a
proper way of wearing the veil.
“Spanish” veil
(Photo Courtesy of Spanish Hijab Bonnet)
Triangular veils are the most demanded
Shopping for veils has become one of the easiest tasks in the last
couple of years. In a standard shopping mall in Egypt, women go in and
out of at least five stores or booths that specialized in selling all
kinds of veils and their accessories. Veil prices can start from EGP 25
and exceed EGP 150. Amira Mohsen, a saleswoman in one of the most
popular veil stores in Cairo, says most women nowadays buy the
triangular shaped scarves, which are used for the simple Spanish hijab.
“The price of a triangular veil can range from EGP 35 to EGP 65. Such
scarves usually end with beads or colourful buttons.” She adds that many
girls are also interested in buying scarves in florescent colours that
have blown out since last summer. Heba Osman, who is in her late
twenties, said she prefers the traditional style of hijab, but with
“some minor changes every now and then.” She explains that the Spanish
style “if worn properly” would also be suitable on some occasions. Heba
agrees with the theory that the ways women wear their veils reflect
their social backgrounds. “In lower classes, girls use very vibrant
colours in more than one scarf. They also wear their veils over very
tight tops and pants. They deal with hijab not for its religious
meaning, but as a part of a general look.” As for the upper social class
females, Heba says they are trying “so hard” to stay in fashion,
because “the styles of clothes for veiled women are not so tempting and
mostly unsuitable.”
Traditional veil
(Photo from Courtesy of stylespk.com)
Traditional hijabs have different shapes
The traditional hijab can be worn in different shapes. Some women
wear the veil around their face in a tight style pulled right back under
their chin, leaving their jaw jutting out. This is called the Turkish
style hijab, which entails a square scarf pinned under the chin, leaving
the face looking like a triangle. Some women wear an cap or under scarf
under the external scarf, which they pull down to the forehead.
According to the misshijabi blog, which is specialized in hijab fashion
and written by an Australian woman who converted to Islam, the Turkish
style hijab is not recommended for a square face, as it “just makes your
jaw line look even more masculine… It seriously just pushes out a
square jaw and loses all femininity instantly.” She recommends that
square faces should “frame the chin and the sides of the jaw line with a
nice scarf to give a more rounded/oval appearance.” As for females with
round faces, they should not wear any under caps under the veils,
unless they are hidden, and should also avoid the Egyptian Spanish
styles of hijab, because they expose the neck and chubby face. The blog
gives advice for triangular faces, stating that loose hijab styles are
more suitable for women of this face shape, as veil does not tightly
frame the face. The blog states that any hijab style can suit women with
oval faces.
There is also the camel hump hijab. This is the Khaleeji style hijab,
which is worn by most ladies in the Gulf region. Some females in Egypt
tie their hair up in a pony tail with hair clips, and then place layers
of scarves on their head. The veil does not tighten around their faces,
and looks like a camel hump over their heads. In the Gulf, some argue
that this style of hijab is worn as a sign of female rebellion, but
others think it is only a fashion statement, with which they show off
some of their hair. There are religious positions regarding the camel
hump hijab, which refer to one of the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad,
which states that this style of hijab is banned in Islam. Fatma
Al-Mahdy, a housewife and mother, says she doesn’t like the camel hump
hijab as “it gives more of a Khaleeji identity. However, some girls in
Egypt are trying to copy those in the Gulf.” Commenting on the different
styles of hijab in Egypt, Fatma believes that the traditional veil is
the most suitable for all girls and women, regardless of their age and
social class. “But, eventually, veil is a matter of taste. It also
involves the taste of a woman in the colour selection and coordination
with what suits her face and body. Spanish can be acceptable in
occasions,” she says.
Shaimaa Hosny, who works as a hairdresser in one of Cairo’s largest
beauty salons, explains what the trendiest veils are for girls on
weddings and other occasions. “Spanish comes at the top. We rarely make a
traditional white veil for a bride, unless she asks for it, and that
usually comes when she is having her wedding at home in a small party.”
Almost all veiled brides in Egypt wear the Spanish hijab style at their
weddings, but decorated with different accessories. “Some use a sparkly
tiara on top of the veil, others users some shimmering buttons around
the shape we make with the veil. It all ends up in the way that fits the
bride’s face.” Shaimaa, who meets up to 20 brides a month, explains
that she takes about 30 minutes to dress a bride with her white Spanish
veil. Many, however, decide to take the veil off completely at their
weddings, but keep their white dresses with long sleeves. The same goes
for engagement parties. Almost all brides use glittery scarves with
under caps and external layers to “create a shape with their veil.” over
their heads. “The veil definitely has to match with the dress and its
colour. All shapes fall under the Spanish. I think the traditional hijab
style will fade out soon,” she says.
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